Ross Barkley

[The Chels 2,502]

Isn't that chant offensive to Barkley, you know, a scouser himself?  

[Leif 6,006]

It's like the entire past 2 years of common sentiment: 'Barkley was so, so overhyped - what a shame, for us and for him. It's incredible that he can't string 2 good performances together' has been erased. 

It's been essentially 1 of the top 5 narratives in the Premier League for these past 1.5-2 years: Barkley (was) a highly-priced player, who was absolutely quarter of the player he was made out to be in highlights. It turned out, like Lukaku, he offered enough for casual fans to go 'He's a gem!!!!', but those who watched week-in-week-out were reporting bad attitudes, inconsistency, low football IQ (both of them). 

 

Take the consistency of Bakayoko & add the 'work rate' of Loftus-Cheek. Maybe the shooting boots of Meireles too. A dream.

He's no more consistent or talented than Oscar was in his very worst days with us surely. And if we'd let someone like Oscar go, almost pushing him out, to then invite Barkley in, is lunacy. In the end everyone will want Barkley to play the exact role Oscar was supposed to have: and was more well-equipped to handle. And he won't do it well, because at 23/24, like Bakayoko, you begin to show your upper limitations.
So far, Barkley has shown nothing that suggests he adds anything to any top side. Being a long range shooter (already an overblown 'trait of his'), does not make you good enough for a team like Chelsea just because you do the other basics right. 

I want to convince myself that he's good as a bench option, but then, he's not, compared to other players. You simply don't bring on a Barkley to change a game vs. Bayern, Barcelona, Madrid. You bring on a pass master, a defensive master, a pashunnn master. Not a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. 
If a game needs more pace/strength/clinical finishing/crossing ability/defensive nuance, you should be able to look at your bench and see which players offer what you're looking to inject. What the hell would Barkley inject? He's weaker than Bakayoko, not going to be replacing Kante in games, and has half the lungs of Drinkwater. I want logic.

[BlueSunshine 672]

57 minutes ago, Leif said:

 I want logic.

The logic is quite simple actually but people refuse to see it for whatever reason. This has been the club's standard for quite some time now, so deal with it and stop beating yourself up.

And i can't really understand why people are upset specifically about this transfer. Compared to the ridiculous amount of money we spent on mediocre players in the past few years. Barkley's price (and homegrown status) makes him a decent addition to the team, even if he remains a squad player for the rest of his career.

 

 

[Amblève. 4,995]

4 hours ago, The Chels said:

Isn't that chant offensive to Barkley, you know, a scouser himself?  

I mean, "We're racist, we're racist, and that's the way we like it" was sung by fans of ours once. It's hard to expect our supporters being sensible after that anymore

[BlueLyon 9,359]

4 hours ago, Leif said:

It's like the entire past 2 years of common sentiment: 'Barkley was so, so overhyped - what a shame, for us and for him. It's incredible that he can't string 2 good performances together' has been erased. 

It's been essentially 1 of the top 5 narratives in the Premier League for these past 1.5-2 years: Barkley (was) a highly-priced player, who was absolutely quarter of the player he was made out to be in highlights. It turned out, like Lukaku, he offered enough for casual fans to go 'He's a gem!!!!', but those who watched week-in-week-out were reporting bad attitudes, inconsistency, low football IQ (both of them). 

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Take the consistency of Bakayoko & add the 'work rate' of Loftus-Cheek. Maybe the shooting boots of Meireles too. A dream.

He's no more consistent or talented than Oscar was in his very worst days with us surely. And if we'd let someone like Oscar go, almost pushing him out, to then invite Barkley in, is lunacy. In the end everyone will want Barkley to play the exact role Oscar was supposed to have: and was more well-equipped to handle. And he won't do it well, because at 23/24, like Bakayoko, you begin to show your upper limitations.
So far, Barkley has shown nothing that suggests he adds anything to any top side. Being a long range shooter (already an overblown 'trait of his'), does not make you good enough for a team like Chelsea just because you do the other basics right. 

I want to convince myself that he's good as a bench option, but then, he's not, compared to other players. You simply don't bring on a Barkley to change a game vs. Bayern, Barcelona, Madrid. You bring on a pass master, a defensive master, a pashunnn master. Not a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. 
If a game needs more pace/strength/clinical finishing/crossing ability/defensive nuance, you should be able to look at your bench and see which players offer what you're looking to inject. What the hell would Barkley inject? He's weaker than Bakayoko, not going to be replacing Kante in games, and has half the lungs of Drinkwater. I want logic.

He cost 15m. I dont know what are you still going on about.

