Barry to miss visit of Swansea

Saturday, 5 November, 2016 39comments  |  Jump to most recent
Gareth Barry will be missing from the starting XI that takes on Swansea City after international break after picking up another booking during today's humiliation at the hands of Chelsea.

The yellow card that was shown to the midfielder by referee Robert Madley was his fifth of the season and triggers a one-game ban.

It means that Ronald Koeman will be without his first choice defensive midfield partnership for the second game running – Idrissa Gueye missed the defeat at Stamford Bridge for the same disciplinary reason.  



Reader Comments (39)

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Damian Wilde
1 Posted 06/11/2016 at 00:32:09
Cleverley a shoe-in to start. He loves him.

Koeman is clueless. What is our style? Our attacking play isn't great.

Patrick Murphy
2 Posted 06/11/2016 at 00:33:57
Damian (1) If you send in your application for the manager's seat, during the international break, you never know it might just get you the position. :)
Paul Holmes
3 Posted 06/11/2016 at 00:41:01
Fantastic news, OAP Gareth Barry should be on the coaching staff at his age 36/37. Today's game is about pressing and energy, he's too easy to run past.

A midfield of Barry, Barkley and Cleverley is a Championship set- up. Give some of the kids a chance or even Niasse can run and press for 90 minutes.

Niasse and Gueye have energy to close the ball down, that would be at least a start (working hard off the ball). Barry and Barkley run round the pitch looking like they have diving boots on, ffs!

Craig Fletcher
5 Posted 06/11/2016 at 01:00:30
I wonder actually if missing Barry wouldn't be the worst thing, as good and consistent as Barry has been.

It may force Koeman to play just one holding midfielder (Gueye) with a back four, and play with a more forward-thinking central midfielder (Tom Davies, anyone?) to be the link between defence and attack.

thank goodness for an international break next week. I can't remember the last time I've said that.

Tony Hill
6 Posted 06/11/2016 at 01:10:55
Looking ahead to the Swansea game after that tsunami of shite against Abramovich Athletic, I am soothingly reminded of why I am a Blue. It's because I am, Barry or no Barry. And, God knows, forever.

Let us, each and every one, steady ourselves accordingly.

Colin Metcalfe
7 Posted 06/11/2016 at 01:33:54
That so-called performance by Barry only underlines what I have been saying for over 12 months – he should be on the bench and used sparingly.

Please name me what team in the top 10 would have Barry in the team? He looked all his 35 years today and watched the game go by and yet every blue thinks he's absolutely mustard.

Well, I don't... and the quicker he is benched and gives Tom Davies an opportunity, the better!

Mike Dolan
8 Posted 06/11/2016 at 05:36:28
Barry is a great player but limited now by age. We are missing Mo, now would have been his moment. Gana, Mo and Davies plus a General and you are not going to get a lot of results like today. Be faithful, Evertonians – we are on the right track.

Liam Reilly
9 Posted 06/11/2016 at 06:15:09
Davies must start – not Cleverley.

If this season really is just about surviving and getting to know which footballers are worthy of staying, then it must be time to give the youth a chance.

John Malone
10 Posted 06/11/2016 at 09:25:01
Barry is still a quality player but up against the top opposition his lack of pace shows, it's not a new thing – he's been that way his whole career, it's the only downside to his game!

In saying that, we do need a new young and hungry spine to the team; the squad needs a complete overhaul. We've gone from a solid team under Moyes with a strong core with consistent performers to a mish-mash of over-the-hill decent pros and nearly men with talent but no backbone!

I hope and have a feeling there are big changes ahead; I'm just not sure if Ronald MacDonald is the man to do it!

Geoff Williams
11 Posted 06/11/2016 at 09:30:08
His booking was a tactical decision with so many big teams coming up. Missing the Swansea game or Man Utd or Liverpool? – It's a no-brainer.
Chris Gould
12 Posted 06/11/2016 at 09:32:46
So Barry, who has been fantastic, is suddenly too old and shit. Everyone was completely over-run, out-played, and out-thought by a far better team. Not down to Barry.

I was sitting near the halfway line and watched Davies carefully, even when he didn't have the ball. He tried to assert himself and be positive, but no way is he a better option than Barry. Not yet. He isn't particularly quick and doesn't have Barry's reading of the game (how could he at such a young age?).

There were many problems yesterday. Barry was no worse than anyone else.

