Ross Barkley

[Allezfan]

do we really need a sitting DM in games like cheltenham or wigan at home? i know what your saying, but if i was the manager, if gibson's out injured, i don't see the need for having a player playng that role and therefore the question of picking barkley over neville becomes relevant.

not saying you're wrong btw because you're not

That's fair enough.

I agree, central midfield is the most flexible part of the pitch. You can play two players of whatever type you want and you become a different team. There are teams that would have no issue playing Barkley, Osman and Fellaini together. It would mean changing the way we play but there's an argument to be made that if you have to do that to get all your best players on the pitch you should. Doubt it's anything Moyes would agree with though, he very much likes us to have a well drilled formation that everyone plays and knows how to play even if we replace all the individual parts.

 

[toffeejack]

That's fair enough.

I agree, central midfield is the most flexible part of the pitch. You can play two players of whatever type you want and you become a different team. There are teams that would have no issue playing Barkley, Osman and Fellaini together. It would mean changing the way we play but there's an argument to be made that if you have to do that to get all your best players on the pitch you should. Doubt it's anything Moyes would agree with though, he very much likes us to have a well drilled formation that everyone plays and knows how to play even if we replace all the individual parts.

which is why i wouldn't be too dissapointed if he has to go in the summer. my only worry is whether his replacement(s) will be utter garbage

 

[Chang Elephant]

Watched Osman give the ball away for no good reason on numerous occasions the other night, and offer nothing offensively or defensively, but Barkley has ben booted into lower league oblivion for much less. And that's before analysing the utter crap of Neville and Naismith.

Any manager that starts Osman, Neville, and Naismith in the same midfield, when he has options of Fellaini, Hitz.., Barkley, and Ovideo gives me concern.

That midfield three is not even championship class.

 

[Neiler]

TBF im a Nev appreciater, but Barkley has more talent in his left toe nail, but then so did the likes of Drenthe and AVDM - takes more to make it though as the likes of Nev, Hibbert Osman etc will justify, mentality and desire are huge contributing factors.

 

[Chang Elephant]

TBF im a Nev appreciater, but Barkley has more talent in his left toe nail, but then so did the likes of Drenthe and AVDM - takes more to make it though as the likes of Nev, Hibbert Osman etc will justify, mentality and desire are huge contributing factors.

But when it comes time to win stuff, Chelsea in the final, Liverpool in the semi, Liverpool anytime ffs, the mentality's of all three above turn to mush and their lack of ability is badly exposed.

 

[maddison]

Watched Osman give the ball away for no good reason on numerous occasions the other night, and offer nothing offensively or defensively, but Barkley has ben booted into lower league oblivion for much less. And that's before analysing the utter crap of Neville and Naismith.

Any manager that starts Osman, Neville, and Naismith in the same midfield, when he has options of Fellaini, Hitz.., Barkley, and Ovideo gives me concern.

That midfield three is not even championship class.

I think people are assuming that Barkley had been dropped, and then put out to loan because he gave the ball away. I don't ascribe to this theory and I think people are just clutching at straws to have an explanation. The reality is plenty of our players give the ball away every game. I think in some bizarre way Moyes truly believes what he's saying about benching and loaning Barkley out for the benefit of his development. I think the main reason Barkley doesn't get game time is because Moyes seldom makes tactical substitutions.

I think he'll come back next year and be a regular in the first team.

As for your second point, bit harsh that. I think Naismith is the weakest link in all of that. For all of Neville's criticisms, he isn't as bad as many on here make out. Sure he's in the twilight of his career, and I'd agree that I'd rather see Hitz on the field or Barkley, but he isn't the woeful player everyone likes to exaggerate he is. And Osman is playing some of his best football, although he does have times where he should be substituted.

 

[Allezfan]

But when it comes time to win stuff, Chelsea in the final, Liverpool in the semi, Liverpool anytime ffs, the mentality's of all three above turn to mush and their lack of ability is badly exposed.

Yeah, we're not a cup team. We're actually very good in the league, all things considered. But unfortunately you have to be a cup team to win things and we're not. As you say we struggle in the big games.

I tend to blame the manager rather than the players for that, though.

 

[Chang Elephant]

OK, on Neville, clarification is that I'm talking about Neville over the last 12 months as he approaches the big 4 0. At one point he was a useful player.

 

[tim cahill]

It'll be nice to see him vs Spurs today. Think he should get a chance for us on the right with Mirallas out, hopefully he'll play there today and convince Moyes.

 

[jamieni]

He's not playing today. We wouldn't let him be cup tied I think?

 

[Royal Blue Jersey]

It'll be nice to see him vs Spurs today. Think he should get a chance for us on the right with Mirallas out, hopefully he'll play there today and convince Moyes.

We refused permission to let him play.

Wasn't enough we didn't bother with him while he was here, now we're stopping him from getting games which will be immensely valuable to his development. Blood and thunder FA cup tie will really test him. It's peverse really, even if we had loads of injuries Moyes wouldn't play Barkley in the later rounds. He wouldn't even give him a single minute in the third round against lower league opposition and with us leading 1-4. Just let him play for Leeds ffs

 

[Eggs]

If we dont sign another midfielder then then why the hell would we send our barkley on loan, there must be something in the pipeline

............he's gone on loan because he's not up to it at the moment.

 

[PaddyG]

We refused permission to let him play.

Wasn't enough we didn't bother with him while he was here, now we're stopping him from getting games which will be immensely valuable to his development. Blood and thunder FA cup tie will really test him. It's peverse really, even if we had loads of injuries Moyes wouldn't play Barkley in the later rounds. He wouldn't even give him a single minute in the third round against lower league opposition and with us leading 1-4. Just let him play for Leeds ffs

If he comes back and we have an injury crisis during the later rounds, everybody would castigate Moyes for letting him be cup tied, we don't need to do Leeds any favours.

 

[Royal Blue Jersey]

If he comes back and we have an injury crisis during the later rounds, everybody would castigate Moyes for letting him be cup tied, we don't need to do Leeds any favours.

I agree. But we wouldn't play him regardless

 

[tim cahill]

It's a shame for him. Hopefully he'll be involved for us in the final then! Can't help but think he'd do better for us on the right than Naismith.