Ross Barkley

[Danners9]

Ability wise I'd say they're both a similar level however Sissoko has shown himself as somebody who can mentally switch off during games and I think this works against him.

I would have no issue in swapping him with Barkley who I think needs a new challenge and 'could' fit perfectly into our squad as a creative outlet behind Kane (but I wouldn't want us throwing money at him)

This applies equally to Barkley. His form over most of the last two seasons shows it, and Koeman has spoken about it twice this season already - September before Middlesbrough and recently. The first time he responded well and played well again, this time.. not really sure. There must be a reason why Koeman feels he has to 'test', as he put it in Sept, Barkley. Feels he can't handle the pressure and needs him to show he can.

Agreed he could do with a new challenge, but at the same time he's a local Everton lad. I think he should be better than he is by now, and moving clubs could do that - alternatively, it could be demotivating. Some players lose that 'something' when they leave the club they support. Hard to say without knowing him...

 

[aliyid]

Agree with all of that @Danners9. From the outside it looks like he's fallen firmly into a comfort zone and isn't doing anything to jolt himself out of it. He's got all the potential in the world and can see if he came to us then all the Gazza comparisons would increase ten fold but he does look the sort who could get homesick leaving the club where he grew up.

He wouldn't be top of my list but then I wouldn't turn him away either as can see him slotting into our young squad.

 

[BPR_U16]

First half of last season he made Everton tick and ran the show - and was a deserved meber of the England team.
Then he like the rest of that team he went off the boil as the inabililities of Martinez came to the fore.

The arrival of Koeman should have been a catalyst for him to start afresh this season but hasn't passed the mustard.

There is a good player in there, and perhaps Poch could get him fired up and going but still not convinced he is what we need to progress.

 

[Dharmabum]

First half of last season he made Everton tick and ran the show - and was a deserved meber of the England team.
Then he like the rest of that team he went off the boil as the inabililities of Martinez came to the fore.

The arrival of Koeman should have been a catalyst for him to start afresh this season but hasn't passed the mustard.

There is a good player in there, and perhaps Poch could get him fired up and going but still not convinced he is what we need to progress.

I do agree with you that there is a hugely talented player "in" Barkley....but the question is whether he's got the right attitude. Micah Richards, at 17, was seen as a future world class defender and Michael Johnson (ManC) was a huge talent but their attitude let them down (particularly that of Johnson as Micah can partly blame his string of injuries for not living up to his early promises).
If - I repeat IF - Barkely got the real attitude I wouldn't mind him at Spurs.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

I do agree with you that there is a hugely talented player "in" Barkley....but the question is whether he's got the right attitude. Micah Richards, at 17, was seen as a future world class defender and Michael Johnson (ManC) was a huge talent but their attitude let them down (particularly that of Johnson as Micah can partly blame his string of injuries for not living up to his early promises).
If - I repeat IF - Barkely got the real attitude I wouldn't mind him at Spurs.

If Barkley had the right attitude, he'd be at Real Madrid, City or United.

 

[crokey]

In the end it's not about who can control the ball better, make longer and more accurate passes or play more intricately in certain areas of the pitch. If you're going to compare players then the only metric is who is going to help our teams goal difference the most, and that is Sissoko.

 

[ebzrascal]

I think at his age he has a chance and seems to want to play every minute so I am guessing he will work hard in training

 

[double0]

Would Barkely make our strongest 11. ..if so in place of?

 

[Darrkespur]

Would Barkely make our strongest 11. ..if so in place of?

I don't think that's actually that important. We currently have Alli, Eriksen, Lamela, Son and Sissoko who start regularly in that AM3, and N'Koudou sometimes plays there too. Although Eriksen almost always plays, the other four rotate quite a bit, and we could do with one more player of that standard that offers something different.

Having said that, based on the skills of the players we have, I think Zaha is a better fit to add to the mix than Barkley. Hopefully we are looking at other players outside the Premier League as well, but of the two, I think we would benefit more from Zaha's pace and trickery than Barkley, who is more similar to Alli and Sissoko.

