Ross Barkley

[LAM09 6,750]

Comfortably the worst player on the pitch, Kovacic is going to replace him very shortly.

Opening there for RLC, if he has anything about him

[Blue Armour 4,288]

Nice back-heel that led to the penalty. Need to see more of that.

[Unionjack 7,531]

On 8/11/2018 at 11:44 PM, LAM09 said:

On 8/11/2018 at 10:25 PM, Clockwork said:

Comfortably the worst player on the pitch, Kovacic is going to replace him very shortly.

Opening there for RLC, if he has anything about him

Must mean a different RLC than the one I know cause I just dont see it.

Tho Barkley was very ineffectual today. Cant have been the 'clinical finishing' Dave mentioned.

Another that needs to concentrate on going forwards more but I do see him becoming a solid player. Its  just a shame that its at a time we have Kovacic as he is undoubtedly our main 3rd man in MF. But I would have no problem putting him in as 1st sub to him over RLC.

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

20 hours ago, LAM09 said:

22 hours ago, Clockwork said:

Comfortably the worst player on the pitch, Kovacic is going to replace him very shortly.

Opening there for RLC, if he has anything about him

Not a chance RLC will get a massive chance here, Barkley had a good opportunity because Kovacic wasn't match fit but once hes fit he will be directly competing with him and I'd imagine Kovacic will play more often with Barkley his back up/sub or whatever.

Ruben still has a great deal to learn and to work on, he doesn't impose himself on games, doesn't seem to have any major attributes where you think yeah he'd offer something different or unique and his end product is well, its not anything really great, he got something daft like 3 goals and 4 assists in a full season at Palace in a counter attacking team where the onus was on him and Zaha, who when he came back had 11 goals and 9 assists or something. Maybe a bit harsh to look at his output in that but even chances created? How many did he get? Doubt it was a great deal. Hes a powerful player too, big frame but you don't see him physically go and dominate games, Yaya Toure was a big player, okay not a attacking midfielder but he used to bully teams and players with his sheer size and quality, Ruben maybe hasn't got that amazing quality yet but he has the size to go and dominate or bully a midfield. I seen somebody compare him to a Rolls Royce, I think it was Tim Sherwood, but honestly he still has a lot of work to do even before being considered to be ahead of Barkley in the pecking order, yet alone Kovacic who for me can be the real deal for us. 

[LAM09 6,750]

Not a chance RLC will get a massive chance here, Barkley had a good opportunity because Kovacic wasn't match fit but once hes fit he will be directly competing with him and I'd imagine Kovacic will play more often with Barkley his back up/sub or whatever.
Ruben still has a great deal to learn and to work on, he doesn't impose himself on games, doesn't seem to have any major attributes where you think yeah he'd offer something different or unique and his end product is well, its not anything really great, he got something daft like 3 goals and 4 assists in a full season at Palace in a counter attacking team where the onus was on him and Zaha, who when he came back had 11 goals and 9 assists or something. Maybe a bit harsh to look at his output in that but even chances created? How many did he get? Doubt it was a great deal. Hes a powerful player too, big frame but you don't see him physically go and dominate games, Yaya Toure was a big player, okay not a attacking midfielder but he used to bully teams and players with his sheer size and quality, Ruben maybe hasn't got that amazing quality yet but he has the size to go and dominate or bully a midfield. I seen somebody compare him to a Rolls Royce, I think it was Tim Sherwood, but honestly he still has a lot of work to do even before being considered to be ahead of Barkley in the pecking order, yet alone Kovacic who for me can be the real deal for us. 

Not sure why he stuck around, then. I've seen nothing from him in the last year to say he's even close to our level or even being productive in general.

I can see Kante playing the furthest forward already and Kovacic playing behind him.

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

4 minutes ago, LAM09 said:

Not sure why he stuck around, then. I've seen nothing from him in the last year to say he's even close to our level or even being productive in general.

I can see Kante playing the furthest forward already and Kovacic playing behind him.

Not sure. Maybe the loan market is still open not sure but it was odd.

I think Kovacic will be given that freedom to get forward more, Kante can do it all anyway hes just that good that hes able to get back in and do what he has to do but Kovacic getting closer to the front 3 could be a big bonus, hes excellent technically, not the best goalscorer but I'm sure you know he can see a pass, can take the ball under pressure, can beat a man or two, he is quite a outstanding footballer who with a bit of consistency and continuity of playing every week can easily make the jump to the next level I feel. The likes of Hazard, Kovacic, Willian all combining with each other is going to be exciting for us this season. 

[LAM09 6,750]

Not sure. Maybe the loan market is still open not sure but it was odd.
I think Kovacic will be given that freedom to get forward more, Kante can do it all anyway hes just that good that hes able to get back in and do what he has to do but Kovacic getting closer to the front 3 could be a big bonus, hes excellent technically, not the best goalscorer but I'm sure you know he can see a pass, can take the ball under pressure, can beat a man or two, he is quite a outstanding footballer who with a bit of consistency and continuity of playing every week can easily make the jump to the next level I feel. The likes of Hazard, Kovacic, Willian all combining with each other is going to be exciting for us this season. 

Only option would be a move abroad now, but I don't expect much more movement once Bakayoko's loan is confirmed. He might have to be content with the EL/Cup football till Jan.

