Ross Barkley

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Because if it did, bling bling- just what exactly would we have in that number 8 shirt, given the pressures of life in L4?

Does anyone even listen to you if you aren’t saying something edgy, or nailing your colours to the mast with absolute conviction? Would anyone even click your article if it wasn’t clickbait, bro?

Because I’ll paraphrase here, but some of our fans (and local media) are now happy to be heard saying ‘Barkley’s thick’ or ‘Barkley’s [Poor language removed]’. One ‘journalist’ even had the gall to say he possessed the footballing brain of a sixteen year old. In the interest of fairness, those who don’t like Barkley are equally as frustrated by what they perceive as a refusal by some to accept he can do anything wrong. The truth of the matter lays somewhere in between. Barkley is a huge talent, with some massive question marks next to his game. To write him off as ‘thick’ or ‘[Poor language removed]’ is arrogant, in the first instance, or- in my opinion- misguided, in the latter.

There’s a reason ex-players/managers/referees often talk about Goodison being one of the hardest places to go. We’re boss when Goodison is a snarling bear pit. But there’s a flip side to that- we’re [Poor language removed] dreadful as a crowd at times, too. Remember those bellwhiffs who cheered the Tom Cleverley substitution after trying his heart out but being…. Well, just not good enough, in the game against United on December 4th? Everyone who went the game saw how badly he struggled, you don’t need to prove how much of a super bloo you are to the people sitting round you by kicking an already demoralised player while he’s down. At least that puts to bed the arl myth that Evertonians will ‘get behind’ a player who gives it their all. Perhaps David Unsworth might’ve been able to tell him better than I, at Finch Farm the next day.

Barkley has suffered from the same fate. Who can imagine what it must be like to be a young man, burdened with the pressures of trying to create in front of a tetchy Goodison crowd? Because it’s been tetchy for years now. ‘He isn’t mentally strong enough’ your mate might tell you- and that may well prove to be the case- wouldn’t bet against it… But what’s the point of holding that against him, if it is true? He may get help through the club, he may not- I don’t know… But he can’t exactly stay behind after training and work on his mental make-up, the way Phil Neville would stay behind with a bag of balls and practice his long throws and his pointing, can he? He is what he is. But can you imagine being tasked with creating something in that team he’s had to play in over the last few years? This isn’t to say everything is fine with Barkley, because it’s far from it: he can be indecisive and hold onto the ball for too long. He can be guilty of trying too much- and some of the stick he’s taken on that front has been completely understandable. But those who watched us in the first half at Leicester before Barkley came on will have seen the scale of the (all too familiar) task facing Barkley with the ball at his feet: this team is abject [Poor language removed]. This entire squad is stale, and it has been for several years now. Boris Johnson will take more responsibility for Brexit than any Everton player will take with the ball at their feet. At least one of our kits should be orange, because they’re all crabs. Sideways, no ambition, no desire, no drive, no invention: this is the size of the task faced by Barkley. Factor in the teams he’s played in, along with the fact Moyes didn’t have the patience to coach him (ask Kevin Sheedy if that’s unique to Barkley, or whether it says more about Moyes), and Martinez didn’t have the ability, and actually indulged Barkley in the most important years of his development. It’s been a perfect shitstorm. Back to the current day, and Lukaku is isolated, the wingers don’t run into space… Only Gueye has really earned his money this season in the middle third. So who can blame Barkley for trying to take some ownership, and trying to create something? Because who else will? But his confidence has all but gone, and we’re worse off for it.



RB03.jpg




I honestly don’t know how I’d respond to the crowd getting on my back, and neither do any of you reading this. Wanting more from the players is one thing, being a [Poor language removed] about it is another. In 20 odd years of going to the game, there have probably only been a handful of times I’ve thought ‘Christ, I didn’t see that pass’, but I’ve lost count of the amount of times when playing football that I’ve told someone they should’ve passed to me, or been told by someone that I should’ve passed to them: the game is easy in the stands. You don’t miss a pass, your lungs are never burning, your heart is never beating out of your chest, your legs are never heavy, and you haven’t got any pressure on you. Barkley’s done the near-impossible: he’s the local lad who has made it to the top of his tree, and been more successful than 99.999% of us ever will be. It was just last season when across Europe’s top 5 leagues, only three midfielders 23 and under scored more goals than him, only three got more assists than him, and only five played more key passes than him, all while playing in a side that finished in the bottom half of the premier league: the kinds of company he’s keeping there? The likes of Pogba, Draxler, Sané, Alli, Jesé, Halilovic and Denis Suarez (amongst others). Barkley deserves your respect, even if he hasn’t earned your admiration. He frustrates at times, but he’s been sublime, too. There are different types of player: leaders, tacticians, technicians, drivers, athletic players, explosive players, and so on… Barkley plays beside almost none of those. He needs help, more support around him, and I’d argue he needs a change of position, too.

