Ross Barkley

[MikeH72]

If he has to be constantly mollycoddled and treated like a toddler to perform at his best, I'd say that isn't very encouraging for a 23 year old senior professional. Some people on here are saying he'll flourish at a top club, but what top class managers out there actually take that approach with players? Can't think of any, only bottom feeders like Martinez do that.

 

[Creature]

A bit ridiculous now for him to be in the match squad never mind starting.
Like most on here I'd like him to do well and maybe he can turn it around but atm he is not performing.

I can't see how RK can justify Ross getting a start now. Anybody else, with the exception of Rom, would be out given the performances of late. Whether that's to the reserves or the bench is a call RK gets paid to make.

It's getting to the point where it's unfair on Ross.

I am beginning to wonder if 'the management' don't want him dropped as he may be seen as too much of a financial assett and dropping him cuts his sell-on price too much.

 

[BlueToff]

Unless he is in acres of space because then he will take a wild first time shot.

Sometimes that's what he needs to do, tbh. So many times vs Bournemouth he got the ball on the turn and just took one touch too many. He slowed us down even more, if that's possible!

I'm a huge fan of his and he has it all. But he's better when he's relying on instinct IMO.

 

[BlueToff]

A bit ridiculous now for him to be in the match squad never mind starting.
Like most on here I'd like him to do well and maybe he can turn it around but atm he is not performing.

I can't see how RK can justify Ross getting a start now. Anybody else, with the exception of Rom, would be out given the performances of late. Whether that's to the reserves or the bench is a call RK gets paid to make.

It's getting to the point where it's unfair on Ross.

I am beginning to wonder if 'the management' don't want him dropped as he may be seen as too much of a financial assett and dropping him cuts his sell-on price too much.

In no way is it ridiculous for one of our best players to be in the matchday squad.

Koeman - as he has rightly said - has no need to justify his selections. It's probably because Barkley is still one of our most dangerous players even when in poor form...

 

[BlueToff]

If he has to be constantly mollycoddled and treated like a toddler to perform at his best, I'd say that isn't very encouraging for a 23 year old senior professional. Some people on here are saying he'll flourish at a top club, but what top class managers out there actually take that approach with players? Can't think of any, only bottom feeders like Martinez do that.

He isn't 23 - and I don't think it's anything to do with that.

He's in poor form and only he can play himself out of it. He was good vs Boro and did what he needed to do - for some reason he's regressed again in the last few days, though worth noting in a side that played poorly on both occasions.

 

[MikeH72]

In no way is it ridiculous for one of our best players to be in the matchday squad.

Koeman - as he has rightly said - has no need to justify his selections. It's probably because Barkley is still one of our most dangerous players even when in poor form...

We keep getting told he's one of our best players, well by the law of averages sooner or later he'll start showing it then.

 

[toffeeblue9]

I understand why he's still in the team, but it's an indictment of our summer transfer failings

He is the only player we have who is capable of linking midfield and attack, really.

Mirallas has had about two decent 45 minute performances in the number 10 role since he arrived at Everton and you'd assume that Koeman sees enough of him in training to know that he doesn't fancy him in that role permanently, ditto Deulofeu

We've switched between a 4231 and a 433 under Koeman a bit - Gueye can play as a holding midfielder in the 4231 or as a slightly more advanced player in a 433, he played the holding role for most of the 2nd half in a 433 on Saturday.

Barkley can play as a number 10 in a 4231 or as a number 8 in a 433 - I think it's this tactical flexibility which helps him be seen as a big asset

I don't think he was our worst player on Saturday - I'd say Bolasie and Mirallas (and even Barry) were battling it out for that honour, but he was still terrible and there have been a few poor games this season. His place is now under serious scrutiny, whereas despite a lot of moans at times, his place was never truly under threat when El Loco was here

When he's on his game, he's a tremendous player but he seems to suffer with confidence more than anyone I've ever seen before. He can veer from brilliant to terrible in the blink of an eye. He is also becoming the new favourite scapegoat - Osman has gone, so people need a new one and it seems he, McCarthy and Cleverley are battling it out for this honour with Ross leading the way at the moment. Not that he doesn't deserve a bit of stick at the moment, but as a fanbase we have enormous form for this sort of thing.

 

[Creature]

In no way is it ridiculous for one of our best players to be in the matchday squad.

Koeman - as he has rightly said - has no need to justify his selections. It's probably because Barkley is still one of our most dangerous players even when in poor form...

