Ross Barkley

[Risso]

Do we have to pile in on a player who didn’t play? He’s had a ropey time, but he’s also made important contributions.

His lack of effort and attitude in previous weeks kind of deserves it though.

His lack of effort and attitude deserved him being dropped, not being made a scapegoat. It's a kick up the arse, especially as Southgate was there last night. It's up to him to respond the right way. If he does, he could do well for us the rest of the season.

I'd say there's no chance whatsoever of Barkley being picked by Southgate in the foreseeable future. It's not like England are short of good, attacking midfielders, so for somebody to break into the squad now you'd think they'd have to be putting in 10/10 performance for the rest of the season.

[Mister E]

Talking of Sanson ( sonson)  , he has looked pretty good in his few sub apperances.    Definitely a quality player and probably why we wont buy Barkley in the summer.

Wouldn't surprise me to see him start against SheffU. It's time to 'blood' him properly.

[LeeB]

Do we have to pile in on a player who didn’t play? He’s had a ropey time, but he’s also made important contributions.

His lack of effort and attitude in previous weeks kind of deserves it though.

His lack of effort and attitude deserved him being dropped, not being made a scapegoat. It's a kick up the arse, especially as Southgate was there last night. It's up to him to respond the right way. If he does, he could do well for us the rest of the season.

I'd say there's no chance whatsoever of Barkley being picked by Southgate in the foreseeable future. It's not like England are short of good, attacking midfielders, so for somebody to break into the squad now you'd think they'd have to be putting in 10/10 performance for the rest of the season.

Former favourite Lingaard has found form again as well, there's going to be better players missing out as well.

[Flin5tone]

Terrible Attitude , just glad he is only with us on loan.

[OCD]

Do we have to pile in on a player who didn’t play? He’s had a ropey time, but he’s also made important contributions.

His lack of effort and attitude in previous weeks kind of deserves it though.

His lack of effort and attitude deserved him being dropped, not being made a scapegoat. It's a kick up the arse, especially as Southgate was there last night. It's up to him to respond the right way. If he does, he could do well for us the rest of the season.

I'd say there's no chance whatsoever of Barkley being picked by Southgate in the foreseeable future. It's not like England are short of good, attacking midfielders, so for somebody to break into the squad now you'd think they'd have to be putting in 10/10 performance for the rest of the season.

I agree but his biggest motivation was to get into the England squad. Maybe he's given up himself and that's been a factor in his performances lately.

[algy]

I'm starting to think he was never more than a temporary signing, brought in to try to help the squad develop styles of play in readiness for the full-time inclusion of Ramsey, a young player of our own, brought through and now able to be gradually introduced in a way we've been unable to for what feels like forever. I also think there's similar thinking behind the Guilbert loan, he's now unlikely to play much and he's blocking the first team chances of a promising talented youngster.

Yeah, have to say that I'm starting to come to a similar conclusion.

[wittonwarrior]

85 pages of this thread is more than he ran against Leicester for how long he was on against Leicester.

[in exile]

Has he gone back yet?

[Hookeysmith]

Its not being dropped but how he reacts to it.

Be billy big bollocks and sulk - he can go fuck himself

Gets his head down and shows in training he is prepared to graft - then a great asset to have, especially to bring on and play himself back into form.

I would not give up on him yet but it is all about how he reacts. I think Smith has shown he is the boss

[German James]

I would not give up on him yet but it is all about how he reacts. I think Smith has shown he is the boss.

I agree agree with both these points. Smith has sent a clear message to Barkley and the fans moaning about his (Smith's) lack of flexibility and leadership. Barkley must be fully aware that it's no-one else's fault but his if he cocks up his chance at Villa and gets put in the equivalent of Chelsea's bomb squad next season, until they can offload him to Sheffield United.

[Risso]

Good points too, GJ. Barkley needs to realise that this is all on him. He's 28 this year, and if we don't buy him in the summer, then he's almost certainly not going to be getting much of a look in at Chelsea next season. It would then be a case of trying to get another loan at somewhere mid-table with aspirations of finishing higher, but if it hasn't worked at Villa, I can't see the likes of Southampton, Wolves or Leeds queuing up to pay him £100K a year. His sulky reactions to being subbed in two games also won't endear him to many managers.

He's probably got one more big payday contract left in his career, so he needs to buck his idea up a bit. He's most certainly got the talent to do it.

[Brend'Watkins]

I can't help think that the effort isn't there because he's worrying about getting another injury.  He knows his body better than anyone else and it might be the reason he's holding back or appears to be holding back. I can't think of any other reason why a player who should be at his peak can't play to that level.

[Drummond]

We may see him on Wednesday, if not then I reckon he'll be back in on Saturday. He should be fully fit by then having had a couple of weeks to get sharp again.

[Lsvilla]

I think Saturday. Ramsey deserves to keep his place then take him out for the Wolves game.

[Risso]

I think Saturday. Ramsey deserves to keep his place then take him out for the Wolves game.

Shouldn't we wait to see how he does first?