 

[Shadydan]

Would Barkely make our strongest 11. ..if so in place of?

Lloris, he can play out from the back better.

 

[C0YS]

I think sissoko deserves a chance, and has been good the last few games. However, some of the arguements made against Barkley and for Sissoko are silly. Like that he hasn't performed the last two seasons, when Sissoko has never been a consistant performer in any club he has been. Another arguement against Barkley is that he does not seem like he is getting any better, he is 23 Sissoko is 27.

Barkley hasn't moved on as many had hoped, and has possibly the worst decision making in the League. But he has still got a good goalscoring record (Much better than sissoko), wonderfull technique and the abillity to really take a game by the scruff of the neck, though not the consistancy to do it regularly enough. However, the biggest thing going for him is his drive through the middle, imagine we are 0-0 against West Brom or something and eriksen is having one of those games. Putting Barkley on could make the difference.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

If we signed Barkley in January, I can't see him being up to playing for us regularly until the start of next season, because he would need to adjust and improve quite drastically. That's making the optimistic assumption that he does manage to settle into our way of playing.

Currently, he shows flashes of brilliance but also has a tendency to give the ball away very cheaply and is not the best defensively. It's acceptable to sometimes lose possession in the final third when trying to create something, as Alli and Son are sometimes very guilty of, but recklessly getting caught in possession on the halfway line is a very different matter.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

I've heard a lot of people comparing Barkley to Alli. Although this may not have been on SC, some of you may find this interesting:

• Alli (20) is significantly younger - 3 years younger now and 4.5 years younger when he was first acclimatising to our team than Barkley (23) would be now.
  
  
• Top-flight stats - Alli = 69 apps (5245 mins), 17 goals, 13 assists. Barkley = 138 apps (9485 mins), 18 goals, 13 assists.
  Alli has almost equalled Barkley's goal and assist totals, despite having played exactly half the number of games.
  
  
• 2015-16 PL stats - Alli = 33 apps (2482 mins), 10 goals, 9 assists. Barkley = 38 apps (3087 mins), 8 goals, 8 assists.
  Alli contributed more goals and assists, in fewer games. He is also three up on Barkley for this season, having played in only two matches (78 mins) more.
  
  
• International stats - Alli = 15 caps, 2 goals. Barkley = 22 caps + 2 goals.
  Alli is ahead of Barkley in the pecking order and is already close to his caps total, despite Barkley getting his first call-up three years earlier (at the same age as Alli is now).
  
  
• Alli was starting XI for England last summer, while Barkley was an unused fringe player.

In summary, Alli is significantly younger yet is already a far more complete and effective player.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

I think sissoko deserves a chance, and has been good the last few games. However, some of the arguements made against Barkley and for Sissoko are silly. Like that he hasn't performed the last two seasons, when Sissoko has never been a consistant performer in any club he has been. Another arguement against Barkley is that he does not seem like he is getting any better, he is 23 Sissoko is 27.

Barkley hasn't moved on as many had hoped, and has possibly the worst decision making in the League. But he has still got a good goalscoring record (Much better than sissoko), wonderfull technique and the abillity to really take a game by the scruff of the neck, though not the consistancy to do it regularly enough. However, the biggest thing going for him is his drive through the middle, imagine we are 0-0 against West Brom or something and eriksen is having one of those games. Putting Barkley on could make the difference.

Not much better than Sissoko actually:

Sissoko: 276 apps, 27 goals, 28 assists
Barkley: 138 apps , 18 goals, 13 assists

When you consider that Sissoko has played in a much deeper role than Barkley for quite a few of those games, the difference in their goals to game ratio should arguably be higher, if Barkley is indeed a better goalscorer. They also have the same ratio for assists, when this should be higher for someone who players further up the pitch. Even when Sissoko has been in a more advanced role, he contributes considerably more defensively than Barkley.

 

[Spurs 1961]

First half of last season he made Everton tick and ran the show - and was a deserved meber of the England team.
Then he like the rest of that team he went off the boil as the inabililities of Martinez came to the fore.

