What Happens when James Mc returns...?

[counsillor cox]

Rotate the three seems the obvious answer for me. He would always have wanted an extra option there, and Mo has thankfully come in and shown he can be trusted.

We know Barry/McCarthy works. We now know Barry/Besic can work, even if not to the same level. I´m sure we will see at some point McCarthy/Besic, even if it may not be in the first game in which he is available again.

Like the sound of Besic/McCarthy, that would be like 2 men both doing their jobs, interesting

 

[bicycleheader]

Like the sound of Besic/McCarthy, that would be like 2 men both doing their jobs, interesting

Ah give old Gareth a break, he actually wasnt so bad at the start of the season. Think I had him as MOTM for one or two games, then has stunk the place out but has improved with the rest of the team in the last two. He will have a big part to play in our historic Europa League/FA Cup double!

(is your username a Vic & Bob reference?)

 

[counsillor cox]

Ah give old Gareth a break, he actually wasnt so bad at the start of the season. Think I had him as MOTM for one or two games, then has stunk the place out but has improved with the rest of the team in the last two. He will have a big part to play in our historic Europa League/FA Cup double!

(is your username a Vic & Bob reference?)

Yeah i suppose, picking on an easy target. It certainly is a vic and bob reference, counsillors cox and evans, the two corrupt councillors from Aldington-on-Sea, always coming up with bizzare proposals for improving the sea front, "well proposed Coxy!"

 

[bicycleheader]

Yeah i suppose, picking on an easy target. It certainly is a vic and bob reference, counsillors cox and evans, the two corrupt councillors from Aldington-on-Sea, always coming up with bizzare proposals for improving the sea front, "well proposed Coxy!"

comic genius.

vic n bob, not Barrys performances that is.

 

[counsillor cox]

comic genius.

vic n bob, not Barrys performances that is.

Haha. He has me cringing at times thats all. A red card never seems too far away, or a conceded penalty

 

[toffeeblue9]

We'd lack a bit of quality on the ball as far as distribution goes with a central pairing of Besic and McCarthy

Barry is one of the first names on the teamsheet because of his superior quality on the ball to those two.

There's more to that position than flying into tackles and winning the ball back, plus Barry has the advantage of being naturally left-sided.

I think Besic and McCarthy are both absolutely quality but the 1st half on Saturday demonstrated how much of a liability Besic can be in possession at times, nearly cost us two or three goals - McCarthy can be similar too. They're the future, most definitely but I think that for the most part one of them needs someone with a bit more quality on the ball alongside them until they're a little bit more developed.

Of course I expect everyone to moan when this happens because Besic punches the ground and McCarthy runs around a lot.

 

[sexualchocolate]

Potentially play all 3 with Besic and Jimmy just ahead so Barry doesn't have to do anything except go side-to-side and cover a rampaging Baines?

In all seriousness though I hope he let's Jimmy ease his way into the team again - one more hamstring injury and I'm getting the bleach out.

i actually agree with this, rempaging baines and coleman, think they'll get more space to attack in this set up

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Besic gets dropped like a lead balloon because there is no way Martinez is dropping Barry.

When Martinez was resting players the only player he never ever rested was Barry.

 

[sexualchocolate]

Have Besic, Barkley and McCarthy in there, get them on the training ground working on their 'one pushes - one covers - one sits' balance.
Barkley attacks, McCarthy covers him, Besic sits infront of the defence, if Besic pushes then barkley covers in the middle, mccarthy sits infront of the defence.

I remember watching Seedorf, Gattuso and Pirlo doing it to perfection many times, although that team was a far superior team.
I also feared for us playing against Liverpool when Mascherano would chase, Alonso would sit in the hole and Gerrard pushed in tandem.

You can survive in the league by having 3 average midfielders all working as a unit. (i dont mean ours are average).

i'd prefer Barkley to play the no. 10 role or not at all.........same with Naismith, either one of them should play in that position and leave it at that

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

I actually think there is a lot more to Besic's game, it would be interesting to see how he performed if Martinez gave him license to push forward more.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Besic will return to the bench before he drops Barry.

Unfortunately this, although it should be Besic and McCarthy. Martinez is much more cautious with defensive positions than the attacking ones. But I'd like to see Besic and McCarthy together if both are healthy.

 

[riddick]

Think when Barry almost broke his leg/ankle a few months back he wasnt fit to play(in a shock move!).

 

[Deleted member 24970]

i'd prefer Barkley to play the no. 10 role or not at all.........same with Naismith, either one of them should play in that position and leave it at that

At this moment in time - not at all. He has been piss poor all season, i think Naismith should get more credit for popping up with a few goals and assists whilst Barkley has been a passenger.

I do hope ross finds his confidence and balls in some cases and shows us what he is truly made of.

 

[SpurtingLesbian]

When Martinez was resting players the only player he never ever rested was Barry.

only because he picked up a suspension for 5 yellows in the middle of December ;-)

 

[DuncanDuncanFerguson]

With our defence we need all 3 playing to protect them. Anyway, why label them all defensive MFs? The 3 of them together would not only provide the cover but also allow us to start playing the ball from the back through the midfield like we were doing last year. This season we've stopped hunting in packs. There's no partnerships being formed. All the players seem to stand 15 - 20 yards apart, making it more likely that a pass will go astray or at the very least will allow the opposition more time to press the receiver. This triangle will help change this and so help us retain the ball. Have in mind as well that even with these so called 3 defensive midfielders we've still got room to play 2 more creative players in front of them (say, Barkley and Mirallas) to support and supply Lukaku. So, 4-3-2-1, it's the way to go.

They are defensive midfielders there is no other way to label them