Ross Barkley

[Ads]

Yeah they will George.

[LeeB]

He was here for a year, and never looked right after his hamstring injury. After being released by Chelsea and having been without a club going into his peak career years, he seems to have had a realisation that time's running out and he has take things seriously now. I trust Emery and Monchi to know what they're doing.

I get that they have earned that trust, but it doesn't make them infallible.

Monchi once signed Olsen, for example...

For me personally, Barkley has done the opposite of earning my trust.

He has a decade of his career, wasting it. Including a year with us where I, & many others, never wanted to see him in a Villa shirt ever again. And I can say many others because I have both read & heard Villa fans say exactly that.

Granted, he had a good year at Luton on a short term contract, but it will take a lot from the player himself to prove to me that he has learned his lesson.

And I hope he does prove me wrong. I just don't expect it to happen.

Nobody is infalliable, just that these guys are better than most.

And a couple of million plus wages to get in someone who undoubtedly has the ability to play in our team is an extremely low risk punt in terms of modern football transfers, especially given the potential rewards.

[pablo_picasso]

It's a gamble I hope comes off Lee.

I really do...

[LeeB]

It's a gamble I hope comes off Lee.

I really do...

It will, don't worry.

[Baldy]

Yeah they will George.

George? Sorry, gone over my head.

[VillaTim]

Does a leopard change its spots!! 

This dude has had a two year trial already and failed.

Looked great at Luton last season but then again, so did Marvelous Nakamba before him.

We have a happy camp at the moment. Do we need someone sulking around in the background if they do not get the limelight!!

No from me, we can do better.

x2.

[VillaTim]

I cannot see anything concrete on this at all. I'd say it's all idle speculation and lazy journalism.

[Toronto Villa]

Surely anyone can make a signing that doesn’t pan out. I wouldn’t judge Monchi on his recruitment of Barkley because he once signed Olsen. He’s got more right than wrong. That would be like slating Alex Ferguson for signing Bebe, Eric Djemba Djemba, Kleberson and Taibi and ignoring the vast majority that worked out well. And frankly I have no reason to believe Barkley will be anything as bad as any of those. Especially as it’s likely a very small fee.

[Toronto Villa]

I cannot see anything concrete on this at all. I'd say it's all idle speculation and lazy journalism.

What a strange hill to want to die on.

[Ads]

Yeah they will George.

George? Sorry, gone over my head.

Just keep your distance and see if Barkley catches your eye.

[PaulWinch again]

It's a gamble I hope comes off Lee.

I really do...

It’s not really a gamble. It’s quite astute and risk based.

[brontebilly]

Surely anyone can make a signing that doesn’t pan out. I wouldn’t judge Monchi on his recruitment of Barkley because he once signed Olsen. He’s got more right than wrong. That would be like slating Alex Ferguson for signing Bebe, Eric Djemba Djemba, Kleberson and Taibi and ignoring the vast majority that worked out well. And frankly I have no reason to believe Barkley will be anything as bad as any of those. Especially as it’s likely a very small fee.

Micah Richards was "free"! I haven't been as against a potential signing as maybe Barkley the first time, Ings or Drinkwater. I wasn't sold on Martinez either 😀

[pablo_picasso]

Surely anyone can make a signing that doesn’t pan out. I wouldn’t judge Monchi on his recruitment of Barkley because he once signed Olsen. He’s got more right than wrong. That would be like slating Alex Ferguson for signing Bebe, Eric Djemba Djemba, Kleberson and Taibi and ignoring the vast majority that worked out well. And frankly I have no reason to believe Barkley will be anything as bad as any of those. Especially as it’s likely a very small fee.

Fair point.

My view on Barkley will only be changed by Barkley though.

Nothing stubborn or arrogant about that, not intentionally, as Id like to think I can change my mind given the right evidence, I just don't trust Barkley, until Barkley earns my trust.

No matter what the price.

But as Lee said, its a gamble that could pay off, so I wait with baited breath... 👍

[OCD]

Surely anyone can make a signing that doesn’t pan out. I wouldn’t judge Monchi on his recruitment of Barkley because he once signed Olsen. He’s got more right than wrong. That would be like slating Alex Ferguson for signing Bebe, Eric Djemba Djemba, Kleberson and Taibi and ignoring the vast majority that worked out well. And frankly I have no reason to believe Barkley will be anything as bad as any of those. Especially as it’s likely a very small fee.

I think there's the signings Monchi made without Emery as manager at Sevilla, and there's the signings Monchi made with Emery's input.

[Drummond]

Barkley is a player of undoubted talent. We saw it when he played for us, albeit with some dip in form after his injury.

Now, think of every player in our squad, and tell me any that have become worse under Emery, and then consider all of the players who have got better.

Then look at Barkley, who is English, cheap, and hungry to make up for lost time, in a stable team and club environment, where the team ethic thrives, the coaching is top drawer, and genuinely tell me there isn't a very high probability of him doing well for us.