Ross Barkley

[ChicagoLion]

Either Smith has a total blind spot or his contract stipulates he plays if he declares himself fit.

Which is it?

Have you ever thought it might be neither?

I am struggling to come up with an alternative.

[Flamingo Lane]

What probably caused the sulk was that Barkley didn't like Smith shouting out: 'Hey, Ross, I'm taking you off in a minute or two.  So you can start warming up.'

[Bryan]

He’s dreadful. We look better when he’s off the pitch. He offers nothing offensively or defensively.  He walks around the pitch slowing the play down and often playing dreadful passes in areas of danger.

He had 3 goals and 1 assist all season.

Tyrone Ming’s has 2 goals and 2 assists and he doesn’t play at 10 in an attacking minded team.

Get rid. Get better. But more importantly, get him out of the team now for Sansom, Ramsey, El Ghazi or Trez

[olaftab]

Ross if you are reading this these people do not deserve you. They can’t appreciate what you are all about. You know you are too good for this team and this club. Why don’t you tell us to stick it up our proverbial, gather your belongings and return to the aristocrats at Fulham Road? That’s where you belong.

[Hillbilly]

He's probably looked at Chelsea under Tuchel and realised he's got no place there. He's most likely to end up in the north east somewhere.

[Allan C]

Either Smith has a total blind spot or his contract stipulates he plays if he declares himself fit.

Which is it?

Neither

[Sexual Ealing]

He's probably looked at Chelsea under Tuchel and realised he's got no place there. He's most likely to end up in the north east somewhere.

Perhaps if Sunderland are promoted or Newcastle relegated.

[Three Spires Villa]

Either Smith has a total blind spot or his contract stipulates he plays if he declares himself fit.

Which is it?

Neither

So what is it then?
It’s not he has to play?
It’s not Dean wants him to play?

Err it has to be one of the two options. I don’t think we would be stupid enough to agree to a clause saying Ross has to play (would we?) so that means Dean wants to start him, as Dean picks the team

[sid1964]

I would not be surprised if the deal is done and agreed £40 million and a 4 year £100k per week contract - he is Jack's mate, and what he wants he gets at the Villa.

[Drummond]

He's clearly not a bad player, regardless of what many people want to say. As I've said before, I think the issue here is that he's not fit. I'd say mentally as well as physically.

The worry is that Smith is trying to play him into fitness, a bit like he did with Drinkwater. Of course in the latter's case, it was never going to come whereas we've already seen some great stuff from Barkley.

[Mister E]

He's clearly not a bad player, regardless of what many people want to say. As I've said before, I think the issue here is that he's not fit. I'd say mentally as well as physically.

The worry is that Smith is trying to play him into fitness, a bit like he did with Drinkwater. Of course in the latter's case, it was never going to come whereas we've already seen some great stuff from Barkley.

I think this is probably right, Drummond, re Smith trying to play him into fitness.

[Bobby Boy]

Either Smith has a total blind spot or his contract stipulates he plays if he declares himself fit.

Which is it?

Have you ever thought it might be neither?

I am struggling to come up with an alternative.

I don't know whether loan players have ever had it in their contracts that if fit then they have to play. When West Brom were playing West Ham recently West Brom were unable to play Robert Snodgrass who they'd just bought from West Ham on a permanent deal as it was a term in the deal.

I'm more intrigued by the consequences of reneging on such a deal if it were to exist.

An agreed fine?

An immediate termination of the loan agreement?

Hmmm........

[mr underhill]

We don't have the luxury of playing him into fitness - isn't that exactly the sort of shit we did with Drinkwater?

[Ian.]

He's clearly not a bad player, regardless of what many people want to say. As I've said before, I think the issue here is that he's not fit. I'd say mentally as well as physically.

The worry is that Smith is trying to play him into fitness, a bit like he did with Drinkwater. Of course in the latter's case, it was never going to come whereas we've already seen some great stuff from Barkley.

I think this is probably right, Drummond, re Smith trying to pay him into fitness.

This may account for his frustration when he’s substituted. In his mind and Smith’s another game passed when it’s not clicked for him and to justify this method.

[Ian.]

Like a few have said when he’s fit and on song he’s certainly a good player. I just think depending on who we are up against we need to switch Barkley with someone more mobile and who will press.

We need to be a little more flexible with our shape. This is probably far more so in this division than Smith may be used to. He’s hopefully learning this too and will have to think about it more than just keep sticking by the same eleven week in week out.