Kunal Desai
13 Posted 06/11/2016 at 09:43:42
Barry, Jagielka and Kone will be allowed to leave on frees at the end of the season. Like Osman and Hibbert, let them go and do not renew there contracts.
Gary Heywood
14 Posted 06/11/2016 at 09:59:19
Stop playing Barry now! He's far too slow and his experience will never make up for that. Everton seem to have a problem with letting go of aged players, Phil Neville was another one. This is why we must not sign the now past-it Rooney. He can't even get into an average Man Utd team.
Tom Hutton
15 Posted 06/11/2016 at 10:13:27
Barry was no better or worse than the rest of the team yesterday. As has been mentioned with other players, the lack of pace was highlighted, there were a number of poor touches but the lack of anyone finding space off the ball was more of a concern.

Something the team need to resolve with people wanting the ball and on their toes to receive it, if the pass isn't on keep moving for each other.

Easier said than done but as a team of 'internationals' you would think achieveable.

COYB onwards!!

Fran Mitchell
16 Posted 06/11/2016 at 10:17:17
Barry has been our best and most consistent player, and suddenly we must get rid? And replace with whom? We currently have no-one who can step up.

However, it is true that a centre-midfielder of Barry's calibre but 8-10 years younger is a priority.

Mark Morrissey
17 Posted 06/11/2016 at 10:26:23
Our style under Koeman is not going to be an attacking flair team. He's defensive-minded and he'd be happy for 1-0 wins all day long. Don't expect us to become Barcelona. We'll become a 1-0 win team in time but he has a long way to mould this team to his liking.

It's not Koeman's fault, he's inherited a spineless lot. No real quality keeper. An ageing defence. No Peter Reid in midfield who can grip the game. He has one quality striker in Lukaku. That's it really.

We need to keep faith with him but we're some way off and Schweinsteiger just shows you how Koeman is thinking. Keep the faith boys

Ray Roche
18 Posted 06/11/2016 at 10:31:13
Barry has been a fantastic player for Everton but yesterday just underlined the fact that he's, sadly, past it. The first goal, if I'm not mistaken, was due to Barry getting caught in possession and playing for a foul. Chelsea broke and duly scored.

The whole midfield has been pedestrian at best with only Gueye looking anything like a top six player. No movement, no pace, and no guile. As someone has already commented, Barry wouldn't get in any other top side, so why would/should he get in ours?

Yesterday's fiasco showed just how much work Koeman has got to do.

Col Walker
19 Posted 06/11/2016 at 10:40:06
Firstly, I must say I'm still positive about Koeman, although I think people have been overboard about him recently. However, people will say I'm being negative but I think I'm just living in the real world.

The axis of our team in recent months has been Barry & Gueye. I simply fail to understand why any manager (and all their assistants) who was paying attention would NOT take Barry off as soon as we went 4-0 down (if not even 3-0?)!

The game was well and truly lost and attention should be be turned to the next match. Especially when Barry is a niggly regular fouler who attracts a lot of cards anyway and especially when he's missing his partner and feels even more need to tackle hard.

So now we have yet another game to play without this key partnership. To be honest that's the sort of thing that Roberto did. Wake up, Everton bench!!!

Stephen Brown
20 Posted 06/11/2016 at 10:43:44
Barry has been a great servant but I think the 4-2-3-1 formation is becoming the new 4-4-2 – old-fashioned and easy to play against!

The time has come for only one defensive midfielder especially at home. Young Davies deserves a run as a box to box player! Maybe in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

Ray Smith
21 Posted 06/11/2016 at 10:53:56
Chelsea would have beaten any team yesterday, probably by 3 goals, but not 5.

It seems that everyone is calling for Barry's head and Koeman's defensive tactics. It didn't work yesterday admittedly, but this is work in progress. If Koeman could offload the players not cutting it, the exit door would be revolving for some time to come. A lot are on borrowed time.

We are not a top 4 side and probably a couple of seasons away from even thinking of being one. Are we a top 6 side? not this season. Next season hopefully. However, the team that gets us into the top 6 are not currently regulars in the team.

A lot of changes to come in order to progress.

Dave Williams
22 Posted 06/11/2016 at 11:27:16
Barry seems to be getting the flak because the performance was pedestrian but we all know that he plays that way and gets away with it because he is class and other players make space for him. He looked a lot worse yesterday because, rather than having Gana to help him, he had Cleverley – a huge difference.

I am not picking on Cleverley but I don't know what kind of player he is; he isn't what I would call a defensive midfielder, he isn't a creative midfielder, not a great passer, not a great tackler, no pace or physicality to his game.

He has made a name for himself by being a youngster who came through at Man Utd and not by virtue of his abilities. It wasn't down to him yesterday but replacing Gana with him put a huge burden on Barry and at his age there was no way he was going to cope against Chelsea.

Another player who I don't understand is Kevin Mirallas. When he joined us, he was a wide striker who could also play through the middle. He had a goal threat and could go past a couple of players with some ease. Now he runs around a bit, looking like he is making an effort, but he doesn't tackle, doesn't attack defenders, his passing is largely inaccurate (the odd decent through ball aside), he doesn't get close enough to Lukaku to help him and doesn't get back enough to be of use to the full back.

