Ross Barkley

[TelfordVilla]

I still wouldn't take lingard on a free !!!!

[Mister E]

I think the plan was for Barkley and McGinn to press high and engage Soucek and Rice. Leaving Luiz spare to track the runs of Lingard.

So...                                                    Rather than

Grealish Watkins El Ghazi          Grealish Watkins El Ghazi 
    Barkley McGinn                                    Barkley
            Luiz                                          McGinn Luiz
It was difficult to see what we doing to be honest. I did wonder why McGinn of all people was starting the press last night on occasion. Given that Barkley didn't seem to be tracking anyone...
It ended up being more Leftover Turkey than Christmas Tree formation!

All well and good.
Except WHU didn't read the script: they had Benrhama and Lingaard running the channels, going wide and generally moving into the spaces outside the congested middle. This left our midfield out of shape.

[chrisw1]

You're quite right to say that it remains to be seen as to whether Lingard just had a very good debut or whether it was just a good start to a 6-month loan.

However, I have had 6 months of watching Barkley, while he's been fit and he can be very passive. He has a really good relationship with Grealish which is a big pro but I would want to see more from him from the second half of the season before I would pay out what Chelsea will demand for him.

Not wanting to pay what Chelsea might want for him and suggesting Lingard already looks like he would have been the better bet last summer are entirely diferent points.

[N'ZMAV]

Barkley clearly isn't fit enough at the moment

[AV82EC]

I think Barkley is somewhere between not being fit enough and lacking a work ethic in the role he is expected to perform in the system. He needs to up his game.

[Toronto Villa]

lacking work ethic? Where did you get that from? He said in an interview the other day he's played more games than had training sessions. How do you suppose that would affect him at PL level?

[ChicagoLion]

lacking work ethic? Where did you get that from? He said in an interview the other day he's played more games than had training sessions. How do you suppose that would affect him at PL level?

based on last night, pretty badly.

[brontebilly]

lacking work ethic? Where did you get that from? He said in an interview the other day he's played more games than had training sessions. How do you suppose that would affect him at PL level?

He could always try and track an opponents run from midfield. Just a thought

[john2710]

He's going to cost top dollar, a 3 year deal & a salary to match. He'll have little or no sell on value at 30+.

He's got undoubted talent but doesn't seem to have the interest to do it on a consistent basis.

Injury record also casts doubt on whether he's worth the risk.

[Dante Lavelli]

lacking work ethic? Where did you get that from? He said in an interview the other day he's played more games than had training sessions. How do you suppose that would affect him at PL level?

I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect that he gets goal side every now and then.  Barkley is the polar opposite of Tommy Johnson and right now I think an all-action player like Johnson, would be better for the team.  In fact I think McGinn in that role could work with Sanson as a number 8. 

[AV82EC]

lacking work ethic? Where did you get that from? He said in an interview the other day he's played more games than had training sessions. How do you suppose that would affect him at PL level?

I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect that he gets goal side every now and then.  Barkley is the polar opposite of Tommy Johnson and right now I think an all-action player like Johnson, would be better for the team.  In fact I think McGinn in that role could work with Sanson as a number 8. 

Yep we ahvent quite got this 6,8,10 thing worked out yet. Are we two sixes and a 10, a 6, 8 and 10 or a two 8s and a 10? when it does click and the opposition don't high press its devastating but too often a simple high press fucks us up. Smith has got to find the right balance and the ability to flex it.

[Mister E]

In fact I think McGinn in that role could work with Sanson as a number 8. 

I certainly think we are not getting the best out of McGinn, and he would make a better #10 than Barkley currently; in my opinion.

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

Watkins benefits from having a player play off him, but I don't think that has to be Barkley. Jack could easily play that role. I don't see McGinn as a natural number 10 but he could definitely do a job there. He links up well with Jack and Ollie when given the opportunity and in terms of pressing, interceptions, tackles higher up the pitch he would be excellent with the energy he has.
He would be a nuisance for any defender attempting to play out.
The unknown element for me at the moment is Sanson, but it's certainly worth trying. Barkley as an impact sub could be very effective.

[OCD]

I don't see McGinn as a number 10 and when Barkley was out injured, I thought Jack looked better on the left with some freedom to come inside.

If not Barkley, I think we will need to look outside the club in the summer. Someone with the athleticism and work ethic that matches the side, presses and gets plenty of goals and assists.

[brontebilly]

Watkins benefits from having a player play off him, but I don't think that has to be Barkley. Jack could easily play that role. I don't see McGinn as a natural number 10 but he could definitely do a job there. He links up well with Jack and Ollie when given the opportunity and in terms of pressing, interceptions, tackles higher up the pitch he would be excellent with the energy he has.
He would be a nuisance for any defender attempting to play out.
The unknown element for me at the moment is Sanson, but it's certainly worth trying. Barkley as an impact sub could be very effective.

McGinn played at 10 towards the end of last season, granted he wasn't fully fit, but he wasn't great there. He has had many fine game sitting next to Luiz (Chelsea stands out) this season but it has been mixed with some very average performances too. I don't think he is overly comfortable taking the ball under pressure from the back, lacks tactical discipline (as does Luiz) and seems happier breaking onto the ball higher up the pitch. I think in off the right wing might actually be his best position in a 4231 but Smith didn't buy Traore to sit on the bench.

Maybe it's as simple as likes of Luiz, McGinn, Barkley all need to improve particularly without the ball. We need to go back to two sitting midfielders asap as Smith referred to post game. Let's see what a game sitting on the bench does for a couple of them on Saturday. If I recall when McGinn was dropped previously in the championship (infamous Blues game), he came on that day, changed the game and his form kicked on big time.