Ross Barkley

[St José Dominguez]

Not just with Barkley but with every attacking signing, if the front 4 stay fit and Son maintains the form shown last season post Xmas I think they're going to seriously struggle for starts.

We have to improve depth, options from the bench and make sure the 3 attacking Mids are kept on their toes but how much rotation is really required? Eriksen started 45 games last season and Dele 46, not including the international games they also played. I didn't see any drop off in levels as season went on, in fact they got better and better.

If we're lucky with injuries there's a huge possibility whoever signs will only start cup games and under 10 Prem games. They'll start the first 3 CL games but there's no chance they're taking Dele's place.
Son's is the only spot even slightly up for grabs and the form he's been in it's gonna take some serious work to move ahead of him I feel.

If Sissoko hadn't been a complete donkey how many games would he actually have started last season and instead of who? I want a better bench and I don't care if a player isn't playing but for the player himself they're gonna have to be mentally strong and Poch might struggle keeping them happy if as I hope all the front 4 stay relatively injury free this season.

 

[Sweech]

He's not an England international, he can't get in the squad due to his performances.
Not sure what best ever season comes from, who says or what's it's judged on.
Half the season his own manager was moaning about his performance. Most people are disappointed in him from an England perspective of not kicking on and taking a clear route into team.

If we were rolling in money I'd think fair enough, add him to the squad and see what Poch can do with him as we'd be making numerous other signings. However this is it, he will be our only big signing and personally I think it's a massive risk.

You want to go with the England National team's call up as a guide to how well a player is performing?

Seriously. Think about that for a second. Is that really the cart you want to tie your arguments horse to?

 

[Sweech]

Wanyama was better for Southampton than Barkley has been for Everton. Wanyama was incredibly consistent in his performances over a three year period. Barkley has been erratic for the last three seasons and would have to overcome better players like Son and a fit Lamela to make it as a regular into our first XI.

That's the thing about Barkley that everyone here ignores: can he accept being a regular substitute for the most part? I have serious reservations that he would embrace that role, and I don't think he has the consistency or workrate to overtake others in our squad as first choice in the three behind Kane.

If he wants to come in and embrace being a member of the squad with an understanding that he will mostly come off the bench, then he can improve our depth. If he comes in thinking he's owed a starting place and acts accordingly when he's mired on the sidelines most games, then he will have issues with Pochettino.

Not true at all.

Go read the Southampton board during Wanyama's last year.

Constantly criticized for only showing up to big games or those on television. Was criticized in the media for his red cards. Was criticized for joining us to only be a back up as most of the Southampton supporters thought that's all he could amount to here.

Where is this revisionist history coming from? Our own board was the exact same worrying about Wanyama.

 

[dagraham]

Not true at all.

Go read the Southampton board during Wanyama's last year.

Constantly criticized for only showing up to big games or those on television. Was criticized in the media for his red cards. Was criticized for joining us to only be a back up as most of the Sputhampton supporters thought that's all he could amount to here.

Where is this revisionist history coming from? Our own board was the exact same worrying about Wanyama.

Very true, although Wanyama had obviously been managed by Poch before so he knew exactly what he was getting.

I can't decide whether Barkley is a great talent just waiting for the right manager or another overhyped English player. Hopefully Poch has seen enough in him to get the best out of him. The only niggle though is he supposedly wanted Sissoko and we all know how that turned out.

 

[archiewasking]

Very true, although Wanyama had obviously been managed by Poch before so he knew exactly what he was getting.

I can't decide whether Barkley is a great talent just waiting for the right manager or another overhyped English player. Hopefully Poch has seen enough in him to get the best out of him. The only niggle though is he supposedly wanted Sissoko and we all know how that turned out.

You do know this could be Sissoko's breakthrough season, don't you?

 

[dagraham]

You do know this could be Sissoko's breakthrough season, don't you?

Could be. Don't think it will be.

 

[Trix]

You do know this could be Sissoko's breakthrough season, don't you?

For who?

 

[archiewasking]

For who?

I really hope this is a strong hint.

