Ross Barkley

[LeeB]

Fuck!

Welcome and please ram my words down my throat.

[Brend'Watkins]

I think it possibly pushes the likes of Lansbury towards the exit door and possibly Ramsey out on loan but I hope not in Ramsey's case although it would be understandable.

Ramsey will be a League Cup starter and in the squad.  Marvelous is surplus now.  Lansbury is a wart that just won't go away.

[DB]

Just spoke to a Everton ST holder at work. He says good ball carrier, will create but also will make a few mistakes and has not improved in 5 years after a lot of early promise. Let's see...

[Keeno]

Hourihane has been a great servant, but if you don't think Barkley massively upgrades the quality of our midfield, you're crazy.

The front six of Luiz-McGinn-Barkley; Grealish-Watkins-Traore is an order of magnitude better than what we entered last season with.

[Monty]

Shit my boots that was fast. Excited about this.

[Towser]

Just spoke to a Everton ST holder at work. He says good ball carrier, will create but also will make a few mistakes and has not improved in 5 years after a lot of early promise. Let's see...

Chelsea fan at work just said exactly the same to me, he also said he was convinced Ross was staying and Loftus-Cheek would be the one coming to us.

[WilliamStanding]

Another giggle from our mates on SHA, they are imploding again, more references to the ghost goal and we shouldn’t even be in this position to sigh such players.

Love it

[hilts_coolerking]

I've always thought he's elegant but ineffectual.  But clean slate and all that.  I hope he really knuckles down while he's here.

[kippaxvilla2]

I was just about to post that!

 Worcester Blue
10:56, Wed 30 Sep
 Sir Digby Chicken Caesar
With Barkley now coming in, I just can't see them being in relegation trouble this season. Their recruitment has been decent compared to their previous forays

None of this would be happening if it wasn't for their spawny goal-line technology malfunction, the lucky bar stewards

[jwarry]

Well Jack’s happy judging by his tweet.  Maybe this is what he was told was coming?

[lovejoy]

Non-plussed, is midfield really where we need to strengthen?

[manic-road]

Happy with the signing, a quality midielder added to the squad. With games coming thick and fast or a player getting a long term injury we needed quality players adding to the squad, now Ross don't do a Drinkwater.

[Hairbandinho]

If there is an option to buy this is good....

[Sexual Ealing]

A quick look at Twitter (I know) tells me that Chelsea fans are a bit nonplussed about letting him go, which is good.

They aren't thrilled he's gone here either:

https://www.theshedend.com/topic/31484-welcome-ross-barkley/page/47/#comments

That's reassuring to read. As much as they're a club for wankers, racists and people with pony tails, Chelsea currently operate at a much higher level than we do. If he's good enough for them, he'll do a job for us.

[old man villa fan]

Non-plussed, is midfield really where we need to strengthen?

Yes, we keep on getting overrun at times.  Also, we struggle to get central midfield players up quickly to support our central striker.