Ross Barkley

[Ashtonluke]

Pienaar was woeful first half but better second.

Barkley sub changed the game although they took off Sandro too at the same time who I thought did a great job as a defensive shield.

 

[Baines' left foot]

Barkley was much better than Osman when he came on, who had a poor game.

I think Pienaar did alright actually, his passing is sh*te though.

 

[Pienaar'sdisciple]

Not starting him was a big mistake. What he offers to this team none of our other players do. To many are obsessed with assist/goals stats and avoid the impact certain players have on the flow of games. Bench someone like him against a strong team like tottenham we'll watch the disaster of the first half again.

 

[Kantareller]

Barkley was much better than Osman when he came on, who had a poor game.

I think Pienaar did alright actually, his passing is sh*te though.

The whole team's passing was pretty ****e yesterday

 

[maccavennie]

Don't think that was Ross mate, think it was pienaar that buggered that pass up to jelavic.

I think he's talking about a chance Ross had to put him through in the 96th minute. Twice Jelavic held his line waiting for the ball and would have had a run on goal. The Pienaar one was a couple of minutes before that where he played it behind Jelavic. Either way just one of them days where a killer pass was needed and never came to create clear cut chances.

 

[alpethsm]

How he was not subbed yesterday was a big surprise to me! his passing was gash!

He wasn't subbed because other players were worse than he was and Lukaku tires, we could have done with about 4 or 5 subs for that game, it's just more noticeable because unlike Mirralas and Osman he was able to carry being s*** throughout the second half.

 

[Pabbers]

Seen in the Spurs match thread, Ross playing deeper, controlling games in the future. Completely agree.

He is too good a footballer just to be stuck further forward.

 

[Azzurri]

Seen in the Spurs match thread, Ross playing deeper, controlling games in the future. Completely agree.

He is too good a footballer just to be stuck further forward.

As you said in the future, yeah, but not now IMO. Still tries a bit much and runs with it too often to be playing deeper.

 

[Housequake]

It does amaze me how professional footballers, people who practice their already top drawer skills day on day, can't place a ball 10 yards forward in between a couple of players most of the time.

It's like me struggling to pick the phone up in work with my weak hand whilst the boss is asking if I want a brew.

 

[Pabbers]

As you said in the future, yeah, but not now IMO. Still tries a bit much and runs with it too often to be playing deeper.

Agreed, a good position for the lad to do much of his learning.

 

[Housequake]

Agreed, a good position for the lad to do much of his learning.

Ross centre mid, Naismith & Jelavic 4-4-2.

 

[Christiffa25]

Pienaar has always been the same. It's why the top 4 teams have never gone in for him. He's the best assister of assists I've ever seen but left to be the man playing the final balls he's pretty weak really.

Barkley on the other hand even at his young age can not only see the passes but make them. Obviously he doesn't get them right every time but that will only improve with age. And I love seeing how angry he is with himself when a pass doesn't come off (high standards that lad!)

 

[tim cahill]

I just hope that he starts from now on. If he needed a rest then he's had it, but we miss him too much. The runs he makes in midfield open things up, he always gives options to people on the ball and he has vision that few in our squad do to pick out the pass that matters. He may not get it right every time but I don't think it's a coincidence that we've failed to score when he's been benched.

 

[Christiffa25]

Barkley at 19 needs a rest......Osman at 32 does not??? Go figure!!

Think RM has dropped his first bollock leaving Ross out these last two games. The difference in our team play without him there is quite obvious and damaging.

Hope he's rested up and ready to go (again)

*You ****ing watch him now get injured for england*

 

[Joey66]

He has been selected for England so why drop him looked good when coming on last week - he has had a good season so far hr links up well with Lukaku - he came on far too late yesterday - simply should be started every week - I seen Joe Royle as a youngster he was played very week as a youngster and then became a EFC great!