Moving On? A Ross Barkley Conundrum

If Koeman puts together a side on the playing field winning silverware this time next year, no-one will care about the likes of Barkley and Lukaku. Players come and go, the club will always remain.

As for Barkley himself, he was never going to be our answer to Gerrard. He is not a player who takes the game by the scruff of it neck and drives the rest of his team mates forward. Us fans need to become mentally stronger and let go of the sentimental side, we want to finally win something.

The biggest clubs in football that get success aren't shackled by postcode affinity... I can't imagine that happens at Real and Barca to such a degree. I am sure someone will tell me wrong.

All I want is for my son, and my much younger Blues fans, is to see a trophy, let alone a League winning team. Like I did in the Eighties.

Can't do all that in this era by not being more hard-nosed in business.

If the tactics and team selection, and overall team performance, are poor, Barkley also tends to be poor. When the team gels, Barkley excels. So he doesn't take games by the scruff of the neck and sort things out. In that sense he's not a leader. We clearly need a leader for attacking creativity, and he's generally not that. So if he stays here, perhaps our expectations of him will need to be changed. To ones where we expect him to be useful, seldom a game changer, but where he thrives in better company as we get new signings.

A good manager gets the best out of what he has available, until he can get what he considers better. Our relatively poor away form is a puzzle apart from some tactical issues. Assuming tactical issues are a big contributor to this problem, provided they are sorted by the manager, then we could reasonably expect further improvements in Barkley's impact, in away games particularly.

In addition, there still seems a mentality problem pervading the club, for example in Derby games. Barkley seems to get caught up in that, and again he's no leader of men in terms of inspiring the team to get out of this rut. But again, if this problem is sorted by the manager, then we could expect Barkley to be less affected in the big games.

So in my opinion, there are several IFs to do with how Barkley might fare next season and beyond. It seems to me that tactics and mentality could have a big say in how he performs. They seem more likely to impact him, than he to impact them.

Note to self: do something interesting when no games are on and avoid rumour like the plague!

Ross is supposed to be one of our few star players and to be fair, 5 league goals and 8 assists is not a bad haul this season, just not great from someone who's supposed to be one of the star attacking players. (Even Jagielka has 3 goals and 2 assists and he's a centre-back who played half the season. Also has two MotMs).

In comparison, Coutinho (only 1 year older than Ross) has scored 12 league goals this season and 7 assists, whilst playing 5 games less! He also has 7 MotMs (averages one every four games for 'them'). That is what we've been waiting for from Ross but I just don't think it's ever going to happen.

I like Ross and the fact he came through the club but from a pure footballing / business sense, I personally think the club should cash in and move on. He's a good player to have in the team/squad but not one you can build a team round and if other clubs are offering silly money, then sell.

We can't attract the elite players because we can't offer Champions League football or 𧶀k a week wages. There's FFP to take into consideration and our annual turnover is way below the top 6 teams.

I don't expect us to be throwing silly money about, buying star players like Chelsea and Man City did when they bought their titles. I think we will have to be shrewd in the Transfer market... follow the examples of Atletico Madrid and Dortmund by spending wisely and putting together a side that can compete with the much wealthier clubs.

As for Barkley, I want him to stay... but wouldn't be devastated to see him leave. He's done okay since the turn of the year but I'm yet to be truly convinced he is the playmaker we need. I'm also getting a little tired of the Lukaku ongoing saga... he clearly wants to move onto bigger things – 𧴜 million for Lukaku and Barkley along with whatever extra money available in the summer, will give Walsh and Koeman massive kitty to rebuild the whole squad.

I'm as sure as you that we cannot buy who we want. I didn't want to be too dogmatic in stating that.

I'd hoped we had moved on from the last few years with Kenwright in charge of transfers but it looks like he still has a big say in these matters...

Unless Moshiri is just biding his time before he buys the rest of Kenwright's shares and waves him goodbye, or is that just wishful thinking?

Rom wont sign a new contract. Fine. Lets help him find a new club in the summer.

It's not fucking difficult.

