Ross Barkley

[ToffeeDoug]

Is exactly the problem, he's not being coached !!!

RM's approach has always been to assume we will have 95% possession of the ball and our goals will come from that, if they score a couple it doesn't matter. In reality, he has been incapable of addressing (or even recognising) the issue of what to do when we don't have the ball and how to get it back or at least make it damn hard for the opposition if they keep it. Watching a rather hopeless looking Barkley when we don't have the ball is completely symptomatic of this malaise under RM, no one has ever been coached/instructed to go and win the ball back or press hard or close down space etc.

 

[Neiler]

If we played to his strengths - IE as a playmaker who took the ball from deep lying midfielders instead of giving him high balls to his chest to try and control and play out wide we would see some mileage.

I'd play him deeper if I'm honest, his development needs resposibility and he needs to learn the game with a clear defined role, learn how to control the tempo of the game, make a decision of when to ping a pass to open a game up, defensive responsibility and run timing - arriving late to avoid taking the ball into contact.

He's a gem that could play various roles for us and be The Player for us if he could develop his holistic game, at the moment hs being used as a show pony.

 

[Deleted member 28206]

I'd play him deeper if I'm honest, his development needs resposibility and he needs to learn the game with a clear defined role, learn how to control the tempo of the game, make a decision of when to ping a pass to open a game up, defensive responsibility and run timing - arriving late to avoid taking the ball into contact.

He's a gem that could play various roles for us and be The Player for us if he could develop his holistic game, at the moment hs being used as a show pony.

He has asked to play as CM, Martinez has already told him to [Poor language removed].

 

[Pabbers]

He has controlled many games this season while playing deeper, I think he is best suited there. For England he has been very good in CM too.

 

[Wat Tyler]

He doesn't work hard enough or track any runners at all to play deep. He has all the ability you want, but his application is left wanting too often.

 

[sageyefc]

He has asked to play as CM, Martinez has already told him to [Poor language removed].

Rightly so as well, far too lazy and careless for that role yet

 

[Pabbers]

I think the "laziness" is down to instructions from Bobby, he works much harder for England.

 

[jazzy]

He doesn't work hard enough or track any runners at all to play deep. He has all the ability you want, but his application is left wanting too often.

this and he looks overweight and unfit

 

[bluesteak]

this and he looks overweight and unfit

That's what's wrong,he is nowhere near being fit enough for a modern day professional footballer,as the rest of the squad aren't either,they are not capable of pressing teams for a sustained period.
This said though,it's the clowns fault,obviously the fitness training is of the same standard as all the other training,amateurish

 

[bluegirl]

Seen his Instagram post today?

A picture of a quote saying: If you fuel your journey on the opinions of others, you are going to run out of gas."

Hard to tell whether that is aimed at the fans or someone internally, but given the fact he had to be reassured by Jagielka in the tunnel that the boos weren't aimed at him, show he is clearly a sensitive lad lacking confidence.

I know fans have criticised him, but that is a minority and he has been criticised no more than any other player - well from my knowledge anyway - and I think it's safe to say at the games his song is definitely the fans favourite (I always get soaked in beer though - every time lol)

My question would be, why on earth would he think he is being booed? And/or targeted by the fans? Makes you wonder what he's heard or what's been said to him either within the changing room or outside?

In my opinion he's one of if not the fans favourites being a Blue himself...

 

[Kiwi]

Ross is bae

 

[Connor]

Seen his Instagram post today?

A picture of a quote saying: If you fuel your journey on the opinions of others, you are going to run out of gas."

Hard to tell whether that is aimed at the fans or someone internally, but given the fact he had to be reassured by Jagielka in the tunnel that the boos weren't aimed at him, show he is clearly a sensitive lad lacking confidence.

I know fans have criticised him, but that is a minority and he has been criticised no more than any other player - well from my knowledge anyway - and I think it's safe to say at the games his song is definitely the fans favourite (I always get soaked in beer though - every time lol)

My question would be, why on earth would he think he is being booed? And/or targeted by the fans? Makes you wonder what he's heard or what's been said to him either within the changing room or outside?

In my opinion he's one of if not the fans favourites being a Blue himself...

I think it's the fact he genuinely is one of us, he feels it more.

Seen so many posts on Twitter/Facebook along the lines of "Boohoo, he's a young millionaire" he's still a kid, he's still one of us and he's a human being, he's not a robot.

But it's been building. The groans last season affected him massively, he shied away in games but to start this season he looked full of confidence and also like he had his swagger back. He's still boss but the manager - current or new - needs to demand more from him. The freedom he is allowed is great but the way it's perceived that he's lazy and doesn't care is down to instructions. If a new manager was to come in and demand more - like him losing the ball and doing everything he can to win it back - we'll have a much better and much more confident player on our hands.

The lack of fight in the squad is telling. We want to see players fight. We're on your side if you show you care about the shirt.

 

[riddick]

I feel like a lot of people defending him are missing the point. People criticize him because they don't want him to be GOOD. They want him to be GREAT. The lad has ALLLL the ability in the world, he's not utilizing it for whatever reason. Most think it's Martinez. He is exactly what every blue wanted to be when growing up.

 

[bluegirl]

I think it's the fact he genuinely is one of us, he feels it more.

Seen so many posts on Twitter/Facebook along the lines of "Boohoo, he's a young millionaire" he's still a kid, he's still one of us and he's a human being, he's not a robot.

But it's been building. The groans last season affected him massively, he shied away in games but to start this season he looked full of confidence and also like he had his swagger back. He's still boss but the manager - current or new - needs to demand more from him. The freedom he is allowed is great but the way it's perceived that he's lazy and doesn't care is down to instructions. If a new manager was to come in and demand more - like him losing the ball and doing everything he can to win it back - we'll have a much better and much more confident player on our hands.

The lack of fight in the squad is telling. We want to see players fight. We're on your side if you show you care about the shirt.

Agree with everything you've said there. I don't think anyone can deny his talent - sometimes it's the lack of fight that lets him down but like you've said - that comes from what's demanded at the top by the manager.

Just hope he can get his confidence back, hopefully under a new manager.

 

[Connor]

I feel like a lot of people defending him are missing the point. People criticize him because they don't want him to be GOOD. They want him to be GREAT. The lad has ALLLL the ability in the world, he's not utilizing it for whatever reason. Most think it's Martinez. He is exactly what every blue wanted to be when growing up.

A lot of criticism aimed towards him is people not wanting him to be good at all. Trust me, I have seen and heard Blues wanting him to fail just so they are able to say they told you so.

Go back through this thread, plenty of people being vaulted because they don't like him.