Barkley could be out for months

Desperately disappointing, surely were going to have go into the transfer market again to find a replacement.

There just never seems to be any good news and even when there is its usually swiftly followed by horrendous news or hard luck stories.

New season but nothing ever changes...

Oh for those glory summer nights watching the Brazil World Cup again.

Martinez has consistently said he is the player he wants to build this team around so surely this means we have to find an adequate replacement? Osman will be best used in Europa League this season where the games are slower — he simply isn’t a replacement for Barkley though!

Dream buy would be Kagawa for me, but I don’t think we could do much worse than a loan for Ben Arfa? Great little player on his day and similar to Ross in that he loves to pick the ball up and run.

Speedy recovery, Ross, COYB!

Mmm I wish I'd cashed in on this boy when the going was good. Now he's a worthless lump of lard till proven fit.

The answer is no. You could support MU, they are the most depressing club in the league at the moment. Loads of money but very few prospects and a crap defence. As for bad news, they have just bought the most expensive teenager in the country and he is now injured. Their squad is not better than ours and nor are their prospects, dispite all the media hype. When that bubble bursts, you would not want to be near by.

As for Lukaku, well I wouldn't have paid £28 mil for him, he's not mobile enough for me and quite lazy. Bony, he should have been the target in my opinion. I watched him this afternoon and he would have fitted in with us no problem. A good striker with a nice touch and a grafter. But Lukaku is the one that as to be given our support good or bad.

As for Barry, I think he worth the three years we gave him. One bad game out of how many? So I don't think you should be too tough on him, do you?

the lad is desperate to play and desperately unlucky, but that’s football!I wish him well and a speedy recovery and cheer on YOUR team without pointing fingers at chairmen, managers, players.

Get fit soon, Ross lad, glory awaits you!

Come on, people lets get behind them. There are a few areas of concern namely our two CBs. One is ageing and the other hasn’t looked comfortable playing out of defence.

Barkley made 38 appearances for us last season... bloody injury prone sicknote that he is.

It’s all good & well talking about bringing in a loan/signing, but realistically who would you bring in who could offer us the same as Ross, without breaking the bank?

Fully agree with John@17, we needed another striker & creative midfielder before this & I’d go further another say we could do with another RB Hibbert isn’t up to it & ideally another goalkeeper, I have no confidence in Robles if something happens to Howard.

After today’s game we could of easily los McCarthy for a long spell as well!

Fingers crossed it’s weeks rather than months.

I can understand people’s frustration but it baffles me why people blame Martinez and Kenwright.

Now we are left without a single attacking driving central midfielder, Barry, Besic and McCarthy, Gibson all of a similar ilk... we need to act quickly now to find one and we need to sign another striker too.

The best we can do is forget about him and let him start his recovery. I think Roberto will be looking for a replacement for him right now as there’s still time to get a new player bedded in.

We haven’t even started our fixture congestion with Thursday and Sunday games yet and already during a twat of a pre-season we have seen Barkley fucked over and had the injury to Coleman, plus the clear and quite baffling lack of fitness to Mirallas and Lukaku.

We need to go back to the transfer market — it’s as simple as that.

Yes, it’s bad losing Ross for as bad as we may lose him, however the blessing in disguise is there is still two weeks left in the transfer window and we have an opportunity to get in a suitable replacement. A loan signing for a year would be adequate, with the carrot being from a player’s perspective, that there should be plenty of opportunity for game time with one of our leading lights sadly out of action.

Ross’s position is also one where we do already have a few alternatives: Naismith, Osman, Mirallas can all do a good job there (in Naismith’s case I believe it’s his best position).

We all knew injuries were going to occur at various points in the season – there’s no point wallowing in self pity, just get on with the job and try and minimise the impact as much as we can.

An isolated MCL injury (outside joint) is easy to grade (determine degree of injury) without scans and is in the big scheme of things a fairly rapid (2-6 weeks) to heal and resume training. Let’s wait and see what the medical staff conclude this week.

Just a real bummer for the lad either way but doesn’t make him ’injury prone’. He has youth on his side for healing. Get well (very) soon Ross.

If this was Baines, Coleman or Lukaku we’d be in real trouble.

Of course is still a dent in our team, and a massive blow for Ross. Get well soon Ross.

How so? By letting the lad train?

Funny how Everton are refusing to say who it was who tackled him. Probably afraid of a social media backlash. My money’s on Besic, trying to get that starting slot.

Tom Rogic is the same size as Ross but is still a young 21-year-old novice. I know he struggled with the pace over the border and was sent back down under on loan. Don’t know if he came back. I’ll have to check. Supposed to be a fine prospect.

Anyhow, the way our defence is shaping up. I think we might need Messi alongside Lukaku to keep the goal difference on the plus side.

The mere fact that you mention Osman as a possible Barkley filler suggests you’re the one who needs to get a grip.

We have Gibson, McCarthy, Barry and Besic as natural central midfielders and not one of them is what you’d describe as creative.

That leaves Pienaar, who’s past his best and Naismith who is more a goal poacher than midfielder.

Has a teammate thrown in a wild tackle?