I honestly believe Barkley has been to Everton what Paul Scholes was to England around 1998. Scholes was one of England’s better players, and he was shunted wide left because there was nobody else who could play there, and he was deemed most capable by default. The same is true for Barkley. Barkley had to endure a year of being played wide left by Martinez, and his development suffered for it, regardless of what Martinez might’ve tried to bluster about giving him a greater understanding of a new position, and it helping his growth. Barkley is now asked to play off the striker, which is an improvement on him being played out wide, but still, it doesn’t suit him…

With his back to goal, Barkley frequently has to receive the ball in tight spaces, but he isn’t really the kind of player who can spin his man and turn away from him… He isn’t explosive over half a yard to get past a man and create space for himself. He struggles to turn and pick a pass, but he’s suffered from the form of those around him, too. Who moves for him? Who runs between the lines? Who drags opposition players out of position with a bit of intelligent movement? Nobody. In a team in need of overhaul, Lukaku has been the only attacking constant, and even he has had his own struggles with form over prolonged periods, from time to time.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Everton player rely on their instincts quite the way Ross Barkley does. He can struggle when he’s got to think what’s coming next, but when the game is in front of him, and he can see it unfolding before him… It becomes instinctive. I honestly don’t know whether Barkley will make it at Everton long term, or whether ultimately the club’s ambitions will mean he will be left behind and become a ‘what if’. A story of untold potential, component bits of a footballer that never quite meshed into the one he threatened. But when Barkley has been played deep, he has done well… Which makes me think, who do I think his game is most similar to? He’s clearly nowhere near as good at the moment, and chances are he never will be, but Barkley reminds me most of Yaya Toure…

Firstly, physically: their body shapes are not too dissimilar. Last season, Barkley was considered by some to be overweight, but his BMI (21.3) is right in the middle of the appropriate range. Toure’s BMI is greater (25.5), and both are fairly unique. Stout and powerful, but both are athletic enough to carry the ball past others with ease when they have the ball at their feet. Neither are twitchy enough to be effective in tight spaces, but give them 30 yards to build up a head of steam and run into on the break, in broken play, and both are near impossible to stop. This kind of powerful running from deep could be the staple diet of Everton on the counter, were Barkley afforded the chance to play from closer to half way. Don’t think he’s got it in him because he’s carrying too much? Take a look at his goal away to Arsenal last season…



RB01.jpg


RB02.jpg




And just like my point earlier- if Barkley isn’t doing the driving, taking the responsibility- who is? Look at the state of the rest of them, still in their own half.

Barkley coming onto the ball from deep means not only can he pick a pass much easier (as he did away to Leicester), but he can find the space to unleash the rockets he has in both feet…



It’s just over five years since Barkley made his Everton debut, and at the time of writing this, he’s scored 18 league goals in 129 appearances. In the first 129 league games of Yaya Toure’s career, he scored 9. I resent the comparison being made by some to Steven Gerrard, because I don’t see the similarities in their game the way I do to Toure, but in Gerrard’s opening 129 league games, he managed 14. Barkley has done better than his recent form would have you remember. And Toure was playing in Belgium, Ukraine and Greece, in that time. Barkley has been in one of the most demanding leagues in the world. When Toure moved from Belgium to Ukraine, he went from playing in a stadium in front of 12,000 people to one that holds 5,000…



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He made his mistakes in backwaters, away from the spotlight. He grew away from the physical and mental stresses and of the league we all take for granted.

Even the worst aspects of both of their games are similar: neither has a great desire to get their hands dirty and help out on the defensive side- and they both need a more disciplined, responsible midfielder to play alongside them. But given how often we’ve bemoaned playing two holding midfielders, why not have one who is there solely to break play up, with no need to support attacks beyond making themselves available for the occasional pass to keep play ticking?

There’s no avoiding that ultimately, it’s up to Barkley- he has to do better, he has to give the team more, but he deserves to be put in a position to succeed. Barkley should be played where his skills are best suited, and to me- that’s deeper. He needs better players around him, with better movement. He’s desperately in need of some proper coaching. The club have to put him in a position to fulfil his potential, because he’s old enough now- but he has to give them reason to believe that’s what they should do. Most of his current teammates won’t be at the club in three years, it’s time to sink or swim for Ross Barkley. But diamonds are surprisingly tough things.
Well written and thought provoking article.
 

