Ross Barkley

[AV82EC]

I think his reaction was a bit of both to be honest, he’s obviously frustrated with his own form but he’s pissed off the Manager has subbed him. I’m sure he’ll get over it and as others have said with more rest and training time this week, he’ll improve over the next few weeks.

[john2710]

He’s been a bit hot & cold so far. Undoubted quality but fitness & team attitude may be a concern.

He’s got another 4 months to convince us to spend £30M+ & salary on him. It’s in both his & our interests. If he delivers we could be looking at Europe next season. If he doesn’t then he’ll be back at Chelsea & I can’t see many teams matching anything close to what Chelsea would want.

From a personal point of view I’d rather Dele Ali. Maybe the club see Ramsey as a better option.

[Dante Lavelli]

Who is the next big thing in the championship who plays in a similar position?

Based on the seamless step-up by Cash and Watkins I’d happily spend £30m there. 

[Smithy]

Who is the next big thing in the championship who plays in a similar position?

Based on the seamless step-up by Cash and Watkins I’d happily spend £30m there. 

He's just signed permanently for West Ham (Benrahma).  Though you could probably make a case for Cantwell or Buendia from Norwich? I wouldn't pay £30m for those though.

One thing I am pretty confident of though, is that our scouting network is paying very close attention to the Championship, given the success we've had recruiting from there (you could argue our entire back four was signed off the back of their performances in the Championship).

[DB]

So far for us he has provided game changing moments, but not game changing performances. He will.pop up with a goal or odd pass to create a chance but over 90mins he is not consistent enough for me.

[Baldy]

For me, the jury is still out on Barkley. He clearly has talent but his work rate off the ball is a concern.

If Fulham get relegated a big club will be in for Ademola Lookman. Followed his career from the England U17 days and think he is a Raheem Sterling in the making.

The ball is in Ross's court. Don't give Villa a decision to make!! 

[brontebilly]

Who is the next big thing in the championship who plays in a similar position?

Based on the seamless step-up by Cash and Watkins I’d happily spend £30m there.

There's a guy at Swansea that's shooting the lights out !

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

Who is the next big thing in the championship who plays in a similar position?

Based on the seamless step-up by Cash and Watkins I’d happily spend £30m there.

There's a guy at Swansea that's shooting the lights out !

Have to get Conor to tap him up!

[dave shelley]

Who is the next big thing in the championship who plays in a similar position?

Based on the seamless step-up by Cash and Watkins I’d happily spend £30m there. 

My opinion on the next big thing in the championship is playing for our old friends at Brentford...Ivan Toney.  One way or another I think he will be playing top-flight football next season.

[Mister E]

I posted this on the post-match thread and hold to the opinion that for someone who is highly rated and could cost us more than Watkins (in terms of fee; let alone wages), I think he needs to show a load more than currently. I thought that a lot of his play yesterday was sloppy and his passing in the first half put us under real pressure: I recall 2 passes - one to Cash and another to JG - that were short and caused a counter attack from the Arse rather than us retaining possession.
I just think he needs to live up to his billing as well as playing in the style that Smith requires - high energy, quick pass-and-move, combative without the ball.


Reading this back, I seem to be hyper-critical: I don't mean to be excessively so; it's more about making sure we bring in the best we possibly can.

[eamonn]

Who is the next big thing in the championship who plays in a similar position?

Based on the seamless step-up by Cash and Watkins I’d happily spend £30m there. 

My opinion on the next big thing in the championship is playing for our old friends at Brentford...Ivan Toney.  One way or another I think he will be playing top-flight football next season.

If we throw another £30m at Brentford I'll scream blue murder. We should have bought the whole club last summer when negotiating for Watkins.

Anyway The Bees should finally get promoted this season so there should be no need for Brentford to be "raided" by anyone's "war-chest".

[villa `cross the mersey]

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.

That's your prerogative JD - it's all about opinions.
I was quite excited at the prospect of him joining us but he appears to be displaying some of the traits that I had been told to look out for .....still
"It's no good crying over spilt chips"
Still hoping to be proved wrong
Cheers !!

[LeeB]

His reaction for me goes back to what he said after scoring the winner against Leicester, that he rarely got to see out games at Chelsea and the last 15 minutes are where the spaces open up and he can do damage.

You've got to justify staying on the pitch for the first 75 minutes obviously, but I think that's the crux of his frustration.

[Drummond]

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.

Yep, agree with this. He was doing really well before his injury.

It's something when the things we have to moan about are Tyrone Mings and Ross Barkley not being good enough.

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

His reaction for me goes back to what he said after scoring the winner against Leicester, that he rarely got to see out games at Chelsea and the last 15 minutes are where the spaces open up and he can do damage.

You've got to justify staying on the pitch for the first 75 minutes obviously, but I think that's the crux of his frustration.

Maybe he would be better used as an impact sub in that case, when he'd be fresh against tiring defenders.