Ross Barkley

[kenada_blue]

How was he a luxury player if he kept them in the division?

What else did he do but score? There's been plenty of players in the league that have scored consecutively high amounts of goals for seasons but are never labelled world class legends of the game... Look at someone like Yakubu, Berbatov, Bent, etc in the modern game

He was labelled a "luxury" due to having all the skill in the world but zero pace, work rate, defensive quality etc that other clubs weren't willing to throw money at home and abroad. So when it came down to a Liverpool, United or Arsenal back in the day they looked and didn't want to pay for him because he wasn't the whole package.

Even Blackburn didn't go in for him when they were throwing money at Shearer etc and winning the league.

 

[kenada_blue]

Pretty sure Man Utd did too, no quotes or anything, just what I remember. They were the best team in England at the time too.

They had a look, as did others, but didn't feel it a worthwhile investment.

Chelsea and Spurs were the only clubs ever to actually put in bids for him. He almost went to Spurs... But as it happens, his Mrs said she didn't want to move so he stayed.

 

[fozzy]

He's being compared to lots of small midfielders with short bursts of acceleration. He doesn't really fit the physical profile and whilst we'd all like to play like Spain, it's not the be all and end all. Every player has a style and there are lots of similar players who have had successful careers in every league in the world. Zidane would be a good comparison, he played at a completely different speed when he had the ball, Kaka, Riquelme, Pirlo in a different area of the pitch, Van der Vaart had a successful time in England, even Gerrard is criticized for his aimless running and lack of defensive nous. The list could go on and on really...

I'd be worried if he was a static 'passer' who's really good in one area but lacking in alot of others but Barkley has an array of skills and versatility in his game. He's got the footwork, plays with both feet and can make any type of pass. I think there's goals in him aswell, he's ambidextrous and isn't afraid to shoot. Six foot plus aswell, perfect for the famous Moyes diagonal.

agrred!

but dont you think that evey time he makes a run trys to find space AT THE MOMENT he get in other players way?

give him the rest of the season there and hopfully he will learn cuz surly no one thinks he is walking into our 1st team now anyway!

 

[Greek Fisherman]

People on GOT are way too critical.

He's kid.

 

[Christiffa25]

People on GOT are way too critical.

He's kid.

This. I watched last night and whilst yes defensively he looks a bit of a passanger on the ball he is top class already and only going to get better. People are saying he drifted out the game but for large parts the whole midfield was skipped out the game!

 

[Waynelloyd]

Le tiss was a fantastic player, better than cantana, for me
At the height of his powers was left out of euro 96 buy terry venables
For the spurs brigade, sheringham, barmby and anderton
had he played behind shearer in the tournament I think England would have
Won it. Top player

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

LOL did you actually watch Le Tissier or only his highlights?

He was what we could call now a YouTube player. Technically superb... But only ever turned up once in a blue moon, couldn't run, wasn't particularly athletic, didn't tackle, had zero defensive ability. He slotted like.

haha, they must have plenty of blue moons down on the south coast then, seeing as in his pomp he scored 140 goals in 6 seasons.

The man was a genuis, an amazing footballer, to tag him a 'luxury player' downgrades his input & is inaccurate.

 

[chrismanduk]

Le tissier was top quality.
Would have had 100 caps for england had he done a rooney and gone to a favorite FA club.(ossie would also have made an england squad had he played for one of those few clubs).
He decided to stay at the club he loved and not chase the £.Therefore obviously a top bloke as well as a top player.

 

[kenada_blue]

Le tissier was top quality.
Would have had 100 caps for england had he done a rooney and gone to a favorite FA club.(ossie would also have made an england squad had he played for one of those few clubs).
He decided to stay at the club he loved and not chase the £.Therefore obviously a top bloke as well as a top player.

Massive misconception that he didn't "chase money" and stayed at his club out of loyalty. Over a decade of football only 2 clubs ever went in for him last, so he didn't have a choice, and he almost went to Spurs.

Additionally, the premiership wasn't as big as it was now, even clubs in Italy or Spain didn't want want him where as players like Gazza, Macmanaman, etc all went.

As for his caps, Venables and Hoddle both skipped him. That's 2 managers over 2 tournaments for a players who scored double figures regularly. You have to wonder why.

 

[kenada_blue]

haha, they must have plenty of blue moons down on the south coast then, seeing as in his pomp he scored 140 goals in 6 seasons.

The man was a genuis, an amazing footballer, to tag him a 'luxury player' downgrades his input & is inaccurate.

Did I say he wasn't great... If you want to pull up that I said he wasn't, good luck.