Superb write up.

I'll add to it the "he's gone backwards" line. He hasn't. Hes been given more responsibility to his game and with that he'll not do those lung busting runs and those 25 yard screamers all the time.

As pointed out, half a season last season he was in the top midfielders in European football.

When his formed dipped and the team slid, he should've had help. He should've had someone else to take the burden. He didn't.

The same this season. He struggling with the new system and way of working. But is there anyone to take his place? No. Instead hes made an example of, he's benched, he been told he's not good. Yet hes still better than 90% of the squad.
When has he been told he's no good ? It's this kind of defensive hyperbole that causes the extreme reactions on here. For whatever reason he is clearly struggling to find some consistency this season, so he has been benched. If his best position is deep central midfield, then you can't get away with having no defensive input. This is one side of his game that I have seen improve this season. As for the crowd getting on your back when you make a bad pass or whatever that's an ever present and the day it goes so will the rest of the passion. You have to learn to cope with it or you will fail,simple really.
 
When has he been told he's no good ? It's this kind of defensive hyperbole that causes the extreme reactions on here. For whatever reason he is clearly struggling to find some consistency this season, so he has been benched. If his best position is deep central midfield, then you can't get away with having no defensive input. This is one side of his game that I have seen improve this season. As for the crowd getting on your back when you make a bad pass or whatever that's an ever present and the day it goes so will the rest of the passion. You have to learn to cope with it or you will fail,simple really.

Fan wise say hes not good enough (see plenty in this thread). And in terms of losing his place internationally from being nailed on to maybe staying off the plane within 6months (now nowhere near it). From being benched or hauled off, its a clean sign as a player than you currently aren't good enough.

This article is a good summary especially from Koeman's quotes.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...s-barkley-quandary?client=ms-android-wileyfox

Now, half the fans want him smashing and running at players. Then the other want him crunching into challenges and winning the ball back.

At the moment hes struggling to do both at the same time. Sacrificing one side of his game for another.

The way Koeman wants to play is more defensive and direct. He wants him to be more defensive and as its a new part of his game, hes got to adjust and it'll take time.

So its just a wait and see game now. But we can't expect him to be that player of 3 years ago because hes not and Koeman isn't wanting him to play that way.
 
thought he looked better off the bench v leicester... more composed and with much more vision than usual, not least in setting up Lukaku for the second (how anyone can complain Lukaku is not "mobile" after that is beyond me)

ideally he would start against and completely boss a weak Hull side, putting his and our poor form behind us for good. but with Everton, nothing is ever quite so simple
 
...no, I think he's the only true creative central midfielder we have but I fear he's not good enough and that will be highlighted when we get somebody better in. He performs very well at times but those times are not often enough for a top player. Martinez gave him no responsibility and it suited but RK wants more from his midfielders and I fear Barkley has been found out.

As I said, he's a great runner with a football at his feet but looks laboured without it. He was abject in the Derby, the poorly weighted free kick he gave to Coleman and then the cross hit high into Gwladys St when we had a chance to relieve pressure was truly awful. Henderson looked after him wearing his pipe and slippers, Barkley kicked him when it should've been the other way around.

Barkley 23
Deulofeu 22
Lukaku 23
Galloway 20

Im not sure why these guys are getting stick tbh...Zidane was 24 i think when he really looked class...Drogba was 25.
 

No one has been able to give one good reason to sell him, it's like everyone just plays football manager and just wants to sell for sake of having something to do.

We don't need the money, we dont need to free up spaces in his position, so give me one single reason why we should sell when there are about 7 or 8 players who never play who should be going in the bin well before barkley does.
 
No one has been able to give one good reason to sell him, it's like everyone just plays football manager and just wants to sell for sake of having something to do.

We don't need the money, we dont need to free up spaces in his position, so give me one single reason why we should sell when there are about 7 or 8 players who never play who should be going in the bin well before barkley does.

18 players to sell before him
 
Barkley 23
Deulofeu 22
Lukaku 23
Galloway 20

Im not sure why these guys are getting stick tbh...Zidane was 24 i think when he really looked class...Drogba was 25.

...regarding Barkley, he gets stick because his performances have been poor and it's hard to see how a birthday will make a difference. You highlight a couple who's stars rose in mid20s but you can mention others who were great from earlier, Alan Ball was MoM in a World Cup Final at 21 and was consistently outstanding from the time he joined us. Perhaps things will fall into place for Barkley, perhaps the penny might drop or perhaps he's been found out as not good enough. Fingers crossed things turn out but I think the 'stick' he gets is to be expected, folk give an honest opinion on what they see.

