Ross Barkley

[Scott Nielsen]

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.

Wouldn't it be easier for him to simply remain at Chelsea in that case? Why uproot himself just to pointlessly coast through a season in a new environment and the risks that come with that?

No telling if he'll be a success for us but I see no reason to question his commitment.

[algy]

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.

That's a fantastic Twitter account.

[rooboy316]

If he finds his straps, Barkley will also be useful as cover for Jack if he's injured/rested at any stage. Although the squad is much improved from last season, I shudder to think about the period when Jack was out. We play through him so much, it's hard to change the system when he's missing. Hopefully Barkley along with Ollie and Traore add a few prongs to the attack this season.

[Ads]

I said before I was surprised at the response to Barkley rumours. I think he's a cut or two above Hourihane, as he has that physical presence that Connor doesn't.

The playing of two 8s doesn't appear to do Liverpool harm and given how effective our press has been the past 8 games (and across different squads) I think/I hope Barkley can add to that.

Its interesting to read briefly not just across the local forums, but also other teams and their reactions to this signing.

[algy]

If you look at our second eleven now

Steer
Guilbert - Elmo(?) - Hause - Taylor
Ramsey - Nakamba - Hourihane
Trez - Davies/Wesley - AEG

That's not a bad side really - probably struggle in the Premier League, but I'd put money on them beating our first team from 2 years ago.

[The Edge]

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.

Wouldn't it be easier for him to simply remain at Chelsea in that case? Why uproot himself just to pointlessly coast through a season in a new environment and the risks that come with that?

No telling if he'll be a success for us but I see no reason to question his commitment.

Some things are genuine concerns like a previous injury record for instance and are worthy of debate but speculation about what someone's intentions are really aren't. I could say that I think Barkley's intentions are to light up the club with brilliant performances and force his way into the England squad but unless he comes out and says that I'm just going  to live in hope that that's the case.

[chrisw1]

If you look at our second eleven now

Steer
Guilbert - Elmo(?) - Hause - Taylor
Ramsey - Nakamba - Hourihane
Trez - Davies/Wesley - AEG

That's not a bad side really - probably struggle in the Premier League, but I'd put money on them beating our first team from 2 years ago.

Christ I hope you're not a betting man.  I'm pretty confident that team would be relegated from the Championship not get to the play off final.

[Mister E]

Here's what my reliable Chelsea supporting (STH) mate says:

Powerful running with the ball from deep. Can play cute passes to spring forwards free. Has looked v good for us coming off the bench. I would have kept him for that reason. My concern is he might be a flat track bully, often fails to produce against the good or well organised teams.

There will be a few times when he makes a great run, you drop your (metaphorical) chocolate digestive into your (metaphorical) coffee you're so excited, Grealish has made a great run and is clear, "pass Ross, PASS". He does. Too late. Grealish is offside. You look down at your coffee. You wonder what it's all for....

There is, I think, a potentially  really good player inside a very good athlete. Frank Lampard is not a coach. J reckon Guardiola or Klopp would make him a better player, so the question is, will Dean improve him?

[malckennedy]

If you look at our second eleven now

Steer
Guilbert - Elmo(?) - Hause - Taylor
Ramsey - Nakamba - Hourihane
Trez - Davies/Wesley - AEG

That's not a bad side really - probably struggle in the Premier League, but I'd put money on them beating our first team from 2 years ago.

Christ I hope you're not a betting man.  I'm pretty confident that team would be relegated from the Championship not get to the play off final.

And me.

[Chris Smith]

Here's what my reliable Chelsea supporting (STH) mate says:

Powerful running with the ball from deep. Can play cute passes to spring forwards free. Has looked v good for us coming off the bench. I would have kept him for that reason. My concern is he might be a flat track bully, often fails to produce against the good or well organised teams.

There will be a few times when he makes a great run, you drop your (metaphorical) chocolate digestive into your (metaphorical) coffee you're so excited, Grealish has made a great run and is clear, "pass Ross, PASS". He does. Too late. Grealish is offside. You look down at your coffee. You wonder what it's all for....

There is, I think, a potentially  really good player inside a very good athlete. Frank Lampard is not a coach. J reckon Guardiola or Klopp would make him a better player, so the question is, will Dean improve him?

That’s a more eloquent version of what I said to my lad about him. He’s got all the attributes but too often he makes the wrong decision, plays it left when there are two players free on the right or holds on to it when a forward pass is on. If he can be coached out of it then Chelsea will be getting a decent player back next season.

[The Edge]

Here's what my reliable Chelsea supporting (STH) mate says:

Powerful running with the ball from deep. Can play cute passes to spring forwards free. Has looked v good for us coming off the bench. I would have kept him for that reason. My concern is he might be a flat track bully, often fails to produce against the good or well organised teams.

There will be a few times when he makes a great run, you drop your (metaphorical) chocolate digestive into your (metaphorical) coffee you're so excited, Grealish has made a great run and is clear, "pass Ross, PASS". He does. Too late. Grealish is offside. You look down at your coffee. You wonder what it's all for....

There is, I think, a potentially  really good player inside a very good athlete. Frank Lampard is not a coach. J reckon Guardiola or Klopp would make him a better player, so the question is, will Dean improve him?

Good stuff. I posted yesterday comparing him to Mortimer in that he makes driving runs straight at the heart of defences. That can really cause havoc and that's what excites me about the prospect of having him. As the Chelsea fan says it's all about whether our coaching staff can get the best out of him.

[Drummond]

I like the idea of Davis holding the ball and laying it off to Barkley, or Grealish, maybe Watkins, or Traore, perhaps McGinn..... For the finish...

Good times ahead!

[Brend'Watkins]

Here's what my reliable Chelsea supporting (STH) mate says:

Powerful running with the ball from deep. Can play cute passes to spring forwards free. Has looked v good for us coming off the bench. I would have kept him for that reason. My concern is he might be a flat track bully, often fails to produce against the good or well organised teams.

There will be a few times when he makes a great run, you drop your (metaphorical) chocolate digestive into your (metaphorical) coffee you're so excited, Grealish has made a great run and is clear, "pass Ross, PASS". He does. Too late. Grealish is offside. You look down at your coffee. You wonder what it's all for....

There is, I think, a potentially  really good player inside a very good athlete. Frank Lampard is not a coach. J reckon Guardiola or Klopp would make him a better player, so the question is, will Dean improve him?

That’s a more eloquent version of what I said to my lad about him. He’s got all the attributes but too often he makes the wrong decision, plays it left when there are two players free on the right or holds on to it when a forward pass is on. If he can be coached out of it then Chelsea will be getting a decent player back next season.

I see that too.  I'm hoping that it's a case of a bit part player trying to impress quickly when he's not the first choice.  Playing for us he will be in from the start and can allow himself to grow into the team with his starting place not so much under pressure.  That's my hope anyway.

[Lastfootstamper]

As much as I'd love us to 'do a Leicester', I very much doubt we will. If as part of our progression we have indeed got hold of a flat-track bully for a season, I'm happy with that. I'm under no illusions about what our shortcomings will probably be when we come up against the top sides, but if we've got a player that will help us put a dozen lesser sides to the sword twice this season, well then he's alright by me.

[Mister E]

As much as I'd love us to 'do a Leicester', I very much doubt we will. If as part of our progression we have indeed got hold of a flat-track bully for a season, I'm happy with that. I'm under no illusions about what our shortcomings will probably be when we come up against the top sides, but if we've got a player that will help us put a dozen lesser sides to the sword twice this season, well then he's alright by me.

We 'only' need 10 more wins and a few draws to finish comfortably mid-table ...