Ross Barkley

[allen]

Judging by the pursuit of Sissoko and alleged interest in Witsel, I think the next big signing will be someone in that mould, and it's difficult to see where Barkley fits in at that point.

I think that's exactly right. This is the season where he has to shine. I think Barkley knows it, too, and that's maybe part of the problem.

I desperately hope he knuckles down and plays himself back into contention.

 

[allen]

As a fan base, we'd also do well to be more supportive and less demanding of the lad.

We all want him to be the best player in the side, don't we? He's got a fairytale to star in.

He's definitely judged more unfairly because of that.

 

[BlueToff]

He doesn't get that choice...
Maybe when he owns the club and hires a manager to run the team, he might be able to get this manager to pick a 4:3:3 formation which 'might' suit him.

Until then, he does what he's told to do to the best of his ability...and if the Boss doesn't think he's doing it good enough then he doesn't get to start.

And if he keeps on not doing enough for the manager -he'll get sold on.

Out in the real world it's called hitting (and hopefully exceeding) your KPI's

His Performance Indicator is the Manager keeps playing him for more than half a game.

what are you on about?

Koeman won't adjust his system - I never said he will. Fact is that he plays a 4-3-3 most of the time anyway, and Barkley has played well in every game this season, bar last night.

He was no worse than Rom or Kev in the first half last night but ultimately something needed to be changed and Koeman made the right call, nobody is begrudging that.

He'll bounce back stronger. He'll be fine.

 

[Woolverhampton_Blue]

Don't think he is cut out to be dropped any further back. Had some sketchy moments in and around our box and is poor at tackling. The further back you are, the worse giving the ball away is and he does it a lot.

He always looks most dangerous when driving forwards with the ball, it draws opposition players in and creates spaces. He can shoot with either foot and can play a nice forward pass giving defenders a nightmare in trying to read what he will do next.

Hope Koeman and the coaching staff build on what he's good at rather than waste time on shoehorning him into a role he isn't suited for. He'll only fail to live up to the expectation and lose the confidence he needs to be the defenders nightmare he can be.

 

[BlueToff]

I think that's exactly right. This is the season where he has to shine. I think Barkley knows it, too, and that's maybe part of the problem.

I desperately hope he knuckles down and plays himself back into contention.

He has shined so far though?

He's been very good in all four games up until last night.

He was poor last night and rightly taken off. It happens.

 

[BlueToff]

Huddleston at Spurs comes to mind.

Wow.

 

[larrygobfiend]

How exactly is that so far from the truth? Some people will believe anything they want to, honest to god. It's like Dave believing we were playing football touched by the gods last season.

He had a shocker in the first half last night, GRANTED!

But he's been pretty decent in the 4 games prior to that.

I must be watching a different game to everyone else.

 

[BlueToff]

As a fan base, we'd also do well to be more supportive and less demanding of the lad.

Too many seem to be too keen to write the lad off or highlight his floors.

It's a disease in English football. Look for fault, rather than the good.

Whenever someone scores "Who made a mistake? Lets over analyse this and say if this player stood there it wouldn't have happened" rather than acknowledge the quality of the goal. The same is true with English talent, built them up as quick as you can and knock them down in the same manner.

There's enough out there taking shots at Everton and Ross Barkley - our own fan base piling on doesn't help.

There's a potentially big talent in there...

You could do with putting this as the thread banner mate!

 

[degsy]

what are you on about?

Koeman won't adjust his system - I never said he will. Fact is that he plays a 4-3-3 most of the time anyway, and Barkley has played well in every game this season, bar last night.

He was no worse than Rom or Kev in the first half last night but ultimately something needed to be changed and Koeman made the right call, nobody is begrudging that.

He'll bounce back stronger. He'll be fine.

hope so, but...

 

[BlueToff]

He had a shocker in the first half last night, GRANTED!

But he's been pretty decent in the 4 games prior to that.

I must be watching a different game to everyone else.

You aren't mate - you're spot on.

People on here needing something to whinge about, as always.

He's had one poor 45 minutes this season. He got taken off. It happens. Move on.

 

[BlueToff]

hope so, but...

But what?

His stats are excellent.

He's taken on a bigger role in the side already this season under a new manager who is demanding more, and he has responded well to that.

He's 22.

Some ridiculous comments on here.

 

[degsy]

Wow.

Time will tell, like I said, I hope he does well, but...He might be a late-ish developer

 

[ggooggooggoo]

Must play further forward consistently.

 

[Saint Domingo]

The media seem to have an obsession with tearing this kid down. He's had a bad half, so what, Lukaku had an awful first half but got a chance to stay on. He's also gone 6 months without scoring but no one is falling him out in the national press as vociferously as they are jumping on Ross.

 

[longers]

He gets more criticism than he deserves, that' not even up for debate but he does need a firecracker up his backside.

He just doesn't look like he has the confidence anymore that he showed in his first breakthrough season, doesn't take players on or charge at them enough.