Ross Barkley

[OCD]

Leeds may be a newly promoted team but you would have to be pretty blind to say that's all they are or to the group in with Albion and Fulham. Bielsa is a brilliant coach and he's doing a great job with them. They've caused everybody they've played huge problems. They scored 3 at Liverpool and they drew with Man City in a game where the score could have been anything. Unfortunately we allowed ourselves to get bullied but we could also have scored a couple of times before they did and at that point, it's a different game.

[Mister E]

How's RB's fitness? - any comments from the club?

[Allan C]

I think people look at the reasons for the defeat.
For me the performance of Barkley and Mings were significant.
It’s a valid discussion point.

True but they weren’t the only ones who were poor. The entire midfield were equally poor particularly McGinn and IMO only Konsa came out of the game with any credit at all. Barkley is significantly better than any current replacement

[in exile]

Well, it is a discussion board after all. It would be a bit boring if everybody agreed.

Agreed.

[bjfoster]

Thought he was crap again today.

Second time in two games that he’s given the ball away and they’ve waltzed it past our midfield for their striker to put in the net.

At what point does he get dropped and Conor put back in the side?

[SoccerHQ]

Last few pages sums up Aston Villa last 10 years and probably modern football in general.  We’re so quick to write people off - we’re lucky to have someone of Ross Barkleys ability. The call for Hourihane to replace him already is laughable

For me, it's more that some people massively over-react after a defeat.

Are we allowed to over-react yet?

Does seem already a player we want to leave on the pitch at all costs but he's miles away from that status. Can only hope better for next week.

[N'ZMAV]

Barkley having a quiet game seems to have improved Houriahne's ability.

[TonyD]

I don’t think he looks well.   

[CT]

Very poor last two games and directly responsible for goals conceded in each.

We can’t afford to have him and McGinn being passengers in midfield.

[ChicagoLion]

Jury still out for me.

[paul_e]

As I said in the match thread the last 2 games have been the player I was worried we were getting who has very little impact on the game for long periods. We've had 2 games of Everton era Barkley and 2 games of Chelsea era Barkley, I hope he gets back to the Everton version quickly.

[brontebilly]

I don’t think he looks well.

Needs to tone down the spray tan. No chance of sweat knocking it off anyway. An absolute joke again today. Shameful.

[villa `cross the mersey]

Shock,horror
Decent footballer turns to shit shortly after donning Aston Villa Shirt..........
File under "Villa screwing up the  to opportunity to go top of the League at home against opposition we should be at least drawing with"
It appears to be written in the stars

[cdbearsfan]

I don’t think he looks well.

Needs to tone down the spray tan.

You know he's mixed race, yeah?

[Toronto Villa]

I don’t think he looks well.

Needs to tone down the spray tan.

You know he's mixed race, yeah?

LOL I was wondering who was going to point that out. I’ve seen his skin tone mentioned on here before. His old man is Nigerian.