drop barton?

[zeberdee]

The main difference from what i can gather on Saturday, was midfielders getting into the box and getting in front of Austin. Why this suddenly happened on Sat and not before is the mystery to me.

Well a lot of the attack this season has been focused around the wingers Hoilett/Phillips but neither was on the pitch on saturday which produces a different dynamic - other players can step up to the plate if they fancy their chances which apparently they did at Ipswich. Not saying the wingers are finished or anything dramatic - just that maybe some of the attacking roles were more up in the air because they were absent and there was a space to fill.

[Bluehoop]

The thing is, Henry being slower on the ball and less creative with it might actually have something to do with how we got players in more advanced positions on Saturday? It wasn't a tactical switch but Barton getting injured may just have helped us out - Carrol did become the dominant midfielder and we did get bodies forward and that may have been in part due to the slower and more negative attempts at distribution by Henry. As someone said above, he did a fair bit of spoiling (break up play) which always goes unnoticed and I didn't think he had that bad a half.

[zeberdee]

As for Barton though I wanted him to stay all summer and he has done well. But CM is a difficult place to play every single game over a whole season because it is an all action position on the pitch so I think it will make sense to give him a few games off at some point just to keep things fresh. Wouldn't be in any hurry to rest him but if he is injured there is no need to rush him back at break neck speed either.

[dangould]

Drop Barton NEVER

[Shania]

we never played the usual one or two wingers hoilett, phillips or swp , a lot of our play breaks down from them and they are forever giving the ball away or wasteful , henry is slow and prone to mistakes where as barton is a leader and never hides on the pitch even if he messes up he still wants the ball

That´s true. But I just wanted to give Karl Henry some credit for what I saw from him on the day.

[Bluehoop]

"barton is a leader and never hides on the pitch even if he messes up he still wants the ball"

That is very true and a big positive but if people think this about Barton, why no credit to Carrol for having the exact same trait - and as a kid that's one special trait to have?

[Stanley]

i agree he has been one of our best players this season and this could have been a one off , but all the same its worth a debate i think.

I agree.

Carroll's shackles were more released and he came into his own, with Henry more of an enforcer role v Ipswich. Bit of a dilemma for Harry IMO if Barton recovers in time for Sat. It's no question our play improved with the enforced change but Barton must get credit for the goal line clearance. His corner-taking is still inconsistent though with two poor ones again in the 1st half.

[jmelanie]

Shouldn't we be discussing how lucky we are that we can change formations around without too much of a problem, unlike most teams in the championship who have a limited number of players they can use.

[nasser95]

Playing two creative players in defensive midfield limits them both because they can't hide from the defensive work. Having Henry there means that the creative players can roam a bit more and do more in attacking without having to fear of being hit on the counter. That is it, very simply.

[brightonr]

Shouldn't we be discussing how lucky we are that we can change formations around without too much of a problem, unlike most teams in the championship who have a limited number of players they can use.

Very good point m'lady.

[Rich]

Barton would be my 3rd name on the team sheet after Austin and Onouha

[QPRDave]

Well a lot of the attack this season has been focused around the wingers Hoilett/Phillips but neither was on the pitch on saturday which produces a different dynamic - other players can step up to the plate if they fancy their chances which apparently they did at Ipswich. Not saying the wingers are finished or anything dramatic - just that maybe some of the attacking roles were more up in the air because they were absent and there was a space to fill.

Yeah fair point zeb ..could be the reason

[Connell10]

mmmm this thread turned out really well, many good points and all put forward in a mature way, well done everyone!

[maverick69]

I would argue that he's already been dropped........ at birth.

However. He's a ****** brilliant footballer at fizzy pop level.

Goalie, Austin, Barton...... then fill in the rest........