Gareth Barry

[toffeejack]

If only there were a statistic that could back up your assertion. Alas, there isn't...

i think he's had about 3 or 4 yellows since he reached 100. that was only 2 games ago ffs!.

mind you, besic has 8 already haha, he'll take his record hopefully

 

[toffeejack]

i don't think he's finished, i just think he's a 33 year old centre midfielder who's played about 65 games in just over a year and a half. he should have been rotated more, doesn't help he has a sicknote as a backup like, wish martinez could trust besic to step in for him.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

He was good tonight from around 30 mins til he got sent off imo.

 

[Pootsy]

If he had even the slightest bit of pace he'd not have to have the contact with the opposition players. Therefore less yellow cards. However, flip side of that is if the refs' allowed a bit of contact and didn't fall for all this Tom Daley nonsense then he also wouldn't have as many cards

 

[deipnosophist]

Still a very good player I think although I think he needs a bit of rest and rotation. I guess this is enforced on him for a couple of games

 

[Klinker]

He was good tonight from around 30 mins til he got sent off imo.

I agree. This was one of his better matches but I am still glad that he will miss the next few games.

 

[ah11984]

Two more years. Though I'm not sure it's actually possible for him to get slower.

 

[TippEverton]

He was actually playing his way back into form at Palace but the pace of the game vs Liverpool just doesn't suit him and he struggled even last season with two tough games within a short time period.

Gibson's injuries have really messed us up again this year, apart from playing Barkley in central midfield (who is struggling with his own issues) we've had no other experienced options with mcCarthy and Osman out.

It would have been some achievement to play bad away to Palace when they completely by passed their midfield all afternoon with the way they played, for that reason id have to dispute that he was playing his way back to form.

There is simply no way he should have seen as much game time as he has this season.

 

[Khalekan]

He is too slow for this level if you ask me.

That's why he picks up so many bookings.

 

[Zed Car]

I'd say Besic feels like the talented lad who was always on the bench as a kid cause he played in the same position as the managers carthorse son

 

[royvernon39]

He is slow but he has the attitude and snideness you need if you are going to get a result at Chelsea.

I thought he played ok but he really had to be a bit smarter knowing that the sportsmen of CFC were going to everything to get cards out of the referee.

 

[LinekersLegs]

It would have been some achievement to play bad away to Palace when they completely by passed their midfield all afternoon with the way they played, for that reason id have to dispute that he was playing his way back to form.

There is simply no way he should have seen as much game time as he has this season.

Thought he shielded the defence well that day but guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Who would you have played in his place given mcCarthy, Gibson and Osman have all been unfit for large chunks of the season?

 

[TippEverton]

Thought he shielded the defence well that day but guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Who would you have played in his place given mcCarthy, Gibson and Osman have all been unfit for large chunks of the season?

There wasn't much to shield from, James McArthur or Joe Ledley wont strike fear into many teams as a centre midfield pairing. But even if they were better players it was more the way Palace played that day rather than the individuals, but, like you said wel agree to disagree.

I think that's an unfair question as with all them names you have listed its like as if there was no other option in any of the games.

I just think there have been a few games where we could have used someone else but haven't, the league cup game sticks in my mind, and also at various times during the season its felt as though its against some unwritten law that Besic and McCarthy cant play together without Barry which I don't believe myself, it should have been tried more than it has been so far this season imo.

 

[IRO1977]

Did anyone at all except martinez think he'd last the whole game once he got booked after 15 mins? The guy's so slow he simply pulls people down as soon as they knock the ball past him. At least Besic develops some resemblance of common sense once he gets a yellow

 

[LinekersLegs]

There wasn't much to shield from, James McArthur or Joe Ledley wont strike fear into many teams as a centre midfield pairing. But even if they were better players it was more the way Palace played that day rather than the individuals, but, like you said wel agree to disagree.

I think that's an unfair question as with all them names you have listed its like as if there was no other option in any of the games.

I just think there have been a few games where we could have used someone else but haven't, the league cup game sticks in my mind, and also at various times during the season its felt as though its against some unwritten law that Besic and McCarthy cant play together without Barry which I don't believe myself, it should have been tried more than it has been so far this season imo.

It might be an unfair question but it is the one that Martinez has had to deal with - don't you think it a touch unfair of you to complain without taking into account the circumstances?

McCarthy - Injured Wolfsberg 27th Nov out for a month, back for Stoke on Dec 26th but breaks down next game vs Newcastle 28th Dec, only returns 7th Feb. Misses premier league games 13, 14 , 15 ,16 ,17, 20, 21 ,22 , 23
Osman - Injured vs West Ham 22 Nov, takes a while to diagnose problem so plays in a couple of games but not seen since 2 min cameo vs Man City 6th Dec. Missing league games 16 onwards
Gibson - last match 14th Nov for Ireland, first appearance on bench Crystal Palace. Misses games 12-22

Basically since end November until this week if we didn't want to play Barry our choices in midfield been to partner Besic with Barkley or a youth team player like Ledson. Perhaps we should have, especially in a game such as West Brom or Hull, but it isn't quite as straight forward as made out.

As for the Capital one league cup game it was at the end of September and Barry was rested for that game - Gibson and Besic were partnered together, Barry didn't even make the bench.