 

[absolute bobbins]

The market is spiralling up and up, to the point players like Keane, Mawson and Gibson, barely capped/uncapped centre backs, are being bandied around at £30m.
Unfortunately that is the nature of the market nowadays, and we have to keep pace with that if we are to remain competitive, or else get very very smart with out scouting and promotion from within.
Even then, wages wise, we are still some way behind the teams we wish to compete with, and as such are going to remain at rain of having our prized assets picked off, or at the very least having their heads turned. The one caveat to this, is the continued renewals of contracts for players based on performance, that will at least stave off wage demands in the short term, if the players believe delivering on the park will result in the offer of a new deal.

Back on topic now, £30m is excessive, but not entirely unrealistic in the current market. The twist here though, is Barkley's deal running down, which will force Everton to re-evaluate their price if nobody else comes calling. I'm sure the West Ham's of this world will weigh in with a bigger offer as they chase the top tier, but so long as Barkley rebuffs them for a higher calibre club, Everton will be forced to bow to a lower offer, as they won't want him to stay after the window closes, knowing he'll be worth next to nothing in January with 6momths left on his deal.

It's like Tulip mania and just like Tulip mania, there is going to be a huge correction of the transfer market. That will either be mandated by governing bodies or by pure capitalism.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

You do know this could be Sissoko's breakthrough season, don't you?

You must be joking.

 

[shelfboy68]

You do know this could be Sissoko's breakthrough season, don't you?

If he could breakthrough a defence once in a while I would be happy.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

If he could breakthrough a defence once in a while I would be happy.

For clarification: with or without the ball?

 

[shelfboy68]

For clarification: with or without the ball?

Can I say with please?

 

[worcestersauce]

It's like Tulip mania and just like Tulip mania, there is going to be a huge correction of the transfer market. That will either be mandated by governing bodies or by pure capitalism.

If it does it will start with us, if we stop paying money to watch games on television then the money in won't be able to keep up with the money out.

 

[SpartanSpur]

http://www.football.london/tottenha...news/ross-barkley-wayne-rooney-spurs-13312843

Rooney is very skilled in dealing with the media, so probably a non story, but this suggests to me that either:-

A) Barkley is already pretty much gone, so no point trying to convince him to stay

B) No one at Everton is particularly bothered about him staying

 

[mil1lion]

You do know this could be Sissoko's breakthrough season, don't you?

Not at his age. At least with Janssen and Nkoudou they are young prospects. Barkley falls into that category. Sissoko is in the peak years of his career. This is as good as it gets with him. Same goes for the likes of Dembele, Vertonghen and Alderweireld but they are all top class. If you sign a player at that age they need to be top quality players already.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

http://www.football.london/tottenha...news/ross-barkley-wayne-rooney-spurs-13312843

Rooney is very skilled in dealing with the media, so probably a non story, but this suggests to me that either:-

A) Barkley is already pretty much gone, so no point trying to convince him to stay

B) No one at Everton is particularly bothered about him staying

It suggests to me that Rooney was asked a question he had no authority or reason to answer, and simply gave the most polite, contentless answer he could. Nothing between the lines there, IMO.

 

[Shadydan]

If he could breakthrough a defence once in a while I would be happy.

Ironically that's what his speciality is,

 

[Mycroft Jones]

Not true at all.

Go read the Southampton board during Wanyama's last year.

Constantly criticized for only showing up to big games or those on television. Was criticized in the media for his red cards. Was criticized for joining us to only be a back up as most of the Sputhampton supporters thought that's all he could amount to here.

Where is this revisionist history coming from? Our own board was the exact same worrying about Wanyama.

I know a large number of Southampton season ticket holders and I can tell you that wasn't the consensus amongst those who actually watched Wanyama play regularly. Most of them told me we had the bargain of the transfer window and wouldn't need Dier.

 

[Sweech]

I know a large number of Southampton season ticket holders and I can tell you that wasn't the consensus amongst those who actually watched Wanyama play regularly. Most of them told me we had the bargain of the transfer window and wouldn't need Dier.

Not that I don't believe you, but that's a conversation you're now remembering, but didn't post at the time when a bunch of Saints fans opinions on the matter are basically immortalized for all to take in. It's pretty easy to pull a captain hindsight there.

The point is judging Barkley on what Everton fans are saying right now requires the exact same dosage of salt that judging Wanyama by what Saints fans said back then required.