2018/19 Lucas Digne

[Zatara]

McCarthy is literally everything that you've just said a 'super DM' isn't, though?

I agree, a Neves/Thiago type and class deep-lying playmaker (not a defensive midfielder to me!) is the key. But they still need legs around them anyway.

Which is where you need your DM to step up, and it's why a McCarthy/Gana is okay if they're fit and tasked with that role.

Which conversely is why you then need a player next to them who can dictate the play. Hopefully that's Gomes.

No, he's not a deep-lying playmaker, but he is able to get up the pitch on the ball either by dribbling or passing, and that's more than what we have at the moment.

If people dont like McCarthy it underlines how far we've degraded as a fanbase.

He'd be better defensively if DCL wasn't missing in action. Digne had to play two positions yesterday.

If we could choose a DM in our squad to play every game until a superior player is signed it would have to be McCarthy.

If we signed a star deep lying playmaker and wanted to go with a DM next to him it surely would be McCarthy.

Sadly, hes always injured so he (like the rest of the senior central midfielders) should be sold

 

[What is going on]

Errrrm.

Errrrm what

 

[Brisan123]

I like him but when we lose the ball sloppily he will always be caught out of position. We need to keep possession better for players not to be caught out.

Or here’s a novel idea ,what if the DM’s did their jobs properly and covered the FB when he goes upfield

 

[Brisan123]

..he’s a class act in possession. It has to be said, two of the goals came from the LB position.

Why some lads can’t see this is beyond me
The first he was caught out of position and the second both him and Zouma showed Yarmelenko inside onto his favoured left foot
The first goal could have been stopped if the DM covered him but the second goal is entirely down to him and Zouma
Has a great cross on him though and in a settled system will nearly be as good as Baines in his Prime

 

[Simon Buttle]

Or here’s a novel idea ,what if the DM’s did their jobs properly and covered the FB when he goes upfield

Exactly, in a 4-2-3-1 system the idea is that when the fullbacks move forward one of the DM's moves back to make a third CB, ours don't for some reason.

 

[bol-uk]

He's part of an very unsettled back four, no one has been part of the same system yet.
I would actually play Mina and Keane on Sunday and stick with them.
Ricco will also get back to cover Digne most times.

 

[Brisan123]

That's the point - or should be, at least - of having holding midfielders. Neither Gana or Schneiderlin did their jobs yesterday and by the second half we had to go 4-4-2 so pretty much had nobody there.

It's why we're so limited with Gana being our playmaker. It's ludicrous.

He was abysmal in every department yesterday, and he gave the ball away for their first goal with a reckless pass. But why we're having him as that player is the issue.

Gomes will ideally sort that, and let Gana do what he's good at which is covering the space. He wasn't good yesterday, at anything, but we know he does have the capability to be good at that and has shown over his time here that is his best asset. McCarthy is waiting in the wings in few weeks as well and as much as people don't like him on here, he's a good option for that type of player.

If and it’s a big if McCarthy stays fit I think he’s a better option than Gana for that role
Better passer of the ball and more football intelligence

 

[BlueToff]

He's part of an very unsettled back four, no one has been part of the same system yet.
I would actually play Mina and Keane on Sunday and stick with them.
Ricco will also get back to cover Digne most times.

I doubt Keane will be able to play.

 

[bol-uk]

I doubt Keane will be able to play.

Was quoted as being a "few days away" on Sunday.

He needs to, was just coming into form and Holgate needs some time away from the firing line. Aubameyang and Lacazette are not what he needs to be facing at the moment.

 

[Brisan123]

Stick a player in that midfield who can carry the ball and take players on, and it opens up space for our attacking talent. Ironically I reckon Barkley could have flourished under Silva.

Would you have Barkley back if the Russians have a word with the gangsters

 

[BlueToff]

Was quoted as being a "few days away" on Sunday.

He needs to, was just coming into form and Holgate needs some time away from the firing line. Aubameyang and Lacazette are not what he needs to be facing at the moment.

He's in training but Silva said he'll only start heading the ball today, at a push.

You can't risk that type of injury. I'd rather have Mina in and Zouma, than risk Keane having a setback. If he's ready it's good news, but I think it'll be a push.

 

[Goat]

 

[bol-uk]

He's in training but Silva said he'll only start heading the ball today, at a push.

You can't risk that type of injury. I'd rather have Mina in and Zouma, than risk Keane having a setback. If he's ready it's good news, but I think it'll be a push.

Fair enough, cannot risk head stuff.

 

[d34noj]

Why some lads can’t see this is beyond me
The first he was caught out of position and the second both him and Zouma showed Yarmelenko inside onto his favoured left foot
The first goal could have been stopped if the DM covered him but the second goal is entirely down to him and Zouma
Has a great cross on him though and in a settled system will nearly be as good as Baines in his Prime

He was doing the work of 2 men Sunday - All Calvert-Lewin wanted to do was drift inside.

 

[BlueToff]

@banno @Brisan123

Yep, he will get caught out if we concede possession.

So, we have to have one CM (if we're playing 4-2-3-1 this is) who can keep the ball and move us up the pitch, and also takes care of it with his passing (hopefully this is Gomes, for now anyway) and then the other player has to be a player like Gana/McCarthy who has the legs to cover the full-backs if we do get countered.