If, and I mean if, Koeman doesn't want him or care for him, then he should move on, but that doesn't mean he should carry the can for a manager who is beyond caring.

As I have said before, I doubted it was about money, more so Barkley having principles about the way he is treated and why... (or made an exception of).

He has been potentially a great player for 4 years; successive England managers have realised that he is not the finished article... so, in my book, it's time to move on.

Getting Sigurdsson or Lanzini or Klaassen or Mata or Gotze or Bernado Silva or Motta or preferably two of them would be a sign of intent.

If Ross stays, then he should be back-up – and then perhaps he would realise what he has to become to fulfil his potential.

At 23 years of age and getting paid over £50k a week, I would expect Ross to respect and fall in line with his manager and the rest of the team.

Gone are the days when football is an arm around the shoulder. It is now a highly paid profession and, as Peter Reid said, if he doesn't want to be here... ship him out asap.

A lot of us feel for Ross and hoped that he would be the next Rooney but it has become obvious to all and sundry that, despite his undoubted ball skills, he is not the complete article and looks like he never will be.

For that reason alone, he should stay at "his" club but – if he wants to be a dick about his contract – then we should let him go.

Maybe Ross thinks Ronald doesn't rate him that highly, and maybe Koeman thinks Barkley has now started to show improvement in his game since the start of 2017?

Maybe this is the reason that the manager has started putting pressure on the player to sign a new contract, because he's starting to improve and he might also actually be starting to win him over?

Whatever the answers, the whole top and bottom is the same because, if Ross Barkley won't sign a new contract, then the only way he won't be sold is if he's prepared to sit out the final year of his contract, with everyone knowing that he doesn't want to play for Everton FC anymore...

Gordon, mate, there's no conundrum there. It's simple logic. If we want better than we have, we have to pay more, unless we get lucky. If you want to upgrade your car, house, or computer, you're going to be paying more than the value of what you're selling.

Everton have to move on with or without these players and let's face it, Ross and Rom do lack certain qualities as we have seen over 3 seasons despite some obvious talents.

Bolasie may have really started up a great partnership with Rom that might have seen the club finish in the top four but subsequent injuries to other areas put paid to that, as some poor results have proved since the end of March.

It is quite obvious that the defence is poor and although Jags. and Williams are steady performers they are a liability together because as aging performers along with Baines they really struggle to contain even teams like Watford the other day.

When you look at Spurs and Chelsea's back lines you realise just how ineffective Everton's is in comparison despite the raiding of Seamus before his injury. Even when Funes Mori played, the centre of the defence still looked shaky and with the less than top-class goalkeepers we have available the problems were always there.

If Koeman moves forward without really addressing that back four problem, then it will be déjà vu next season.

I have never seen so many words wasted on a single player in my life watching Everton.

Problem is, one year left on contract and not signing a new contract. What are we to do?

Only one outcome. Sell him and wish him well. Ambition and money should not be mentioned. If anyone thinks Koeman has been harsh on Barkley, it has worked. Barkley has been much improved.

Everton need to sell players who want out, and quickly. Three months till the start of next season.

I don't think anyone that he may want to go to is going to come in for him as anything other than a bench-warmer and not at the price desired.

I actually think he has been hampered by Lukaku's lack of intelligent movement but he needs to learn how to bully and control a game

My beef is that I don't like the way things are being done, for so long we have heard that all business dealings are subject to strict commercial sensitivity... well, that's gone out the window.. Koeman may well have views on Ross but if he isn't interested in signing or if Koeman doesn't want him then just do the business and let him go.

Or let the board handle it. (who is supposed to be handling these negotiations and why is Koeman issuing the ultimatum in these "commercially sensitive negotiations?"

I don't want him to go. But I understand his reluctance to stay. But it doesn't do his value any good by publicly hanging him out to dry.

I have one response – Dele Alli. 2-3 years younger than Ross but what a player! That is the standard he needs to get to.

Sigurdsson has 9 goals and 13 assists from 36 starts in the Premier League.

The teams above us all seem to have better second strikers and number 10s than us. Based on these figures, Sigurdsson might help us to bridge that gap, especially considering we are a much better team than the one he currently plays for - presumably he would have had even more goals and assists in our team.

