The boss has been frozen out it seems. I'd like to see him get a chance over this period.

Not given up on him yet. Adds a bit of physicality and height as well as a clever pass now and then. 

Being "frozen out" and out of favour are completely different things. One of the most refreshing things about Lampard is how he picks players on form and will give anybody a run in the team if they deserve it. 

6 hours ago, bluedave said:

Being "frozen out" and out of favour are completely different things. One of the most refreshing things about Lampard is how he picks players on form and will give anybody a run in the team if they deserve it. 

True, who would've thought Alonso was going to play again? 

Still, I think Barkley has ruined his chance big time, I don't see how he gets in the team at the moment, especially when RLC is back to full fitness. 

What has become of Barkley? I know he was injured but is he just not getting picked now? 

Not complaining just curious. I think he is our weakest midfielder and cost us a much easier CL draw after that selfish penalty miss. He should be on his way ASAP particularly as we don't need him for the homegrown quotas anymore.

1 hour ago, Slojo said:

True, who would've thought Alonso was going to play again? 

Still, I think Barkley has ruined his chance big time, I don't see how he gets in the team at the moment, especially when RLC is back to full fitness. 

Don't really have any sympathy for him now.

He's had two coaches in a row that prioritise developing players and getting them filling out their potential, he's been given two absolute golden opportunities to kick on and furfill his early promise but has totally f**ked it up.

1 minute ago, Spiller86 said:

What has become of Barkley? I know he was injured but is he just not getting picked now? 

Not complaining just curious. I think he is our weakest midfielder and cost us a much easier CL draw after that selfish penalty miss. He should be on his way ASAP particularly as we don't need him for the homegrown quotas anymore.

I don't really agree he cost us top spot, there's too many variables and who knows what would have happened after that. Had we got that point we may have been more cautious in Amsterdam, Valencia may have come all out at the Mestailla and beat us, we just don't know.

I think Promes disallowed goal, the two red cards for Ajax and especially Remy f**king up that last minute pass has more than countered that miss on the what may have been stakes.

2 minutes ago, Argo said:

Don't really have any sympathy for him now.

He's had two coaches in a row that prioritise developing players and getting them filling out their potential, he's been given two absolute golden opportunities to kick on and furfill his early promise but has totally f**ked it up.

That promise was gone by the time we bought him. Every Everton fan alive told us he has all the skills and no judgement or vision. He was cheap so we should still make a profit, but Conte was onto him from the first game against Arsenal. This from a guy who turned Victor Moses into something. How he has lasted as long as he has I have no idea

1 minute ago, Spiller86 said:

That promise was gone by the time we bought him. Every Everton fan alive told us he has all the skills and no judgement or vision. He was cheap so we should still make a profit, but Conte was onto him from the first game against Arsenal. This from a guy who turned Victor Moses into something. How he has lasted as long as he has I have no idea

He was 23 which was still young enough to turn him into something of some substance. His first full season a coach who turned water into wine with a lot of Napoli players arrived, it was a perfect opportunity for him to kick on and it looked like for that brief spell in October he was going too.

It's hard to regret it too much when we now have an improved Loftus, Mason and Gallagher in the wings but it does grate me a bit how someone can waste such an opportunity.

1 hour ago, Argo said:

Don't really have any sympathy for him now.

He's had two coaches in a row that prioritise developing players and getting them filling out their potential, he's been given two absolute golden opportunities to kick on and furfill his early promise but has totally f**ked it up.

He couldn't have had it better this season, two midfielders out, Mason Mount to contend with, a player who had everything to prove, no Premier League experience. An English manager who played in a similar position and was up for giving everyone a chance, and he looked like he was keen on Ross at first. A great preseason, an international manager who also favours him and gives him opportunities, what more could he have asked for? And he blew it. Yeah okay he's had an injury but his conduct alone says a lot, we've got so many young players here that are acting far more professional, and it's obvious by Lampards recent comments he isn't happy with Ross. 

Edited December 24, 20196 yr by Slojo

He hasn’t done enough and I doubt Lampard has been too impressed with his off field activities. 
 

I don’t blame the club for taking a punt but it’s not worked out. Move him on unfortunately 

9 hours ago, Slojo said:

True, who would've thought Alonso was going to play again? 

Still, I think Barkley has ruined his chance big time, I don't see how he gets in the team at the moment, especially when RLC is back to full fitness. 

I can‘t see it either, he‘s (deservedly) dropped too far down the pecking order, but with Lampard the path will be open to him and there are a lot of matches left to play.

If he’s not sulking but training well and working hard I suspect he’ll get a chance to impress against Forest. 

2 hours ago, bluedave said:

I can‘t see it either, he‘s (deservedly) dropped too far down the pecking order, but with Lampard the path will be open to him and there are a lot of matches left to play.

Yep. Look at Alonso. It looked like he played his last game for us a while back, but Lampard gave him another chance against the Spuds and he took that chance.

His Cab incident probably sealed his faith to be honest it's 2019 players should be far more responsibility as a professional athlete.

Anyone else miss preseason Ross? He was a man possessed.

Damn. People on here are very, very harsh towards the man IMO. 

 

Ross did something Frank didn't appreciate and he's had some small injuries/illnesses. We will see him back at some point.

What I love about Frank is he rates effort and attitude. With Frank we won't get Özil situations. Clearly talented players won't play if their head is not there.

That was a very good performance from Barkley today. He did everything we needed him to do in that area of the pitch. He was calm and composed with his passing and movement and he would get involved in the attacks at the right times too. That type of playing style is what we have been lacking in our midfield in recent times. 

Every game I see him play he's instrumental. OK most of those recently have been against lower teams but still, he should never had been so much forgotten as he was at some point.

Who was that Russ Barkley that played today, is he related to that useless Ross Barkley? 

Very good today, looked to be positive when he received the ball.

This role could suit Barkley better. He doesn't have enough urgency in his game to be a regular attacking centre midfielder in the Premier League, so this role could suit him better.

I hope Lampard tries him in this position again, just to see how things go. It's definitely a position up for graps seeing as Lampard has been changing it so much this season.

I thought he was decent too and may yet make his signing-on fee look like a bargain. 

Ross da boss

Had a decent game. 

Good to see him back in the lineup. Can do the business till Loftus Cheek is back to full fitness. 

3 hours ago, GhostOfDembaBa said:

Ross da boss

Had a decent game. 

Good to see him back in the lineup. Can do the business till Loftus Cheek is back to full fitness. 

Not sure he will be a regular yet with more performances like that even if against lower opposition will be a big boost to the squad and he may well make the England team again.

Edited January 12, 20206 yr by strider6004