Ross Barkley

[MACCA75]

Was he played every game at the world cup? I don't remember him starting many but could be wrong.

Hodgson is a coward and I tell you why. At the turn of the year it was Barkley and Alli to play. Both performed very well in a midfield together and produced one of England best displays in years together against France. This "Alli V Barkley" rhetoric never existed. They are different players, offer different things and had performed well together.

Aspects of the media, started by that rat Carragher then introduced the discourse of Alli V Barkley. I remember him doing it and the Ingerland media bandwagon jumped on it. The sort of knuckle dragging, kopite buffoon that is the social base of England fans jumped on the bandwagon and operation attack Barkley commenced.

I would ask though, on what planet has Alli "overtaken Barkley". BY scoring less goals and having less assists in a better team last year? By scoring similar goals to what Ross has for England. To producing similar performances to Barkley while in an England shirt? By looking unconvincing in Barkley's role as a number 10? If one had to play, then it should have been Barkley without question. The largely southern fan base of Ingerland, and it's 4th estate media would disagree as they worship Spurs and their players. However the facts would indicate Barkley had a better season, was the man in position and had done little to deserve to be dropped.

I am not knocking Alli by the way. I have stated both should be playing. Hodgson is a coward though who is too scared to do the decent thing and play England most creative midfield player.

As for why England should build a team around Barkley? In truth because even half fit he can do things none of our other midfielders can. He can beat players for run, shoot from distance assist in the final third, break from deep and control play from central areas. In essence he has shown he has the ability to run the midfield. All of our midfielders have some of those attributes. None have the ability to run a game in the way he does, with the possible exception of Rooney who gets close.

There are drawbacks to Barkley. He can lose the ball cheaply and at times his defensive work rate isn't great. Top managers would see the positives of what he brings. I'm not saying he should walk into Barcelona. However when you look at that England team he should be one of the first names, as when he's playing well we don't have many players like him.

Hodgson is like Moyes though, he sees negatives in players and when you do that you end up with the least worst option, not always the best option. That's what a midfield of Alli, Lallana & Sterling is. The least worst options.

Alli scored more Premier League goals than Ross last year with 10. Ross scored 8 (2 pens).
Alli also had more Premier League assists than Ross.

I think you are seeing things that aren't there. Last time Ross 'ran I game'? I honestly can't recall.

 

[Ihaters]

Was he played every game at the world cup? I don't remember him starting many but could be wrong.

Hodgson is a coward and I tell you why. At the turn of the year it was Barkley and Alli to play. Both performed very well in a midfield together and produced one of England best displays in years together against France. This "Alli V Barkley" rhetoric never existed. They are different players, offer different things and had performed well together.

Aspects of the media, started by that rat Carragher then introduced the discourse of Alli V Barkley. I remember him doing it and the Ingerland media bandwagon jumped on it. The sort of knuckle dragging, kopite buffoon that is the social base of England fans jumped on the bandwagon and operation attack Barkley commenced.

I would ask though, on what planet has Alli "overtaken Barkley". BY scoring less goals and having less assists in a better team last year? By scoring similar goals to what Ross has for England. To producing similar performances to Barkley while in an England shirt? By looking unconvincing in Barkley's role as a number 10? If one had to play, then it should have been Barkley without question. The largely southern fan base of Ingerland, and it's 4th estate media would disagree as they worship Spurs and their players. However the facts would indicate Barkley had a better season, was the man in position and had done little to deserve to be dropped.

I am not knocking Alli by the way. I have stated both should be playing. Hodgson is a coward though who is too scared to do the decent thing and play England most creative midfield player.

As for why England should build a team around Barkley? In truth because even half fit he can do things none of our other midfielders can. He can beat players for run, shoot from distance assist in the final third, break from deep and control play from central areas. In essence he has shown he has the ability to run the midfield. All of our midfielders have some of those attributes. None have the ability to run a game in the way he does, with the possible exception of Rooney who gets close.

There are drawbacks to Barkley. He can lose the ball cheaply and at times his defensive work rate isn't great. Top managers would see the positives of what he brings. I'm not saying he should walk into Barcelona. However when you look at that England team he should be one of the first names, as when he's playing well we don't have many players like him.

Hodgson is like Moyes though, he sees negatives in players and when you do that you end up with the least worst option, not always the best option. That's what a midfield of Alli, Lallana & Sterling is. The least worst options.

Barkley has not reached the level I hoped tbh, he is very inconsistent, if anything he is more consistent at losing the ball, or being in the wrong place or making the wrong decisions.

Sure he will do a lovely touch, pass a couple of players, drift from midfield to the pen area leaving the opposition in his wake and making the game look so easy, but then he will turn into a defender, or be falling over and take a shot into the stands, or do a silly pass instead of a simple one, he's a good player with some world class attributes like his first touch and dribbling skills, but other attributes that really matter for a midfielder he is still lacking..

