09 Dec 2014 12:47:36
Getting tired of all this smoothing of Barkleys ego. We'll see the best of him in the next half of the season, he's not a diver. Reminds him of Ballack n all this crap. Right now he is 21 (Alan Ball won the WC at 21 and Barkley is nowhere near lacing his boots as a player). Yes we can all see the talent he has with a footballer but until he learns to play football its all we'll ever see from him. The great midfielders ever from our own Collins, Kay, Kendal, Ball n Harvey, to Reid Sheedy Bracewell n Steven all had a desire to win a game, to affect a game to want to do something to change a game and more than anything have the devil in them on the pitch. All the great midfielders of our time have that devilish desire in them on the pitch its what drives you through a game and sets you apart from other midfielders. Barkley at the moment ghosts through games, he expects things to happen, thinks he has all the time in the world on the ball, tries the spectacular when there's an easy option, doesn't think its worth checking where the opposition are when not in possession, in other words his game appreciation is not there, it passes him by. All the talent in the world won't help you in a football game, you need to be a part of it and with talent want the ball and want it back when youve not got it, otherwise your a stand alone circus act, a talented juggler with nothing to juggle with. Get a grip, coaches and Barkley, if you want him to be the best and he wants to be the best his demeanor and attitude need changing big time. you're 21 now so grow up, its a big mans game now not a park game!!

1.) 09 Dec 2014
09 Dec 2014 14:04:57
howie

your bang on mate, sorry to say but SG was a driving force of his team at 21 so ross for me at the min is streets behind

2.) 09 Dec 2014
Thanks I thought it was just me that wasnt blinded by it. i'm not saying i'm a footie Guru but I actually told this to Barkley before a game he wasnt playing in at GP either last season or season before, the following game he played a motm game away at Arsenal haha, but there ya go, things haven't changed for him in that time. He never it seems gets a kick up the pants its always a caring arm round his shoulders and praise for nothing he's done, a bit baffling to me that!!

3.) 09 Dec 2014
09 Dec 2014 16:04:37
Well said

4.) 09 Dec 2014
Nearly fell off my chair then!!

5.) 09 Dec 2014
Howie, i'm sure the majority of us think the sane about Barkley. It seems if your young, English and can kick a ball then your going to be world class in premier league. I doesn't work that way & your spot on about Ross. I hope he developes into a great midfielder but I honestly can't see it in him. I also watched our u-21s on sky last week & the defence was a shambles, bit like the senior team at minute.

6.) 09 Dec 2014
It was, and only the pace of the left back, Galloway? saved them at times.

7.) 10 Dec 2014
The problem you got is the players you mentioned all played in great teams, were a bit of a shame right now

8.) 10 Dec 2014
Howie bluenose: I agree that the pace of Galloway - indeed playing at left back rather than centre back - saved us on several occasions during that U-21 match. Unfortunately, he won't be eligible to play against Krasnodar, as the UEFA squad rules mean that he had to named in the full squad (List A) before the group stage commenced - and other players took every permitted spot in List A - rather than with the under-21 players (List B) because, although under 21, he hasn't been with us for two years. So, of our under 21 players, Lukaku & Stones were named in List A; Barkley, Garbutt, Browning, Ledson, etc., are named in List B; and recent young arrivals like Galloway, Henen, etc., are in neither list. You can see these lists on the uefa.com website. All very complicated, but those are the rules :-(

9.) 10 Dec 2014
Mkedeblue, you got to realise the players I mentioned were in teams struggling, they turned the teams into great teams, just ask Howard Kendall, who was on the verge of the sack, if your that old, I don't know. But great passionate footballers, players who understand what it is to be a footballer make great teams. Look at the work rate of the best Ronaldo, Messi, as someone said Gerrard in his prime for the rubbish(at 21), they were rubbish but ended up winning the Chamos League due in no measure to Gerrard!! hate to say it though!!