Ross Barkley...

[Aloysius's Back 3]

My problem with him is that he arguably thinks he is more technical than he really is.

Especially as a CAM - he is more robust than a technical player. He shows glimpses of his technical abilities but not enough to stay at CAM or play as an attacking component of midfield.

He needs to turn his game in to a proper midfielder with more defensive abilities to succeed in a top 6 long term in my opinion.

 

[kouroux]

What was that then?

"
Will he go on to be a top class player and be pivotal to a team winning titles ". He's decent but I don't see him reaching that level you talked about

 

[Robbie Boy]

"
Will he go on to be a top class player and be pivotal to a team winning titles ". He's decent but I don't see him reaching that level you talked about

Is he even ‘decent’? He’s had some flashes where he’s looked a good player but he seems to suffer with injuries, consistency and poor decision making. I honestly feel he’s a bang average player who wouldn’t look at all out of place at a mid table side. I would also be astonished if he had anything other than a very short Chelsea career.

 

[youmeletsfly]

A flashier Darren Gibson.

 

[Moiraine]

f***er scored the equalizer against us, probably could have been different, we still have Mourinho as Manager if he hasn't scored that one.

 

[kouroux]

Is he even ‘decent’? He’s had some flashes where he’s looked a good player but he seems to suffer with injuries, consistency and poor decision making. I honestly feel he’s a bang average player who wouldn’t look at all out of place at a mid table side. I would also be astonished if he had anything other than a very short Chelsea career.

I didn't wanna be too mean, he's ok I guess.

 

[Robbie Boy]

I didn't wanna be too mean, he's ok I guess.

 

[izec]

He was much more promising when he came through, he is missing the x factor nowadays. Some may say he never had it, but i think he had something about him that could be polished and nurtured. Seeing him nowadays for Chelsea, he is out of his depth. But then again, everyone in their midfield is.

 

[Samid]

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[DWelbz19]

Definition of a Caf darling at one point. Dribble a bit with your head down from central midfield and you've got the world at your shoulders, apparently.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Definition of a Caf darling at one point. Dribble a bit with your head down from central midfield and you've got the world at your shoulders, apparently.

Harsh, in my opinion. Has been good when he's played this season, both for Chelsea and England. He very rarely dribbles like he used to do at Everton, and has now become a more of a passer than someone who drives with the ball.

 

[TheMagicFoolBus]

Harsh, in my opinion. Has been good when he's played this season, both for Chelsea and England. He very rarely dribbles like he used to do at Everton, and has now become a more of a passer than someone who drives with the ball.

He's been awful for Chelsea. Genuinely an atrocious player who does virtually nothing well. What stands out the most, however, is how genuinely thick he seems to be on and off the pitch. He has no sense of how to pass and move and no appreciation of space in either offensive or defensive phases whatsoever. Honestly he is the most tactically clueless player I can recall seeing and his decision-making is frankly appalling. On top of that you have to consider his stupidity off the pitch as well.

Let's not forget that were it not for this chucklefeck insisting on taking the penalty against Valencia in the first leg Chelsea would have already qualified for the round of 16. He is the Phil Jones of Chelsea - a still youngish English player who peaked years ago but now is a genuine liability anytime he's near the pitch.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

He's been awful for Chelsea. Genuinely an atrocious player who does virtually nothing well. What stands out the most, however, is how genuinely thick he seems to be on and off the pitch. He has no sense of how to pass and move and no appreciation of space in either offensive or defensive phases whatsoever. Honestly he is the most tactically clueless player I can recall seeing and his decision-making is frankly appalling. On top of that you have to consider his stupidity off the pitch as well.

Let's not forget that were it not for this chucklefeck insisting on taking the penalty against Valencia in the first leg Chelsea would have already qualified for the round of 16. He is the Phil Jones of Chelsea - a still youngish English player who peaked years ago but now is a genuine liability anytime he's near the pitch.

I get the feeling someones still upset.

 

[DoomSlayer]

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Players should be able to do whatever they want in their free time.

 

[Dancfc]

He's been awful for Chelsea. Genuinely an atrocious player who does virtually nothing well. What stands out the most, however, is how genuinely thick he seems to be on and off the pitch. He has no sense of how to pass and move and no appreciation of space in either offensive or defensive phases whatsoever. Honestly he is the most tactically clueless player I can recall seeing and his decision-making is frankly appalling. On top of that you have to consider his stupidity off the pitch as well.

