Gibson is out injured, right now. Who do we play in midfield? Who do we have on the bench?
We're so short there.
He's 50/50 but Martinez still has options:
______________Howard
_______Stones Jagielka Distin
Coleman __________________Baines
___________Fellaini Osman
_____Mirallas ____________Pienaar
______________Jelavic
__________Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
___________Heitinga
_Mirallas Fellaini Barkley Pienaar
___________Jelavic
__________Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
_______Fellaini Osman
___Mirallas Barkley Pienaar
__________Jelavic
__________Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
____Osman Fellaini Barkley
____Mirallas Jelavic Pienaar
That's one of the beauties of being able to adapt our system. And, in an emergency, I don't think Roberto would have too many qualms about pitching Pienaar, Naismith, Junior or Lundstram into the middle.
We were tied to having two holding midfielders under Moyes and it's not always necessary. Signing Barry wouldn't be much better than bringing Neville back out of retirement.