Gareth Barry

[Eggs]

15 appearances out of Everton's 16 games so far though...33 years old?

Not clever planning, tbf.

.....funny enough Lee Carsley was a regular at a similar age in the same position. I'm not doubting the physicality of his game but it's probably a position where you are able to play regularly.

 

[Goat]

Consecutive games in terms of three or four, yeah. 15 out of 16 though is pushing it a bit!!

Hasnt shown any signs of fatigue yet David.

 

[RFUS]

Hasnt shown any signs of fatigue yet David.

Exactly. Fairly sure he's never missed a game for us through anything other than suspension or ineligibility.

It's taken a rubbish tackle from a grocky midfielder to injure him.

 

[bluegirl]

Gibson.

He gives it away too much for me and then is far too slow to win it back, perfect example in the sunderland box today.

Besic is more of a Barry type player but with the legs. Besic plays it simple and keeps it, whilst running around and winning it at the same time. He has the bad tackle in him though which is a bad side but it's not all bad with someone like that, we've got to have bit of snide.

Gibson tries to break the defence with every pass, which is great, but 90% of the time he gives it away and cause he's not match fit he's too slow to win it back.

 

[davek]

But he has already had two international breaks in that run with the other coming up. He was the same last year, only really started to fade when the internationals dried up. besic is still finding his way in the league, Gibson getting up to full fitness and our defence has had enforced changes due to injuries. Our attack hasn't quite settled down into a fluid system - the one part of the pitch that was working well and that Roberto could rely on both to help defence and supoort attack was the Barry/McCarthy axis. Don't blame him for wanting to keep it as stable as possible.

Maybe, he is used to a high workload, but that doesn't mean you have to keep pushing your luck with a player his age...and certainly not when he's carrying a heavy knock from the last match.

I'd also point out that those two in CM have had to work extra hard this season due to there being a massive cavity where Barkley usually operated in front of them.

Little wonder the two are walking wounded right now.

Martinez is a very good, potentially very successful, manager. I like him and think he's the best we can have. But he doesn't get a free pass for being friggin stupid.

 

[davek]

Hasnt shown any signs of fatigue yet David.

Did you see how he injured himself against Lille? He came out of one challenge and was blowing for tugs staggering forward trying to make it to the loose ball when he clattered into the player he injured and injured himself on.

 

[Donald Twain]

Have they shot him yet?

 

[Goat]

Did you see how he injured himself against Lille? He came out of one challenge and was blowing for tugs staggering forward trying to make it to the loose ball when he clattered into the player he injured and injured himself on.

Defensive midfielder in midfield battle for the ball shocker.

 

[Eggs]

Tell me how Jordi Gomez didnt get a red card. It should of been a red for the challenge but where was his yellow for simulation minutes after ?

Very poor.

....RM reckons the tackle wasn't that bad, more mis-timed than on purpose. The 2nd yellow, though, surely should've happened and the ref could be in lumber for not getting that right. I don't think the defender got a card at all for the penalty incident and I suppose he could've also sent McCarthy off for the hand ball offence. I think both sets of fans would agree he had a poor game.

 

[royalblue66]

Lee Mason is a twonk

As well

 

[davek]

.....funny enough Lee Carsley was a regular at a similar age in the same position. I'm not doubting the physicality of his game but it's probably a position where you are able to play regularly.

Lee had one of those games where he'd patrol the back four in a very defined area. Job done.

 

[PhilM]

Consecutive games in terms of three or four, yeah. 15 out of 16 though is pushing it a bit!!

Off the top of my head there are a number of quality defensive midfielders who have shone in their twilight years of their early thirties.

Claude Makélélé, Ballack, Vieira, Cambiasso and Gatusso are a few examples who excelled as they got older. Experience was always the key asset.

Maybe in today's quicker game it isn't as much as a necessity.

 

[Gibbo4]

He gives it away too much for me and then is far too slow to win it back, perfect example in the sunderland box today.

Besic is more of a Barry type player but with the legs. Besic plays it simple and keeps it, whilst running around and winning it at the same time. He has the bad tackle in him though which is a bad side but it's not all bad with someone like that, we've got to have bit of snide.

Gibson tries to break the defence with every pass, which is great, but 90% of the time he gives it away and cause he's not match fit he's too slow to win it back.

This simply isn't true. He had the most touches out of anyone on the park with 94.2% passing accuracy. You're seeing what you want to see instead of reality. Your post is one big cliche.

 

[davek]

Off the top of my head there are a number of quality defensive midfielders who have shone in their twilight years of their early thirties.

Claude Makélélé, Ballack, Vieira, Cambiasso and Gatusso are a few examples who excelled as they got older. Experience was always the key asset.

Maybe in today's quicker game it isn't as much as a necessity.

I doubt any of them would have played too many matches after limping off the game before though.

 

[bluegirl]

This simply isn't true. He had the most touches out of anyone on the park with 94.2% passing accuracy. You're seeing what you want to see instead of reality. Your post is one big cliche.

Only my opinion. He slows our play down and I'd rather see Besic on the field than Gibson myself. I'm not slating him because he did a job today and will always do a job but (and i know I'm going to get some stick for this) I don't think he offers anymore than Osman does there.