Ross Barkley

DrEFC · June 30, 2016

He needs fitness and consistency, and someone to share the creative load. We were a team under Moyes that created a lot through Baines/Pienaar, but it was still essentially crosses at the end of it to a waiting Yak/Cahill/Fellaini. Under Martinez we tried to be more creative through the centre of the pitch, but we scored a lot by overloading with fullbacks.
The stuff he does in that video, others couldn't dream of, like the backheel flick to Mirallas ect.
If he was consistent- he wouldn't still be at Everton TBF. I'd also get him working on through balls! His simple ones never seem to come off!

Mountfield1985 · June 30, 2016

OneTrueLegend said:
I like Ross, but I agree with what Collymore has said. The way Ross plays, he picks the ball up and runs at defenders and the defenders don't know what Ross is going to do. Because Ross doesn't know what he is going to do.

However defenders have worked out that if they crowd him out, he will just run down a blind ally and kick the ball against them. Which is what he did for most of last season.

For me Barkley has not developed in the last 2 seasons and it is worrying to see. Because defences have learned his weakness he needs to develop a "football brain". If that's even possible

I don't usually go off stats but...

2014/15 - 2 goals, 1 assist
2015/16 - 12 goals, 8 assists (Thats with the team collapsing and doing nothing March onwards)

Ridiculous to say he hasn't developed.

He ran nearly every game for us for the first 2/3 of the season. Can we stop this thing where we call him out for being thick or having no "football brain"? It's just not true.

LostLegend · June 30, 2016

Moss Kately

Bud McBlokeski · June 30, 2016

Mountfield1985 said:
I don't usually go off stats but...

2014/15 - 2 goals, 1 assist
2015/16 - 12 goals, 8 assists (Thats with the team collapsing and doing nothing March onwards)

Ridiculous to say he hasn't developed.

He ran nearly every game for us for the first 2/3 of the season. Can we stop this thing where we call him out for being thick or having no "football brain"? It's just not true.

If we get Mata (!) it should take at least some of the creative burden off him.

Eggs · June 30, 2016

Mountfield1985 said:
I don't usually go off stats but...

2014/15 - 2 goals, 1 assist
2015/16 - 12 goals, 8 assists (Thats with the team collapsing and doing nothing March onwards)

Ridiculous to say he hasn't developed.

He ran nearly every game for us for the first 2/3 of the season. Can we stop this thing where we call him out for being thick or having no "football brain"? It's just not true.

....I agree, his performances for the majority of last season should be applauded. I think the 'thick' tag might be accurate but it is harsh terminology. I don't think Barkley has the self-intellect to manage games and influence others. He needs a mentor type manager to exploit the undoubted talent. I noticed Jagielka taking time out last season to talk to him lots. that's what he needs.

Mikey_Fitzgerald · June 30, 2016

John Osters Love Child said:
Just read Stan Collymore's attack on the England team. He speaks some sense, especially when talking about the likes of Rooney and Hart. I thought his comments on Ross were a bit unfair suggesting that whilst he has all the natural ability in the world it has been common knowledge around the England and Everton camp for a while now that he doesn't have a footballing brain - everything is instinct and when that doesn't work he is a liability.
I personally think that's bullsh*t but lets say that it's true why did Roy take him?! I get that the press are angry that once again their media darling players from the media darling clubs failed to deliver but managing to throw digs at a player who didn't even get on the pitch is just petty.

PITA said:
Unwritten rule number 15.

Whatever happens blame the Everton players in the squad.

England went out because the Everton players didn't show enough in training to warrant getting time on the pitch. This was despite Hogdson being brave enough to include them in the squad. This had the knock-on effect that we were two men short in our squad and all the other players got more tired. It's obvious really.

John Osters Love Child said:
I'd like to add Everton were also to blame for both Rooney and Dier's poor performance against Iceland as both players had previously played for the Merseyside club. The FA at this time has refused to confirm whether the sacking of Roberto Martinez also had an effect. More breaking new as we get it

HA!

I KNEW they'd find a way to blame the Everton players somehow!!!

I'm surprised at Collymore though, I usually agree with what he says, but there's no justification to put any blame on Ross at this particular instance, seeing as he didn't play in any of it

ianefc · July 2, 2016

I was of the opinion that Stan Collymore was a wife beating, cocky, dogging.... nobshot

I'm still of that opinion.

Connor · July 2, 2016

He's going to benefit so much playing alongside Mata.

Mikeonlythebestwilldo · July 2, 2016

He needs us fans behind him now !

CahillsCornerFlag · July 2, 2016

Connor said:
He's going to benefit so much playing alongside Mata.

Just knowing that not everything he does has to be a killer ball will oddly probably lead to him doing more special things as his confidence will grow and he'll be more relaxed.

Zatara · July 2, 2016

Connor said:
He's going to benefit so much playing alongside Mata.

How will Dowell and Barkley get games if Mata signs?

Connor · July 2, 2016

Zatara said:
How will Dowell and Barkley get games if Mata signs?

Barkley through the middle, Mata out wide. Dowell out on loan.

Zatara · July 2, 2016

Connor said:
Barkley through the middle, Mata out wide. Dowell out on loan.

Mata is left footed so has played wide right and never on the left i dont think...dont want him taking deulofeus place.

catcherintherye · July 2, 2016

Eggs said:
....I agree, his performances for the majority of last season should be applauded. I think the 'thick' tag might be accurate but it is harsh terminology. I don't think Barkley has the self-intellect to manage games and influence others. He needs a mentor type manager to exploit the undoubted talent. I noticed Jagielka taking time out last season to talk to him lots. that's what he needs.

You are right, it is a lazy tag much like the "fat" one banded about but it doesn't mean the essence of it is untrue.

Barkley's strengths are not his footballing intelligence, his fitness can be worked on. In spite of that he still had a better domestic season that pretty much any midfielder other than Mahrez and that is with falling away from March onwards. He plays on instinct and there does come a point with Barkley where you work on a lad strengths not their weaknesses.

Gerrard was one of the most influential players of his age group but I would also say lacked a football brain. Benitez tried to coach his but in the end got the best out of him when he let him be what he was and focussed on improving his strengths (goals, assists from central areas).

Whether that means playing Ross deeper in an 8 so he has players in front of him and can break from deeper, or as a 10 (more in a second striker role) or as almost an attacking wide striker in a 4-3-3 I am not sure. There are arguments for both. However in spite of Collymore's intervention inspire of a lack of a football brain he has still performed better than any other players in that England squad in terms of stats and deserved better.

The Liverpool Echo rightly asked which of that England football team had a football brain. Die doesn't, Alli definitely doesn't and was completely lost, I'm not sure Kane or Sturridge really do either and Vardy was woeful. I was a funny intervention from Collymore, not wrong but just surprising he chose to pick on the lad who didn't play a minute in any of the appalling performances at the Euro's. Smacks me of deflecting the blame.

As a final point, Dowell has a fantastic football brain. When you watch them both they are completely different. He lacks Barkley's power and strength of running as well as his ability to "get stuck in" win headers etc (Barkley can get better at this) but he is a much cleverer player.