Ross Barkley

[Gerrin]

All the focus is on not having Jack fit and playing but we're also missing the pre-Hamstring injury version of Barkley, his goals and assists and the impact having both Jack and Barkley playing their best. Even if Jack was fit, we're back to what we had last season when teams know that if they nullify Jack, they nullify us. More good work needed in the summer.

Totally agree, we're almost as bad now as at the start of last season. The Barkley / Jack combo, especially Arsenal away was an absolute joy to watch. First half v Burnley away I couldn't believe the football we were playing, that was the turning point for me. Ever since that 2nd half we've been rubbish. I guess this happens to teams though, look at Southampton, we're they not top at one point? Definitely top 3, I think.

[brontebilly]

All the focus is on not having Jack fit and playing but we're also missing the pre-Hamstring injury version of Barkley, his goals and assists and the impact having both Jack and Barkley playing their best. Even if Jack was fit, we're back to what we had last season when teams know that if they nullify Jack, they nullify us. More good work needed in the summer.

The pre hamstring injury version of Barkley was patchy enough anyway. Mixing up 8/10s with 3/10s. The warning signs were ringing very loudly in the home defeats to Leeds and Southampton where he didn't bother tracking any runners from midfield, thought he was above that kind of graft.

He won't turn it around now anyway. 3 goals and a single assist in 21 games is very poor for the investment in him.

[richtheholtender]

I don’t know if it’s been mentioned but could have be one that had Covid? Wondering if he’s still suffering as it did take some (saint maximin example) a good while to recover.

[dcdavecollett]

We weren't exactly 'rubbish' in the home game against Arsenal.

[algy]

Another season, another loan of another player whose career has floundered after a big-money move to Chelsea. 
.
I reckon he genuinely came with every good intention and hence the good start. However, in reality he simply hasn't got the desire to sustain it in the week-in, week-out reality, let alone stepping up to the mark when the top man is out injured. 

Dare I say it, but we need someone young and hungry...

Think this is a good point, and may well be not far off the mark. For whatever reason, the thing that was powering early loan Barkley seems to have vanished. It's a shame, desperately wanted it to work out for both him & us, but it's just not happened. The team's struggled for form, and with that so's he. Think that's less of an issue with a younger player like Dougie, but you need the more senior players - him, Jack, SJM, Tyrone - to push through and help turn that around.

[eamonn]

We weren't exactly 'rubbish' in the home game against Arsenal.

No but we had a little bit of luck with the goal and then happily "held what we have" for the rest of the game notwithstanding some decent chances/breaks. Similar to the Leeds game although we didn't really create anything after scoring there.0

[Percy McCarthy]

I don’t know if it’s been mentioned but could have be one that had Covid? Wondering if he’s still suffering as it did take some (saint maximin example) a good while to recover.

I heard this from someone who works at Bodymoor. Didn’t take it as gospel myself, but I did hear about Jack’s injury from the same source before his first game out as well.

“Shin splints, but not as bad as last time”. Seems about the same to me - so far.

[WarszaVillan]

I don’t know if it’s been mentioned but could have be one that had Covid? Wondering if he’s still suffering as it did take some (saint maximin example) a good while to recover.

I heard this from someone who works at Bodymoor. Didn’t take it as gospel myself, but I did hear about Jack’s injury from the same source before his first game out as well.

“Shin splints, but not as bad as last time”. Seems about the same to me - so far.

At the beginning of the 'covid break' this season he sent a video message out on social media to someone who was in hospital with covid. He looked pretty rough himself and made a comment about him also suffering or something similar. I think it's been taken down since.

[PeterWithe]

He wasn't on the list of 5/6 another BMH source told our kid.

[SaddVillan]

Whilst there is understandable debate as to whether or not Barkley suffered from Covid which, if he did might have had a negative effect on his physical condition, the overriding question to me concerns his attitude.

He just doesn't seem bothered. There's no apparent attempt to track back or mark anybody. Now most of us would forgive him if he made the effort and was either left behind or brushed off by a stronger opponent because he can't compete physically

But instead, there's nothing, nada, zilch.

Can't understand what's going on in his head. Given the good start he made with us, then even if he's suffered from Covid I'd have thought he'd be busting a gut to show Smith that once he's fully recovered he's worth signing permanently.

It's as if he either doesn't care or just isn't bothered anymore

Not exactly the right example to be setting to younger players, who are probably on a fraction of what we're paying him.

[richtheholtender]

Isn’t physical condition key to running though? And therefore essential for tracking back? I just don’t understand why his attitude would change when he settled so well. I can see how he would be struggling for fitness though if he did have covid as other athletes are struggling to get over it.

[richtheholtender]

I don’t think it matters though I think Villa have made there mind up on him and he’ll be returning to Chelsea at the end of the season

[ChicagoLion]

Even when he was playing well, he was not tracking back.
It’s not his game.

[CT]

What an absolute waste of a squad place.

He offers nothing, and why is he so slow to react when asked to come on?

[Des Little]

He looks so disinterested it’s hard viewing. No more, Dean.