I think Barkley has tried his best for us, especially since January, but he just doesn't produce enough in the final third for me. That key pass often goes astray, he'll turn back on himself or something like that.

Time to cash in for me. We need an upgrade in any weak areas, and we need better quality and consistency from the attacking midfielders and wide players.

"I don't expect us to be throwing silly money about, buying star players like Chelsea and Man City did when they bought their titles. I think we will have to be shrewd in the Transfer market"

I have a sneaking suspicion we will splash out a considerable sum this summer, particularly after the damp squib of last year and the noises Koeman has been making about shortages in his squad (even more so if one, or both, of Barkley and Lukaku are sold). However, that is something of a worry in itself. My concern is what we will end up with after whacking down what will in all likelihood be, for this club, unprecedented amounts.

Nothing I've seen thus far from Koeman or Walsh gives me great confidence in their ability to conjure up game changing signings, whether they be bargain buys or considerably more expensive captures. Schneiderlin was a signing of convenience who had worked under Koeman before, was available and was looking to get regular games. Gueye was a bargain for the price, but a known solid quantity well scouted over a year before.

Apart from that, every signing and almost every name strongly linked (Tielemans apart), has seemed unimaginative in the extreme and struggled to engender even a slight raise in pulse.

㿆M for Bolasie. 㾹m for Williams. Near misses for cloggers Kone (㿀m) and Sissoko (㿊m) and the bang average Arnautovic (㾺m) and Belfodil (㾶m) thanks to the saving grace of outside forces.

Rumours of circa 㿞m for Pickford and Sigurdsson and a return for Rooney?

At that rate we could end up with a squad costing the sort of money we could only fantasize about a few years back, but barely besting the quality of player we possessed under Moyes and Martinez for the most part.

A signing such as Sandro would seem a sensible start, but it's hardly likely to have Jim White busting out at the seams and the temptation to 'make a statement' by spending big is always going to be bubbling under the surface while Moshiri seeks to make his mark.

Spot on – one of the impacts of the increased broadcast revenue is, as well as filling the pockets of players and agents even further, clubs are demanding ever higher transfer fees. Also we need to remember that all clubs benefit from this increase in broadcast revenue. It is the clubs who have huge commercial income who are ahead of the pack – and we've lacked in this area for years.

Where people like Walsh and to a lesser extent Koeman really earn their corn now is in spotting talent at a decent price. It's fine to shift someone like Barkley out for 㿏m, but if you're spending 㿅m on Johnny Average to replace him, with agent cuts and bonuses etc. you are no better off. Finding bargains like Gana last season, or potentially Sandro is key, along with progressing our youngsters.

From my point of view, I can't see how he is disclosing anything of significance. Contract offered, has not been signed. If player doesn't sign, he has to move on as he is too valuable an asset to be allowed to devalue. No details of the talks, value or terms. Everybody knows he hasn't signed.

Koeman doesn't want or care for him?? Riiiighhht.... because he drops him when he plays badly and doesn't go all wobbly at the knees when he puts in a good performance?

Listen to his post-match comments. Read the interviews. In pretty much every one, he states that he wants the player to sign. But if the player doesn't like the manager, that's fair enough, perhaps he feels he will be better treated elsewhere. Okay then, let the club know and be on your way with best wishes for the future.

We either secure our investment for a further period or we realise its value now when it's at its highest.

That said, I think it's sensible to be consistent with one's "messaging", and I don't think Koeman has with Barkley vis a vis Lukaku (at least in terms of what's been put out there for public consumption).

No, it wouldn't. I'm a big Bolasie booster but his injury didn't cost us 14 points, which is what we would have needed to reach the Top 4 this year (not to mention our best stretch, January through March was without Bolasie). We were NEVER contenders this season for Top 4. Not enough talent. Period.

Paul (#23), worth pointing out that Sigurdsson has also out-assisted Barkley by 13-8 with one barely adequate striker ahead of him (and if you think Rom is lazy, watch Llorente for a while!). But I think we can all agree Sigurdsson is simply a superior player. Ross is second class... has generally the same stats as Zaha, Wijnaldum and even Matt Phillips.

