Will Barkley reach the heights Gerrard did?

[Bluebonic]

Why are you comparing Ross Barkley's engine at 21 years old to that of Gerrard throughout his career ?

Do you remember Gerrard when he was 20/21 ? Groin problems, back injuries, operation after operation.

He still had an engine though mate!

 

[paulbefc]

I highly doubt it.

Gerrard got the absolute maximum return from his ability. I think Barkley's nothing like him in terms of character. Gerrard's much stronger in that respect. Barkley's performing at a fraction of what he's capable of currently.

Barkley's got all of Gerrard's talent and more imo, but he could do with a few of Gerrard's personality traits.

Not the DJ beating and narcissistic traits, to be clear about that.

 

[blue4eva77]

He still had an engine though mate!

Barkley (when fit) has played football continuously all year round since featuring for the Everton 1st team. (club and international) I personally think he is a slightly burnt out. I hate using that term but you know what i mean.

 

[toffeeblue9]

Ridiculous

When Gerrard was Barkley's age he was getting sent off in Merseyside derbies, was on the bench a lot and when he did play he was ' out of his depth '... his own words.

It wasn't until 3 years after his debut that he began to play more regular.

You're probably wrongfully comparing Gerrard at his peak to Barkley of now.

Not at all

Gerrard was a hothead, but he had an eye for a pass and composure that Barkley lacks. It's that bit that makes me worry Barkley will never be truly top class. They're important attributes for a top midfielder.

 

[Bluebonic]

Barkley (when fit) has played football continuously all year round since featuring for the Everton 1st team. (club and international) I personally think he is a slightly burnt out. I hate using that term but you know what i mean.

blue, don't get me wrong mate! I genuinely hope he proves me to be the complete clueless fart I am. I just don't get the impression he is ever going to be a 90 minute player, and that was Slippy's greatest strength.

 

[Tubey]

Not at all

Gerrard was a hothead, but he had an eye for a pass and composure that Barkley lacks. It's that bit that makes me worry Barkley will never be truly top class. They're important attributes for a top midfielder.

Erm...



He has composure. Bags of it. What he doesn't have is an old head on his shoulders yet.

It's a matter of time with Ross. He plays one of, if not the hardest position in football to excel in IMO.

The comparison with Gerrard is strange to me - I think he's nothing like him. Yes, he'll drive with the ball sometimes, but he's a totally different player - he's a technical player in the mould of Zidane rather than Gerrard.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

Technically he has all the skill in the world, I just worry he hasn't go the footballing brain to use it.

Would like to see him start first game of next season at centre mid. He's clearly not a number 10, he'd of proved it by now. His best game this season was at home against QPR, and he scored a screamer running from the halfway line because people in front of him making runs created the room for him, rather than him having to make the space himself. Put him in at centre mid next to McCarthy with a creative number 10 in front of him, and you'll have one hell of a deep lying playmaker.

 

[beachy]

Mega skills but mega poor decision making.

Who was in charge of teaching him tactics?

 

[RalphDring]

He has looked effective when playing in a deeper role, would be like to see how he fares with a run of games in the #8 position. I think next season after a better pre-season than last summer the squad will hopefully looking a tad more like it. Would be nice to put this season down to 2nd season syndrome factor, and a welcome return to the free flowing play of last year and 2 wingers for a change. Maybe wishfull thinking but we live in hope I guess.

 

[Liamliverpool86]

No chance

As much as i hated starfish .. he had for most of his career the aggression and the will to win that i just can't see barkley having

as for technical ability ross could easily be as good

 

[bignev23]

We can only hope Ross has as much impact on our team as Gerrard did on theirs, it would be some achievement like. I can't see it happening but if Ross moves to a more ambitious club he could well end up with a good few medals, there is a belter player in there waiting to get out.

 

[bluegirl]

For me, he's been the most disappointing player this season. We saw what he could last season but this season I can't remember a real good performance from him - maybe QPR at home. He seems to be afraid to run with it and that's his strengths, he's no good at going sideways with it, we need him running with it and making things happen but he hasn't done it this season.

Let's hope for better things next year...

 

[Jimboefc97]

Not with us, and probably not anyway really starting to wonder if he's all that. Hope I'm wrong on both points

 

[bluemangroup]

I highly doubt it.

Gerrard got the absolute maximum return from his ability. I think Barkley's nothing like him in terms of character. Gerrard's much stronger in that respect. Barkley's performing at a fraction of what he's capable of currently.

Barkley's got all of Gerrard's talent and more imo, but he could do with a few of Gerrard's personality traits.

Not the DJ beating and narcissistic traits, to be clear about that.

That wouldn't hurt.

 

[roydo]

My memory might be playing tricks, but when Gerrard broke into the Liverpool side, he was pretty hit and miss. He had talent, no doubt, but his stamina was questionable, and there were also grave concerns that his physical development was an issue with a dodgy back or something.

Not sure either of those are an issue for Ross; would rather have concerns about his football brain than his football body at this stage of his career.