Ross Barkley

[SoccerHQ]

Barkley has much high level as player. He's regularly started for England over last two years and started for Chelsea in champions league.

That said I'm a bit bemused how quickly Barkley seems to have become untouchable and little things like subbing him for Conor in games we're actually losing is seen now by some as covid 19 style world ending event.

Believe it or not but I'm sure we can win some games this season with Nakamba and Hourihane starting (Hourihane started our first two league wins) so they remain viable options off the bench in games that aren't going our way.

[eamonn]

Fully agreed HQ. Any player that is having a poor game, Jack included, shouldn't be immune from being hooked.

[chrisw1]

Fully agreed HQ. Any player that is having a poor game, Jack included, shouldn't be immune from being hooked.

Of course they shouldn't and yes Barkley was poor against Leeds.  Personally I don't think Hourihane is the type of player who would have helped us wrestle back control of a game like that, but he is productive and may have produced something from a set piece..

But the difference in quality is surely as clear as day to anyone who has watched the players play and I'm surprised Abbey needs it explaining.

[PeterWithe]

Barkley had a poor game last night, but it would be foolish to sit him. He offers something that Hourihane could only dream about... and I am not knocking Hourihane; but the gap between the two is significant.

This All day.

An even bigger reason to question what Barclay has that Hourihane can only "dream about"

Pace.

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

It's interesting that the poster who made the claim that Barkley has something that Hourihane could only dream of, didn't respond.
And just to put your mind at ease Chrisw1 I don't need it explaining.
The questions were posed to see what the responses would be and PeterWithe was  right when he said "pace". Beyond that nothing.
I'm with SoccerHQ on this. Conor has his qualities and weaknesses as does Barkley (clearly defending, tracking back, tackling are not amongst his strengths along with the occasional misplaced pass.. see Leeds last Sunday).
I would not want any other team's loan cast-off to be seen as someone who is untouchable and can't be replaced not least to send him a message that below par performances won't be tolerated (besides the obvious of subbing to rescue games).
We've been there and had untouchable players before and look what happened to us in 2016.
I personally don't care what Barkley has done previously for Everton, Chelsea and England. It's what he does for Aston Villa that concerns me and whilst I've been pleased with his goal contributions so far, other aspects of his game has left me wondering. Still it's early days and he has a whole season to show what he can do.

[ChicagoLion]

My biggest concern is his fitness. I just hope we have not signed a player that has recuring injury problems.

[chrisw1]

Of course he shouldn't be untouchable.

But the only thing you think he has above Hourihane is pace?  What about strength, ball control, dribbling ability, link up play, physicality, ability to control a game, ability to break with the ball...

Frankly the only thing Conor matches him on is set pieces.  You could argue passing ability, but when under pressure in open play Barkleys passing and link up is also better.

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

If you read my post correctly I didn't say that pace was the only thing that Barclay had over Hourihane. I pointed out that pace was the only thing offered on this thread that hourihane could only "dream of" having. That is until your most recent post when you offered a little more. Good for you.

[OCD]

My biggest concern is his fitness. I just hope we have not signed a player that has recuring injury problems.

They don't normally play 2 games back to back when we've previously signed injury prone players.

[Ian.]

Barkley had a poor game last night, but it would be foolish to sit him. He offers something that Hourihane could only dream about... and I am not knocking Hourihane; but the gap between the two is significant.

This All day.

An even bigger reason to question what Barclay has that Hourihane can only "dream about"

Pace.

Power.

[SoccerHQ]

Fully agreed HQ. Any player that is having a poor game, Jack included, shouldn't be immune from being hooked.

Nah Jack is in the stay on at all costs select group and rightly so.

It's like Spurs tonight at Burnley 0-0 with 20 minutes left. No chance whatsoever they take off either Son or Kane unless they're injured and surprise surprise they combine for the winner 5 minutes later.

Dele Alli however was an untouchable starter not so long ago and now he can't even make their bench.

[SoccerHQ]

Another point is we need to keep the squad players motivated and believing they're only a goal away from coming on to change things.

Just leave likes of Hourihane on the bench without coming on every week will just decrease the desire and then these types become harder to move on.

Reminds me of us signing Habib Beye who'd won POTY at Newcastle and was a perfectly capable premier league FB. Played a few games and looked o.k but then hardly played for a year and then we couldn't shift given the wages he was on.

AEM is a great example of someone who will spend time on bench but will get sub minutes and then come in for a start or two and not let us down so I think there should be a bit more trust.

A year ago Luiz wasn't seen as good enough for our 11 but we kept giving him minutes and amazing improvement in last six months so now he's rightly undroppable.

[ChicagoLion]

My biggest concern is his fitness. I just hope we have not signed a player that has recuring injury problems.

They don't normally play 2 games back to back when we've previously signed injury prone players.

great against Liverpool, admitted he only just made it against Leicester and looked very leggy against Leeds.
How many consecutive starts did he make for Chelsea?

[DrGonzo]

My biggest concern is his fitness. I just hope we have not signed a player that has recuring injury problems.

They don't normally play 2 games back to back when we've previously signed injury prone players.

great against Liverpool, admitted he only just made it against Leicester and looked very leggy against Leeds.
How many consecutive starts did he make for Chelsea?

It's more likely a lack of minutes in his legs than any indication of being prone to injury.  I have been largely impressed so far and fingers crossed his partnership with Jack is allowed to grow for the next few seasons...

[Ian.]

My biggest concern is his fitness. I just hope we have not signed a player that has recuring injury problems.

I’m not sure how you have come to the conclusion that Barkley has an injury problem. He’s had no serious injuries or ever been a player who has had many knocks through his career has he? I’m sure at Chelsea it was more a case of not fitting in more than anything else.