My sole thought at this point is that, if Ross is the 'true blue' we've always been led to believe, he wouldn't be dragging things out this way. It's perfectly reasonable for Koeman, with the Europa League starting in July, to want to know who wants to be part of the new look team he is planning for the coming season. If Ross can't see that, then he really is blind to reality.

A millionaire already, is financial greed now the only obstacle to Ross signing the new contract? New managers require different approaches from certain players and if Ross personally dislikes Koeman and his style of management then he should go.

But, he needs to look carefully at what has happened to the careers of others who have left the club only to see their careers founder like the Titanic. Does he really want to end up warming the bench at somewhere like Spurs or Man Utd, where Mourinho takes no prisoners when dealing with under performing players?

Or perhaps end up as some journey man player, moving from lesser club to lesser club, another Rodwell, Jeffers etc?

Okay, enough, I said I would wait and see so let's do just that.

Digressing for a minute, we now hear Rooney is being offered as a makeweight in a deal for Rom. Although many are against his return, describing him as a has-been, over the hill etc, it is worth pointing out that Rooney is actually younger than Cristiano Ronaldo and would anyone want to tell that gentleman he's too old or over the hill?

It might make sense to get a couple of years out of Rooney who would probably add some much needed guile and experience to the team. Just a thought to consider.

I would look at other teams around us and below us in the Premier League. Cash in on Ross this way. For example, I would look to swap him with Swansea plus cash for Sigurdsson and Llorente. Offer better wages and Europa league football.

Mike @28, I think Llorente's work rate may improve under Koeman. With Lukaku, he has to be pampered a little as Koeman must know we would be totally screwed without his goals. Lukaku never had to worry about being dropped. Llorente has scored fourteen league goals this season and there may be room for improvement. Adding him to the squad means proper competition for Lukaku if he stays.

The squad will presumably be upgraded this summer, hopefully adding goals all over the pitch. It means we're less reliant on one player.

Not taking the Lord's name in vain might be a good activity for you also...

I honestly don't think Llorente is the answer. Yes, he's had a very good season in a struggling side and he has proven quality but he's 32 and I can't see him running around much more than he does now. I doubt Barkley would agree a swap to Swansea either.

A tough and possibly not popular decision is being made on Barkley. He's improved under Koeman, may do better if he had more options in front of him but he's got one year left on his contract and business has to rule here. The ball is firmly in Barkley's court now and he has a pivotal decision to make regarding his career soon.

Ross is being badly advised by his greedy agent. If he did move on, he will be expected to perform to the highest level or be dropped pretty quickly. If he stays he would greatly benefit if we bought two or more quality creative players to help him share the burden, and further bring out whatever talent he possesses.

The ball is in his and his agent's court now, but it looks like he's going to make a huge mistake, unless he comes to his senses and signs up.

Now I agree to an extent about Williams although the defence is far better than Martinez's defence. Bolasie I think you can't judge yet given the amount of time injured. Did we overpay? No doubt but in the current climate everyone in England is overpaying.

As for castigating them on the rumours and near misses, well we didn't get those players so no problem. Sigurdsson and Pickford imo are infinitely better than we have so as to suggesting ending up with a squad that barely tests Martinez's squad, well I think that's wide of the mark. It's become patently obvious Martinez's players are just not good enough and that includes the subject of the article, Barkley.

You may be right about Koeman and Walsh, we won't know for a couple of years, but a home record not surpassed since 1990 is nothing to be sniffed at. There is a lot of work to do, we all know that but for me, he's going about it the right way.

He sees that Barkley isn't the answer and won't be held to ransom, he cleared deadwood out of the way in January and more will go in the summer. Will we get who we need in the summer? Time will tell. At least we have European football to offer next season.

We are a work in progress. We have progressed and we shall see if we can take the next step forward. As I say, Koeman may not be the answer long term but it's premature to judge just yet and harsh to castigate signings and alleged targets who we didn't sign. Apart from Williams, most signings have done okay.

