31 Jul 2022 10:30:01
I would like to think that if Frank wants or doesn't want Barkley back at Everton it will be purely for football reasons rather than the way he left the club in the first place.
When at Everton he was in and around the England squad but since leaving has not done anything,
If he came back the pressure would be on him to get back to the player we thought he could become and not a bench warmer.
Perhaps if comes back a short term contract to see how he turns out as can't afford passengers.
We are in the business to improve and not standstill so effort and priority are most important. The same applies to all players.
31 Jul 2022 11:14:32
Brian I think you live in an idealistic world.
Why would there be any pressure on him to get back to the player we thought he would become?
He’ll get paid whether he’s in the first team, on the bench, in the reserves or injured. Look at his minutes played in the league for last season!
There is nothing to suggest he has the desire to work his socks off and become a good player - if he did then surely this would have been in evidence since he left us, however it does not appear the case.
I personally do not think he will improve the squad if he returns.
31 Jul 2022 11:40:35
Understand Dan those playing statistics over the past few seasons about Barkley don’t give him a good reference.
31 Jul 2022 11:48:46
If Barkley doesn’t cost too much money maybe it would be a good thing if we got him. we need to avoid relegation at all costs and beggars can’t be choosers. our current cm are really bad Barkley couldn’t do any worse. Maybe he has a point to prove as well.
31 Jul 2022 12:18:40
I'd take Barkley back, Remember he was back at Chelsea last year, Chelsea were/ are better than us a significantly better midfield. Hardly surprising he didn't get a lot of minutes.
31 Jul 2022 13:01:50
Exactly bunk - not really relevant to talk about the minutes played for a top 4 side when discussing whether he's good enough for us. I'm amazed by anyone suggesting he doesn't improve the squad - so saying that gomes and Davies are better than him!
31 Jul 2022 14:14:10
So because you think a player is better than Gomes and Davies they improve the squad?
Majority of posters in here are probably better than Gomes but doesn’t mean they’d improve the squad ?
We need to be getting decent players in, personally I don’t think that’s Barkley - if he comes and does well then I’ll hold my hands up, but in recent evidence at Chelsea and villa he’s not a great player.
31 Jul 2022 14:39:30
Sorry its a No from me, forgetting his off the pitch activities. It doesn't make sense. Similar to Alli in that ability 8/ 10, potential 9/ 10. Desire and effort to get back to were he was 2/ 10.
We have enough at the club just taking the wages and give no effort.
What we need is youngsters with potential and desire with a few old heads, Coleman/ Tarkowski to guide them.
31 Jul 2022 15:36:13
Well yes Dan, that is exceedingly obvious. If gomes and Davies sometimes have to play, which they do, and we then have an alternative player in the squad to use in their position who is better than them then clearly that means the squad is better.
31 Jul 2022 15:40:44
I don’t mind Barkley, that song ‘Crazy’ is pretty decent. He’s a bit tubby though!
31 Jul 2022 16:00:31
TD - putting you in the squad and you picking up £1k per week would be a better option than Barkley at £100k per week!
31 Jul 2022 19:21:03
Haha that'd work for me Dan! Just give me a few weeks to drop the beer belly!
31 Jul 2022 20:06:26
The biggest problem with Barkley is that he doesn't always understand tactics and does not consitently follow instructions unless he's had them repeatedly panned into his head by a particularly patient and optimistic manager. Martinez treated him like a Labrador and got some good results, but no one since has had time to invest in that Kind of time or treatment. Moyes rarely played him and it wasn't long before he was found out at Chelsea and couldn't get a look in. To continue the dog analogy, we need a golden retriever in midfield and Barkley has since regressed into a floppy Basset Hound.