Ross Barkley

[Woolly Blue]

He's got 22 full caps. The lad is utter class. Use him right and let him get on the ball going forward. That's what he does...that's ALL he does. It's time this was accepted. Expecting this lad to get up and down the pitch with an all round game is for the feeble minded. He's a thoroughbred with the ball at his feet and turning on the halfway line.

He needs to be sold is he's not going to be used properly. Someone like Conte will know how to get him back to the top again.

Yea, I'd like to see him played deeper with space to run at people, which is probably more his natural game.

That won't happen in the short term though, partly because we have no obvious candidate to replace him in his current role and partly because he'd need to take on more defensive duties.

Although he's getting undue stick at the moment, he is showing he's capable of putting a shift in and that part of his game is improving so I reckon he'd grow into that.

The first part will only really get fixed if we buy someone who's a more natural link player. You might feel like jumping up and down and blaming the board for that, but Koeman has to work with the squad he's got, and that's the situation.

How on earth does this lad become the scapegoat for another insipid TEAM performance?

The lad is the most talented player we have. Had the best season of his career last season

Good point, ignore what I just typed.
He was playing in a very similar position last season so he's probably just a bit out of form.

Ta for correcting me and yourself

Mind you, I do think he needs more space to play in, so he either has to make the space for himself or drop further back.

 

[davek]

Yea, I'd like to see him played deeper with space to run at people, which is probably more his natural game.

That won't happen in the short term though, partly because we have no obvious candidate to replace him in his current role and partly because he'd need to take on more defensive duties.

Although he's getting undue stick at the moment, he is showing he's capable of putting a shift in and that part of his game is improving so I reckon he'd grow into that.

The first part will only really get fixed if we buy someone who's a more natural link player. You might feel like jumping up and down and blaming the board for that, but Koeman has to work with the squad he's got, and that's the situation.



Good point, ignore what I just typed.
He was playing in a very similar position last season so he's probably just a bit out of form.

Ta for correcting me and yourself

Mind you, I do think he needs more space to play in, so he either has to make the space for himself or drop further back.

Since the season began I don't think he's been obviously out of form. This situation regarding Barkely all blew up after his manager chose to highlight his "failings" after the Sunderland game. I blame him for much of the fan discontent around Barkley. It was a numb nuts bit of management.

 

[Abraders]

But that was the game. When he had the ball, he worked it well. When he didn't, he put a shift in.

Even Bolasie our flair player spent more time tackling and going up for headers than he did running or creating.

Essentially what I'm referring to is he's put in a shift, which is a plus vs recent times, but ultimately done very little other than the scenario mentioned.

Barkley vs crystal palace still wasn't doing/playing how I'd expect from someone in his position, or even by the potential previously shown to us.

He's just capable of so much more and yet I feel like he's going backwards?

 

[gorgeousgeorgeEFC]

The abuse that some of our players receive from their own "supporters" is nothing short of disgraceful. Is it any wonder that our team so often under-performs when playing at home?!

We are Everton. We are better than that.

 

[Woolly Blue]

Since the season began I don't think he's been obviously out of form

He's been fairly average overall mate, a scouse Tom Cleverly if you like. The criticism I'd have of Ross is that he isn't learning as quickly as I'd like him to. He's got great feet and has the physique to go with it, but the decision making part of the game isn't totally natural to him.

Good coaching will help with that. He was probably left to his own devices too much in the last couple of seasons. While he was playing well, the mistakes tended to go unnoticed when perhaps someone should have been spending time on his weaknesses ?

That means he has a bit of catching up to do.

If he wasn't such a talented local lad he wouldn't get anywhere near as much stick, and he also tries too hard sometimes, again at the wrong time. Once he's learnt when to keep it simple and when to really go for it, and can do that consistently, he could be a great player.

At the moment, he's a good player with flashes of greatness though.

 

[Efcjake]

When we broke in the first half I seen him hold onto it and fail to see the runners ahead of him a couple of times and it killed off all the threat we had in the attack. He hasn't improved in this area and it is necessary if he wants to start each game. He shouldn't have been pulled off before Cleverley though and I was fuming he was.

 

[davek]

He's been fairly average overall mate, a scouse Tom Cleverly if you like. The criticism I'd have of Ross is that he isn't learning as quickly as I'd like him to. He's got great feet and has the physique to go with it, but the decision making part of the game isn't totally natural to him.

Good coaching will help with that. He was probably left to his own devices too much in the last couple of seasons. While he was playing well, the mistakes tended to go unnoticed when perhaps someone should have been spending time on his weaknesses ?

That means he has a bit of catching up to do.

If he wasn't such a talented local lad he wouldn't get anywhere near as much stick, and he also tries too hard sometimes, again at the wrong time. Once he's learnt when to keep it simple and when to really go for it, and can do that consistently, he could be a great player.

At the moment, he's a good player with flashes of greatness though.

I'm not sure any of the players Koeman inherited have shown any improvement so far. Gueye has been our best player and Bolasie is the other player who has come in and done an ok job (although I still cringe at that
price tag). If others already here were improved beyond recognition and Barkley was stagnant I'd say he was deserved of a poor press. However, none of our existing lot have done anything of note. I just don't see the basis for a stampede to criticise Barkley above all others.

 

[stamullenblue]

When we broke in the first half I seen him hold onto it and fail to see the runners ahead of him a couple of times and it killed off all the threat we had in the attack. He hasn't improved in this area and it is necessary if he wants to start each game. He shouldn't have been pulled off before Cleverley though and I was fuming he was.

Why ? Cleverly was better than him tonight !

 

[Efcjake]

Why ? Cleverly was better than him tonight !

Cleverley was useless. What was he on the pitch for because he didn't help Oviedo out at all that I seen and was constantly out of position and drifting to the middle.

 

[stamullenblue]

Cleverley was useless. What was he on the pitch for because he didn't help Oviedo out at all that I seen and was constantly out of position and drifting to the middle.

Must of watched a different game mate than I did !

 

[Woolly Blue]

I just don't see the basis for a stampede to criticise Barkley above all others.

A private poll I commissioned suggests most people criticise him to wind you up as retribution for your blatant wind-ups here last season

If Barkley is hounded out of our club due to social media tossers then I will hold you personally responsible.

 

[Efcjake]

Must of watched a different game mate than I did !

I must have because I didn't see him do anything but walk out of his position.

 

[stamullenblue]

We all want to see Ross do well but he needs to start producing the goods ... What will happen is we will sign somebody else who will produce and then he has a problem !! Just saying !

 

[stamullenblue]

I must have because I didn't see him do anything but walk out of his position.

He protected Oviedo all game and never stopped running. Didn't give the ball away either ... Wasn't his biggest fan but he was good for me tonight !

 

[Efcjake]

He protected Oviedo all game and never stopped running. Didn't give the ball away either ... Wasn't his biggest fan but he was good for me tonight !

Not for me mate. Was too far inside when we were attacking or defending. Ovideo was winning the ball on his own when he got it from what I saw. Lost count how many times he was nowhere near the left side when we broke with it.