Ross Barkley

[jtl60]

He's never had a run of games there. One of his best performances for us was QPR at home the other year. Not the best opposition, but he ran the show from central midfield.

Has to be worth a try because in the number 10 position he is effecting our ability to press the other team, and our ability to break teams down.

When he took Ross off yesterday, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to take off either Barry or Gueye and push Ross back into a more central position. Nothing to loose and we needed a goal.

 

[Mountfield1985]

I would've agreed until recently, I always thought was his best position but imo you need to be able to tackle to play there, or like Scholes, have that bit of snide about you. He'd be fine against the likes of QPR and poorer midfielders but against good teams where you have to get physical and get stuck in he'll be found wanting and be somewhat of a liability. In saying that though I'd be more than willing to try him there for 3-4 games to see how it goes cause it is not working at the minute.

I always think back to that Norwich game, Martinez's first game. Ross was kicking everyone! I do think he has it in him, but it was definitely coached out of him to a certain degree.

Maybe chucking him into a deeper role will force him into that side of things. Sink or swim time.

 

[tim cahill]

I'd play Del up front with Lukaku. To hell with this infernal one up top rubbish.

Agreed. We need to change our formation. I'm not sure if Del up front is the answer but we can't just keep playing a system that isn't working for us. If nothing else it would give our opposition something to think about. We're just too easy to defend against.

 

[ToffeeTim]

He's a midfielder not a 10. He will forever look out of his depth in the secondary striker position.

Change the friggin system.

 

[The Cowboy]

Agreed. We need to change our formation. I'm not sure if Del up front is the answer but we can't just keep playing a system that isn't working for us. If nothing else it would give our opposition something to think about. We're just too easy to defend against.

Quick feet, pace and a wicked shot. You're right that he might not be the answer but he ticks enough boxes to be given a go.

 

[Simon baker]

That's a good point.

It was painfully obvious in the Chelsea game wasn't it? Jagielka, Williams, Barry all terrified of getting beaten for pace and just dropping further and further back.

There was a moment yesterday the camera couldn't keep up with play the young lad who got motm kicked it around baines about 10 yards to far the camera didn't move fast enough to cover the wide angle so I thought awful that centre half will gobble it up however when the camera catches up I think it was jags Barry & Williams all running backwards when the simple thing to do was step out & the ball was ours. The kid then ran 59 yards unchallenged awful. The shape is killing us

 

[Mountfield1985]

There was a moment yesterday the camera couldn't keep up with play the young lad who got motm kicked it around baines about 10 yards to far the camera didn't move fast enough to cover the wide angle so I thought awful that centre half will gobble it up however when the camera catches up I think it was jags Barry & Williams all running backwards when the simple thing to do was step out & the ball was ours. The kid then ran 59 yards unchallenged awful. The shape is killing us

Completely agree. But still feel like Barkley isn't suited to playing no.10, no matter what shape we set up in.

 

[neil999]

i'd like to see him in midfield, but the fact that even martinez hardly ever played him there does worry me

 

[mkrudden]

When he took Ross off yesterday, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to take off either Barry or Gueye and push Ross back into a more central position. Nothing to loose and we needed a goal.

agree with this.

 

[Pabbers]

What do we have to lose if we put Ross on CM ?? Let him show us.

Only him and Yannick showed anything yesterday

 

[Simon baker]

Completely agree. But still feel like Barkley isn't suited to playing no.10, no matter what shape we set up in.

Completely agree & no matter what anyone thinks Martinez may have blown smoke up his behind but he has never actually had a manager who trusts him he is played number 10 for this very reason.

I don't trust him to play centre mid every week but I would have played him there a lot more than he has & let him develop.

He needs to be coached on the defensive side no doubt but it involves effort & big nuts from the coaches manager & players but the potential reward is massive.

Anyone who can't see him putting more effort in is deluded he ran more yesterday than lukaku has all season

 

[Simon baker]

When he took Ross off yesterday, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to take off either Barry or Gueye and push Ross back into a more central position. Nothing to loose and we needed a goal.

I would off took jags off & put Barry centre half

 

[BlueToff]

Quick feet, pace and a wicked shot. You're right that he might not be the answer but he ticks enough boxes to be given a go.

Runs down blind alleys... Check!

 

[The Cowboy]

Runs down blind alleys... Check!

Yes but that's as a winger. A lot of them have suffered from this in the past, Downing, SWP etc. Playing in and around the area would eliminate that to some extent (I'm thinking of that goal v Boro in the cup, through the middle, bang).

 

[Blue Cheese]

People writing off a 22 year old, you can't make it up.