England U21s would be backward step for Barkley

It just may be the making of BarkleyÂ’s potentail to be given better coaching of the modern game than what he seems to be recieving at F.F.

Sometimes you need to take a step backwards in order to take two steps forward.

Also let's be fair, his form is awful; a run out in a favoured position with less pressure may help him enjoy his football.

As an England fan I also want our best players playing in the side. A stronger team means more chance of success and development of a winning culture. The current system sure as hell hasn't been working.

Shot to pieces at the moment and scared to try anything. Moving him after QPR performance to accommodate Barry did not help anyone.

I fear he will go through his career with all these flaws in his game because he does not seem to have progressed despite being a regular first team player over the past 18 months. Ross cannot be compared to Rooney in any shape or form. I hope I am proved wrong but I doubt he will ever reach anywhere near that level.

Playing for the Under-21s can hardly do him any harm, but given his recent poor form and lack of progress, would he be an automatic choice?

Maybe Ross should pay heed, albeit for totally different reasons... it shows that, without the right application, that immense talent is just a wasted luxury.

Well, I have news for Roberto: Ross is a centre-midfield player who had his best game in that position against QPR.

Ross has lost his football mojo. The only way he will get it back is to play him in the centre of midfield next to Besic or McCarthy for the rest of the season.

And he SHOULD go to the Euros for more experience as he got nothing but earache from Woy at the World Cup.

I think the guy needs all the experience he can get at present as for sure he's going nowhere under Martinez. And whilst Hodgson gets criticism for his handling of the player, I think his is the more honest approach because all the flattery has done nothing for him whatsoever.

We've got quite a few players with limited experience but who are in key positions. Robles, Lukaku, Barkley, Stones, Besic. You would hope the senior pro's would be pulling their weight, but many are just as guilty of playing below par.

As key creators and goalscorers Barkley and Lukaku are doing the most difficult job in football and both have come in for a lot of stick. Lukaku, by his own admission, has sorted his head out in the last few weeks and is giving every game 100% effort. Hopefully Barkley will do the same.

If I'm honest I don't think Barkley should be in the U-21's. He's gone past that level, ability wise. He needs to be playing with players of a higher level to gain anything useful. Whether his form is good enough for the full squad is another matter.

My opinion is that either he goes with the full squad or stays at home.

I would just like him to get a consistent run in our team playing behind the striker... which will help him to get into some kind of rhythm and help him find some consistency. It isn't beneficial to anyone trying to jam Naismith and Barkley into the side at the same time; neither of them are wingers and more often then not, Barkley is played out of position out on the wing... and it's clear that this isn't young Ross's position and he doesn't (yet) have the maturity keep swapping about in different roles.

Sadly, Naismith (for all his commitment and hard work) is still a very limited footballer. Barkley has 5 times more natural ability... so lets just keep him in the side in a settled position and let his natural ability develop and shine through.

My thoughts are that he should, when everyone is fit, play in a midfield 3 with McCarthy and Besic and be given some freedom.

When he's pushed further forward, he's easier to mark and he is also reliant much more on trying to find intricate little gaps for passes. That kind of football intelligence to make the right decision in tight space only comes with experience.

Also, I would like Baines to play CM more often to make way for young Garbutt. Baines looked more than capable of playing midfield over the festive period and it would be a tradgedy to lose Garbutt because he’s not getting the opportunities he deserves.

If there were a midfield 3 instead of a 2 then Barkley could not only be accommodated, but also play in the position where he has given his best performances.

I also think you're right about Garbutt... although I'd drop Baines completely. Baines has been a complete let-down this season. His corners are crap, he has stopped getting forward and contributing to our attacking play so much.

In the few appearances Garbutt has had, his set pieces actually look dangerous and he has been getting forward too. I've been disappointed not to see Browning either when we've been short at centre half. He looked quality when he has played.

How about this for a starting 11?

4-3-3:

Robles
Coleman Jagielka Stones Garbutt
McCarthy Barkley Besic
Mirallas Lukaku Kone

I think Browning is a RB. He played well there against RS earlier this season and is only 5'-11" in height which is rather small for a CB. Furthermore, I watched him play CB against Sunderland U-21s and he was very shaky in that game. Looks much more like a RB to me.