If we feel the need to have this discussion this time next year then you may have a point but at the moment, Koeman has done okay imo given the squad he has at his disposal. I also like most of the players he has brought in too. Let's see what the summer brings

If Peter Reid was the manager, Ross would not have this choice, Peter's view is a strong one, that being if you don't want to sign for the club, "leave". To the people who think the big bad manager doesn't like Ross, grow up!!

I think as Evertonians the Barkley saga is not our main concern in our push to progress as a club. My biggest concern is Kenwright's part in the upcoming transfer window.

Whether we sell Lukaku and / or Barkley, are we going to sign a number of lesser players that cost around the same amount as what we get for the discards?

"Ross is being badly advised by his greedy agent."

Has Ross told you the advise his agent is giving him? Or are you just blaming the agent 'cos, like me & loads of others, you have a low opinion of them.

My understanding is that the player employs & pays the agent – the player has a mind of his own & doesn't work for the agent. Therefore the blame lies fairly & squarely with Ross.

It's up to him whether or not he signs – for us or anyone else who may offer him a contract –I'm sure he'll get offers, but will they be from top 6 clubs?

IMO he's not good enough for a club in the top 6 with trophy winning & Champions League ambitions.

In spite of the realities of our position (no trophy etc for 20+ years), I confidently expect us to sign a quality creative player who can improve us and give our front players decent service. (We obviously need better central defenders who are quicker and can pass forward decently as well.)

Time will tell!

Of course if he's desperate to leave - well goodbye then. But I think there must be more to this – I suppose we'll find out in years to come when they are all retired and selling their autobiographies.

On another note, I see Deulofeu's scored an equalizer for Milan via a deflection yesterday yet a lot of their fans aren't sure about him after all. If you read most reports, you would think he's done very well during his time there but some fans seem to think he's quite misleading with his electric pace and skill but not much final product.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it. I can't see Barca wanted to buy him back either, so I've a feeling he will be coming back to us after all unless someone else buys him.

Re Ross, I'd say it'd be interesting see how much better our wide players (including Baines on his forward surges) would appear if instead of often being ignored when in good positions, they were seen and received good passes from a quality midfield player?

Re Deulofeu – I agree 100% with your points – we're only hearing little bits like he's scored or made an assist – not hearing the full story of what he did in the 90 (if he lasted?) minutes. A bit like judging a player from 10 mins on MotD compared to watching the whole game from in the stadium! If Barca really rated him, they'd not have let him go – the buy-back options were a "just in case" insurance policy (memo to Bill K: perhaps we could do that with Ross?)

For me, Deulofeu is very talented, but lazy & ineffective; file under "flatters to deceive" with McGeady, Lennon (not a comment on his current circumstances).

He has the most difficult role on the park. Expectations and pressures on him are way higher than virtually every other player. We expect goals, assists, tackles, vision, even miracles, and he's an easy target when things don't go to plan. Let's not forget, it's a TEAM game.

The lad needs better players around him to allow him to flourish. He needs teammates and fans alike to support him as he can't be all things to all men and always be expected to single-handedly win games on his own.

If he stays, and I hope he does, the priority is to recruit better players in the summer to allow Ross Barkley to fully demonstrate exactly what we all know he's capable of.

The reason it's out in the public domain is quite simple, because if Barkley stalls, then Everton are going to put him up for sale, and this is just alerting anyone who is interested in Ross if he doesn't sign.

It's up to the player which way this goes because the club want an answer, as they want to start preparing for next season. The players hold the power but, if they don't want to sign, then what's wrong with putting them up for sale, especially if it means losing them for next to nothing 12 months down the line?

In the first half of games, when we're (usually) kicking towards the Park End, we get a really good view of us attacking as a... erm... 'unit' so to speak.

The view (obviously) changes in the second half and the perspective and what you see then is completely different (the closer the action, the more your perspective is on individuals and you see less of a 'pattern').