Yakubu and Bent have similar records if better.

What I said was what the large percentage of managers and pundits said at the time... He was lazy, was supping a brew in the car park for most of the game before popping up and scoring.

Sorry if I'm going off what I saw at the time and what he was labelled.

Additionally in context of Barkley, it was a comparison on a style level, not as a direct comparison as player. And if you expect him to be like that under Moyes, you'll be disappointed and be waiting a while before he hits the first team.

In fact, before Tubey came along and turned it into a tit fest, the comparison was a complement for his technical skills but lack of off the ball work rate. Which, due to the fume levels, completely clouded the discussion.

 

[PhilBr]

This. I watched last night and whilst yes defensively he looks a bit of a passanger on the ball he is top class already and only going to get better. People are saying he drifted out the game but for large parts the whole midfield was skipped out the game!

You and I think alike on Barkley. The reason that he and Corrie drifted out of the game was that Leeds exerted more pressure in the second half and the SWFC defence just hoofed the ball up the park rather than playing through the midfield.

I've watched his games for SWFC on TV / laptop / SWFC player and would confirm that he's working very hard for the team, as somebody posted earlier he's just not very good at making his opponent play square or backwards, he sticks out a leg and they skip past.

If he's handled correctly will turn out to be a major talent, similar style player to Zidane but the actual level that he achieves will be down to his own hard work and professionalism - could be either Div 2 or top international.

Not sure that it will be at Everton though, Arsenal more suited to his style, that's why their scouts are watching his every game. Wenger was at the reserve game at Barnet earlier in the season, him and Wilshire together for England with Rodwell behind them - as the song goes 'two out of three ain't bad'.

 

[chrismanduk]

Massive misconception that he didn't "chase money" and stayed at his club out of loyalty. Over a decade of football only 2 clubs ever went in for him last, so he didn't have a choice, and he almost went to Spurs.

Additionally, the premiership wasn't as big as it was now, even clubs in Italy or Spain didn't want want him where as players like Gazza, Macmanaman, etc all went.

As for his caps, Venables and Hoddle both skipped him. That's 2 managers over 2 tournaments for a players who scored double figures regularly. You have to wonder why.

only 2 clubs ever went in for him last, so he didn't have a choice ??

 

[kenada_blue]

only 2 clubs ever went in for him last, so he didn't have a choice ??

As in, if he was that amazing of a player who had everything, there weren't clubs kicking his door down... Apart from 2 London clubs over the space of his entire playing career.

He wasn't slapping offers down to stay at saints every season even after so many goals he scored.

 

[Midnitemike]

A pal of mine is a Wednesday fan and was at the game last night. He says that Barkley is some player and clearly much better than most of the players on the pitch, seeing passes his team mates don't see. The only negative thing he had to say is that he tries to many flicks and gives possession away too easily. They look good when they come off but he tried them too often.

I really don't see him as being a Le Tissier type player - he seems far too mobile for that.

As for anyone that doesn't appreciate just how good Le Tissier is, maybe you should try another sport. Tiddlywinks perhaps?

 

[Tubey]

In fact, before Tubey came along and turned it into a tit fest, the comparison was a complement for his technical skills but lack of off the ball work rate. Which, due to the fume levels, completely clouded the discussion.

I didn't turn it into anything mate - you called Le Tissier "lazy" which shows such a massive lack of understanding about football that I just had to laugh at it So I just can't really take anything you say seriously now

If someone came on here and said Messi isn't as good as Osman, you'd laugh at them too - and what you said is that sort of level of stupid.

A pal of mine is a Wednesday fan and was at the game last night. He says that Barkley is some player and clearly much better than most of the players on the pitch, seeing passes his team mates don't see. The only negative thing he had to say is that he tries to many flicks and gives possession away too easily. They look good when they come off but he tried them too often.

I really don't see him as being a Le Tissier type player - he seems far too mobile for that.

As for anyone that doesn't appreciate just how good Le Tissier is, maybe you should try another sport. Tiddlywinks perhaps?

Yeah it was one of those performances where you could see all the good and bad over 90 minutes. There was a stage where he gave the ball away in an advanced position and left the counter attack on, but there were two or three occasions where he pulled off a bit of magic and his distribution was top quality.

Sometimes he missed the simple pass and goes for the spectacular but that's both due to his age and enthusiasm and because those around him clearly aren't on the same wavelength. The test I had in my mind was "does he look like a kid playing with men here?" and, by and large, you couldn't say he was an 18 year old playing the hardest position in football in a local derby, which is all I needed to know to reaffirm his potential.

He's going to be some player, he really is!