Ross Barkley

[Simon baker]

Wasn't at his best today, he actually looked at times like he didn't actually know what role he was meant to be playing, and looked a bit lost.

Agreed at home against bottom half teams is when he should be played centre mid. The defence sat really deep today wth Lennon & lukaku left to hit them on the break Lennon should of been out wide & Barkley off lukaku to hit them on the break

 

[Goat]

I only hope that if we dont sack Martinez we sell Barkley, he deserves a better manager to be all he can be.

 

[B17BLG]

Poor today Ross. Spent a lot of time facing our goal and under serious pressure and loosing the ball.

I'd take a poor performance today for him and Rome to shine in the rest of the FA cup competition mind.

 

[f.t.r.s]

one thing that always eems to stick out for me with ross, when given time on the ball under no pressure he seems to slow play down, take an unnecessary touch etc,
Maybe i notice it as it's in stark contrast to barkley at his best, when he's powering through players at pace

 

[The Reverand]

one thing that always eems to stick out for me with ross, when given time on the ball under no pressure he seems to slow play down, take an unnecessary touch etc,
Maybe i notice it as it's in stark contrast to barkley at his best, when he's powering through players at pace

Unfortunately Ross is best when he doesn't have to think - when he does he struggles!

 

[meagher94]

Unfortunately Ross is best when he doesn't have to think - when he does he struggles!

Not true. The panenka penalty against Newcastle. The goal two years ago against Newcastle when he runs the entire length of the pitch to score.

I don't think it's anything to do with the amount of time he has to think, I just think his decision making is questionable at times.

 

[Billefc]

Love Ross but ineffective today. Kept turning back.

But that's what he always does! Slows the play up and frustrates me to death because he could do so much more !

 

[The Reverand]

Not true. The panenka penalty against Newcastle. The goal two years ago against Newcastle when he runs the entire length of the pitch to score.

I don't think it's anything to do with the amount of time he has to think, I just think his decision making is questionable at times.

Everybody is entitled to their opinion but how are either of the examples mentioned relevant ?
The Newcastle goal backs up what im saying and the penalty ?

 

[meagher94]

Everybody is entitled to their opinion but how are either of the examples mentioned relevant ?
The Newcastle goal backs up what im saying and the penalty ?

Well he had time to think in both instances did he not? I just think he generally blows hot and cold, rather than 'he's only good when he doesn't have time to think'.

He's still one of our most consistent performers, he's a 7/10 most games.

 

[Stutheblue]

Yes as he had no other midfielders to pass it too?

To be fair thats true. I was just wanting him to burst past his marker and open up play. He's got the ability to do that but it just wasn't happening. Sometimes it was Carrick in front of him and he could just run past him in my view. Perhaps he was restricted by orders from the Manager to hold his position. Who knows.

 

[edge]

Think he needs someone to push him onwards to the next level, needs to add a bit of bite /aggression to his game and a few other things to be truly top class.
Under the current manager , he will never get there .

 

[Stutheblue]

But that's what he always does! Slows the play up and frustrates me to death because he could do so much more !

Certainly has the ability to do more. And when he does it superb. Just needs more consistency. Not a good one in this match.

 

[eternal_defiance]

Why can't we just find another, special, creative and skilful central midfielder and partner him with Ross Barkley and let him learn his trade instead of all this nonsense that is always around him.

I wish we had a 4-4-2 or 3-4-2-1 manager with Ross Barkley in a 2 with a player at his level of ability.

It's a real shame that even Ross Barkley is getting criticism because people don't know what his position is and are noticing his mistakes in a very poor team as a whole.

Ross Barkley has in the past said his best position is striker, maybe it's time to try that because midfield in our formation with the types of players we play, it is just not working.

 

[paulbefc]

The decision to clip one out wide to an offside Deulofeu rather than play an easier through ball to Lukaku who was going through 1 on 1 after making a great run sums up why he's not yet fulfilled his huge potential, imo. If he sees what's ahead of him, he has the ability to play Lukaku in, Lukaku scores and we go in at half time 1-0 up.

You need more than raw talent to excel at the top level. You need a good footballing brain and a bit of mental strength. He's far from awful in this regard, but he's got to work on it, for me.

 

[RickyMartin]

People won't like this but Barkley, although he's a special footballer, he's a big problem with how we play. For some who is so rapid with the ball he doesn't half slow the play down unnecessarily. I noticed yesterday he had two and three opportunities to play people in and played either the wrong ball or held onto it which killed the momentum. The difference between a top player and a good one I guess. That being said he's come on leaps and bounds since last year, and hopefully he continues to develop every season because he really can be special.