Barkley's role

[mrb85]

Anyone else think Barkley's playing a bit too far up the field in recent games, at home at least? You'll often see him ahead of Lukaku when we first get possession. I think he should play a bit deeper so he sees more of the ball and make his runs with a build in pace and momentum.

 

[davek]

Anyone else think Barkley's playing a bit too far up the field in recent games, at home at least? You'll often see him ahead of Lukaku when we first get possession. I think he should play a bit deeper so he sees more of the ball and make his runs with a build in pace and momentum.

Depends if teams are sitting off us, I suppose.

I think Stoke are in a funny position for this next game: they sort of had a go at GP and got badly mauled trying to come out and play a bit. I'm sure Hughes would like to be more conservative this time, but they've had a few poor results and they're at home and will be hounded forward to make the running. Barkley is going to love that over-commitment. I see him having a big game again tomorrow.

 

[steken1]

Anyone else think Barkley's playing a bit too far up the field in recent games, at home at least? You'll often see him ahead of Lukaku when we first get possession. I think he should play a bit deeper so he sees more of the ball and make his runs with a build in pace and momentum.

My only problem, and it's not really a problem, is that when he picks the ball up and drives at teams the wingers don't bust a gut to get past him so he's got more options than Lukaku.

Thats when he's at his most dangerous.

 

[Shibbywiggles]

I disagree with that almost completely to be honest. I've noticed more in the last few games just how much he loves to drop deep to pick up the ball and then drive forward.

We can all agree he's boss though wherever he gets the ball from at least.

 

[no danger mike]

I disagree with that almost completely to be honest. I've noticed more in the last few games just how much he loves to drop deep to pick up the ball and then drive forward.

We can all agree he's boss though wherever he gets the ball from at least.

Wherever he's playing he needs to be more creative in the second part of the season , as three goals and more importantly no assists may cost us champions league .

 

[Chang Elephant]

Wherever he's playing he needs to be more creative in the second part of the season , as three goals and more importantly no assists may cost us champions league .

Mike ?

 

[Brennan]

Don't think it really matters.

He's boss high up the pitch, he's boss further back, he's boss on the left, he's boss on the right.

 

[Hangleton]

Wherever he's playing he needs to be more creative in the second part of the season , as three goals and more importantly no assists may cost us champions league .

What about the times he makes a yard for himself to get us back on the front foot? leading to the equaliser against Arsenal for example. without Barkley we would have we lost that game. Assists!!?
So Mirallas is having a better season than Barkley?

 

[Shaun4658]

Wherever he's playing he needs to be more creative in the second part of the season , as three goals and more importantly no assists may cost us champions league .

He's a kid and still learning the game. He may not have that lethal final delivery or decisiveness yet, but it will come with time. Just think back to Ronaldo in his early Man U days and you'll see.

You still have to play him, because he's dangerous. He may not have a goal scoring or an assist impact many games, but he causes the opposition problems and they are afraid of him. That helps us all over the park.

Give him games and a bit of time and he will develop.

 

[no danger mike]

E

What about the times he makes a yard for himself to get us back on the front foot? leading to the equaliser against Arsenal for example. without Barkley we would have we lost that game. Assists!!?
So Mirallas is having a better season than Barkley?

We have a striker in Lukaku who is capable of scoring 20 plus goals, so seeing as Ross is playing as the most advanced midfielder he needs to start giving him better service.

 

[banno]

E

We have a striker in Lukaku who is capable of scoring 20 plus goals, so seeing as Ross is playing as the most advanced midfielder he needs to start giving him better service.

Just go away will you.

 

[billycopper]

If he played deeper, in place of McCarthy, he'd either need to get through much more defensive work (which could curb his attacking game) or we'd need to accept being more open.

I'm sure that in time Barkley will contribute more goals and assists. We're not really suffering too much because of it at the moment and I think that Roberto will allow him to learn his long-term position and work out how to be more of a threat.

 

[dublinbluenose]

The only thing I'd worry about is that Charlie Adam is sure to try a "Scholes" tackle on him,

 

[mythbuster]

Roberto is doing exactly the right thing with Ross. He's giving him little responsibility and telling him to go out without fear of trying things. He knows Ross has magic in his boots, but he also know's he needs to learn. It's paying off - Ross is playing well and he's gaining experience all the time...

 

[Billy Dean]

I often think he might be better long-term as a number 8 than a number 10. As the OP says, he would see much more of the ball which can only be a good thing. When he picks the ball up from deep and carries it 30-40 yards it relieves so much pressure on the defence and he's able to get tackles in and do his defensive work. If he then had a no.10, like Mirallas for example, up ahead of him to combine with as well as the CF and wingers, I think it would make us a much more dangerous prospect.