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James McCarthy

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Zatara said:
@Saint Domingo

So, where would you play Barkley and i assume you would get rid of Gibson/Barry and have McCarthy/Besic (if fit) on the bench + bring in how many new players?
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In an ideal world? I would partner Barkley in deep midfield with a top quality anchor midfield player who has great distribution. A Busquets/Xabi Alonso/Javi Martinez type.

I would then bring in an extra player which would either be a second striker to play off Lukaku, or a number 10 to play behind him.

A creative wide player for the left hand side would also be ideal but that is getting greedy.

This is all fantasy stuff though. There are players in the current squad we can utilise to better effect to create a better balance. I'm just not of the opinion that the current midfield three are our best option.
 
WarringtonBlue said:
You always need someone who does the simple things well. McCarthy is that. I don't need him to score or assist other players can do that. Only besic and him can cover the pitch like he does. However it is often only him protecting the centre backs and opposition know and can exploit this
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I get what you mean, and I kind of agree, but I just don't think he does enough.

He's not a deep lying player in the way that Carsley was, or Makelele or whoever. If he was then that would be fine, great even. He isn't though, he just doesn't seem to have the positional sense or discipline to sit there and sweep up. His game is all about energy and running, he plays like a box to box midfielder, but without the required skillset.

I think we paid a fee that took into account he was only 22, and reflected the possibility that he could develop into a proper box to box player, a bit like City did for Rodwell and Liverpool did for Henderson. I don't think any of them have done it, and I wouldn't expect any of them to go for the same sort of money again in future. To me McCarthy is in a similar bracket to the likes of Cattermole, Jack Cork, Ryan Mason etc. A decent player who does a job, but won't dominate midfield battles and give a proper platform for the team to perform.
 
Zatara said:
I dont follow, he's a defensive midfielder so why would you assess his goal return? How many goals does Busquets score or makalele, Gattuso, Jeremies in their careers?

Also, if you would sell him and replace him with a 'number 8' then no one would do the running for Barry (assuming he's your 6?) and if Barry is finished after this season (does a distin) we would have no defensive midfielders.
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Ok, if the talk is about systems, then one defensive midfielder with a box to box midfielder should be enough. Maybe thats part of the reason i don't look at him offering too much. Barry does the better defensive work but doesnt have the legs, a proper midfielder sitting next to someone of a defensive midfielder should be able to contribute in all phases of play.
 
Saint Domingo said:
In an ideal world? I would partner Barkley in deep midfield with a top quality anchor midfield player who has great distribution. A Busquets/Xabi Alonso/Javi Martinez type.

I would then bring in an extra player which would either be a second striker to play off Lukaku, or a number 10 to play behind him.

A creative wide player for the left hand side would also be ideal but that is getting greedy.

This is all fantasy stuff though. There are players in the current squad we can utilise to better effect to create a better balance. I'm just not of the opinion that the current midfield three are our best option.
Click to expand...

I think the only player in the squad who could perform that type of role next to Barry would be Besic and as hes been injured so much thats perhaps just wishful thinking.

Beyond Busquets,Niguez and other big names im not sure who could perform that role who "may" be attainable for a big fee...id say Navas at Porto but hes not exceptional defensively compared to the others or Tielemans who has all the skills needed but would perhaps need a couple of seasons to adapt and learn the position.

Barkley himself would need to up his game as well as he would have to improve defensively.
 
For an experience international that was pretty foolhardy when you're already on a pointless yellow card. Instinct? Maybe.

But as an experience first team player and international then he shouldn't be putting himself into that kind of position.
 

Well at least we now can answer "what does he actually do in a game?"
Take him with you please Roberto as you exit stage right..
 


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