Ross Barkley

[marty mcfly]

I was pretty sure I read an interview at the start of the season that saw him thinking his best position was further back.

Although at least it seemed like a positive interview. I don't think anyone including himself or Martinez knows his best position however if he is going to play further forward he needs to get back to being direct. There was a few times in the England game he found himself in good shooting positions and choose the sideways pass. Playing that position requires you to take the responsibility of the creating and scoring.

 

[PhilM]

He probably would be best as a striker. He has the physical tools and technique to play upfront. For me his playmaking ability isn't good enough to play #10.

I certainly do not believe that he has the physical guile or attitude to be a striker. He may look physical, but he rarely acts like a physical player.

Very rarely challenges for balls... lets the game drift by him. To be a good striker you need to be reactive and willing to fight for a ball.

Technically I agree he has many of the attributes for a reasonably effective striker; unfortunately I think he lacks some of the mental attributes.

I worry this more about fulfilling his ego rather than a genuine assessment of his abilities and where he needs to adapt as an individual.

He mentions that he'll be, "...free to roam around." Well you've done that a lot this season and quite ineffectively.

 

[toffeejack]

Hes not talking about the old fashioned striker, hes talking about the modern football striker.

Which refers to most people along the attacking line.

You see, in the old days, Messi would be called a winger, but hes not, hes a Striker.

He means a number 10.

i always see no. 10 as attacking central mid. ah, i'm not really arsed, they're not numbered 1 to 11 anymore and they're getting paid thousands, all footballers should be able to play multiple positions.

 

[Goat]

i always see no. 10 as attacking central mid. ah, i'm not really arsed, they're not numbered 1 to 11 anymore and they're getting paid thousands, all footballers should be able to play multiple positions.

Yeah Ross clearly doesnt play FM.

He means a number 10, ACM.

 

[toffeejack]

Yeah Ross clearly doesnt play FM.

He means a number 10, ACM.

bad bad boy. a striker is properly up front, he means attacker.

that's his best position atm, i'd like to hope he can step back and be a great centre mid though. would love something like that and an attacking mid ahead of him who can assist for fun. goals galore.

 

[Goat]

bad bad boy. a striker is properly up front, he means attacker.

that's his best position atm, i'd like to hope he can step back and be a great centre mid though. would love something like that and an attacking mid ahead of him who can assist for fun. goals galore.

I think hes basically saying "Dont play me at CM, I cba with tracking back".

 

[davids]

Hopefully that interview will cheer everybody up

Made me smile,but not really in a good way.

 

[Big_nev]

 

[Wat Tyler]

I actually agree with him, as soon as he went up front the last 20 away to Kiev he looked dangerous.

 

[longers]

TBH you cant blame his position for him messing up simple passes and poor decision making, the lad needs a good rest in the summer, mentally more than anything

Where does this myth that he gives the ball away and messes up simple passes all the time come from ? his passing stats are very good in terms of how little he gives the ball away.

 

[longers]

He probably would be best as a striker. He has the physical tools and technique to play upfront. For me his playmaking ability isn't good enough to play #10.

1 assist in near 70 PL games doesn't strike me as the statistics of a true #10.

to be fair i've lost count of how many time he's made goal scoring chances which we have failed to put away, you can't get assists if no one puts them in the net. Granted he does need to improve in this area.

 

[Brownie]

I certainly do not believe that he has the physical guile or attitude to be a striker. He may look physical, but he rarely acts like a physical player.

Very rarely challenges for balls... lets the game drift by him. To be a good striker you need to be reactive and willing to fight for a ball.

Technically I agree he has many of the attributes for a reasonably effective striker; unfortunately I think he lacks some of the mental attributes.

I worry this more about fulfilling his ego rather than a genuine assessment of his abilities and where he needs to adapt as an individual.

He mentions that he'll be, "...free to roam around." Well you've done that a lot this season and quite ineffectively.

Agreed he's not particularly aggressive without the ball, but it's a different story when he's got it. If someone tries to take the ball off him, by and large he destroys them. He outmuscled Yaya Toure last season.

 

[sageyefc]

Where does this myth that he gives the ball away and messes up simple passes all the time come from ? his passing stats are very good in terms of how little he gives the ball away.

By using my own eyes, early on in the season he was misplacing 5 yard passes. And countless times he doesnt come away with the ball from a 50 50

 

[longers]

By using my own eyes, early on in the season he was misplacing 5 yard passes. And countless times he doesnt come away with the ball from a 50 50

get them eyes tested, his passing percentage is one of the best in the team... and since when were losing 50/50s a sign of misplacing simple passes ?

his ability to perform simple passes is absolutely fine, the problem this season is that he's become far too conservative in his play, probably in part because he got roasted by hodgson for giving the ball away whilst on England duty at the end of last season.

 

[bluemangroup]

By using my own eyes, early on in the season he was misplacing 5 yard passes. And countless times he doesnt come away with the ball from a 50 50

Shut your face hole buster