Yesterday was disorganised chaos with players running around after the opposition and therefore allowing them to play around us. Why didn't we drop back off them a bit more rather than continually commit and be moved out of position? I accept they were bloody good and far better than us but surely if the team is set up properly, it is possible to contain them a bit more than we did... and not to have a proper shot in a game is disgraceful.

The RS will be licking their lips at the prospect of a derby fast approaching and we must get this sorted quickly or Christmas will be ruined!!

Clive Lewis
23 Posted 06/11/2016 at 12:49:06
An improvement over last season is a must this season. I think we will struggle to achieve this unless we buy a central midfielder, new keeper, new striker and a new centre-back. Maybe a left-back if Baines keeps getting injured. Our replacement keeper is worse than last season; Gueye is better than what we had.

Something else: we are lumping the ball aimlessly forward from the back to an isolated Lukaku.

Things that are currently wrong in terms of playing and tactics:

Lennon, Oviedo, Mirallas, Gibson – injuries
Jagielka and Barry – age against speed
The Striker that could not score for West Ham.
Stekelenburg.
Koeman's tactics and coloured pens.
Bolasie's foot on top of the ball.
Deulofeu's hair cut and his feeling of being fantastic to look good on the ball.
Barkley slow at distribution, looking to be elegant with every pass.
Baines injuries and no decent replacement.
Passion.

This list could go on ...

Damian Wilde
24 Posted 06/11/2016 at 12:59:46
Patrick... ha ha, think I'm budy enough in my job, 😃 though happy to be team psychologist. 😃

I agree Davies should start, but Koeman for some reason loves Cleverley. What does he offer?

Gary Heywood
25 Posted 06/11/2016 at 13:22:52
Schweinsteiger is another one who is too old.
Paul Holmes
26 Posted 06/11/2016 at 16:22:04
Just watched Arsenal v Spurs. Loads of energy and pressing by the young players. Gareth Barry has not got the legs for ANY Premier League top ten team. Nothing against Barry, but I don't see Man Utd bringing Scholes back, or Liverpool bringing Gerrard back!

Everton need energy in midfield to compliment Gueye, otherwise he will lose heart doing all OAP Barry's running. Our team is too slow.
Steavey Buckley
27 Posted 06/11/2016 at 16:26:39
The greatest Everton midfield in the past 50 years of Kendall, Ball and Harvey worked their socks off all over the pitch for 5 years as a single unit. But by the time they were around the 27-year mark, they fell apart.

No doubt, caused by the mental and physical exertions of those 5 draining and combative years. Yet, today's modern midfield players appear to be going through the motions, so last longer into their 30s.

Unless the midfield is about defensive and offensive playing together as a single unit, there is no midfield, but a tactical blunder. Barry plays in front of the back 4, admirably, Gueye positions himself somewhere in the middle, closing the opposition down by himself, and Barkley goes foraging forward on his own. That was ripped apart by Chelsea yesterday, even though Gueye was not playing.

Ajay Gopal
28 Posted 06/11/2016 at 16:56:20
We missed the energy of McCarthy and Gueye at the same time. A midfield 5 of: McCarthy, Barkley, Davies, Gueye and Bolasie supporting Lukaku up front would be young, energetic and ready to face down the big boys.

I do believe we need our own midfield 'magician' – the last one we had was Arteta – never replaced by Moyes, Martinez or Koeman strangely. Someone like: Mahrez, Mata, Coutinho, Ozil, Sanchez, Payet, Eriksen, Hazard, Silva – who can control the tempo of the game and orchestrate the play. We have been missing this player for far too long.

Damian Wilde
29 Posted 06/11/2016 at 17:15:26
'Barkley goes foraging forward on his own.'

I was at the game, but didn't spot that.

Andy Meighan
30 Posted 06/11/2016 at 17:54:13
Ray (18), Barry gets into our side because we aren't a top side. Haven't been for a long time And unlikely to be a top side until we have a mass clear out.
Ray Roche
31 Posted 06/11/2016 at 18:15:00
Exactly Andy, and Barry should be one of the first out of the door and into the coaching staff if, and I'm sure I read this, he's taken his coaching badges. He has the clear head and experience to help young players like Davies progress in the game.

Yesterday might well do us some good. At the very least it should stop all the bellends who, as soon as Koeman arrived and Moshiri bought into the club, started banging on about a top four finish. And the crap about the "best squad since the 1980s" has been seen to be way off the mark. A total clear out and rebuild is required and that won't happen overnight.