Bit like Lukaku's first touch, Barkley's decision making, calmness and concentration are too often not what they need to be imo, gaps in his ability papered over by the odd wonder goal here and there and a silky first touch.

I wouldn't play him for England, Ali has less quality than Barkley but his all round game is more effective.

 

[Simon baker]

Yeah, we've played ok. Some things working, some not. Same as every other team.

We didn't Russia will finish bottom on 1 point & are a poor side. We managed to get the result against Wales through gung-ho kitchen sink tactics it wasn't through a plan or good play. He simply threw on all his forward options & let them get on with it there was no shape.

We will get beat by the first decent team we face.

Granted there are some minor positives to take from the games however at half time in game two he was having to throw the Hail Mary.

Barkley is yet to be coached by a top manager he has had Moyes, Martinez & Hodgson if Koeman is the real deal then you will quickly see what others are trying to tell you.

 

[The Mighty Quint]

The way Hodgson has dropped him for the likes of Sterling and Lallana is a disgrace, in a poor Everton side this season his stats are up there near the top of any midfielders in the Prem.

Playing Lallana and not Barkley, utterly clueless.

 

[catcherintherye]

Alli scored more Premier League goals than Ross last year with 10. Ross scored 8 (2 pens).
Alli also had more Premier League assists than Ross.

I think you are seeing things that aren't there. Last time Ross 'ran I game'? I honestly can't recall.

I was comparing all domestic competitions which Ross had more goals and assists in. They are very similar players though with very similar stats though I think Barkley pips in.

The last time Barkley ran a game was in Martinez's first season. The Merseyside Derby and then the week after against an Arsenal side who were flying spring to mind in that period.

If the argument is has he done it recently then I would agree. There's little doubt he has lost a little fitness and confidence. If that was Hodgson's excuse for not picking him then that's fine but why is Vardy not playing over Sterling or Lallana? In many ways why is Rooney playing?

Then at the back he goes for experience over youth form at centre half, so Cahill over Stones. Yet inexperience and form over experience at left back with Bertrand & Rose over Kane (lest we forget him also making out Shaw a lad who's played 4 good games in two years was number 1 choice ahead of Baines). Jagielka who captained the team and never really left England down in qualifying is also left behind to accommodate others while Wiltshire who had played 30 minutes competitive football is taken for his Euro's form.

There is a pattern that emerges here. There is no consistency. The only consistency that exists is whatever the question, dropping or blaming the Everton player is the answer. it is a blatant bias shown by an ex Liverpool manager. This is then backed up by most Ingerland fans who hate Everton, and most of the nationals who ignore or downplay us with snidey arguments.

It's sad that Evertonians would rather throw Ross under the bus and pretend it doesn't happen, justify a clear anti-Everton bias all in the vain hope of being accepted by the utter whoppers that surround the Ingerland team. Unfortunately I am not going to, I'm calling Hodgson out for what he is, which is a hypocrite who has an agenda to undermine Everton players.

 

[PhilM]

The way Hodgson has dropped him for the likes of Sterling and Lallana is a disgrace, in a poor Everton side this season his stats are up there near the top of any midfielders in the Prem.

Playing Lallana and not Barkley, utterly clueless.

Unfortunately, I think the stats can be very misleading and somewhat paint a picture that doesn't always match his current form or influence.

Ross clearly contributed goals and assists which deserves credit, but personally his form in the last few months has been suspect at least.

I'm not slating Barkley or praising the likes of Sterling or Lallana over him, just that on current form I think it is fair to question his position.

However, equally that doesn't take away from the rightful argument that Sterling's and Lallana's individual selections should be questioned.

It's galling that Lallana and Sterling may have been selected over the likes of Ross for other reasons, but it's not like he's overly demanded one.

As I said, I really like Ross. I think he could be a great player and he already has the ability to influence and impose himself on a game.

The problem is that he doesn't do it enough which is why people question how good he may eventually be!

 

[Simon baker]

I was comparing all domestic competitions which Ross had more goals and assists in. They are very similar players though with very similar stats though I think Barkley pips in.

The last time Barkley ran a game was in Martinez's first season. The Merseyside Derby and then the week after against an Arsenal side who were flying spring to mind in that period.

If the argument is has he done it recently then I would agree. There's little doubt he has lost a little fitness and confidence. If that was Hodgson's excuse for not picking him then that's fine but why is Vardy not playing over Sterling or Lallana? In many ways why is Rooney playing?

Then at the back he goes for experience over youth form at centre half, so Cahill over Stones. Yet inexperience and form over experience at left back with Bertrand & Rose over Kane (lest we forget him also making out Shaw a lad who's played 4 good games in two years was number 1 choice ahead of Baines). Jagielka who captained the team and never really left England down in qualifying is also left behind to accommodate others while Wiltshire who had played 30 minutes competitive football is taken for his Euro's form.

