Ross Barkley

[paul_e]

I feel like I've gone back in time now. I've not really played [as] much in the past three or four years as I feel like I deserved.

"The manager has helped me a lot since he came in, with his trust and communication. He's got great man-management skills, great togetherness and he's a great man as well."

Source: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-ross-barkley-29243440

I won't quote everything but those 2 lines are why I'm not sure about this one, I'm just not sure he's capable of being out of the team and keeping his head right. Last time he was with us he was fine until he got injured against Brighton and missed about 5-6 weeks. After that he strugglde to play out 90minutes and as he was being taken off in most games he got more petulant and lazier.

[eamonn]

I love Youri's progressive passes. Even for Belgium the other day, they look a lot better with him in the team.

Interesting quotes on Barkely being scared of tackling after his major injury. Looks like France and Luton has been good for him as it would be for all of us.

[pablo_picasso]

His heatmap in the Prem last year is fascinating.

https://www.sofascore.com/player/ross-barkley/98435

He is everywhere...

[VillaTim]

I feel like I've gone back in time now. I've not really played [as] much in the past three or four years as I feel like I deserved.

"The manager has helped me a lot since he came in, with his trust and communication. He's got great man-management skills, great togetherness and he's a great man as well."

Source: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-ross-barkley-29243440

I won't quote everything but those 2 lines are why I'm not sure about this one, I'm just not sure he's capable of being out of the team and keeping his head right. Last time he was with us he was fine until he got injured against Brighton and missed about 5-6 weeks. After that he strugglde to play out 90minutes and as he was being taken off in most games he got more petulant and lazier.

I'd be reluctant to offer any longer than a 1 year deal on this basis.

[OCD]

His heatmap in the Prem last year is fascinating.

https://www.sofascore.com/player/ross-barkley/98435

He is everywhere...

More of a focus to the left side of central midfield though.

[Clark W Griswold]

"I learned quite a lot [at Nice] to be honest, even though I felt like I should have played a lot more than I did there,"

 "I've not really played [as] much in the past three or four years as I feel like I deserved."

No. Just fucking no.

[cdbearsfan]

https://x.com/johntownley11/status/1805942628443152628?s=46

Clearly not happening

Don't get my hopes up, please.

[chrisw1]

I doub't you'd get him on a one year deal.

I'm pretty confident he'll do ok, but yes, not getting regular game time may be a worry.

[Drummond]

I think this could prove to be another bargain buy in our midfield.

[Somniloquism]

I love Youri's progressive passes. Even for Belgium the other day, they look a lot better with him in the team.

I noticed afterwards it was "De Bruyne runs the show in Belgium win". Hmmm, did Tielemans not start and end that breakthrough goal and cause other problems, something De Bruyne wasn't doing in that first match.

[AV84]

That tweet says Uni met with him personally to talk to him about coming back to Villa. I find it hard to believe he wouldn't have laid out his exact plans for Barkley and for the team as a whole. If he comes here expecting anything else then he can't complain.

[Smithy]

That tweet says Uni met with him personally to talk to him about coming back to Villa. I find it hard to believe he wouldn't have laid out his exact plans for Barkley and for the team as a whole. If he comes here expecting anything else then he can't complain.

I suspect it will be a bit like Tielemens last season.  He'll probably spend a prolonged period on the bench, maybe even to the point of public frustration, and then he'll get his chance when circumstance dictate.  Whether he takes it, or not, is up to him.  The one thing in his favour is we're losing Dougie, who was a guaranteed starter when fit, so there is definitely an opportunity for him to fight for a place in the 11 early on if he gets a chance. 

If Enzo is to be the Kamara cover until his return, then I suspect Ross would next in line behind Youri and SJM for a midfield spot.  Unless Unai thinks he's capable of playing in the Kamara role, which would be surprising to say the least...

[Drummond]

I think we could be seeing all sorts of permutations...

McGinn, Tielemans, Barkley, Barrenechea, Ramsey... With Kamara due back at the end of the year.

It wouldn't surprise me if we got another central midfielder in.

[pablo_picasso]

His heatmap in the Prem last year is fascinating.

https://www.sofascore.com/player/ross-barkley/98435

He is everywhere...

More of a focus to the left side of central midfield though.

Tbf, you see the same with Douglas Luiz because he was on the left side of the central midfield pairing. Its actually more focused on the left for Luiz.

https://www.sofascore.com/player/douglas-luiz/867887

Kamara is the same, only he is on the right side...

https://www.sofascore.com/player/douglas-luiz/867887

Don't get me wrong, Im not a huge fan of Barkley or this transfer, I just thought he looked 'busy' from his heat-map, which is a positive element to the  transfer.

[VillaTim]

I think we could be seeing all sorts of permutations...

McGinn, Tielemans, Barkley, Barrenechea, Ramsey... With Kamara due back at the end of the year.

It wouldn't surprise me if we got another central midfielder in.

Adapting a new middle of the team without Kamara/Luiz is vital. Tielemans is the Luiz upgrade but we need a quality DM now