Ross Barkley

[Lastfootstamper]

Two with five, two with six, one with thirteen. Anyhows, seems this isn't the only place to overlook the top scorer's record-making achievements. From wiki
"All-Star Team
The team of the tournament voted by journalists was as follows:[15][16][17]

Goalkeeper: Harry Gregg
Defenders: Orvar Bergmark, Hilderaldo Bellini, Nílton Santos
Midfielders: Yuriy Voynov, Horst Szymaniak
Forwards: Garrincha, Didi, Raymond Kopa, Pelé, Lennart Skoglund
Although Just Fontaine got more votes than any other forward, they were split between the left and right inside forward positions.[15] The All-Star Team scored 12 goals in total. Fontaine scored 13."

[brian green]

Just a memory glitch on my part.  I do not know where I picked that error from but it got into my head somewhere along the line.

[ASHTONVILLA]

Barkley looked great first few games, shame he fizzled out quite so badly. I don't know if it is just fitness since he came back, or lack of interest / talent, but no way should we be paying the £40m mooted in the press to make it a permanent deal. I would nit rate hime above £10m on this seasons showing, and the wages would be crazy too.

[Smirker]

I'd take him on a free at this point. That's it. Much better out there.

[edgysatsuma89]

Someone said to me he's either a 4/10 or a 8 or 9/10. Really though how many 8/9's has he had? 4 games? I don't think I could argue above 4. I also preferred us when he wasn't in the team and Grealish in the middle when we went back to back 3.0's. Maybe we're being harsh and the injury really did set him back but eitherway I wouldn't want his wages on our books next season.

[eamonn]

I'd take him on a free at this point. That's it. Much better out there.

Pete McParland? In fine fettle from the last interview I saw him give. Would probably still offer more than Barkley.

[Mister E]

Someone said to me he's either a 4/10 or a 8 or 9/10. Really though how many 8/9's has he had? 4 games? I don't think I could argue above 4. I also preferred us when he wasn't in the team and Grealish in the middle when we went back to back 3.0's. Maybe we're being harsh and the injury really did set him back but either way I wouldn't want his wages on our books next season.

He's had 2 games with us where he's consistently demonstrated some quality and 2 where he scored a goal but played very little part in the rest of the game (which might be okay for a striker but is not acceptable for a midfielder, IMHO).

[chrisw1]

My memory is playing me up but I honestly cannot remember another player who arrived with such a fanfair and has disappointed me so much.  Alan Thompson, Nigel Reo Coker and Micah Richards are others but Ross Barkley takes the prize.

Are you talking about his entire tenure?  Because to my mind he played a big part in our excellent form in the first half of the season.  I didn't see Alan Thompson etc contribute in that way.  If you're ignoring his excellent initial impact and talking just post injury then yest I'd agree with you he's been very poor.

[eamonn]

Yeah but first half of the season suggests he was great for up to 19 games when in reality it was...three or four?!

[stubbsyandy]

Waste of time, not to be signed under any circumstance

[aldridgeboy]

My memory is playing me up but I honestly cannot remember another player who arrived with such a fanfair and has disappointed me so much.  Alan Thompson, Nigel Reo Coker and Micah Richards are others but Ross Barkley takes the prize.

Are you talking about his entire tenure?  Because to my mind he played a big part in our excellent form in the first half of the season.  I didn't see Alan Thompson etc contribute in that way.  If you're ignoring his excellent initial impact and talking just post injury then yest I'd agree with you he's been very poor.

I’ll see your Alan Thompson. And raise you a Sasa Curcic?

[brontebilly]

Yeah but first half of the season suggests he was great for up to 19 games when in reality it was...three or four?!

Let's get this clarified once and for all...

How many games did Barks get 7/10 or higher....I'll go with Liverpool, Arsenal and Leicester. I know he scored v Southampton but he was poor that night in truth, if I recall correctly Jack carried the team on his back that night. Maybe Burnley...I can't really remember him that night

[in exile]

I'd take him on a free at this point. That's it. Much better out there.

Still have to pay the waste of skin though.

[Smithy]

I'm on record, pages and pages back, saying his permanent signing was one of the key deals we should do this summer.  This was before he got injured, however.

At this point, I think we have to hold our hands up and say it hasn't really worked out.  My concern is that the club will look at the [rare] times he and Grealish started together and wonder if that's something to build on next season.  They were good together before Ross got injured, and then OK in the couple of games before Jack got injured - but on his own Ross has not really looked that great.

If we sign him, I'll trust the club knows more about what he will deliver than I do - but I don't see it happening.  It would defeat the purpose of a loan to 'try before you buy', because I don't think there are many fans clamouring to sign him at the moment?

[ChicagoLion]

why on earth would we sign a player who can not get into this struggling Villa team?
Even a free would be a mistake. He is no longer the player signed by Chelsea.
It was a risk and there have been some good moments but it hasn't worked out.
I have said all along that he has fitness issues which has plagued his career for some time now.