He is going to either develop well and we got english player for peanuts or, if he plays so shit as you believe, he will be benched/sold. Either way he would be good choice from bench, we are not Real or Barca, if we have someone like Barkley on bench thats decent. If we sell him, he will go for profit no doubt. 

We cant lose on this deal mate. You see it as lack of ambition, but this one is clear example of smart business where we profit either way. 

I would be fuming if we paid 35 or more for him too, like I have been with Drinkwater. But Barkley for 15m is no brainer. Absolute no brainer.

The problem is not Barkley. The problem is Bakayoko, Drinkwater who cost us 80m and cant outplay Norwich.

[Special Juan 28,124]

1 minute ago, BlueLyon said:

He cost 15m. I dont know what are you still going on about.

He is going to either develop well and we got english player for peanuts or, if he plays so shit as you believe, he will be benched/sold. Either way he would be good choice from bench, we are not Real or Barca, if we have someone like Barkley on bench thats decent. If we sell him, he will go for profit no doubt. 

We cant lose on this deal mate. You see it as lack of ambition, but this one is clear example of smart business where we profit either way. 

I would be fuming if we paid 35 or more for him too, like I have been with Drinkwater. But Barkley for 15m is no brainer. Absolute no brainer.

The problem is not Barkley. The problem is Bakayoko, Drinkwater who cost us 80m and cant outplay Norwich.

Your pissing into the wind mate....Barkley hasn't kicked a ball and already people are saying he's rubbish. I'm all for opinions but dear me.

If he comes in and is as bad as Bakayoko after half a season they have a right to moan, but he won't be.

[Unionjack 7,531]

34 minutes ago, Amblève. said:

I mean, "We're racist, we're racist, and that's the way we like it" was sung by fans of ours once. It's hard to expect our supporters being sensible after that anymore

A pretty vast chasm between racist fuckwit knuckle draggers and PI gone bonkers

Alot of 'supporters' sing these chants without predjudism..They sing them to either try to put the player off or just get swept up in the moment.

Back when we had 'them lot' at the Bridge I knew some pretty well. There was a day they were giving it the 'salute' to a blach copper and I asked this guy I knew who didn't have a racist bone in his body WTF he was doing. To which he replied that he was telling the cop he was a racist!

So some really dont know whats going on and just sing for banter rightly or wrongly.

[the wes 7,212]

CONTE WANTS BARKLEY BACK 'VERY QUICKLY' AS HE REVEALS TACTICAL PLANS FOR NEW ATTACKER

http://www.goal.com/en/news/conte-reveals-his-plan-for-ross-barkley-and-wants-him-back/shoi35jyeymx1k56fh6wsc2qb

[Unionjack 7,531]

13 minutes ago, the wes said:

CONTE WANTS BARKLEY BACK 'VERY QUICKLY' AS HE REVEALS TACTICAL PLANS FOR NEW ATTACKER

http://www.goal.com/en/news/conte-reveals-his-plan-for-ross-barkley-and-wants-him-back/shoi35jyeymx1k56fh6wsc2qb

So looks like hes targeting him for AM then.

[communicate 2,703]

7 hours ago, Unionjack said:

So looks like hes targeting him for AM then.

Because like conte said, he is either an am or the most attacking midfielder in midfield 3.

[El P. 1,354]

Yup, he is not replacement for Bakayoko, unfortunately. Our awful midfield stays as it is.

[Artandur 939]

9 minutes ago, El P. said:

Yup, he is not replacement for Bakayoko, unfortunately. Our awful midfield stays as it is.

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Bakayoko has been the one making all the forward runs in the 3-5-2 though, i do think Barkley could take that role...

[El P. 1,354]

13 minutes ago, Artandur said:

Bakayoko has been the one making all the forward runs in the 3-5-2 though, i do think Barkley could take that role...

Conte said  "I think he can play in midfield, if we play with three midfielders, or number 10 if we play 3-4-3.". 

Actually, it's somewhat unspecified, this "he can play in midfield, if we play with three midfielders". Ok, in three man midfield, but where?

[Ledg 643]

1 hour ago, El P. said:

Conte said  "I think he can play in midfield, if we play with three midfielders, or number 10 if we play 3-4-3.". 

Actually, it's somewhat unspecified, this "he can play in midfield, if we play with three midfielders". Ok, in three man midfield, but where?

 

Probably the 3-5-2 will be more a 3-4-1-2 and Barkley operating behind Morata and Hazard, especially in the big games, at least I see it like that. We tried it with Fabregas but at his current age, he gets completely isolated in that role. If we had a younger Cesc, it would've been great and probably wouldn't need Barkley. At least I see it like this.

 

[Pizy 18,866]

While I hope he's competing with Baka for that place, I think by reading into Conte's quotes there he'll be competing with Cesc.