There is a pattern that emerges here. There is no consistency. The only consistency that exists is whatever the question, dropping or blaming the Everton player is the answer. it is a blatant bias shown by an ex Liverpool manager. This is then backed up by most Ingerland fans who hate Everton, and most of the nationals who ignore or downplay us with snidey arguments.

It's sad that Evertonians would rather throw Ross under the bus and pretend it doesn't happen, justify a clear anti-Everton bias all in the vain hope of being accepted by the utter whoppers that surround the Ingerland team. Unfortunately I am not going to, I'm calling Hodgson out for what he is, which is a hypocrite who has an agenda to undermine Everton players.

Agree with almost everthing you said.

However & i know we lost to stoke at home but barkleys performance was absolutely first class.

I even watched the game back on football first 97% pass completion {according to stats I didnt see him give it away once} & a fanatastic assist he ran the game.

Obviously there is a context issue in that he was up against Glenn whelan & i think from memory Geoff Cameron but he was excellent.

 

[Simon baker]

Unfortunately, I think the stats can be very misleading and somewhat paint a picture that doesn't always match his current form or influence.

Ross clearly contributed goals and assists which deserves credit, but personally his form in the last few months has been suspect at least.

I'm not slating Barkley or praising the likes of Sterling or Lallana over him, just that on current form I think it is fair to question his position.

However, equally that doesn't take away from the rightful argument that Sterling's and Lallana's individual selections should be questioned.

It's galling that Lallana and Sterling may have been selected over the likes of Ross for other reasons, but it's not like he's overly demanded one.

Excellent balanced post & I know I'm biased but before his bad run of form If I was England manager he would of already been so integral to my plan that dropping him would not have been an option.

 

[catcherintherye]

Agree with almost everthing you said.

However & i know we lost to stoke at home but barkleys performance was absolutely first class.

I even watched the game back on football first 97% pass completion {according to stats I didnt see him give it away once} & a fanatastic assist he ran the game.

Obviously there is a context issue in that he was up against Glenn whelan & i think from memory Geoff Cameron but he was excellent.

Optimists can look and see what a player can be. Alex Ferguson would have seen what Barkley could have done. He can do things in a game frankly none of that England team can. I saw a clip in training, and even half fit he basically skins Wiltshire and leaves him sitting down.

There does have to be a balance. Martinez was too far the other way. There does need to be a discipline in it. Newcastle at Home this year as well he was very good. He had a spell of games where he was impressive around that time.

I think to properly run a game he needs to play a little deeper. In the 10 where he is he's a bit lost.

 

[PhilM]

I think to properly run a game he needs to play a little deeper. In the 10 where he is he's a bit lost.

Agreed, but again I would say that was at least partly due to the setup or approach (or of lack) we often played; actually we always played.

There seemed to be very little logic or method and Ross seemed to be left to rely on instincts, which ended up on him making the wrong decision.

If he is going to play in that role consistently, then he needs to be managed and moulded into the role and with players supporting him.

Playing deeper may at the moment be much much easier for him and influential for the team, but the new boss needs to decide if that's enough.

On a side note though, for those who keep mentioning his stats as a reason for currently being in the England team - just look at Kane.

He's scored numerous goals this season so on that fact alone he should be starting before Vardy and others. Is it that easy though?

He's blowing out of his arse and looks jaded, which has meant he's been pretty useless up to now. Based on that I'd drop him. Ross is the same.

 

[Timak]

I know some people don't rate stats but....there are 2 major stats based ranking systems. All football clubs use them to evaluate players. The 2 main ones are Squawka and WhoScored.

On Whoscored Barkley was the 5th highest English player in Europe. His performance rating was equal to James Rodriguez and Pierre-emerick Aubameyang last season. His last 10 games or so dragged down his average massively.

On squawka he was the 19th best player in Europe - and the third best midfielder - behind only Ozil and Hamsik.

Barkley, stats wise, is an elite level midfielder. 22, Evertonian, enjoy it.

 

[duncs pigeon]

Its all about getting out of the group. If using lallana and sterling works then so be it. Hopefully Barkley will come in and show us how good he is.Personally I would play lallana before Ross, not saying lallana is a better player but wouldnt want to see Ross pushed out on the flanks, he would be a waste there. Dont think Sterling will feature again anyway.

 

[DanB90]

What's actually being said there? All I could understand was Roscoe

 

[roydo]

What's actually being said there? All I could understand was Roscoe

Jags said "Roscoe, they arent booing you"

 

[Osamabindiesel]

The fact that Roy invited Wilshere to the tournament baffles me more than anything. Same could be said for Rashford