Deulofeu on target again for Spain U21s

In my opinion, he is best served as an impact sub until he can play for 90 minutes and not 60.

I'd love him to be fully match fit, in a side with Lennon and Ross all interchangeable in behind Rom.

Again has to get fitter though, and show a better attitude on the pitch; it does my head in when he's throwing his arms about like a disappointed school kid.

Sorry to end this post with another dig at Martinez, but it is his job to get all the lads match fit and disciplined.

Only way is maybe bring Lennon a bit more into the center, but then what to do with Ross?

The squad is strong; I think he needs to bide his time and tear defences apart in the last 20 mins after coming on...

I'm sure we'll see more of Deulofeu in the run in. Lennon is playing out of his skin at the moment but I've no doubt Geri is the better prospect. Kind of like when Lescott was keeping Baines out of the left-back position – it's just a matter of time.

"Doesn't work hard enough defensively" – Something you will not hear being said about class attacking players at Man City, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

That Ronaldo and Bale are really known for their defensive ability and tackling aren't they? Same for Messi, Suarez and Neymar... I mean, how do Barcelona get by with those 3 on the pitch together at the same time?

Ronaldo didn't move from being naturally gifted to great by defending. He did it by being supremely gifted with the ball and scoring a ton of goals. Same for Bale, Suarez, Neymar, Zlatan, Aguero, and on and on.

In fact, their teams know they don't want those players always tracking back in defense because they are far more useful staying up the pitch to quickly turn defense into attack.

I wouldn't suggest he needs to add hard work to his repertoire so he can collect the ball at his own corner flag... knackered.

That's why many would prefer to see a 2-m tall lump of a centre-back who can kick the ball into Row Z over Stones, or a hard-working Lee Cattermole type player over Barkley, or a non-stop headless chicken like Andy Johnson over Lukaku. Why? "Because they put a shift in."

It's this attitude which has kept English football on a slow, downward spiral for 50 years. Give me skill over sweat any day of the week.

Then there's the matter of our manager and his substitutions (or lack thereof). If he's identified what most of us knew, that Geri isn't fit enough to last the full 90 minutes, why not use him as an impact sub for say, 30 mins, not to replace Lennon, but maybe in place of Cleverley or even Barkley if he's having a quiet game?

As someone has already said, if he's left to rot on the bench, it won't be long before he joins the ranks of players wanting to leave the club. Martinez needs to brush up on his man-management skills, if he had any in the first place.

How could they? Because when he's on form, he is as good as any attacking player in the whole of The Premier League. A bold statement I know, but in the first half at Man City (possibly his last start) Geri was the standout player on the pitch.

Aguero is class, likewise Silva, but in that first half, Gerard Deulofeu, was the calmest and classiest player on the pitch.

Give him a go off Lukaku, especially as Ant says, as an impact sub. Because once a game becomes stretched, this kid has the talent to cause absolute mayhem!

He, or Lennon, could also be tried on the left and endeavour to form a partnership with Baines. if they have to come inside to allow Baines to overlap then it makes no odds if they are right- or left-footed, they'd be playing the type of "wall pass" to get Baines to the bye-line. Or vice versa.

It would HAVE to be better than the square peg of Cleverley or Barkley being hammered into the round hole.

Stones should be playing also, it is the coaching – be it fitness; awareness; decision-making – that is letting these talented boys down.

Like Colin says above... Give me skill and natural ability over a "grafter" every day of the week. Especially in the more advanced positions.

We have an absolute gem in Del Boy and not using him will inevitably lead to him feeling unwanted and wanting to prove himself elsewhere. Yes he's blowing out of his arse but he has the talent to glide past people and create so many chances. Just look at his assist stats.

Like when Rooney came through the ranks, the ability to lift bums from seats is something only a few players are capable of. Del is one.

I think Martinez knew his side were struggling defensively half-way through the season and in his wisdom has chosen Geri as his scapegoat, or at least chosen Lennon as a better defensive cover for Coleman. I too would like to see Geri get Ross's place a few times to see how he fairs.

When you want to shore-up the defence in the last five, Geri isn't going to do that job but Aaron will. I'd prefer him starting and Lennon coming on at 60 mins if it's not happening. Better than the other way around.

I also think we could play him on the left. He's a class act.

Though, I do think Mirallas and Deulofeu on the flanks would be quite devastating. The unfortunate thing is that Mirallas is either out of favour/sorts/form at the moment.

While these wide players may not work hard enough, as long as your middle players can do that, it'll more than compensate. Or, instead of tracking back, our forward players are better off trying to press. That way, they are less likely to be on the backfoot tracking back, or get injured trying to tackle someone.

Pressing the opposition is about getting them to release the ball earlier than they want to, or have a chance to re-group. You may not win the ball back, but you can disrupt the opposition's rhythm.

Also, Deulofeu got a lot of his assists by bending in great balls for Lukaku to attack. His right peg is something of a magic wand on his day and being on the right lets him utilise it better, I think.

I still think that, on their day, this could be our best team:

Robles;
Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines;
Besic, Barry;
Deulofeu, Barkley, Lennon;
Lukaku.

No disrespect to Jagielka who is our most consistent defender but, when on form, Stones and Funes Mori should be a great pairing in theory.

Why? Because we don't have a manager capable of moulding these talented players into a team!!

I've been out of the country for 10 days and return to find nothing (appears) to be happening. Perhaps I've missed something, but nothing seems to have changed?

This is probably our best team at the moment. But, when you analyse it, Robles, Coleman, Baines, Besic, Barry, Deulofeu, Lennon... are these the type of players you would see in a Champions League team?

We are still short of personnel to reach the heights we want.

Shearer, Owen, Fowler, Rush, Greaves, Charlton, Law, Latchford, Lineker, Cottee and dozens more never tackled back and the same goes for many of today's strikers.

We have ruined lots of strikers by turning them into work horses, eg, Bent, Johnson, Beckford etc. Now we actually have a 'real' striker and it looks like we will lose him. I can't see us replacing Lukaku!!

A team of:

Robles

Coleman
Stones
Funes Mori
Baines

McCarthy
Barry

Deulofeu

Lennon
Lukaku
Mirallas

– would be more direct, entertaining and score more goals.

It's working better for us that we can utilise both him and Lennon and hopefully keep Barcelona from sniffing.

Either way, he doesn't seem to be expressing any displeasure (though he always looks miserable).