Ross Barkley

[Chang Elephant]

I thought he was poor tonight, gonna have to watch the game again!

A dominant midfield display against a team of well drilled negative tosspots

 

[dannyboy]

Couldn't get in over Kone

OK mate

Maybe it's the United system but he's been shockingly poor this season... Probably just needs the roar of the Street End to get himself back on track.

 

[paulbefc]

Really good tonight. Looked really confident and mature.

He's cut back on the long-range shooting a lot which is good, but I wish he'd pulled the trigger when he had the chance on his left late on.

 

[Joey66]

Had a very good game helped by Cleverly, needed some one in front of Galloway like KM?

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

The defensive side of his game tonight was good.

 

[loooweee]

That slide tackle was quite beatiful I don't think I have ever seen him do that. I love it

 

[granter79]

The defensive side of his game tonight was good.

Yep did the dirty work last night aswell. Hel need to keep this up if he wants to play in a deeper role with only one midfielder beside him.

 

[yakublue]

I thought he had a good game but he still has a frequent tendency to slow the game down, which I don't think is good. By contrast, Cleverley is great at getting his head up and playing the ball early.

This happened a lot in the second half yesterday when we were really dominant. It reminded me of games like the Swansea home game last year when we have a huge amount of possession but end up just passing back and forth on the edge of the opposition area.

 

[Carlito]

I think by the end of the season he'll have shown he can be trusted to play in the middle of the park. Maybe Alli coming in and threatening to push him down the England pecking order has given him a bit of a kick up the arse in that respect.

 

[Simon baker]

I thought he had a good game but he still has a frequent tendency to slow the game down, which I don't think is good. By contrast, Cleverley is great at getting his head up and playing the ball early.

This happened a lot in the second half yesterday when we were really dominant. It reminded me of games like the Swansea home game last year when we have a huge amount of possession but end up just passing back and forth on the edge of the opposition area.

This is actually a plus point he is showing he can both control the tempo of a game via slowing it down & keeping the ball & also quickening it breaking quickly. Very few players can do both

 

[The Hibbert Agenda]

He really has gotten stronger
Collects the ball under pressure and just shrugs off the opposition player
He's brilliant

 

[LinekersLegs]

I think by the end of the season he'll have shown he can be trusted to play in the middle of the park. Maybe Alli coming in and threatening to push him down the England pecking order has given him a bit of a kick up the arse in that respect.

Might still be too much of a jump switching from the #10 role to being part of a two man midfield, probably best to have a midfield three with one of Barry/McCarthy/Besic in the holding role to give a touch more cover for Ross.

 

[bluestevon]

Might still be too much of a jump switching from the #10 role to being part of a two man midfield, probably best to have a midfield three with one of Barry/McCarthy/Besic in the holding role to give a touch more cover for Ross.

Can see him, Cleverley and McCarthy being a midfield 3 going forwards once Barry is phased out the starting team

 

[bluebrotha77]

Can see him, Cleverley and McCarthy being a midfield 3 going forwards once Barry is phased out the starting team

Hopfully hes phased out by the end of the season.

 

[bluestevon]

Hopfully hes phased out by the end of the season.

think for the first time once Cleverley and McCarthy are both fit then Martinez will at least think about the option of not always starting him in games, and really that's the key to evolving the centre mid really