Two More Things to happen to this Team for me....

[Mellotron]

Barnes..... I cant see him being in front of any of the players mentioned above, I think Poyet has laid down the marker to the fringe players in the Argus last week

Barnes isn't a fringe player - he's one of the first names on the teamsheet for Gus.

 

[AMEXican Wave]

We need a strong 1st 18, so with this in mind :

2 strikers
2 central midfielders
1 central defender ( possible Miguel on loan from Arsenal )

 

[The Gem]

Barnes isn't a fringe player - he's one of the first names on the teamsheet for Gus.

I have a feeling this season he wont be.

 

[Mellotron]

I have a feeling this season he wont be.

I'm guessing him and Gus have fallen out then? Gus absolutely ADORES Barnes. Sure, there is more quality around him, but I'd bet my house Barnes still figures pretty heavily this coming season.

 

[Notters]

I have a feeling this season he wont be.

Gus isn't suddenly going to decide that he's shit now is he? He's a cracking young talent and I don't know what it'll take for people on here to realise that. He's fantastic going forward and made numerous vital defensive headers as well.

 

[lawros left foot]

I would say that CMS is more in danger of being a fringe player than Barnes,if we sign a "Gem" striker,as Barnes is less one dimensional than him.Barnes also fits our team plan better as well

 

[Lethargic]

I would say that CMS is more in danger of being a fringe player than Barnes,if we sign a "Gem" striker,as Barnes is less one dimensional than him.Barnes also fits our team plan better as well

This, Barnes will be in the team more than not next season I think Gus sees him as our equilent to Fabrigas (sp) for Spain not as skillful I know but able to interchange between midfield and attack in a dynamic way to suit the game situation. He will only get better and once his first touch improves will be a very good player.

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

Barnes will be in the same place this season, depending on any new signings of course. Wouldnt want him up front with CMS as i dont think hes the answer.

Barnes would only be dropped unless he has an almighty shocker of a match.

 

[Captain Haddock]

Priority one for me is the midfielder.

Last season when we were "under the cosh" it was one of four factors that brought it about:

1.Having the ball passed round our wide defence
2. Having the ball passed through or over our central midfield
3. Giving the ball away cheaply as we came forward out of defence leaving everyone out of position/on the wrong foot
4. Playing too deep

We have taken steps with Bruno and Bridge to deal with point 1. Point 2 and 3 are crucial - we need someone with physical presence to command midfield; someone able to run with the ball and hold it when there isn't a pass available but also able to spot and play an accurate pass to maintain possession in key areas. If they can get forward and support the attack, especially at set pieces, then well and good but the key function is to keep the ball and to release the rest of the midfield to commit forward. It would immediately obviate the need to play Barnes as a defence-minded forward allowing him (or whoever) to fully commit to scoring goals.

Defending too deep is an easy situation to get into and hard to get out of. With your captain and loudest voice committed at the back it is often tempting to rally around him where a midfielder with experience and good vision can "captain" the midfield and ensure that we are not drawn to deep and do not lose shape.

Scoring goals will come from a better shape and the ability to move the ball with greater freedom and control (and hopefully speed) in midfield. Another striker giving a height option would be an asset but it is in no way as essential given the level of offensive potential we already possess.

Excellent post. Completely agree. Might I just add that it's also all about movement. Spain excelled themselves this summer in games where they took the initiative fully and kept their opposition on the hop. Albion's play last season could sometimes be predictable with telegraphed passes. Partly this could be attributable to quality of player we had but I firmly believe that even with the same squad as last season we had things we could be improving on in our passing game.

Time playing "the Albion way" will gradually see improvements but certainly upgrading the squad will escalate that process.

Triangles! Triangles! Triangles! That's the way....(we had squares too often last term).

 

[severnside gull]

Excellent post. Completely agree. Might I just add that it's also all about movement. Spain excelled themselves this summer in games where they took the initiative fully and kept their opposition on the hop. Albion's play last season could sometimes be predictable with telegraphed passes. Partly this could be attributable to quality of player we had but I firmly believe that even with the same squad as last season we had things we could be improving on in our passing game.

Time playing "the Albion way" will gradually see improvements but certainly upgrading the squad will escalate that process.

Triangles! Triangles! Triangles! That's the way....(we had squares too often last term).

Agree with that. Alternating the pace and direction of passes is what hurts defences but only as long as the passes are accurate. They needn't be long to be incisive and triangles immediately give a momentum that passing in squares does not.

 

[Seaber]

Priority has to be the strong midfielder, then a striker. We have three very good strikers in CMS, Barnes and Hoskins, with Barnes and Hoskins able to move out wide if needs be. Agdestein is very promising too. However, none of them are what you'd describe as big or strong, something we lack at times.

Defence is totally sorted for now.

 

[northstandsteve]

To avoid the obvious: the squad does look rather specialist for a Total Football team. Short of Buckley learning a deeper midfield role, we might need a utility player. I thought Spain would not have won the Euro without Ramos, a destroying defender who was happy on the ball in midfield. So a Ramos type of player would be an asset if we could find one.

good shout is he available ?

 

[JoeBHAFC]

GK kooshack
LB Bridge
CB Greer
CB El-abd/Dunk
RB Bruno
CM Bridcutt
CM New CM
LAM Vicente
RW Buckley/Lualua/Noone
ST CMS
ST New Striker/Barnes or winger if playing with one striker