Plenty of time to get in a temporary/permanent replacement too along the lines of Dembele, Holtby so for me it’s not all doom and gloom, just a setback. Thinking of positives from this news, it may force the club into the transfer market so keep the faith supporters!

Or shall we put one of these experienced top level footballers in the role and see how we go?

Jaysus. Get behind the lads for goodness sake.

The broken leg occurred training for England (take a bow Andre Wisdom) and this injury was caused by a fellow, as yet un-named blue (the smart money would be on Besic).

This is just awful luck. He was all set to progress well this season.

I’m devo for gnarls, let’s hope it’s not as bad as is being said. I can’t imagine this injury not putting a considerable dint in our season. We have Roberto to trust though, here’s hoping he can line a replacement up.

I hope we bring in another creative player along with a needed striking back up to Lukaku. Apart from that fingers crossed for Ross and let’s get on with the job in hand. Starting with beating the gunners!

Many on here have criticised Kone/Gibson.They have both suffered bad injuries & should be supported in their recovery. The same goes for Ross.

Have we been more badly affected than others? Or do we just feel it more as we have a smaller first team squad than most?

Just scroll down a bit... Man down!

I hope we sign Henen as he looks a top young talent as a striker. He is very tall but has bags of ball control and pace.

I reckon Roberto has Garbutt, Stones, Galloway and hopefully Henen as sure top players in the future. I really do not see any of the others as anywhere near ready (if ever).

We still need a striker as a priority otherwise Lukaku has no competition.

a) that this is before the transfer deadline and we have an opportunity to get in a replacement on loan (however, you don’t often get replacements of Ross’ caliber on loan); and

b) it’s not a World Cup or Euro year for him.

Still, very unfortunate. Too early to be throwing blame at Besic or anyone else, these things can happen in isolation as well.

We saw at the World Cup the fella still has it and I tell you what, he’d still contribute in both penalty boxes and we may even concede fewer flippin headed goals.

I’d like to see Tom Cleverley on a loan-to-perm deal. I think he’s a natural replacement for Osman longer term, stick and all, I mean he’s used to it already ;-) ... seriously though ... RM knows him, and he just seems to have lost his way at Man Utd, and he could be a great fit. Plus he’s potentially affordable – he wasn’t even in the Man Utd squad yesterday.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2726832/Tom-Cleverley-offered-new-contract-Manchester-United-despite-Everton-criticised-midfielder.html

I would love Holtby or Dembele, but the only problem is; you have to negotiate with Levy. I don’t think Levy knows how to analyze his team’s needs or whether a potential target would fit into the team...or if he knows what a defender is. But he is an absolute dick when it comes to buying one of his players; especially if he has the leverage — which he would with us, and certainly since we are a rival in the standings.

Forecast time out is usually more than actual time off injured, so lets hope that is the case. His absence is bound to be bummer for us, as we are already lacking in the numbers of players that score goals, he scored a few crucial ones for us last season. Also very disappointing for the lad himself, he needs as much time on the pitch as he can get and I think he would have come on a bundle this year.

As a few other posters have pointed out. McCarthy, Barry, Besic or Gibson don’t fit into the creative role. Naismith can do a job, but we need a Plan B. Osman is an alternative but I only see him contributing in the Europa League and League Cup this season. I had Pienaar in the same bracket but I’ll eat my words after the other day. I wouldn’t play him in the middle though.

Assuming we have a bit of money left over, I’d go for Hakim Ziyech, we were linked with him earlier in the summer and I was really excited when I saw the reports. He’s young, plays at the top of midfield but can also play on either wing. He’s in the final year of his contract and could be available for as little as £3m. There’s been questions over his attitude but hey, we’ve just signed Besic! I’d have full confidence in Roberto’s man management.

He’d be worth a punt; even on a loan for this season with an option to buy. There’s a player in there somewhere (he’s a full German international too); at Schalke he did very well playing in "the Barkley role" in a 4-2-3-1.

And of course, his family are apparently all Evertonians.

I’d agree with a punt on a loan, if Tottenham are willing to play ball, but I suspect they’re looking to offload him for a return.

Him being an Evertonian makes no odds in my book. We’ve had plenty down the years who were utter shite.

A loan (if Spurs allow it) would be limited risk from a financial viewpoint and would be great for us. If it doesn’t work out, we can pack him back off to Spuds. Also, it should be remembered that Ross could be back within a few months; if we take the optimistic point of view.

I can’t see Utd giving us players either. Despite all the hype about Van Gaal and signing players, they will need time for things to settle there and for the team and results to improve from last season. Their opening six or seven fixtures are relatively easy ones. This will give them time to develop. They’re hardly going to sell us players and make one of their rivals stronger either.

The cynic in me sees Man Utd in dire straits with oodles of cash, could we decline a £50 million bid for Ross? I think not.

I would imagine I’m wrong and sadly Ross is genuinely injured and could miss most of the season but where else can I post such nonsense!?!?!

The scan is Wednesday or Thursday! Let’s assess what’s happening before we rush to judgement! Would hate to be in a pressure situation with some of you...

Have a look fer yerselves:
http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2014/8/18/6030343/barkley-set-for-another-scan-as-Martinez-plays-down-injury

Just chill mons