Let's not forget that were it not for this chucklefeck insisting on taking the penalty against Valencia in the first leg Chelsea would have already qualified for the round of 16. He is the Phil Jones of Chelsea - a still youngish English player who peaked years ago but now is a genuine liability anytime he's near the pitch.

Honestly i think Frank was telling the truth when he said Ross was first choice taker, upto that point Ross took the pens when he was on.

 

[TheMagicFoolBus]

I get the feeling someones still upset.

Whatever do you mean???

(I still stand by everything I said there; Barkley and Alonso are the utter dregs of our squad and both need to be moved on ASAP)

Honestly i think Frank was telling the truth when he said Ross was first choice taker, upto that point Ross took the pens when he was on.

I really don't think this was true and was an instance of Frank protecting his player. Barkley took pens in preseason, but the last competitive penalty he took was in February 2016. He's 3/5 for his career. Jorginho has literally one of the 10 best conversion rates in all of Europe - it's insane to choose Barkley over Jorginho for spot kick duty.

 

[redshaw]

He does play some nice forward passes and turns up against us at least. For England he adds passing quality as well but don't think he's really made himself a role other than coming on and being tidy at times offensively.

 

[SirReginald]

I personally think Ruben with 1 leg offers more than him

 

[awop]

Players should be able to do whatever they want in their free time.

Most players have clauses in their contract saying that they represent the image of the club on and off the pitch.

 

[DoomSlayer]

Most players have clauses in their contract saying that they represent the image of the club on and off the pitch.

Well, according to the Caf, players should have a personal life. It's been an excuse for the likes of Lingard for ages.

 

[Rozay]

Players should be able to do whatever they want in their free time.

Total agreement of this. I’m often speaking about my annoyance at how entitled the average fan feels they are to an input in the 360 existence of another human being. He’s a football player. I don’t see why Barkley is any less entitled to take his shirt off in a club than I am. I mean, I wouldn’t want my employer to necessarily see that of me, but that’s largely because I like to keep the personal and professional me separate.

 

[Robbie Boy]

He's such a poor player, he really is.

 

[DoomSlayer]

Total agreement of this. I’m often speaking about my annoyance at how entitled the average fan feels they are to an input in the 360 existence of another human being. He’s a football player. I don’t see why Barkley is any less entitled to take his shirt off in a club than I am. I mean, I wouldn’t want my employer to necessarily see that of me, but that’s largely because I like to keep the personal and professional me separate.

I obviously was being sarcastic, but you are entitled to your opinion.

 

[Rozay]

I obviously was being sarcastic, but you are entitled to your opinion.

Not ‘obvious’ to assume you were joking when you suggested that footballers should be allowed to do as they please (within legal confines) whilst off duty tbh.

 

[DoomSlayer]

Not ‘obvious’ to assume you were joking when you suggested that footballers should be allowed to do as they please (within legal confines) whilst off duty tbh.

As far as I know, Barkley isn't officially punished because as you alluded, it probably doesn't breach any contract agreements. But the manager has the right to criticise the mentality of his players and same goes for the fans.

But that's just my opinion, it seems Lampard feels the same way.

 

[Rozay]

As far as I know, Barkley isn't officially punished because as you alluded, it probably doesn't breach any contract agreements. But the manager has the right to criticise the mentality of his players and same goes for the fans.

But that's just my opinion, it seems Lampard feels the same way.

Yea, that’s fair. I was speaking a little more generally with regards to fans tbh. It irks me how much of a footballer they feel entitled to. Pretty much all of him ‘because we spend our money’.

 

[DoomSlayer]

Yea, that’s fair. I was speaking a little more generally with regards to fans tbh. It irks me how much of a footballer they feel entitled to. Pretty much all of him ‘because we spend our money’.

I'm sure you realise that if we were successful, the scrutiny would be minimal or non-existent towards the players' personal life. It's just that fans feel miserable because the club is in free fall and it's hard to see some of our star players or the ones on higher wages show-off how good their lives are.

Whether that's right or wrong is up to personal opinion, but obviously clubs can't officially interfere in the lives of players and fans can't physically stop players to do what they want outside of their club duties. There are footballers who would go the extra mile and use their free time to improve their own selves in different areas and there are others who'd rather enjoy their financial success. A lot of it involves assumptions of course, as fans don't personally know the players, but that's the nature of being a celebrity in a way.

