10 hours ago, Nibs said:

Not going to be too hard on him after just 60 minutes when he is clearly trying to come back from a long lay off.

However, when I've seen Barkley for Everton and out on loan and even for England, you get the impression he is another SWP, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain etc................In other words, he will sometimes produce a worldie or do something where you thnk, "WOW", but week in, week out, he isn't all that. At school he was probably the best kid in the playground and got used to going past the other kids for fun. And that's what he still tries now and 1 in every 20 attempts it will come off.

I do hope that he will improve our squad once fully fit, but I seriously think he will be added to the list of "luxury players". Hope I'm proved wrong.

 

Bit surprised at your opinion there Nibs as, like me, I know how much you liked Joe Cole.

Barkley reminds me of a bigger version of Cole. Technically very talented, and sometimes with the imagination to try creative things other players wouldn't even see. But like Cole he is a poor athlete. No pace. No real stamina to charge box to box for 90 minutes. And not particularly strong for a guy of his build.

For the price we got him for more than happy to see him get a chance, but clearly wasn't ready for last night.

Jenas said he needs to do more. Honestly is Jenas mental? 

9 hours ago, just said:

Bit surprised at your opinion there Nibs as, like me, I know how much you liked Joe Cole.

Barkley reminds me of a bigger version of Cole. Technically very talented, and sometimes with the imagination to try creative things other players wouldn't even see. But like Cole he is a poor athlete. No pace. No real stamina to charge box to box for 90 minutes. And not particularly strong for a guy of his build.

For the price we got him for more than happy to see him get a chance, but clearly wasn't ready for last night.

Can see what you're saying Just but I don't think he has the same level of skill as Joey.

IF he goes on to do anywhere near as well as JC did for us that we'll have got a bargain but I'm not convinced he has it in him.

9 hours ago, Bobbywoodhogan said:

Jenas said he needs to do more. Honestly is Jenas mental? 

Well, coming from one of the laziest midfielders I've ever set my eyes on, that's rich.

Apart from his blatant Spuds bias when he's commenting on them against us, I don't mind Jenas as a pundit, but I never rated him at all as a player.

I'll give Barkley a chance to show what he can do, and at 15m he was worth a gamble, but I've never been convinced by him. I quite like the Joe Cole comparisons, as both have a lot of skill but both seem to lack a quality football brain. I'd be delighted if he contributes as much as much as Joe Cole did for us.

17 hours ago, Bobbywoodhogan said:

Jenas said he needs to do more. Honestly is Jenas mental? 

Maybe Jenas was talking about himself ?

I thought Barkley was OK for his first start in close to a year - He definitely needs more conditioning and strength training. Since we are winning naught this year - I would like it if Conte were to develop Barkley and Musonda into regular first teamers. 

Obviously any new player needs time to "settle in" - I think the larger question/issue here is, does Barkley fit the system? Obviously limited amount of minutes to judge him on, but Willian/Hazard/Pedro/Cesc/Alonso/Cesar know each other like the back of their hands. 

Reserving final judgement, but Conte will need to earn his paycheck here. 

On 25/01/2018 at 19:01, Argo said:

Christensen is regularly starting ahead of two £30m defenders.

The first since Terry. Several instances of it the other way round. Doubt he'd be starting if Conte hadn't fell out with Luiz either.

Not expecting him to get a start any time soon, is clearly way off match fitness right now. 

Hopefully can continue getting 15/20 minutes towards the end of our games but looks more a signing for next year rather than for right now. 

Ya Barkley has had decent cameos so far but wouldnt be expecting much from the lad after his injury issue.

Its a cliche but he'll be like a new signing for next sesaon with a full pre-season behind him.

I know I'm late, but I'd like to wish him a good luck in Chelsea shirt. 

Can't say I'm happy, I think it was RLC's spot, but we're Chelsea and playing youth is not what we good at. Anyways, Barkley is a talented player, he had a great season or two with Everton like 2-3 years ago, injuries definitely stopped him from improving fast, but he still can make it. We paid a fair price and I can't wait to see him in action when he's fully fit. 

Good luck Ross!

2 hours ago, IliyaKrostin said:

I know I'm late, but I'd like to wish him a good luck in Chelsea shirt. 

Can't say I'm happy, I think it was RLC's spot, but we're Chelsea and playing youth is not what we good at. Anyways, Barkley is a talented player, he had a great season or two with Everton like 2-3 years ago, injuries definitely stopped him from improving fast, but he still can make it. We paid a fair price and I can't wait to see him in action when he's fully fit. 

Good luck Ross!

I think we will see RLC and Ross play together in the future. Perhaps 2 or 3 seasons down the line but I don't think we signed him to sell RLC on in the summer

I'm predicting a first start for Barkley tonight. 

Be interesting to see if he can last the full 90 if he does. 

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/mayor-joe-anderson-quizzed-under-14229524

Oh dear, what a pity, nevermind. you obese hypocrite twat.

Doesn't look good in a front 3, seems to not know where he's supposed to be. Think he'd be better in a midfield 3, bursting forward. Really wish we'd go back to the 4-3-3, with 1 holding midfielder, 1 box-to-box and 1 attacking.

Apparently picked up a hamstring injury in training. So many injuries, has to be down to Conte's hard training sessions. Works fine with fewer games, but its destroying the players this season. 

8th player to get a hamstring injury this season. Ease up Conte!

Would the posters who are rubbishing Conte's training methods please explain how specifically he is doing so.  Some very fine detail would be appreciated as I'm not privy to what goes on at Cobham and would love to know exactly what it is going wrong.  

52 minutes ago, Bloo said:

Would the posters who are rubbishing Conte's training methods please explain how specifically he is doing so.  Some very fine detail would be appreciated as I'm not privy to what goes on at Cobham and would love to know exactly what it is going wrong.  

Conte is renowned for being a hard training coach, pushing players physically more than other managers do.

If it's true or not who knows ?

So when we get lots of injuries some people assume it's down to the tough training regime. 

I think we will don't see him fit this season, for judge him we go wait the next season.

On 25/01/2018 at 22:02, Bobbywoodhogan said:

Jenas said he needs to do more. Honestly is Jenas mental? 

You think that's bad? Listen to what Paul Merson said about the Barkley signing on Sky Debate with Upson. 

Merson believes Barkley is our replacement of Hazard when he's sold next season, I don't even think our most pessimistic fan would believe such utter tripe. 

Still injured. 

All a bit underwhelming isn't it? 

Signed him having recovered from a 6 month spell out from a torn hamstring. 

Gets about 100 minutes of football under his belt... And he's been out for month with a hamstring injury. 

I know he wasn't necessarily a signing expected to drop straight into the team but still frustrating to see another of our signings from this season not making the desired impact. 

Keep forgetting we've even got him to be honest.

This is one to add to the list of "Wait until next season when he's got a decent pre-season under his belt..............................!!"

We'll probably loan him out next season to regain his fitness.