No he isn't.

 

[ryanbeno80]

Been a tough few months for him, confidence rock bottom, think he needs a run of games out the side like any young player would in this situation.. just a shame our paper thin squad is making that difficult.

 

[BlueToff]

We keep getting told he's one of our best players, well by the law of averages sooner or later he'll start showing it then.

2 poor games this week doesn't make him a bad player. Bar the last two games and the first half vs Sunderland, he's been good in every game we've played this season.

And even playing badly, he still gets chances/creates opportunities. What's lacking is any confidence to follow them up.

Two prime examples from the other day.

- Barkley gets on the end of Coleman's cross, headers wide
- He turns two Bournemouth defenders to get into their box. Gets his head up, gets past a third, but instead of drilling in a cross, decides to do another turn and then welly the ball out of play.

He's such a better player when he simplifies his game.

One thing that has definitely improved this season at least under Koeman is his set-pieces, though. That cross to Lukaku for our chance early on was sublime.

 

[BlueToff]

I understand why he's still in the team, but it's an indictment of our summer transfer failings

He is the only player we have who is capable of linking midfield and attack, really.

Mirallas has had about two decent 45 minute performances in the number 10 role since he arrived at Everton and you'd assume that Koeman sees enough of him in training to know that he doesn't fancy him in that role permanently, ditto Deulofeu

We've switched between a 4231 and a 433 under Koeman a bit - Gueye can play as a holding midfielder in the 4231 or as a slightly more advanced player in a 433, he played the holding role for most of the 2nd half in a 433 on Saturday.

Barkley can play as a number 10 in a 4231 or as a number 8 in a 433 - I think it's this tactical flexibility which helps him be seen as a big asset

I don't think he was our worst player on Saturday - I'd say Bolasie and Mirallas (and even Barry) were battling it out for that honour, but he was still terrible and there have been a few poor games this season. His place is now under serious scrutiny, whereas despite a lot of moans at times, his place was never truly under threat when El Loco was here

When he's on his game, he's a tremendous player but he seems to suffer with confidence more than anyone I've ever seen before. He can veer from brilliant to terrible in the blink of an eye. He is also becoming the new favourite scapegoat - Osman has gone, so people need a new one and it seems he, McCarthy and Cleverley are battling it out for this honour with Ross leading the way at the moment. Not that he doesn't deserve a bit of stick at the moment, but as a fanbase we have enormous form for this sort of thing.

I don't know when it happened that some of our fan base turned into such melts tbh...

Maybe it's just the social media age, but even a few years ago when I joined this site (2010 I believe), on large everybody just seemed a bit more chilled out.

 

[BlueToff]

No he isn't.

See my response to Mikeh

 

[Papa Shango]

Sometimes that's what he needs to do, tbh. So many times vs Bournemouth he got the ball on the turn and just took one touch too many. He slowed us down even more, if that's possible!

I'm a huge fan of his and he has it all. But he's better when he's relying on instinct IMO.

Oh yeah its just he does it at the wrong time.

Loads of space and time? Hits a first time shot under no pressure usually into the stands (the one in the first half against Bournemouth was ridiculous.

Under pressure with just enough time to hit a first time shot? Controls it takes 5 touches and enables the opponents to get 11 men behind the ball.

So frustrating.

People say he should be dropped but cant be because there is nobody else to play his role. My question is do we actually need a "number 10" right now?

 

[BlueToff]

Oh yeah its just he does it at the wrong time.

Loads of space and time? Hits a first time shot under no pressure usually into the stands (the one in the first half against Bournemouth was ridiculous.

Under pressure with just enough time to hit a first time shot? Controls it takes 5 touches and enables the opponents to get 11 men behind the ball.

So frustrating.

People say he should be dropped but cant be because there is nobody else to play his role. My question is do we actually need a "number 10" right now?

I agree mate.

Personally, I'd like to see him dropped back into a flat three. Give him a bit more room to operate and a free role, but with the insurance of Barry and Gueye alongside him.

Get Bolasie/Kev/Del/Lennon occupying the wide spots, and floating inside or staying wide depending on the situation - with the full-backs in support if required.

Just think that Barkley lacks the 'intelligence' (or, rather, positioning sense) to pick up the little pockets of space when solely playing as a Number 10, and that's usually because he is doubled up on.

 

[Donald Twain]

Time to jettison the lad!