Ross Barkley

[mrb85]

I think he will start the derby. Hopefully he'll rise to the occasion and it will kick start his season. We need his quality.

I think Martinez for the first time will go with Besic, McCarthy AND Barry to put up a strong barrier to protect our back 4. With that strong cover I'd want Barkley in there in front of them, confident that if he loses the ball we're not immediately going to be put under the cosh with an attack on our back line. I suspect though that he'd go with Mirallas and Naismith as the two more advanced MFs. Nevertheless Barkley would be handy from the bench. Too often when they've been on top, and particularly when we've gone behind against them, we've looked to the bench and realised there was nothing on it to change things round. Should we go behind, Barkley coming on would lift spirits (irrespective of his current form) and give them something different to think about.

 

[marty mcfly]

I think Martinez for the first time will go with Besic, McCarthy AND Barry to put up a strong barrier to protect our back 4. With that strong cover I'd want Barkley in there in front of them, confident that if he loses the ball we're not immediately going to be put under the cosh with an attack on our back line. I suspect though that he'd go with Mirallas and Naismith as the two more advanced MFs. Nevertheless Barkley would be handy from the bench. Too often when they've been on top, and particularly when we've gone behind against them, we've looked to the bench and realised there was nothing on it to change things round. Should we go behind, Barkley coming on would lift spirits (irrespective of his current form) and give them something different to think about.

I can't see Martinez changing to a diamond or playing all of Besic, McCarthy and Barry.

Ross has had a break, ideally we would have wanted it to be two or three games but hopefully he's had a rest both physically and mentally and if there's any game to get you up and firing its this one.

It should also be a game to suit him. Liverpool will press high but won't play a high line due to our pace of the attacking third leaving loads of space in the middle for him to exploit.

Hopefully it's the game to kick start his and our season and put a serious dent in their CL ambitions.

We also just need to play him because it will be a fast game with tackles going in as soon as players receive the ball so we need players with a great first touch and quick feet otherwise we'll struggle to hold on to possession long enough to mount an attack.

 

[blueblue]

Barkley will struggle to get back into the team. He has been very poor and doesn't deserve to play.
It's up to him to regain his form and force the managers hand.

 

[chicoazul]

He should be starting from the bench until he's back in form/confidence.

Very useful option to have from the bench like.

 

[sageyefc]

Dont start him, cant afford to carry any passengers.


Should be very useful though for the last 20 minutes especially if its up against the tiring legs of GBH

 

[KevMirallas]

I've heard the whole reason we went into cahoots with the Central Coast Mariners is so we can send this fraudster to the A-League where he belongs. WORST. FOOTBALLER. EVER etc.

 

[Deleted member 28206]

Loan him to Marine, he can do one. The little Wavo snide.

 

[bluemangroup]

Blind Faithly

 

[moosed]

Barkley will struggle to get back into the team. He has been very poor and doesn't deserve to play.
It's up to him to regain his form and force the managers hand.

How do you regain form if you can't play ?

 

[sd_1992]

Wouldn't play him at home for a short while, needs game time away from the toxic environment that has crippled his confidence

 

[4737carlin]

How do you regain form if you can't play ?

He can do it by playing a bit part role, and doing that well. When you start you are under more pressure to perform, and he has been letting us down badly.

 

[Eggs]

....interesting listen to Colleymore on transfer deadline night. He was clearly in touch with clubs and specifically mentioned Barkley and Man City as thought he was ITK. He said Barkley needs to consider what happened to Rodwell and Sinclair before finally committing himself to the move. £100k per week is an attraction but it might not make sense in the long term.

 

[SNova]

Wouldn't play him at home for a short while, needs game time away from the toxic environment that has crippled his confidence

I agree. He's only young. Benching him and bringing his confidence up is probably a smart decision.

You can see how scared he is when he gets the ball. But then I would be if all the fans were getting on my back for every mistake.

 

[Christiffa25]

Very harsh on Ross all this imo.

He's had to come back from being injured. Try to get up to speed quickly. Then played out of posistion game after game and all the while in a team Bang out of form, playing tactics nothing like what they did the year before!

I refuse to accept a time that a Scottish hard working limited footballer should be chose before a young talented local lad in a derby.

I'd also be fuming with my manager for what's he's done to my game this season!

 

[Deleted member 28206]

....interesting listen to Colleymore on transfer deadline night. He was clearly in touch with clubs and specifically mentioned Barkley and Man City as thought he was ITK. He said Barkley needs to consider what happened to Rodwell and Sinclair before finally committing himself to the move. £100k per week is an attraction but it might not make sense in the long term.

Its a good point, but Rodwell was perma injured and Sinclair was never really any good. Only Metro nobs and Sky thought he was good.