Central Midfield

[Zatara]

Just a question to pose here. Fast forward till the end of the season and I think we can assume Osman will be retired, barry will have a year left and may become more of a squad player, Gibson who knows...

So we would be left with McCarthy, Barkley, Besic, Cleverley and perhaps Ledson. Thats 5 players for 3 positions, ideally we need 6.

There has been a lot of talk about a playmaker coming in and Barkley moving back into the centre. However i am wondering if this may be "too" attack minded as we would then only have one player focused on defending.

I think theres a few factors here:

A-- Can Barkley become a box-box player?
B-- Can Besic take over from Barry?
C-- Would McCarthy be CM or DM?
D-- Is Cleverley first choice or utility?
E-- Is Ledson good enough as cover?

So, i was thinking, perhaps it may be interesting if we kept Barkley where he is and then brought in a "deep lying" playmaker next to McCarthy. This would still keep our shape defensively but open up more attacking options through additional ability to spread the ball to the wings from deep, stretching the play and leaving Lukaku and Barkley with more space and the wingers with more freedom.

Ferguson tried this with Veron and it didnt work but i think with our system it could do.

Alternatively we dont have a "powerhouse,driving central midfielder" and im not sure if Barkley could fit the position defensively. McCarthy i think would be perfect as a DM with Besic competing with him.

So, what would you prefer:

1-- Sign a traditional number 10 and move Barkley back?

2-- Keep Barkley where he is and sign a deep lying playmaker?

3-- Bring in a box to box midfielder?

4-- Not change anything for a couple of seasons more?

 

[Blue Cheese]

How many times can we cover this and how many different ways do you want to dress up the same question Zat, new material please.

 

[Zatara]

Wheres the thread on a deep lying playmaker? Can you link it?

How many times can we cover this and how many different ways do you want to dress up the same question Zat, new material please.

 

[Blue Cheese]

Wheres the thread on a deep lying playmaker? Can you link it?

You have done numerous threads about our midfield, everytime we play someone in a slightly different formation you get your FM speak threads going.

 

[Jxg]

Didn't remember putting Blue Cheese on ignore. Forgot why I did it. Now I remember.


We need a playmaker. Not a deep lying one, just one like Yarmolenko (hint). That'll allow Barkley to go box to box.

 

[Blue Cheese]

heartbroken here

 

[Zatara]

So youre just posting to derail a thread then. Not sure why youre on an internet forum in that case.

You have done numerous threads about our midfield, everytime we play someone in a slightly different formation you get your FM speak threads going.

 

[Blue Cheese]

Barkley

Barkley...Barkley...Barkley...Barkley

Barkley...Barkley

Del...Barkley...Barkley

Lukaku


hows that,

 

[Blue Cheese]

Ok, sorry I'm being pedantic, I shall leave your thread Zat.

 

[Zatara]

Yarmolenko is an interesting one. @bluestevon says he is far better on the right side. But then of course would Deulofeu move into the centre and Barkley further back?

Alternatively put Yarmolenko on the left and alternate through the game with Deulofeu? Still we would need a new player either in CM or to replace Barkley with him moving back.

So i think even if Yarmolenko OR a different player was signed it would be most likely for the left hand side meaning we would still need another central player.

Didn't remember putting Blue Cheese on ignore. Forgot why I did it. Now I remember.


We need a playmaker. Not a deep lying one, just one like Yarmolenko (hint). That'll allow Barkley to go box to box.

 

[Woolly Blue]

Ok, sorry I'm being pedantic, I shall leave your thread Zat.

*hint

The ignore feature's boss. I think if someone's on ignore you don't see their threads ?

Edit : It does. Oh my, this is ace.

 

[Blue Cheese]

Apologies.

I don't ignore people , Zats ok just likes his midfield threads and formations a bit much.

 

[ilikecheese]

Hey look it's another transfer thread disguised as a midfield discussion.

 

[Saint Domingo]

Martinez seems to prefer to play with wide playmakers rather than central ones. My views on this are clear so I would rather buy a top class centre mid who could dictate the game and coordinate attacks. If we are not to go down this route then it would be a top class playmaker for the left hand side to replace Kone and bring what Pienaar used to.

 

[Groucho]

A good all rounder. So I went for box-to-box.