 

[Rozay]

I'm sure you realise that if we were successful, the scrutiny would be minimal or non-existent towards the players' personal life. It's just that fans feel miserable because the club is in free fall and it's hard to see some of our star players or the ones on higher wages show-off how good their lives are.

Whether that's right or wrong is up to personal opinion, but obviously clubs can't officially interfere in the lives of players and fans can't physically stop players to do what they want outside of their club duties. There are footballers who would go the extra mile and use their free time to improve their own selves in different areas and there are others who'd rather enjoy their financial success. A lot of it involves assumptions of course, as fans don't personally know the players, but that's the nature of being a celebrity in a way.

It wasn’t a ‘we’ thing tbh, I am speaking of football fans and football players, all of varying levels of success. You are right in what you say, as in certain emotions are invoked in relation to success, although even then, I’ve always found the notion of rage that a footballer is having fun despite his team not winning their last match a bit ridiculous anyway tbh.

But generally speaking, I think most football fans speak from a position of jealousy. I say this because it never takes much at all before what a player earns is brought into a conversation. ‘He earns x amount so he shouldn’t do this’, and if there is a transgression, usually people have a problem with them being ‘allowed to earn a lot of money’.

I was just expanding on your post as it struck a chord with a view I’ve held on this for a while, not particularly zeroing in on your point per se, I do understand your thinking.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Was absolutely class against Everton today. Best game in a while.

Numbers vs Everton:

82 touches
58 passes
98.3%
6 key passes
2 assists
3 shots

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Most infuriatingly frustrating player. Supremely talented yet can't consistently out it together

 

[RobinLFC]

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Some claims on Twitter that it's not actually true, but if it is - that's an absurdly good time to be fair to him.

Didn't think he had something like this in him. Goes to show the sheer difference between PL players and mortals like ourselves.

 

[duffer]

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Some claims on Twitter that it's not actually true, but if it is - that's an absurdly good time to be fair to him.

Didn't think he had something like this in him. Goes to show the sheer difference between PL players and mortals like ourselves.

Indeed. Some people don't realise the difference between pro athletes and the rest of us.

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

Those numbers of for his 5.2k! his flat 5 would round someone under 3mins per KM which is simply astounding.

Lingard posted some ridiculous figures for an hour run he did on his Instagram story some weeks back - the levels of fitness footballers have these days is startling.

 

[arthurka]

So he is a runner not a footballer good for him..

 

[edcunited1878]

some good straight line speed on a treadmill that is based on the speed of the belt....but okay.

then there's Paul Scholes and Andrea Pirlo...mere mortals who play on God-like levels because they are professional at football, not necessarily an athlete

 

[Classical Mechanic]

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Some claims on Twitter that it's not actually true, but if it is - that's an absurdly good time to be fair to him.

Didn't think he had something like this in him. Goes to show the sheer difference between PL players and mortals like ourselves.

They’ll be stuck at home with nothing else to channel their competitive drive into.

 

[RobinLFC]

some good straight line speed on a treadmill that is based on the speed of the belt....but okay.

It was outside.

 

[edcunited1878]

It was outside.

even better

 

[Skills]

some good straight line speed on a treadmill that is based on the speed of the belt....but okay.

then there's Paul Scholes and Andrea Pirlo...mere mortals who play on God-like levels because they are professional at football, not necessarily an athlete

Scholes and Pirlo would still thrash the average chump athletically. They just look average athletes compared to other professional footballers.

The minimum athletic bar is extremely high if you want to get anywhere near top division football.

 

[edcunited1878]

Scholes and Pirlo would still thrash the average chump athletically. They just look average athletes compared to other professional footballers.

The minimum athletic bar is extremely high if you want to get anywhere near top division football.

Of course they would thrash the average person, but you put those two shoulder to shoulder amongst ordinary people, they would fall right in line. There's a misconception between being a pro footballer or pro ice hockey player, and being an athlete who is athletic. Football is a much more physical sport, especially in England, but Paul Scholes was not the most athletic player. He was fit for his level of course, but he also had asthma and was 5'6" bossing matches.

If you run for a living, then yeah, your fitness is going to be up there and with any strength training and eating program, you damn better be fit (Anderson says hello). But their technical ability, above all else, is what makes them top footballers at the top levels.

Running fast is never the standard as a professional footballer. Of course it helps, but it's much more complex than that. So if Barkley runs this after over a span of 16 minutes, why doesn't he just sprint his bollocks off in the 80th odd minute? Because he doesn't know how to conserve energy, doesn't have the capacity, or isn't even on the pitch?