The arrival of Koeman should have been a catalyst for him to start afresh this season but hasn't passed the mustard.

There is a good player in there, and perhaps Poch could get him fired up and going but still not convinced he is what we need to progress.

Good post with a sound analysis.
Perhaps the passing game of Martinez suited him better than the Koeman way which is much more direct. If, and this seems the big question, his attitude is right with a willingness to learn then Spurs under Poch could be the ideal club for him. But there are no passengers in Poch teams and he would have to shape up fast

 

[THFCSPURS19]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/12/29/tottenham-consider-january-bid-evertons-ross-barkley/

Tottenham consider January bid for Everton's Ross Barkley

Tottenham Hotspur are considering bringing forward their planned bid to sign Ross Barkley by making a January offer for the midfielder.

But with Chelsea and Arsenal also monitoring his situation at Everton, Barkley is unlikely to make any decision regarding his future until the end of the season.

Barkley only has 18 months to run on his current deal and has suffered a difficult time under Everton manager Ronald Koeman, who has publically criticised him and regularly left the 23-year-old out of his team.

Tottenham had been lining up a summer bid for Barkley, but could now try their luck in January with the belief that Koeman may be willing to sell for the right price.

Barkley, though, is currently concentrating on trying to win and hold down a first-team starting place, and will not be rushed into any decision on his long-term future.

Should he wait until the end of the season to reassess his situation, then Barkley may well find he has interest from Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal to consider.

Chelsea have been admirers of Barkley for a number of years and are still convinced of his quality, while the Gunners are believed to be watching developments.

The long-term futures of Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all currently unsure, and Barkley could emerge as a target if one or more of those players leave the Emirates next summer.

 

[BPR_U16]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/12/29/tottenham-consider-january-bid-evertons-ross-barkley/

Tottenham consider January bid for Everton's Ross Barkley

Tottenham Hotspur are considering bringing forward their planned bid to sign Ross Barkley by making a January offer for the midfielder.

But with Chelsea and Arsenal also monitoring his situation at Everton, Barkley is unlikely to make any decision regarding his future until the end of the season.

Barkley only has 18 months to run on his current deal and has suffered a difficult time under Everton manager Ronald Koeman, who has publically criticised him and regularly left the 23-year-old out of his team.

Tottenham had been lining up a summer bid for Barkley, but could now try their luck in January with the belief that Koeman may be willing to sell for the right price.

Barkley, though, is currently concentrating on trying to win and hold down a first-team starting place, and will not be rushed into any decision on his long-term future.

Should he wait until the end of the season to reassess his situation, then Barkley may well find he has interest from Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal to consider.

Chelsea have been admirers of Barkley for a number of years and are still convinced of his quality, while the Gunners are believed to be watching developments.

The long-term futures of Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all currently unsure, and Barkley could emerge as a target if one or more of those players leave the Emirates next summer.

So if he had a choice of these 3, there is only one club really - if we wanted him.

IF he is serious about wanting to develop and play for England and is not chasing the money the only logical choice of the 3 would be Spurs.

Arse - he would only need to see how Wenger has treated fellow English players to realise that his starting time would be limited. Wilshere has had to go on loan to get loan time, the Ox even when playing well is in and out of the team - and this is at a time when a number of midfielders like Cazora are out.

Chelski - who would he be competing with for a position. Sign for them and spend time on the bench before being loaned out.

Spurs are his only realistic choice and even here he would have serious competition for places and would need to buy into the team ethic to get game time

 

[Cornpattbuck]

He's a player who's got a bit lost positionally - like Rooney. You could see him develop into a Dembele-esque midfielder with better passing range, if his decision making improves, I guess.

 

[mill]

He's a player who's got a bit lost positionally - like Rooney. You could see him develop into a Dembele-esque midfielder with better passing range, if his decision making improves, I guess.

I doubt he'll ever have to defensive awareness to regularly play in a cm 2

 

[double0]

Rooney should play up front...like he's being doing for years before he got that silly idea he can play mid field.

Ross Barkely IMO should look at Bale as Bale looked at Ronaldo become a much fitter athlete....the technical abilities are there.