Ross Barkley

[SheffieldVillain]

I thought he had a poor game tonight. I know that sounds harsh, but his passing was indifferent, his energy was low and he seemed to play into the defensive traffic rather than finding the space.
Maybe that's too harsh, given the time he's had out with injury ....

Certainly wasn't his best game. Seemed like his mind was sharp but his feet weren't willing. As you say, probably down to the time out.

[LukeJames]

I thought the complete opposite, He pushes us 15 yards further forward. His link up play with Jack was as we would expect. When hes back to full fitness we are gonna be a fucking force.

[Goldie.7]

He's still very rusty and it showed tonight with his constant poor decision making.

I think we'll see him back to his best after the Southampton match.

[PaulWinch again]

He’s understandably rusty. It’ll come.

[brontebilly]

The sharpness with his touch will come. Ball getting stuck under his feet a bit and easy passes going astray. That's just lack of match sharpness really.

My problem with Barkley is that he is a ball hog. I know Jack can be at times but Barkley can just be so ponderous on the ball. Holding onto the ball far too long with players left and right of him. Also, he really offers zilch without the ball. Ive never thought he was a good enough player to get away with either flaw really. If he pressed hard like Watkins we would turn a lot of defenders over.

Burnley might be a good game for him though. They will sit deep so we will need guys comfortable at shooting from distance which he is capable of.

[AlexAlexCropley]

The sharpness with his touch will come. Ball getting stuck under his feet a bit and easy passes going astray. That's just lack of match sharpness really.

My problem with Barkley is that he is a ball hog. I know Jack can be at times but Barkley can just be so ponderous on the ball. Holding onto the ball far too long with players left and right of him. Also, he really offers zilch without the ball. Ive never thought he was a good enough player to get away with either flaw really. If he pressed hard like Watkins we would turn a lot of defenders over.

Burnley might be a good game for him though. They will sit deep so we will need guys comfortable at shooting from distance which he is capable of.

So you don't think he's brought us up a level?

[Ads]

He plays almost as a false 9. He occupies those pockets of space and when he links with Jack of Bertie, we tick.

Its a bit marshmellowey at the moment with his play, can't quite get his radar working and a little alow out his feet. Think away from hom him and Bertie is perhaps too open. He needs games and was unlucky not to score.

[brontebilly]

The sharpness with his touch will come. Ball getting stuck under his feet a bit and easy passes going astray. That's just lack of match sharpness really.

My problem with Barkley is that he is a ball hog. I know Jack can be at times but Barkley can just be so ponderous on the ball. Holding onto the ball far too long with players left and right of him. Also, he really offers zilch without the ball. Ive never thought he was a good enough player to get away with either flaw really. If he pressed hard like Watkins we would turn a lot of defenders over.

Burnley might be a good game for him though. They will sit deep so we will need guys comfortable at shooting from distance which he is capable of.

So you don't think he's brought us up a level?

Not really, has played well in three big wins for us alright (Liverpool, Arsenal particularly and Leicester) but been very poor in others and obviously missed a lot of games with injury. I think the pundits are making a bit too much of the Jack/Barkley combo. Traore and AEG have got more goals for us and points for us than Barkley. Jack played quite well at 10 in Barkley's absence too.

Likes of Martinez, Watkins and the improvement in Konsa and Targett have been key for me. We were very weak in those four positions last season.

I don't think it's a certainty we should be pushing the boat out to get Barkley in permanently at the half way point of the season.

[SheffieldVillain]

The sharpness with his touch will come. Ball getting stuck under his feet a bit and easy passes going astray. That's just lack of match sharpness really.

My problem with Barkley is that he is a ball hog. I know Jack can be at times but Barkley can just be so ponderous on the ball. Holding onto the ball far too long with players left and right of him. Also, he really offers zilch without the ball. Ive never thought he was a good enough player to get away with either flaw really. If he pressed hard like Watkins we would turn a lot of defenders over.

Burnley might be a good game for him though. They will sit deep so we will need guys comfortable at shooting from distance which he is capable of.

So you don't think he's brought us up a level?

Not really, has played well in three big wins for us alright (Liverpool, Arsenal particularly and Leicester) but been very poor in others and obviously missed a lot of games with injury. 

Yeah, I wish we still had a choice between Connor or Lansbury for that role too.

[AlexAlexCropley]

The sharpness with his touch will come. Ball getting stuck under his feet a bit and easy passes going astray. That's just lack of match sharpness really.

My problem with Barkley is that he is a ball hog. I know Jack can be at times but Barkley can just be so ponderous on the ball. Holding onto the ball far too long with players left and right of him. Also, he really offers zilch without the ball. Ive never thought he was a good enough player to get away with either flaw really. If he pressed hard like Watkins we would turn a lot of defenders over.

Burnley might be a good game for him though. They will sit deep so we will need guys comfortable at shooting from distance which he is capable of.

So you don't think he's brought us up a level?

Not really, has played well in three big wins for us alright (Liverpool, Arsenal particularly and Leicester) but been very poor in others and obviously missed a lot of games with injury. I think the pundits are making a bit too much of the Jack/Barkley combo. Traore and AEG have got more goals for us and points for us than Barkley. Jack played quite well at 10 in Barkley's absence too.

Likes of Martinez, Watkins and the improvement in Konsa and Targett have been key for me. We were very weak in those four positions last season.

I don't think it's a certainty we should be pushing the boat out to get Barkley in permanently at the half way point of the season.

Think you need another team

[Brazilian Villain]

The sharpness with his touch will come. Ball getting stuck under his feet a bit and easy passes going astray. That's just lack of match sharpness really.

My problem with Barkley is that he is a ball hog. I know Jack can be at times but Barkley can just be so ponderous on the ball. Holding onto the ball far too long with players left and right of him. Also, he really offers zilch without the ball. Ive never thought he was a good enough player to get away with either flaw really. If he pressed hard like Watkins we would turn a lot of defenders over.

Burnley might be a good game for him though. They will sit deep so we will need guys comfortable at shooting from distance which he is capable of.

So you don't think he's brought us up a level?

Not really, has played well in three big wins for us alright (Liverpool, Arsenal particularly and Leicester) but been very poor in others and obviously missed a lot of games with injury. I think the pundits are making a bit too much of the Jack/Barkley combo. Traore and AEG have got more goals for us and points for us than Barkley. Jack played quite well at 10 in Barkley's absence too.

Likes of Martinez, Watkins and the improvement in Konsa and Targett have been key for me. We were very weak in those four positions last season.

I don't think it's a certainty we should be pushing the boat out to get Barkley in permanently at the half way point of the season.

Think you need another team

Maybe he has already.

[TelfordVilla]

I agree the jury is still out on barkley. I certainly wouldn't be spending big money on him this january but if he stays healthy and contributes more during the 2nd half of the season then he may be worth getting in the summer.

[Big Ming]

Given the amount of money Chelsea are likely to want, we should probably think about looking elsewhere, unless he has a stonking second half of the season.

Not convinced we could not do better.

[eamonn]

There's a bit of the flat track bully about Barkley. I think he has all the physicality and technique to be a consistently high performer but he could definitely improve off the ball and quicker at releasing the ball. He's still not fully fit though so I'm sure there's more to come from him.

[chrisw1]

I think he's a fabulous player and can't wait until he's back into form.  I'm confident he's going to play a massive role for us for the rest of the season.