Osman: Besic can become a crowd favourite

Be prepared to drool.

I said on a post a week or so ago that I could see him playing more than a supporting role this season, and I still do. I’m just not sure whether it’s in defence or midfield.

Of course, it’ll just take a Yobo-esque moment of fannying around on the ball, resulting in an oppo goal, and the knives will be out!

He was constantly on the move, had great control and I know this was only a friendly, but he was playing against a very good and well drilled side and I don’t remember him giving the ball away once.

He reminded me of a certain Tim Cahill with his attitude and energy levels when he arrived, but with the ability of a Bracewell. He was the stand out player yesterday and he is only 21.

Think Roberto may have unearthed a diamond. Getting excited about seeing him next season, particularly as he is a bit of a nutter too. We have got Gibson to come back there as well, our centre mid is looking very good.

He looks a lot trickier than I’ve seen previously. I can’t wait to watch more of him.

We now have McCarthy, Besic, Gibson (when fit, which granted probably won’t be that often) and Barry who can all perform in that defensive midfielder role.

We are so well off for that position that it now makes me concerned slightly that we don’t have an abundance of attacking creative central midfielders, we only really have Barkley.

Once we sign a winger we will be comfortable for the wide options.

I just winder whether at times moving Pienaar into the middle could open up one or two new creative horizons?

Pienaar will struggle on a regular basis to nail down the wide berth when Mirallas is playing and if, as expected another younger winger arrives, then there is of course McGeady who needs to push on.

Pienaar has an eye for a creative pass and is usually very busy, always moving.

He wasn’t just skilfull on the ball, although that alone was worth paying for, his vision is exceptional. I think he brought McGeady into the game (thought he had a stinker btw) than in he was in the whole of the first half.

He is fearless in the tackle, made some crucial ones, but more than anything he impressed me with the way he made poor passes to him, into creative opportunities for the team.

I had James McCarthy down as our future Captain but I’m not so sure now.

I think if we can keep hold of him, Besic has all the makings of a Captain in him.

He’s his own man so I’m being a bit unfair to him to call him Tony Kay the second but he just oozes class in all departments as TC did all those years ago.

He just has a Besic Instinct for the game!

I wish we had some similar players brought in this summer (for the first team) and must admit that of the numbers mentioned to join us, I didn’t think that included ones for the future !

It looks like we (according to Roberto) will be getting another one and that will be it.

I, for fear of repeating myself, think if Tim Howard doesn’t play or is rested, we will not win many games. Assuming we score well, that Robles will be letting them in at the back.

We definitely need another goalkeeper and a couple of attacking / striking options!

All things considered, weÂ’ve got a gem on our hands here!

Flexibility and hunting in packs up and down the pitch are the way the modern game is going. All our midfielders can pick out a pass and do the defensive stuff as well. I was really impressed with Besic on both counts and can see a MF pairing of him and McCarthy being the future. Fewer games for Barry will prolong his career and Gibson will provide good cover and maybe play in games where teams come to Goodison and park the bus.

What we do really need to add that extra spark to the team is an impact sub, probably a winger as Deulofeu did last year. It’s going to be a big year for Barkley this time as he cements himself into the starting line up, probably as what I would call the supporting forward role à la Duncan McKenzie or, dare I say it... Alan Ball.

Interesting to read that Barry, McCarthy and Besic were playing in a 433 for a while - would that formation work with Barkley, Rom and Mirallas as the three up top and Besic as the box to box playing in the middle of the middle 3? Or is that a bit too defensive?

’One-third of our country is covered by water .... the rest is covered by Besic’!! Sounds like that might not have been too far off the mark!

The one that fits for me is No Limits – 2Unlimited

Mo, Mo, Mo, Mo, Mo, Mo, Mo, Mo, Mo, Muhamed Besic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM5W7Xn7FiA

Imagine that ringing out around Anfield as Besic slots the third goal in front of the Kop in 80th minute and apart from the Blues in the Anfield Road end the ground empties.

The rest is youth players and players who was here last season.

Besic will be a very important signing, but we need a winger and a striker for the first team.

Kone looks like he is never going to make it here I am afraid.
In my view he is a lost cause and we should aim to replace him with Remy.

Basically Martinez has to do what Pardew did and sell to buy if we are going to have a great season.

The Jury is definitely out for the foreseeable future, and beyond, with regards to the song!

However, I do like the scenario about Anfield!

Just heard, the Jury, to a man are all buying earplugs, whatever that means! :-)

Isn’t that the same quote that we have for the McCarthy banner at Goodison?

These 3 young lads look like they have the potential to be fantastic players for us in the coming years.

RM can rotate between the 3/4 CMs depening on the oppo or the status of the game. Good to have real competition there too as Barry and McCarthy were nailed on every game, not only as they were playing well but also as there was no competition for those spots.

You’re right though, RM will have the problem of having to keep players "happy" next.

Now that sort of song could promote an intense dislike of our Â’ friends Â’ from across the park ! ----------------- Love it !

Keep up the good work Helen ! :-)

From the snippets I’ve read about Besic and what I’ve seen in his interviews, it’s clear he’s a very driven individual who likes to do his talking on the pitch and really hates losing matches. Reminds me a lot of Roy Keane in that respect and has a similar stare to boot! I was made up to see his performance yesterday showing he’s not just in there to do simple stuff.

To my mind you want a few things from a good captain:

* a will to win
* the drive to drag the rest of the team with him
* 100% effort
* to be one of the better players in the team who sets an example with their performances.

Most of our players don’t have that cold heartless determination to win. We always play too nice. I don’t think Besic does ’nice’, so no doubt Arsene Whinger will be having a good moan to the ref before we play them and hence my main worry about Besic is whether he can avoid bookings. Luckily he isn’t 6’4" with an afro, so hopefully will stay under the radar.

Talk of getting Rodwell back should be a total non-starter as that lad plays without confidence and just gives short, easy passes. I love a player who hits great long passes and thatÂ’s why I admired Scholes in the modern game and Collins (Bobby) in the past. Gerrard is the nearest to those two unfortunately and not many English players have that ability.

I just hope we can get Atsu as with his pace on one side and Mirallas on the other we can really frighten some opposing teams. Atsu plus one decent midfield general (not Arteta) will complete the squad for this coming season.

After that we will need cover for centre back and right back positions plus replacements for Pienaar and Osman who are no longer ninety minute players over a long haul.

No pressure then

IÂ’m not convinced that we could play with Besic, Barry and McCarthy though as when the three were on we did look slightly exposed at full back and a good Premier League side will punish that. Also we didnÂ’t really create an awful lot with those three either. Again, like the look of him but not with both Barry an McCarthy. Has to be two of the three for me.

We shouldnÂ’t simply allocate slots / positions to players and then try to fit them into a conventional formationas it wonÂ’t be like that.

MIrallas drifts all over, Barkley runs with the ball from midfield, Pienaar is generally on the left as he has previously worked well with Baines but he also drifts and thatÂ’s the way it will be with several players.

A lot of people are crying out for a creative midfielder, maybe Bobby sees Mo Besic as being more than capable in this role and he can tackle too ... happy days.