Ross Barkley

[Allezfan]

Really is hard to judge because we were away to one of the most fluid attacking sides in the league. It would have been a tactical choice to stand off at certain points of the game.

I thought in we created a few good opportunities in the first half, and ran out of steam due to the defensive workrate in the second half. I'd like to see the same side put out there today against lesser opposition as I believe we'll work 5-10 yards higher up the pitch all round and impose our will a lot more, whilst keeping the door shut at the back.

If we play Fellaini and Anichebe up front, I fear that our counter attack will repeatedly be route one because we won't have enough pace to support a controlled attack. I'd like to see Anichebe as the target man to play off, Fellaini as the anchor, which allows Barkley, Mirallas and Pienaar to attack at will, knowing that Gibson will hold the middle ground behind them and mop up.

We'll see.

Like I said I agree in principle, this is my preffered team too. Just think it's ridiculous to point at the arsenal game, which was probably one of our worst attacking performances of the season and say 'look, look how much better we are when we do that'.

 

[kenada_blue]

Yeah I think Gibson is more than capable of holding the midfield on his own.

Not for me like.

 

[Allezfan]

Not for me like.

He's the best holding midfielder at the club, and if he's got Fellaini alongside him, we should be very solid and good at holding onto the ball. It's just the gap between those two and the attackers that will worry you.

We played long ball more vs arsenal then we normally do with Felli further up because that gap was too big.

 

[kenada_blue]

He's the best holding midfielder at the club, and if he's got Fellaini alongside him, we should be very solid and good at holding onto the ball. It's just the gap between those two and the attackers that will worry you.

We played long ball more vs arsenal then we normally do with Felli further up because that gap was too big.

He's the only "holding midfielder" at the club. I'd have Felli doing the destruction every day of the week as I don't think that's Gibsons strongest attribute.

Think we've needed a proper DM for a while. Minus Felli we've got hard working central midfielders rather than players who disrupt attacks - one of many reasons why we concede goals regularly (minus the last few weeks)

 

[Allezfan]

He's the only "holding midfielder" at the club. I'd have Felli doing the destruction every day of the week as I don't think that's Gibsons strongest attribute.

Think we've needed a proper DM for a while. Minus Felli we've got hard working central midfielders rather than players who disrupt attacks - one of many reasons why we concede goals regularly (minus the last few weeks)

Pretty much.

Felli is a destructive player. Gibson, Neville, hitz, heitinga and Rodwell aren't. They just are postionally disciplined enough to guard the space in front of the defence which fellaini isn't.

The thing is Felli does the destructive work no matter where you play him. You still need someone like gibson who will track runners and hold his postion in front of the defence while Fellaini charges about looking for the ball. It's just that your options are putting a defender there, or putting a ball player there who can can actually do something with the ball rather than make five yard passes. Which is why gibson is such a step up from neville or hetinga.

 

[ArtetaMagic]

The team we played vs Arsenal happens to be the one I prefer and have been calling for for about six months.

But it was an incredibly uncreative and defensive team.

I think its the way forward. Pienaar and Mirallas were'nt really at it and away to Arsenal its difficult to judge. I would start the same team again today

 

[Khalekan]

I liked Tuesday's starting XI and would continue with it today if all are fit and available.


Mirallas wasn't good the other night but when he plays well then we have an attacking spark likely to fizzle at any time.

Ditto our ledt wing axis of Baines and Pienaar never got going.

We were playing Arsenal away....it was always going to be difficult to attack but we did OK.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

"giving the ball away in dangerous areas", take it I missed Moyes publically criticing fellaini for doing just that with the most ridiculous attempt at a clearance across his penalty area on Tuesday?
All players do it but theres no need to make such an issue of it with a young inexperienced player in public.
I don't mind if he doesn't start today, no harm in giving him game time here and there, just hope he still in and around the team rather than disappearing for ages.

 

[Gibbo4]

He's the only "holding midfielder" at the club. I'd have Felli doing the destruction every day of the week as I don't think that's Gibsons strongest attribute.

Think we've needed a proper DM for a while. Minus Felli we've got hard working central midfielders rather than players who disrupt attacks - one of many reasons why we concede goals regularly (minus the last few weeks)

Just thought I'd throw a stat into the mix. With Gibson this season we concede a goal every 99.33 minutes. Without Gibson this is reduced to a goal every 67.27 minutes. So you can see that Gibson's positional sense and workrate dramatically improve our defence.

 

[chicoazul]

Rosderbozbarklee.

 

[Bluenose1995]

Can see players turning on moyes if he carries on with this snide comment to the Redcoat rag echo

 

[bluebottle]

Can see players turning on moyes if he carries on with this snide comment to the Redcoat rag echo

I disagree with pretty much everything you say, but I love you mr bluenose.

 

[kenada_blue]

Just thought I'd throw a stat into the mix. With Gibson this season we concede a goal every 99.33 minutes. Without Gibson this is reduced to a goal every 67.27 minutes. So you can see that Gibson's positional sense and workrate dramatically improve our defence.

And when we play a proper DM in there we'll concede even less.

Simples.

 

[Tubey]

What is Osman doing lately that Ross isn't?

Oh, to be clear, I actually like Osman as a player, but he hasn't played well since his first England cap.

This.

 

[Gibbo4]

And when we play a proper DM in there we'll concede even less.

Simples.

Lol. That Gibson average equates to only 34 goals conceded a season. As in just about the best in the league. Good luck beating that with your proper DM. I'd say a proper goalie would be more important in reducing goals conceded.