Ross Barkley

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He's 23 and it's about time he was playing in his proper position, which is a true number 8 behind 2 central strikers. The second half we seemed to go 4-4-2, and there is no way Ross is a forward. He might be a luxury player, but one thing is for sure...he isn't going to play well or fulfill his potential with a hoof-ball manager like Koeman.
 
Ahh it's the fans fault then? Get off. It was a petulant almost childish challenge from someone who can't hack the mental challenge of Premiership football.

I never said it was the fans fault. It was his fault for reacting that way. What I was responding to was you calling him a coward, while standing up and trying to atone for a mistake, regardless of why, is not something a coward would do.
 

Personally I'd like us to sign another attacking midfielder as competition for Ross. If he somehow raises his game then great. If he can't find the required level then we know it's time for him to move on.

Players should be in the team on merit of performance, not just because we don't really have another option.
 
Question is: Would Ross want to go to CP?
If someone had told me a year ago that we would be trading Ross straight up for Bolasie (effectively) I'd have said "no #$&@ing way".

Had the same person said that we would be trading Ross straight up for Bolasie and that Bolasie would shortly thereafter be broken and out of commission for 12+ months I'd have said "no $&@#ing way.......Everton that"
 
He's not in good form that's clear. But I think there is a reason none of our attacking players are in any kind of form at the minute.

Last night for a start you have Lennon and Valencia in the wide positions purely for their work off the ball. They offer next to nothing going forward, they're in the side to defend from the front. So that leaves Lukaku isolated on their back line as he likes to play on the last man, and then Barkley isolated 10 yards behind him. If either get it they don't have many options.

Sure we can say their work rate hold up play can be better and it can, but there aren't many footballers who can play on their own against a load of defenders, when the ball is smashed up to them and still look good doing it.

Surely for the money Koeman is being paid and the reputation he has in the game, he can come up with better attacking play than hitting it long to the forward?
 
I never said it was the fans fault. It was his fault for reacting that way. What I was responding to was you calling him a coward, while standing up and trying to atone for a mistake, regardless of why, is not something a coward would do.
Ah the way I read it was you saying the fans booing caused him to do it.

Problem for me though is that he is a coward who doesn't want to compete, there just isn't the drive there.

Personally, I'd rather he'd been able to recompose himself and either challenge for the ball fairly or wait for his next chance and do something with it. Not lash out and put a team under further strain.
 

Ah the way I read it was you saying the fans booing caused him to do it.

Problem for me though is that he is a coward who doesn't want to compete, there just isn't the drive there.

Personally, I'd rather he'd been able to recompose himself and either challenge for the ball fairly or wait for his next chance and do something with it. Not lash out and put a team under further strain.

I see his failings as being different to how you see them. Barkley never shy's away from wanting the ball, but he is too scared of losing it, its why he tends to hold on for that second or two too long, or turns into trouble. He just doesn't seem to be quick enough of mind with us to spot the pass on a regular enough occasion. He really does have all of the tools, in abundance, but maybe the pressure of playing for Everton is to much for him. He needs to be allowed to play on instinct, where he knows where players are/should be, we don't seem to have that at the moment, as a team we don't seem to have the near telepathic abilities that some teams have. It seems Chelsea could play with their eyes closed at times, they know where every player is on the pitch all the time, we never do. Barkley is suffering from that imo.
 
It was a derby challenge.

Had Hendo or Stevie G laa done it, they'd be praised to the hilt by the media.

Not nice to see, lucky not to get a red, but got a booking. It happens. No where near as bad as Rojo's.

Couldnt agree more. Theres been many a poor derby tackle over my years...some of which didn't even get a card some an undeserved red. Barkley's was poor and a lenient yellow typifying one of his weak points....and he was lucky to stay on the pitch. Theres instant recall on many derby tackles ...Gerrard on Naismith...Suarez on Distin...and Kuyts attempted amputation on Neville. There'll be more to come too. Im more alarmed with how Ross Barkley has deteriorated from being an outstanding limousine of a player to the awkward, lumbering misfit weve seen far too often. Theres surely enough psychology/sports scientists floating round Finch Farm who could try to get to the bottom of his demise...the lad surely realises himself that hes been generally poor. Knowing us though, I often wonder whether anyones even broached the subject with him of why.
 
I think the issue with Ross is that he looks completely unsuited to playing in the "10". He doesn't take up clever positions and when instinct is removed from his game he lacks the spacial awareness to maximise the free role.

Whether or not he can do it as a regular Central midfield play I don't know. However he has to be played deeper or not at all. Yesterday in the 10 he was a wasted position for us. Didn't press anyone and didn't make anything happen.
 

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