Lukaku is doing enough to positively impact football matches but he's not the complete deal. That's all I would criticise him for. I like Galloway, i wouldn't have sent him on loan but I suspect RK doesn't rate him and he's struggled at the Baggies. I'm no expert, I suppose time will tell if he's the real deal but it might not be at Everton.
 
...regarding Barkley, he gets stick because his performances have been poor and it's hard to see how a birthday will make a difference. You highlight a couple who's stars rose in mid20s but you can mention others who were great from earlier, Alan Ball was MoM in a World Cup Final at 21 and was consistently outstanding from the time he joined us. Perhaps things will fall into place for Barkley, perhaps the penny might drop or perhaps he's been found out as not good enough. Fingers crossed things turn out but I think the 'stick' he gets is to be expected, folk give an honest opinion on what they see.

Lukaku is doing enough to positively impact football matches but he's not the complete deal. That's all I would criticise him for. I like Galloway, i wouldn't have sent him on loan but I suspect RK doesn't rate him and he's struggled at the Baggies. I'm no expert, I suppose time will tell if he's the real deal but it might not be at Everton.

Its a squad game...no idea why they either have to be in the first eleven and if not then some are advocating selling them.

This is why we have 18 donkeys needing to be sold...we buy squad players when we should be buying potential or finished articles so the squad is strong.
 
Barkley 23
Deulofeu 22
Lukaku 23
Galloway 20

Im not sure why these guys are getting stick tbh...Zidane was 24 i think when he really looked class...Drogba was 25.

I agree with you on this. We shall keep the above players they are still young and have rooms for improvement. Lukaku is irreplaceable, for me anyway. And they have a good resale value too.
 

Its a squad game...no idea why they either have to be in the first eleven and if not then some are advocating selling them.

This is why we have 18 donkeys needing to be sold...we buy squad players when we should be buying potential or finished articles so the squad is strong.

...I think that's fair enough. I suppose much depends on the numbers and standard of who comes in. There is a saying that you are only as strong as your bench and it's certainly true that we need strength in depth.

I suppose the only caveat these days is fair play rules. Salary scope is dependent on club income so a club like ours without the global attraction of others will have to boost income by selling footballers. It's a balancing act.
 
...I think that's fair enough. I suppose much depends on the numbers and standard of who comes in. There is a saying that you are only as strong as your bench and it's certainly true that we need strength in depth.

I suppose the only caveat these days is fair play rules. Salary scope is dependent on club income so a club like ours without the global attraction of others will have to boost income by selling footballers. It's a balancing act.

At the end of the season 'we could' see a bench of;

Robles
Galloway
Holgate
Davies
Walsh
Lookman
Calvert-Lewin

Are they any worse than those seniors on the bench now?

In the first eleven, who is tangibly superior to them;

Baines (hasnt been consistent for ages)
Coleman (Holgate looked great at RB)
Williams (stopgap for 2 seasons)
Gana
Barkley (has to play deep)
Deulofeu (should be given a run of games)

Any others who are far better than those on the bench? It's not easy to select any...in fact we may see Holgate at CB and Kenny on the bench.

The rest of the squad could be sold...as you mention, theres a balancing act needed but i would argue that is mostly due to the (nearly 20) players who are taking wages each week and should be upgraded and sold.

I think if we can turnover those players in the next couple of windows (why keep them?) then our wage bill would sink drastically even with alot of incomings.
 
At the end of the season 'we could' see a bench of;

Robles
Galloway
Holgate
Davies
Walsh
Lookman
Calvert-Lewin

Are they any worse than those seniors on the bench now?

In the first eleven, who is tangibly superior to them;

Baines (hasnt been consistent for ages)
Coleman (Holgate looked great at RB)
Williams (stopgap for 2 seasons)
Gana
Barkley (has to play deep)
Deulofeu (should be given a run of games)

Any others who are far better than those on the bench? It's not easy to select any...in fact we may see Holgate at CB and Kenny on the bench.

The rest of the squad could be sold...as you mention, theres a balancing act needed but i would argue that is mostly due to the (nearly 20) players who are taking wages each week and should be upgraded and sold.

I think if we can turnover those players in the next couple of windows (why keep them?) then our wage bill would sink drastically even with alot of incomings.

...well Moshiri said Koeman is ruthless and I think you have to consider if comments he makes are pointed at moving individuals on. Whether we agree or not, that includes Barkley. It'll be interesting to see if he can move the likes of McGeady, Niasse et al out.
 

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