4 hours ago, Imran_CFC said:

With Oscar I think it was a case of his performances dropped after Christmas, at the time I remember thinking that Oscar was the sort of player who would do really well in a league which has a winter break. He was somewhat similar to Coutinho however Coutinho was someone who finished a season strongly whereas usually had a slow start.

Both players would probably do well as squad players but are far too inconsistent to maintain respectable levels across a full season, with Barkley I dont think that is the case I just dont think Barkley is good enough. He can still do a good enough job against majority of the teams in the Premier League but the reason his performances drop greatly against better opposition is because he just doesnt have the speed of thought, Oscar and Coutinho are levels above him.

I felt a litte for Oscar I think he was being used as a work horse being asked to close down the opposition when he had creative skills yet others were preferred. So for his later term seemed to be used like a workhorse.

This is good memory of him I have:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=oscar+free+kick+for+chelsea&view=detail&mid=6C5AD2F3F62D15902A4C6C5AD2F3F62D15902A4C&FORM=VIRE

A midfield three of Drinkwater, Bakayoko and Barkley could be very entertaining ... for all the wrong reasons ... 🙂

 

3 hours ago, mad_mac said:

Think he's a squad player and nothing more, but he keeps getting selected and he's playing for England.  I think he takes too many touches, but he is at least willing to have a go.  If we had someone with Kova's skill and Barkley's willingness to take a shot... hmmm

Also, another thin that perplexes me, he's 25 and been about for a while, but the commentators keep talking about how Lampard will develop him into a better midfielder, and I'm not sure that opportunity hasn't passed a while ago

Very similar to how people thought various different managers could coach David Luiz into being a better defender. With Emre failing now like all the others. If it ain't in the brain, it ain't in the brain.

6 hours ago, Imran_CFC said:

With Oscar I think it was a case of his performances dropped after Christmas, at the time I remember thinking that Oscar was the sort of player who would do really well in a league which has a winter break. He was somewhat similar to Coutinho however Coutinho was someone who finished a season strongly whereas usually had a slow start.

Both players would probably do well as squad players but are far too inconsistent to maintain respectable levels across a full season, with Barkley I dont think that is the case I just dont think Barkley is good enough. He can still do a good enough job against majority of the teams in the Premier League but the reason his performances drop greatly against better opposition is because he just doesnt have the speed of thought, Oscar and Coutinho are levels above him.

Yep, what was really annoying about Oscar was that after we sold Mata and KDB he started to turn sh*t, before that he was actually playing well. 

Mata was an unbelievable player here, weird how he took such a downturn at United, but KDB always had potential imo. But anyway, it's pretty irrelevant, especially considering we aren't really playing Barkley at the expense of anyone else, if we were that would be a problem. 

But quite honestly at this rate I would rather see Gilmour play in the middle than Barkley. 

34 minutes ago, just said:

Very similar to how people thought various different managers could coach David Luiz into being a better defender. With Emre failing now like all the others. If it ain't in the brain, it ain't in the brain.

For all his faults Luiz still gave us a solid season, I was very against bringing him back but his return tenure was a lot better than before we sold him, much less mistakes anyway. I think he was instrumental in that title winning season. 

1 hour ago, Slojo said:

For all his faults Luiz still gave us a solid season, I was very against bringing him back but his return tenure was a lot better than before we sold him, much less mistakes anyway. I think he was instrumental in that title winning season. 

I could not disagree more Slojo. I think he was worse second time around. Bar the first season under Conte which was his best by far only when we changed to 3 centre-backs which removed the need for Luiz to rigidly mark opponents and hold a set position. In a back four he has never been "solid" ever. Not for us, or anyone. It was why I was so happy to see him go to Arsenal.

21 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

A midfield three of Drinkwater, Bakayoko and Barkley could be very entertaining ... for all the wrong reasons ... 🙂

 

Has everyone forgot how well Drinkwater played in that title winning Leicester team?  We might have paid too much for him and he's certainly had a terrilble time here, but he was a perfectly decent enough player when we signed him.

Say what you want about Barkley but he's shown he has more inventiveness in his passing than any of the other midfielders who play centrally.

I've never been a fan of his from his Everton days but it seems fans are getting on his back a little too quick for whatever reason. 

Yes, he wants a bit too much time on the ball sometimes and picks the wrong option once in a while, but he can drive forward, he has the ability to beat a couple of players, he's shown he can slip players in with clever passes, he's physically very strong and has a bit of height (set pieces), and he's got a decent shot on him while not being gun shy.

He's not as useless as some people like to make out. 

Edited October 12, 20196 yr by GhostOfDembaBa

7 hours ago, GhostOfDembaBa said:

Say what you want about Barkley but he's shown he has more inventiveness in his passing than any of the other midfielders who play centrally.

He did confuse the opposition for a while by passing the ball straight to them but they’ve sussed it out now 

Goal and assist so far, arguably best player on the pitch so far..... He is a decent player when given time on the ball pity he doesn't get that luxury often in the PL. 

2 goals, need to go to a European league that allows lots of time and space.

Finally free from the shackles that Lampard has put on him.

Looks like he wont keep the goals. Game close to being abandoned.

Roy Kean was apparently talking shit about Ross da Boss before the match started

looks like Roy Keane knows nothing 😁

3 hours ago, opinionsarelike said:

Finally free from the shackles that Lampard has put on him.

Whaaat?

Sarri had him in shackles, Lampard has freed him from those this season. 

Looks great against garbage opposition. Nothing new there 

4 hours ago, opinionsarelike said:

Finally free from the shackles that Lampard has put on him.

Lampard has given him freedom to play, he is heavily involved in our attacks. The problem is that Barkley hasn't been performing at the standard required.

6 hours ago, GhostOfDembaBa said:

Whaaat?

Sarri had him in shackles, Lampard has freed him from those this season. 

It was a joke, with the joke being that Sarri was the one at fault. I don’t think Sarri nor Lampard are at fault - the shackles are constructed by Barkley’s limited footballing skills.

Mental how he seems like a completely different player at international level. It just shows you how important the pace of a game can be. He’d be a cracking player in Italy where he has more space and time on the ball.

4 minutes ago, EdinburghBlue said:

Mental how he seems like a completely different player at international level. It just shows you how important the pace of a game can be. He’d be a cracking player in Italy where he has more space and time on the ball.

He could be the Scouse Veron 

The problem with Barkely is his first touch is far too heavy which was evident last night. Even against dross opposition he loses the ball far too often. Although when he does get it right he can be devastating. 

Some people on here are just...

Damn. 

You'd think Barkley has been up to no good with their wives or something...

I'm not his biggest fan and I always thought he was the typically overhyped English player, but he's looking better this season than last. He's barely been in the team of late as well and he's still getting this kind of negativity.

 

Barkley 2 goals last night and provided at least 1 assist in the previous match, has done ok for England yet as I said on an earlier post he plays better against the lower sides as he gets more time on the ball.

Edited October 15, 20196 yr by strider6004

With injuries to Kante and Kovacic he might start at the weekend. Who wants to bet he will be average and the people on here will complain about him. He's not good enough, never has been. His last goal in the premier league was when? Burnley away last season?.

24 minutes ago, jack_super_class said:

With injuries to Kante and Kovacic he might start at the weekend. Who wants to bet he will be average and the people on here will complain about him. He's not good enough, never has been. His last goal in the premier league was when? Burnley away last season?.

And that League goal was in Oct 2018. However stick him in an England jersey v average/dross opposition and he turns into prime Zidane.