Azpi assist from LB

Alternate universe

comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 33 minutes ago
Barkley played well
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Must have been some sort of clone!

Sticking Barkley into CM was a bit of a masterstroke in hindsight. We seemed to have much more attacking impetus than we've had in more recent home games and we just looked more threatening from all over the park. James was fantastic down the right flank as well.

Maybe this is the way to go for these homes games against the stubborn bottom half sides.

Yeah I'm glad Barkley had that game

I do think he is useful and provides another attacking dimension to our midfield

Yeah and switching both Azpi and Willian to the left seemed to work as they both know each other's games well from playing on the right together so much.

Yes Superb, Willy and Dave have always been better on/down the left.
Full credit to Barks though,just wish he was more consistent .
James is becoming a beast ,keep it up Reece

Great to have a clean sheet yesterday...was thinking it was time...although they got close...

Loved Barkley's ball through to Reece for the Tammy goal...reminded me of me at walking football....

comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 23 minutes ago
Yes Superb, Willy and Dave have always been better on/down the left.
Full credit to Barks though,just wish he was more consistent .
James is becoming a beast ,keep it up Reece
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Yeah looking at balances Reece and Cho together on the right side seems to work well. They clearly know each other's game well already and I definitely want to see much more of them together down that right flank.

Azpi and Willian down the left could be something that works until the end of the season. I'm not a huge fan of Azpi there but with Willian on that side as well.

And then we just get a new LB in the summer window where we won't get taken to the cleaners and we can get exactly who we want.

The Ake thing has gone quiet...but you never know...he's just wasted at Bournemouth...

Same for Jack at Villa I guess

I'll very happily take both. Grealish we wouldn't be able to get until the summer but that's plenty of time to start making enquiries on him and readying our bid for when the summer window opens.

comment by Superb (U6486)
posted about 5 hours ago
I'll very happily take both. Grealish we wouldn't be able to get until the summer but that's plenty of time to start making enquiries on him and readying our bid for when the summer window opens.
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Once Villa are relegated

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

I’m not sure whT I think of ake. Is he that good that he’s worth buying back after letting him go. Isn’t he injury prone? Is he good enough? I’m not sure on any of it.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted about 5 hours ago
I'll very happily take both. Grealish we wouldn't be able to get until the summer but that's plenty of time to start making enquiries on him and readying our bid for when the summer window opens.
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Once Villa are relegated
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Taking a big step towards that today already

we usually struggle up at newcastle so two big games coming up with the potential for utd to drop points at liverpool away and burnley at home(a team perfectly suited to drop back against them and cause issues). If all goes well we could be 11 points ahead of them and near enough solidify top 4.

Arsenal will be tough, after playing them so recently and with arteta slowly improving them(apparently).

I would take a draw and a win from the two games now tbh.

comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 16 hours, 36 minutes ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted about 5 hours ago
I'll very happily take both. Grealish we wouldn't be able to get until the summer but that's plenty of time to start making enquiries on him and readying our bid for when the summer window opens.
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Once Villa are relegated
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Taking a big step towards that today already
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I dont think we can judge on a game against city, villa still got a good chance imo.

comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 1 day ago
Sticking Barkley into CM was a bit of a masterstroke in hindsight. We seemed to have much more attacking impetus than we've had in more recent home games and we just looked more threatening from all over the park. James was fantastic down the right flank as well.

Maybe this is the way to go for these homes games against the stubborn bottom half sides.
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agree. I love kante, obviously, hes our best player, but there is no need for a.)all three of our top cms b.)kante and jorgino against deep lying teams.

Barkley as erratic as he can be, atleast offers thrust

comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 3 hours, 51 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 1 day ago
Sticking Barkley into CM was a bit of a masterstroke in hindsight. We seemed to have much more attacking impetus than we've had in more recent home games and we just looked more threatening from all over the park. James was fantastic down the right flank as well.

Maybe this is the way to go for these homes games against the stubborn bottom half sides.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
agree. I love kante, obviously, hes our best player, but there is no need for a.)all three of our top cms b.)kante and jorgino against deep lying teams.

Barkley as erratic as he can be, atleast offers thrust
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Yeah Barkley on form offers us at least some of that central creative spark and attacking drive I've been saying we lack, especially at home against these type of teams.

Whether we can rely on that as a tactic for the remainder of the season remains to be seen as Barkley is certainly erratic as you say.

Just watching barca 2-2 chelsea. Still dont know how we won the game lol

I need to see a sustained improvment from Barkley to consider him a serious alternative to Kante or Kovacic.

So many swallows for Barkley, but to date no summers.

comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 35 seconds ago
I need to see a sustained improvment from Barkley to consider him a serious alternative to Kante or Kovacic.

So many swallows for Barkley, but to date no summers.
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Yeah lets be honest if barkley was top class we would have seen it by now.
Maybe used against lower league and cup teams. Kante will always be first on team sheet for big games

I doubt Barkley will ever be a replacement for Jorgi or Kova in CM but playing him in that position against Burnley worked very nicely and allowed us to play on the front front more. So maybe against the bus parkers and teams that just come to the Bridge to defend deep and counter it could be a tactic to consider again.