Paul Tran
32 Posted 06/11/2016 at 18:29:00
Ray, Barry has looked back to his best with the nous and pace of Gueye next to him. I'd definitely get him on the coaching staff. I'd love to get Cahill on the coaching staff as well.
Ray Roche
33 Posted 06/11/2016 at 18:37:26
Paul, good shout re Cahill, if he has the required badges, a bit of passion in the dressing room never did any harm. And if he could teach players how to head a ball.

Barry may well have played well with Gana but he gets caught out for pace too often, hence the record number of yellow cards. He was way out of his depth yesterday, just so slow.

Paul Tran
34 Posted 06/11/2016 at 18:52:46
Not just the passion, Ray. A much better player than he was given credit for (we kept him two years too long) and it would be great if he could pass some of his nous onto the younger players.

Clive Rogers
35 Posted 06/11/2016 at 19:11:13
Barry's form has dipped over the last few games and he was very poor yesterday. His lack of pace is becoming a liability and he should be replaced.
Sam Hoare
36 Posted 06/11/2016 at 19:21:55
Barry has been mostly very good for us for the last couple of years but struggles against teams with high energy and bags of pace, as witnessed yesterday.

I think he has a lot to offer still this season but Koeman should be looking for a more athletic replacement, either from within or outside the club, if we are to move forward in the long term.

Don Alexander
37 Posted 07/11/2016 at 21:50:11
Steavey at #27, be serious, mate! Alan Ball was the mainstay of Arsenal's midfield, and England's, for years after the Catt got rid of him (and I still curse him for that aberration).

Howie eventually went to Birmingham, Stoke and then Blackburn and was the mainstay of all three midfields despite their lower status. We even re-signed him as a player from Rovers and should never have let him go in the first place.

Colin's career was terminated by injury but he and Howie were never able to recreate the magic of the Holy Trinity without Bally. Who could, given that the genius was "replaced" by Henry Newton and then Dave Clements?

Gareth Clark
38 Posted 07/11/2016 at 22:11:24
If we go with the usual 4-2-3-1 set-up:

Stekelenburg;
Coleman, Williams, Funes Mori, Baines (c);
Gueye, Davies;
Deulofeu, Barkley, Bolasie;
Lukaku.

Subs: Robles, Jagielka, Holgate, Cleverley, Lennon, Mirallas, Valencia.

Alternatively, we could do 3-4-2-1:

I personally feel this is our best team lin- up & formation with the players we have at the moment.

Stekelenburg;
Holgate, Williams, Funes Mori;
Coleman, Gueye, Davies, Baines (c);
Bolasie, Barkley;
Lukaku.

Subs: Robles, Jagielka, Cleverley, Lennon, Deulofeu, Mirallas, Valencia.

Holgate and Funes Mori are very well suited to 3 at the back, mobile, good on the ball, quick, etc. (unlike Jagielka).

This formation also allows Coleman & Baines (who is hopefully fit – I think we should definitely get a back up soon... Jordan Lukaku anyone?!?!) to bomb on down the wing & provide crosses. They are also very good defenders for fullbacks, which we have lacked in Oviedo.

The formation also allows Bolasie & Barkley freedom of the attacking third. They are able to move around, and be more like attacking, with slightly less defensive ability, in terms of tracking back.

Lukaku will have more support (from Barkley & Bolasie) and more opportunities (from Baines & Coleman working down the flanks).

And lastly, the great thing about this formation, is that it can be changed into a 4-2-3-1 with one substitute (Holgate off for Mirallas, for example).

Tim O'Connell
39 Posted 07/11/2016 at 22:29:37
Against probably 75% of Premier League opposition, Gareth Barry is still a key performer. Unfortunately against the top few who have the pace and technique, he has not got the pace or turning ability which cannot be compensated by his brilliant reading of the game. I have thought this for the last two years and performances against the top clubs has in my view supported this.

Conclusion – he plays in the 75% but against top clubs we need to groom a replacement – hopefully Tom Davies will come to fulfil his undoubted potential – but we need to be patient.

Stan Schofield
40 Posted 11/11/2016 at 19:34:03
Steavey @27: Alan Ball came back from the 1970 World Cup in Mexico out-of-sorts, almost knackered, and there was debate at the time whether this was due to the heat and altitude there, combined with his energetic way of playing (the 'midfield dynamo'). So he had a drop of form in the 1970-71 season, followed soon after by Catterick selling him.

I could never understand why he was sold, his form recovering at Arsenal. So we could have maintained the best midfield in the world at the time (even accounting for Brazil's), and in all likelihood prevented what was the effective end of an Everton era.

Don@37: Clements came in when Kendall was injured, and he was very good initially, filling in for Kendall surprisingly well, a tall order. Newton was also good initially, but his form ebbed off.


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