6 minutes ago, the special one said:

Rubbish last night, I don't think it's a coincidence that his best performances have been away from home against poor opposition (Southampton/Burnley).

I'm struggling to recall a pass of his that went forward.  Think he maybe tried one in the first half that was blocked.  Everything else was sideways or backwards - and I am pretty sure literally everything was, not just a figure of speech.

Have always maintained that he isn't a starting 11 player week in, week out. Handy squad player who can produce moments of brilliance but too inconsistent and lacks a football brain to ever be something special.

That said, with Giroud injured and Morata being f**king awful, I would try playing him up front for a couple of games and see how he fared. Would rather that than waste Hazard there.

 

 

He is definitely playing more cautiously than he was at the start of the season when he was breaking forward and looking our most creative midfielder. Under manager's orders? 

Who knows. 

He's disappointed me big time.

After the Southampton-United-Burnley games i genuinely thought he was going to kick on and become an important player for us and the National team, but since then he's been poor at best and as bad as his performances under Conte at worst.

Think he is a fantastic squad player especially when chasing a game and we need some sort of impetus off the bench however sometimes when he starts he struggles to find that balance between attack & defence and ends up not truly getting involved in the right areas.

I think he is better than Kovacic in moving forwards but is too ponderous and careless at times. Both, however, are not as good as RLC at the moment.

Howver looking at the big 2 or 3 teams in this league all of their midfields have pace in abundance and are very direct with and without the ball.

None of our midfielders offer this. Pedro has a bit of nippiness and Willina has a burst of pace, but poor decision making and lack of awareness around him. Only Hazard has genuine pace, but even he often lacks directness.

CHO is the only pacy, direct player that we have, but rather than try to nurture his talent and develop him, we'll end up letting him go.

My biggest criticism of him since being here, he plays far too safe. 

Played quite well tonight but still bottled his chances

Played quite well tonight but still bottled his chances

Can't agree. He never plays poorly but simply has almost zero impact in the final third. For someone who plays as our most advanced midfielder, and who has played that position for most of his career, to be outshone by Kante in the final third....

If that's all he's going to produce then he deserves a seat on the bench, behind Kovacic.

Had a average first half and an awful second. Attacking wise he brings nothing to the table in these games.

A squad player but if we want to win the big games and trophies we need much better in his position. 

I think his position, and that of Kovacic, should be an area we look to really bolster.  Barkley is a decent player, coming off an injury, and we didn't pay over the odds for him.  Also fills the homegrown part of the roster, I suppose.  All that said, I just don't see him being the attacking number 8 that we all hoped he'd be.  As someone above recently mentioned, he seems to be playing far too cautious, and who knows if that's at the request of Sarri?  

Decent player, nothing more,  should not be a starter every week, but good enough for some game time.

What's happened to his shooting? I'm sure he scored a few screamers in his Everton days, but he just seems snatch at it now. It ends up in the stands or scuffed at the keeper. Maybe he's trying to hard. 

He at least took some responsibility last night, but his out put isn't great, and there was a few times we played through the first line of the press, then because Barkley hasn't got his head up and received the ball on the half turn, it has then gone back into the defence, and the whole process has started again. 

I'm still not sure he is good enough, maybe kovacic isn't the answer either. It's a real pity RLC is injured because he might have got a start in that role. 

That attacking midfielder slot though is definately an area that doesn't seem quite right. 

14 hours ago, the special one said:

Played quite well tonight but still bottled his chances

Really? I thought he was awful to be honest.

Gave the ball away numerous times in our own half, and offered nothing going forward what so ever.

I have tried to convince myself since we signed him that it was good value for money on the basis there is potential there, but ultimately whenever I watch him it reinforces my original belief that he just isn't good enough for us.

4 starts in a row and bang average in all of them. Not just his shooting but i remember he used to be quite good at dribbling too, where's that gone?.

He is improving a lot from the tactical point of view. I dont' dislike him.

First he is a Chelsea player while Kovacic just on loan.  It needs to build a roster of 22 useful players and he can stay there.

9 minutes ago, Master&Commander said:

He is improving a lot from the tactical point of view. I dont' dislike him.

First he is a Chelsea player while Kovacic just on loan.  It needs to build a roster of 22 useful players and he can stay there.

The tactical point of view is just one aspect, I think Sarri is trying to polish a turd personally. Bring Oscar back.

Edited January 9, 20197 yr by the special one

Casting my mind back to pre season, Barkley said he was determined to impress the new boss and get himself fit. While most of the squad were at the World Cup, Sarri spent a lot of time coaching Barkley on positional play, movement etc. With that, he hit the ground running and was so impressive for Chelsea, that he was called up for England Nation League games, starting in games against Spain and Croatia. Lately, he's become lethargic in his passing and movement and has lost his edge. He's been particularly disappointing over the congested Christmas and New Year period. I don't think this is down to orders from the manager, but more to do with a mid season burn out. I think he needs resting but because he's not half the player he was before Christmas but, due to injuries in midfield, Sarri's had to play him.

What I don't get is, as Barkley is easily one of our strongest players from a physical standpoint, how does he not hold to ball better and drive forward?  It's either a complete lack of awareness, or as some have stated, he just isn't sure exactly what he's supposed to be doing tactically.

Too inconsistent - always has been, always will be. Unfortunately No football brain.

 

17 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Too inconsistent - always has been, always will be. Unfortunately No football brain.

 

^^This is one of a few things that frustrates me with Barkley, the others being, passing is poor, regularly losing the ball, and runs with his head down when he has the ball.

That has been said throughout Barkley's career so far that he lacks a footballing brain, has all the physical attributes and is technically pretty good but he's never going to put it all together.

Yep, its a shame as I like the lad. Seems to have the right attitude with plenty of enthusiasm, but's it's why we got him on the cheap. Handy squad player who may just change a game now & then.

The most frustrating player over winter. Plays far too safe, not really doing anything with the ball. He’ll pass back or pass the player closest to him. I want to see him take more risks, he has the ability to change games but he never uses it.

If he doesn’t change his passing style at all this season then I’d like to see him replaced in the summer. Just a pointless player, on his current form. 

Kovacic get a fair bit of stick but at least he is taking the ball forward, trying to make things happen whereas Barkley doesn’t even try.

Had a few good games, but doesn't offer enough. Loftus-Cheek should take his spot once fully fit.

16 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

The most frustrating player over winter. Plays far too safe, not really doing anything with the ball. He’ll pass back or pass the player closest to him. I want to see him take more risks, he has the ability to change games but he never uses it.

If he doesn’t change his passing style at all this season then I’d like to see him replaced in the summer. Just a pointless player, on his current form. 

Kovacic get a fair bit of stick but at least he is taking the ball forward, trying to make things happen whereas Barkley doesn’t even try.

I actually thought twice he took risks last night and went on dribbles yet they came to nothing.

In other matches he does shoot though it generally gets closed down.

I think he is down the pecking order in relation to RLC though 'foresee' RLC back on the treatment table in 6 weeks so he will get a another bite and hopefully with Higuaín being more settled would open up the midfield a bit better for Barkley's rare forays forward.