Ross Barkley

[Tubey]

FWIW McNulty rated Delph and Barkley 6...he rated Sterling and Lallana both 5. Carrick was given a 4.

I wasn't able to watch the match, but was Smalling deserving of MOTM? McNulty gave it to him.

Yeah seems fair to me - Delph rating is generous, I'd have given him a 4. Smalling was OK.

 

[USABlue]

Are people really over analyzing a friendly vs spain? England's midfield is always going to be worse off in that situation

 

[dandydan]

Are people really over analyzing a friendly vs spain? England's midfield is always going to be worse off in that situation

Apparantley Barkley is crap because he didn't run rings around a far superior team.

 

[toffeejack]

without being biased, the 3 of stones, baines and barkley should be in England's best XI right now without a second's thoughy. Smalling's been brilliant so i think he deserves to be ahead of jagielka right now, but the other 3 should be shoe ins.

I don't think hodgson has done bad at England, he hasn't had a great squad of players in his whole tenure, not compared to the previous bosses for sure, but they're never going to do anything of note with them because he's reminiscent of moyes' final years here - plays it too safe. I said it before the WC, England need to look to the future because they won't even get out of their group - but he still picks players like gary cahill.

They haven't had one test in qualifying, so they arrange friendlies against some top class teams - this is the perfect time to get the youngsters to form partnerships, you're looking at smalling with stones; kane, barkley, oxlade-chamberlain and sterling as an attacking quartet. The future's not dreadful, but they should be heading to the next WC as a fully gelled unit coming into their prime years. They won't be. You'll still have phil jones' and james milner's knocking around the place.

 

[Zatara]

I'm at a loss why he would pick Jones above Stones? It makes absolutely no logical sense to me at all. The only thing would be if he wanted to make sure we were solid at the back and went for the two who had game time together...but then why do that when you have the chance to bring Stones in next to Smalling?

Its just totally bizarre.

without being biased, the 3 of stones, baines and barkley should be in England's best XI right now without a second's thoughy. Smalling's been brilliant so i think he deserves to be ahead of jagielka right now, but the other 3 should be shoe ins.

I don't think hodgson has done bad at England, he hasn't had a great squad of players in his whole tenure, not compared to the previous bosses for sure, but they're never going to do anything of note with them because he's reminiscent of moyes' final years here - plays it too safe. I said it before the WC, England need to look to the future because they won't even get out of their group - but he still picks players like gary cahill.

They haven't had one test in qualifying, so they arrange friendlies against some top class teams - this is the perfect time to get the youngsters to form partnerships, you're looking at smalling with stones; kane, barkley, oxlade-chamberlain and sterling as an attacking quartet. The future's not dreadful, but they should be heading to the next WC as a fully gelled unit coming into their prime years. They won't be. You'll still have phil jones' and james milner's knocking around the place.

 

[USABlue]

Apparantley Barkley is crap because he didn't run rings around a far superior team.

exactly its so over the top, just admit spains a better team. Do people expect Ross, Lallana and Delph to be able to boss Iniesta, Fabregas, Thiago, etc?

 

[onlyme]

Starved of the ball Ross was still the only creative outlet. Ok Jones and Smalling were solid ,however their distribution was hoofball.
Disappointed though not surprised that the commentators did not pick up on the fact that Stones would've provided a superior offensive basis for the midfield to be able to flourish, ie.by being able to pass

 

[Ihaters]

Barkleys through ball to Sterling was sublime, as was that turn, some other neat play as well, but overall an average gaem.. so far beyond most of the England performance yesterday.

 

[orly]

International Excellently

 

[Charlie Sweet]

Barkleys through ball to Sterling was sublime, as was that turn, some other neat play as well, but overall an average gaem.. so far beyond most of the England performance yesterday.

Aaveragely brilliant? Averagley special?

 

[sageyefc]

Ridiculous he played so many minutes in meaningless games, now we have to suffer when hes blowing out his ass against villa

 

[Pabbers]

He played very well again, good defensive work, kept the ball well. Very deep to get the ball of stones and car crash, showed another part to his game.

 

[MACCA75]

He played very well again, good defensive work, kept the ball well. Very deep to get the ball of stones and car crash, showed another part to his game.

Did ok but for Christ sake, can he step away from the set pieces!

 

[orchard]

Did ok but for Christ sake, can he step away from the set pieces!

He needs the practice to regain his form -i'd rather he did that with the National team

 

[Nymzee]

Think he looks better playing deeper in a midfield three with the game in front of him myself.