Ross Barkley

[Meanwood Villa]

I don't know if this is a barometer of anything or not really but I've had more neutral fans messaging about Barkley today than any signing I can remember since I don't know when. Seems to be quite big news. They all think it's a better signing than me too.

[cdbearsfan]

That's happened to me, too. Albeit with bloody Teams messages rather than texts.

[ASHTONVILLA]

I don't know if this is a barometer of anything or not really but I've had more neutral fans messaging about Barkley today than any signing I can remember since I don't know when. Seems to be quite big news. They all think it's a better signing than me too.

Same here. Man U fan, and Everton fan at work both brought it up. Had a WhatsApp message about it from a friend in Jordan (Chelsea fan), and my PNE supporting neighbor collated me on my way in the house to tell me what a good signing it was.

It is a signing I was hoping would happen, but I am taken aback how much it has changed the way neutral fans regard us.

[Dave]

No reflection whatsoever on his ability - I think he's a good player - but in this picture at least, he looks about 43.

https://twitter.com/DeadlineDayLive/status/1311237731771723777/photo/1

I'm really pleased with this. Getting (as I now am) too old to qualify for Lange's transfer policy, I'm starting to wonder if players look younger now than they did in, say, the 90s simply because I was younger then, or because they actually look younger now. I mean, I watch videos of Ronald Koeman when he was my age, and the dude still looks like a f***ing man back then, and I think 'there's no way I look that old, people must have looked older then'. Barkley, with his older face, proves that I'm right. That's what a 26 year old footballer should look like.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about or am I just rambling incoherently?

Nobody looks older than old footballers. I have no idea why, but a 36 year old player will always look three times as weathered as a 36 year old real life human. I'm 42 and balding and I look younger than Mark Hughes did when he was 27.

I've cumulatively lost hours on this Twitter account:

https://mobile.twitter.com/80sAging

Photos of footballers from the 80s who looks far older than they should.

For example, Nivaldo of Portimonense.



Every one of his 29 years at the time of photo, showing on his face.

[Sexual Ealing]

That's the week gone for me.

[dave shelley]

Some beauts on there, unfortunately Des Bremner is one.  I cry foul!

[Brazilian Villain]

Some brilliant stuff on there e.g. Tommy Gemmell aged 30.

[Sexual Ealing]

Some beauts on there, unfortunately Des Bremner is one.  I cry foul!

Remind me to never let you set me up on a blind date, Dave!

[JD]

Got a text from an Everton supporting mate at 5am this morning saying Villa have signed Ross the Rat.

Obviously still upset about the way he left Everton 

[Monty]

No reflection whatsoever on his ability - I think he's a good player - but in this picture at least, he looks about 43.

https://twitter.com/DeadlineDayLive/status/1311237731771723777/photo/1

I'm really pleased with this. Getting (as I now am) too old to qualify for Lange's transfer policy, I'm starting to wonder if players look younger now than they did in, say, the 90s simply because I was younger then, or because they actually look younger now. I mean, I watch videos of Ronald Koeman when he was my age, and the dude still looks like a f***ing man back then, and I think 'there's no way I look that old, people must have looked older then'. Barkley, with his older face, proves that I'm right. That's what a 26 year old footballer should look like.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about or am I just rambling incoherently?

Nobody looks older than old footballers. I have no idea why, but a 36 year old player will always look three times as weathered as a 36 year old real life human. I'm 42 and balding and I look younger than Mark Hughes did when he was 27.

I've cumulatively lost hours on this Twitter account:

https://mobile.twitter.com/80sAging

Photos of footballers from the 80s who looks far older than they should.

For example, Nivaldo of Portimonense.



Every one of his 29 years at the time of photo, showing on his face.

This is the best thing.

[LeeB]

He must have had a bastard of a paper round.

[cdbearsfan]

Got a text from an Everton supporting mate at 5am this morning saying Villa have signed Ross the Rat.

Obviously still upset about the way he left Everton 

Kind of appropriate that they still employ Fabian the Snake. We can have a boo off next time they allow fans in.

Both players will have retired by then but we both know our 'istry so shouldn't be a problem.

[Ian.]

Bloody hell that Twitter account is hilarious. That’s fantastic, I actually feel quite young now. It’s like the complete opposite to what footballers look like today. They look older and less athletic than my local veterans team.

[villadelph]

Got a text from an Everton supporting mate at 5am this morning saying Villa have signed Ross the Rat.

Obviously still upset about the way he left Everton 

Kind of appropriate that they still employ Fabian the Snake. We can have a boo off next time they allow fans in.

Amazing.

[eamonn]

Have a feeling this might be similar to the Tom Cleverly loan - whereby Barkley sees out time with us until he gets a more attractive move, turning in the odd decent game here and there.

Without that option to buy it's a danger.

But against that, if he has designs on getting back in the England squad he'll need to be performing regularly. He also has better players around him already than Cleverly did back then, so if it goes well, making the move permanent could suit all.

Benteke and Delph weren't exactly bad team-mates.