Agreed. Crazy to think Kante could still go up a level with the tools at his disposal.

[Vesper 28,827]

3 hours ago, LAM09 said:

Only option would be a move abroad now, but I don't expect much more movement once Bakayoko's loan is confirmed. He might have to be content with the EL/Cup football till Jan.

Agreed. Crazy to think Kante could still go up a level with the tools at his disposal.

RLC turns 25 in January, he better figure things out quick. Youth will no longer be an excuse.

 

on Edit, he turns 23 then

[the wes 7,212]

that ball to Alonso From Barkley was beautiful against huddersfield 

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

3 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

Not a chance RLC will get a massive chance here, Barkley had a good opportunity because Kovacic wasn't match fit but once hes fit he will be directly competing with him and I'd imagine Kovacic will play more often with Barkley his back up/sub or whatever.

Ruben still has a great deal to learn and to work on, he doesn't impose himself on games, doesn't seem to have any major attributes where you think yeah he'd offer something different or unique and his end product is well, its not anything really great, he got something daft like 3 goals and 4 assists in a full season at Palace in a counter attacking team where the onus was on him and Zaha, who when he came back had 11 goals and 9 assists or something. Maybe a bit harsh to look at his output in that but even chances created? How many did he get? Doubt it was a great deal. Hes a powerful player too, big frame but you don't see him physically go and dominate games, Yaya Toure was a big player, okay not a attacking midfielder but he used to bully teams and players with his sheer size and quality, Ruben maybe hasn't got that amazing quality yet but he has the size to go and dominate or bully a midfield. I seen somebody compare him to a Rolls Royce, I think it was Tim Sherwood, but honestly he still has a lot of work to do even before being considered to be ahead of Barkley in the pecking order, yet alone Kovacic who for me can be the real deal for us. 

And how many goals and assists does Kovacic have? He is just as useless in front of goal. The best chance of scoring goals is Barkley and if he continues to not deliver others will step up. Kovacic Barkley and Ralc are all nice options to have and we should give all of them a rub in the team before deciding which one will be regular. No haste in that we are one game in the season

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

28 minutes ago, Vesper said:

TLC turns 25 in January, he better figure things out quick. Youth will no longer be an excuse.

He is 22.

[Vesper 28,827]

3 minutes ago, Magic Lamps said:

He is 22.

ahh, damn, I thought that was off, that is what I get for relying on another poster, lolol

He turns 23 in january

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

23 minutes ago, Magic Lamps said:

And how many goals and assists does Kovacic have? He is just as useless in front of goal. The best chance of scoring goals is Barkley and if he continues to not deliver others will step up. Kovacic Barkley and Ralc are all nice options to have and we should give all of them a rub in the team before deciding which one will be regular. No haste in that we are one game in the season

Yes Kovacic isn't a huge goal scoring player but I wasn't just looking at goals and assists, Kovavic probably wont have much more than what RLC had but he was a second string player and sub at Real, where as RLC played every week as a winger in a team where he and Zaha when he returned were the key players realistically speaking. We all know Kovacic is a much better and much more developed player than RLC. He will offer much more to the team. Ruben was always going to struggle because as a player hes still got a lot to get. Kovacic isn't world class or isn't as good as some other top MF players in the PL but the one thing the guy has going for him is he is more than good enough to contribute straight away, hes always had the ability but never played regularly at Madrid, in my eyes he can make that jump and get much better because hes playing every week. He won't look out of place for us, Ruben would. Its a nice option maybe but for a 22 year old guy who needs to play its stupid to sit and play minutes only in the Europa League and cup games. If Fabregas and Kovacic weren't injured/not match fit Ruben wouldn't have been on the bench yesterdat. 

[Vybzkartel 284]

The difference between him and Kovacic was stunning. Ross was probably having one of his best games for us but as soon as Kovacic came in you could see the gulf in class between them. 

[Stats 7,056]

21 hours ago, Vybzkartel said:

The difference between him and Kovacic was stunning. Ross was probably having one of his best games for us but as soon as Kovacic came in you could see the gulf in class between them. 

TBH, it is more easier to look better when coming on as you are completely fresh coming against tired legs.

[Henrique 9,133]

21 hours ago, Vybzkartel said:

The difference between him and Kovacic was stunning. Ross was probably having one of his best games for us but as soon as Kovacic came in you could see the gulf in class between them. 

Mate, Kovacic came in with Hazard. Its easier to look world beater when you playing alongside Hazard instead William...

[Vybzkartel 284]

5 minutes ago, Henrique said:

Mate, Kovacic came in with Hazard. Its easier to look world beater when you playing alongside Hazard instead William...

I understand that, but the decision making between the 2 was worlds apart. Barkley is not the smartest player out there and has always been criticized for it by all his past managers. Kovacic is just a level up. 

[!Hazard! 3,394]

23 hours ago, Vybzkartel said:

The difference between him and Kovacic was stunning. Ross was probably having one of his best games for us but as soon as Kovacic came in you could see the gulf in class between them. 

I really really wanted him to succeed here and was expecting big things and tons of goals from him this season before Kovacic was signed. That being said, the difference between the two is massive like you said. Kovacic is proper world class player, dribbles like Hazard, defends like Modric