Ross Barkley

[brontebilly]

Newcastle. Everton have Ancelotti and he's unlikely to want him.

That's a good guess. He's basically an upgraded Jonjo Shelvey. Capable of smashing one in from 25 yards, but mostly doing next to bugger all.

Was thinking the same watching Shelvey tonight. Another one that wants an armchair ride in midfield. Won't run, tackle, track runs.

[danno]

After recent games I'm just really glad his loan deal didn't have any obligation to buy attached.

[ktvillan]

He has two settings - brilliant and awful, not much in between.

The brilliant / awful ratio is not looking anything like good enough currently, and we don't have a big or good enough squad to be able to live with that sort of non-delivery.

For me, based on events thus far, I wouldn't make the deal permanent.

Pretty much what I said a couple of weeks ago he's either 9 out of 10 or 2 out of 10, very little in between.  Whereas with someone like Mcginn or Luiz you will get an average of 7 with the odd 9 or 5 chucked in every now and then.

[eamonn]

McGinn and Luiz have been 5s and 6s quite a lot recently imo (possibly caused by Barkley Big Balls ahead of them not helping out).

[Risso]

McGinn and Luiz have been 5s and 6s quite a lot recently imo (possibly caused by Barkley Big Balls ahead of them not helping out).

It's a good point eamonn.  Both have curbed their natural attacking instincts, which is fine, but only really works if the actual attacking players are doing their jobs. Traore is very hit and miss, and Barkley has gone AWOL.

[Ian.]

McGinn and Luiz have been 5s and 6s quite a lot recently imo (possibly caused by Barkley Big Balls ahead of them not helping out).

Definitely, before our Covid Break McGinn and Luiz were playing very well, not sure if it’s related to that or Barkley being back in the side and upsetting the balance, or extra work they are putting in defensively.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Must say I was surprised that he was in the thoughts of the lovely Victoria Coren Mitchell on Only Connect last night.

Missing vowels. Singers crossed with footballers.

DNR SSB RK LY

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000scp6/only-connect-series-16-22-sliders-v-puzzle-hunters   (27 mins 10 seconds)


Lo and behold, less than 15 minutes later Bambi Paxo is asking this on University Challenge.

Pairs of names or titles where the last word of the first answer gives the first word of the second answer.

"The play by Shakespeare where Bolingbroke is exiled and a local derby between Birmingham City and Aston Villa".

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000scpb/university-challenge-202021-episode-30   (10 mins 40 seconds)
 

[Mister E]

"The play by Shakespeare where Bolingbroke is exiled and a local derby between Birmingham City and Aston Villa".
 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000scpb/university-challenge-202021-episode-30   (10 mins 40 seconds)
 

Students not knowing that Birmingham is the 2nd City is pretty bad!

[Mister E]

Must say I was surprised that he was in the thoughts of the lovely Victoria Coren Mitchell on Only Connect last night.
Missing vowels. Singers crossed with footballers.
DNR SSB RK LY

Oh, VC Mitchell ... drools.

[CT]

We’ve moved on from having sulking drama queens who don’t contribute playing for us.

I’ve seen enough, thanks Ross. Look at the energy for the last 15 minutes.

[aev]

Certainly wouldn’t start him against Leeds.

[Risso]

Thanks Ross, but that'll be all thanks. Get yourself back to London son.

[Nunkin1965]

Surely Ramsay or Sanson deserve a start now.
Both brought energy to the side.

[olaftab]

Hopefully something good will come out of bad today and we will never see Barkley in a Villa shirt again.

[mr underhill]

Agreed Ross is beginning to remind mew of the last Ross.