Ross Barkley

[RamboandBruno]

...and soon the pressure for places will increase as the highly-talented George Hemmings comes through.

... is absolutely the right answer. Hemmings, Borland and Kone are all playing towards a first-team squad MF slot.
Tommi O'Reilly, on loan, also plays MF; got an assist vs Harrogate Town last night.

There is a Crewe season ticket holder at work, who says Tommy O’Reilly is clearly  a step above everyone in the team and much too good for that division. Doesn’t roll around when he inevitably gets kicked either.

[Ger Regan]

Is hemmings injured at the minute? Have been surprised to not see him make the bench recently given absences and his form in pre season

[Percy McCarthy]

...and soon the pressure for places will increase as the highly-talented George Hemmings comes through.

... is absolutely the right answer. Hemmings, Borland and Kone are all playing towards a first-team squad MF slot.
Tommi O'Reilly, on loan, also plays MF; got an assist vs Harrogate Town last night.

Excellent. I’ll be looking up the highlights later.

[eamonn]

We're gonna need two or three Aston Villas for all these CMs.

[dcdavecollett]

Bit like England RU back-row players!

[Walmley_Villa]

Great cameo yesterday and deserves a shout out. Great footballer to watch when fit and on it. The play and pass for Ollie's chance was very good. Shame he isn't in the EL squad in hindsight.

[Rigadon]

Yep, very assured when he came on and gave us more stability in the middle.  Watkins should’ve got his shot away with that perfectly weighted through ball. 

[Somniloquism]

Great cameo yesterday and deserves a shout out. Great footballer to watch when fit and on it. The play and pass for Ollie's chance was very good. Shame he isn't in the EL squad in hindsight.

Someone had to give, and with his problems at the start of the season being listed as personal rather then physical, they might not have known when he would be able to play. But with the Elliot situation ongoing at the moment, it does seem to be the wrong decision, although I expect us to be playing Elliot more from December onwards.

[LeeB]

Great cameo yesterday and deserves a shout out. Great footballer to watch when fit and on it. The play and pass for Ollie's chance was very good. Shame he isn't in the EL squad in hindsight.

Someone had to give, and with his problems at the start of the season being listed as personal rather then physical, they might not have known when he would be able to play. But with the Elliot situation ongoing at the moment, it does seem to be the wrong decision, although I expect us to be playing Elliot more from December onwards.

I reckon we'll fuck Elliot back off to Liverpool in Jan and he'll be flogged somewhere else.

[Steve67]

Leeds linked? He can do better than them, clearly. He’s a good asset and rarely lets anyone down.

[chrisw1]

Barkley is very, very good at helping us get some control back and seeing out games.  Useful player to have on the bench.

[AV82EC]

His little cameo yesterday was an absolute masterclass in No10 play. All of a sudden he’s an outlet in the middle of the pitch and for want of some better timed runs by the front players he could have absolutely torn City apart.

[rob_bridge]

Last 2 games from bench he has done very well at helping close out the game without going all 10 behind the ball.
Against Spurs and yesterday he turned defence into attacking territory.

He isn't going to get a better deal. I suspect a transfer back to Everton in the January one after next transfer window.

If he is fit and focused as he seems to be he is really good squad player to have.