What Can We Do With Milner?

[thepole]

i agree barry wasn't very good, but this is the point i make, someone has a very bad game, will mancini drop barry and play milner there? i don't think he would,

he would only do it if an injury occured or tiredness, so it looks like Milner is gonna have a hard time.

It seems that Barry is untouchable at the moment, but many more performances like tonight and he'll soon find himself on the bench. He gave the ball away and invited pressure, got a stupid booking early on and offered very little. I'm not in the business of slating anyone who pulls on the shirt, but his performance this evening was pretty dire. Is Milner the answer in the middle? If he can get to anywhere near the form he showed for Villa last season, then I wouldn't be surprised to see him replace GB.

Don't agree. There were times, especially in the first half, when arsenal were playing at a high tempo and we couldn't cope with it, Barry just got on the ball and slowed things down, and we were able to reshape. In the second half his passing got sloppy but to be fair there were very few outlets. Has his bad games, but on the whole is a very intelligent and valuable player

 

[Ric]

It seems that Barry is untouchable at the moment, but many more performances like tonight and he'll soon find himself on the bench. He gave the ball away and invited pressure, got a stupid booking early on and offered very little. I'm not in the business of slating anyone who pulls on the shirt, but his performance this evening was pretty dire. Is Milner the answer in the middle? If he can get to anywhere near the form he showed for Villa last season, then I wouldn't be surprised to see him replace GB.

Don't agree. There were times, especially in the first half, when arsenal were playing at a high tempo and we couldn't cope with it, Barry just got on the ball and slowed things down, and we were able to reshape. In the second half his passing got sloppy but to be fair there were very few outlets. Has his bad games, but on the whole is a very intelligent and valuable player

Couldn't agree more. We always look a better team with Barry in it. Wasn't great tonight, but none of the midfield were. It was backs to the wall, which didn't give any of them a chance to shine.

 

[Spiros]

I can't believe anybody is saying Barry had a bad game tonight!

He was instrumental in getting us that point.

He uses his body really well and wins us a lot of possession.

Maybe people are letting that shocking pass he did across the middle in the second half cloud their judgement of his performance

 

[HellasLEAF]

I think he's a place holder for a better player down the road.

 

[Big_Bad_Bojinov]

Game of opinions and all that....

Barry gave the ball away numerous times tonight. One clearance from the by-line went 19 yards, thankfully it went straight to Kompany's feet who was able to clear. The booking he got was a stupid challenge near the touchline on sagna (I think) and was completely unnecessary. 3 or 4 aimless balls pumped forward which ended up 40 yards from our nearest player. I'm not as big a fan of his as some, but appreciate he's a good midfielder - however, I thought tonight he was very poor.

EDIT:

MEN rated Barry 5
Guardian 5
Daily Mail 5
Mirror 6
Sky Sports 5

 

[blumoonrisen]

Stick him in scupper with a hosepipe on him,
Earlye in the morning...

 

[Spiros]

Looks like you're in good company then! I think....

I'm looking at it from the job he did in stopping their silky midfield. He did his yellow card after the hapless Jo looked a right tit diving in; he just didn't let Sagna do the same to him. He's a big lad, a good player and he helped our midfield stop their midfield and won some important ball. He also played a couple of nice passes down the flanks, although admittedly he wasn't very dynamic going forward.

They all played bad/paniced passes on occasion.

Tevez pissed me off royally on several occasions though. You KNOW he can see a pass but he holds onto the ball until the very last second, often losing it. He gets into those little battles and seems to want to prove that the defender can't take it off him, slowing us down.

Mind you, I'm not moaning! Great team performance!

 

[disco dancer]

Milners getting there, still settling in and getting use to the step up in quality, got faith milner will come good

 

[Big_Bad_Bojinov]

Looks like you're in good company then! I think....

I'm looking at it from the job he did in stopping their silky midfield. He did his yellow card after the hapless Jo looked a right tit diving in; he just didn't let Sagna do the same to him. He's a big lad, a good player and he helped our midfield stop their midfield and won some important ball. He also played a couple of nice passes down the flanks, although admittedly he wasn't very dynamic going forward.

They all played bad/paniced passes on occasion.

Tevez pissed me off royally on several occasions though. You KNOW he can see a pass but he holds onto the ball until the very last second, often losing it. He gets into those little battles and seems to want to prove that the defender can't take it off him, slowing us down.

Mind you, I'm not moaning! Great team performance!

I agree about the team performance and don't put a great deal of stock in the ratings I posted, just wanted to have a look around and see what the press were saying, and shared the results! Barry is primarily a tidy midfielder, and a good passer of the ball. He had an untidy game tonight and his passing was well off. He did win possession on a number of occasions, but to win it and give it away is pointless.

 

[Spiros]

Yeah I don't think he was incredible or owt, just that I thought he was a part of the performance and wasn't particularly bad - I've seen him worse!

Also he had two players either side of him in Jo and Milner who were pretty bad and didn't want the ball all that much. (He did what Jo should have done to Sagna.)