Ross Barkley

[Allan C]

Well we’ve found another player to kick and blame. It was Mings a bit back and now it’s Barkley. And blimey!! We’re 8th and winning games!!! He, like the rest is clearly knackered and in need of a rest. Yes he’s struggling for form but he’s clearly a class player and it’ll come.

We seem to need a scapegoat no matter what. I like Barkley I think he's took us up a level.
I'll have

Go on, say something about David O’Leary being right, you know you’re dying to.

Read some of the comments on this thread and others and tell me different. I thought Barkley played ok today. He was excellent up to his injury and like the rest he’s knackered since COVID and his return. I’m saying give him a chance

[Lastfootstamper]

He's a Premier League Lee Trundle, which is why I think Chelsea will let him go, and for a fair bit less than some figures estimated on here. And it's still up to him to do enough in our shirt to convince Aston Villa to part with that money, if he wants to stay.

[ASHTONVILLA]

He has had an impact not only through his ability (and he is a very talented player), but also in lifting the game of those around him. Just having that better level of competition raises the whole team. Ditto Traore, whose arrival has coincided with far better form from both El Ghazi and Trezeguet.

I hope we sign him up at the end of the season.

[eamonn]

He's a Premier League Lee Trundle, which is why I think Chelsea will let him go, and for a fair bit less than some figures estimated on here. And it's still up to him to do enough in our shirt to convince Aston Villa to part with that money, if he wants to stay.

What was the figure ?

[Lastfootstamper]

Figures as high as £50m have been mentioned.

[olaftab]

£5M would be ok.

[nordenvillain]

My interpretation of his actions today when subbed was not that he was disappointed with his performance, but that he didn't think that he should have been subbed. He's starting to piss me off with his attitude. he seems to think he only has responsibility as an offensive player. Sorry, have a look at that time in the 2nd half when Watkins raced back 60-70 yards to defend an Arsenal attack. Thinking like that that is not in Barkley's understanding of playing as a member of this Villa team. I shall be disappointed if he starts the next game and instead watches some or all of it from the substitute's bench.

[paul_e]

My problem with him today wasn't him kicking a bottle or anything like that it's that I don't think he knew what he was supposed to do when they had the ball (or if he knew he wasn't doing it) because time and time again Ollie was trying to close their defenders on his own they'd play 2 or 3 passes to by-pass Barkley and then they'd have 3 on 2 in midfield with Barkley hovering in no mans land. If he helps a forward press that's great, if he helps up become a midfield 3 then that's also great but if he doesn't do either it forces Grealish and Traore to do more work to cover for him. I'm sure it's a fitness thing after his injuries because it wasn't happening earlier in the season but it's noticeable how static he is right now.

[nordenvillain]

Figures as high as £50m have been mentioned.

Gosh, is that how much Chelsea will pay us to have him ?

[JD]

Acting "Billy Big Bollocks" - get rid , there has to be better options at a lower asking price - none of my Evertonian mates miss him  a great deal

Absolutely disagree. I know a few Evertonians who are good friends and they were gutted when he left Everton. They still call him Ross the Rat but think he's a great player.

[London Villan]

Aren’t there any stats sites that can show how far he ran compared to the rest of the team.

[OzVilla]

If the season ended tomorrow I’d still be looking to sign him. It’s a good fit all round. It’s just about the fee for me.

[Jockey Randall]

A bit more like it on Saturday. We've seen he can perform to a good level earlier in the season. Just got to get back that level for the rest of the season.

[RamboandBruno]

He mentioned after the Southampton game I think, that he hasn’t really be able to train since coming back from injury, I think a reference to the fixture schedule than anything else. It will be better to judge him over the next 3 or 4 games, with a weeks training in between each game.

[Rigadon]

He's obviously a quality player but is struggling a it form-wise, which is probably fitness related.  His reaction to being subbed was a bit daft, but I'm sure he knows that.