Ross Barkley

[Footy-Vill]

I’m now wondering if Barkley is going to be saved and most suited for Champions league fixtures given he’s an experienced player and fills a number of roles . I don’t see him starting on Saturday but would expect him to have some minutes as sub in either Arsenal or Leicester fixture.
I feel I’ve changed my tune after reading encouraging words that Unai specifally wanted Barkley so that will do me!

[Monty]

Not sure about 'saved' for Europe exactly, but you can imagine his experience and technique being very useful indeed against, say, Salzburg.

[jwarry]

O suspect Ross knows the score and won’t rock the boat.  His time will come and he needs to be ready for the greatest games of his life

[VillaTim]

He's here for cameos , carabao and emergency deployment

[jwarry]

He's here for cameos , carabao and emergency deployment

I don’t think he is. It’s like Youri early last season, he will have a massive part to play

[ozzjim]

He's here for cameos , carabao and emergency deployment

I don’t think he is. It’s like Youri early last season, he will have a massive part to play

Agreed. He's an excellent player, Unai will use him when he's ready to.

[PaulWinch again]

Yep I think he’ll be a really useful member of the squad.

[Smithy]

Unlike his previous stint here, there is genuine competition for his position, so if he gets a chance, he has to take it, and he knows that.  Remember last season Tielemens was unhappy with his playing time going into the winter, but turned it around and became one of the first names on the teamsheet.  It's entirely possible Ross will do the same.

I'm hoping our strength in depth means we'll rotate a bit more this season, and in turn this will mean a decent number of starts for most of our midfielders.

[Gerrin]

Thought he did really well when he came on yesterday. He'll definitely get plenty of minutes this season.

[Dante Lavelli]

I feel the deep playmaker role suits him.

He was often a passenger playing ten as he didn’t get back and was reliant on being given the ball. Now the traffic is in front of him so he’s more involved. Plus he can use his physicality to block the channels if not actually make tackles.

The touch and quality has never been in doubt.

[Dogtanian]

He was so calm on the ball yesterday and looked like he was enjoying it.

[Dante Lavelli]

Big call but I think he might eventually be better than Tielemans in that double pivot role as long as it’s onana or Kamara alongside him.

Tielemans and Barkley makes me shudder.

[Steve67]

Big call but I think he might eventually be better than Tielemans in that double pivot role as long as it’s onana or Kamara alongside him.

Tielemans and Barkley makes me shudder.

They are both quality players, good passers of the ball.  Not sure why they make you shudder.

[OCD]

Tielemans and Barkley looked ok as a pair yesterday.

I'm sure Barkley will become more involved as the season goes on, like Tielemans did last season, as he adjusts to what Emery wants.

We struggled to keep hold of the ball in the second half and then we settled down for a while when the changes were made.

[Risso]

Yes, it looks like Ross is aware of what’s required of him, and did it well.