Anyway, on Friday (same applies to many games this season), on a few occasions, I saw Barkley receive the ball and look to see his options. And on so many occasions he was basically looking at a still photo. Virtually no movement at all. Four or five players standing still (sometimes almost hiding behind defenders).

On two occasions, he was pressed and forced into hitting passes that had no chance of finding a (fucking static) man, "OH FUCK OFF, BARKLEY!!"

But for the most part, he just turned back on himself and knocked a ball sideways or back as they were the only options of us retaining possession – "OH FUCK OFF, BARKLEY!!!"

He's not perfect, Barkley, but, fuck me, the stick he gets on here genuinely makes me believe many on here simply don't understand football (and have never played the game).

Simply put, if he has players around him who will move their arses and make the runs, you'll see a much much better Ross Barkley.

There's no movement in our team. We don't have clever players who make room for themselves, we don't have players who are tactically aware of what's going on around them, we don't have the players with the skill to find the killer pass etc.

Ross in a team with the likes of Schneiderlin, Siggurdson, Klaasen etc... players who are clever, cute and naturally talented will let Ross blossom into the player a lot of us know he can be. But, in a team with too many stiffs, he just has to keep hold of the ball or attempt an aimless sideways pass.

I remember thinking why have we signed this fella? He kept playing through balls or balls over the top that nobody got on the end of! What a waste of money I thought.

Cue the start of the following full season and suddenly he was a genius in the company of Ball and Harvey. Had he changed? In my opinion no. It was just that his teammates knew where to run in the knowledge that Howard would find them with an inch perfect pass and the rest is history.

I think Eugene has hit the nail on the head where Ross is concerned. He may not be another Howard Kendall but better movement from his colleagues could make him look a lot better than he does at present!

Far too often he makes the wrong decision and it's not because some other player isn't where he wants him to be. Better players like Silva of City will hold on to the ball and protect it but Barkley doesn't.

Somehow I get the impression that Barkley hasn't been tuned in much this season and that may be something to do with Koeman much like Rooney under Mourinho.

It's down to attitude and the body language tells a story as it does for Lukaku over the last month.

It depends what Everton means to you. Everton is and always has been a club of the community. We're named after the local region. We've been supported heavily by the most local regions, so much so that even the area around Anfield is or was mostly blue (ask Big Joe).

The post code affinity means a lot to Everton. It means everything to me. Do I want to see us win the league like Chelsea or City with a team of mercenaries? No.

Personally, if Everton won the league and there's not one scouser in the side, then they ain't won the league for me, because that's not my Everton.

However, the "owners" want to sell Barkley, and that's what will happen this summer.

Premier League only – seasons up to age 23:

Scholes: 98 apps; 26 goals; 8 assists; (goals per season: 5; 10; 3; 8)

Barkley: 149 apps; 21 goals; 18 assists (goals per season: 0; 0; 6; 2; 8; 5)

Gerrard: 170 apps; 20 goals; 27 assists (goals per season: 0; 1; 7; 3; 5; 4)

Lampard: 185 apps; 29 goals; 14 assists (goals per season: 0; 0; 5; 5; 7; 7; 5)

-

Premier League only – first five seasons since Everton debut:

Cahill: 164 apps; 45 goals; 17 assists (goals per season: 11; 6; 5; 7; 8; 8); (ages 24 - 29)

Barkley: 149 apps; 21 goals; 18 assists (goals per season: 0; 0; 6; 2; 8; 5); (ages 18 - 23)

After eight seasons in total, Tim Cahill finished at Everton, aged 32, on 226 apps, 56 goals and 22 assists.

(source for all: www.premierleague.com/stats)

Our wing backs, depending on who is playing where, aren't bounding forward behind full backs, we do not have three or four options when he is on the ball, generally speaking he ends up holding it until others make the run, or not.

In short, we don't play to his strengths as a team and perhaps that's why the manager is finding it hard to get the best out of him.

Thinking about it some more... just who is supposed to be making those runs?? Mirallas if he plays and ?????? no-one in midfield.. all stoppers, Barry, Gana, Davis...

More often than not it becomes a deep break when Coleman, Baines or Mirallas with Davis as follow up are hitting on the break, often with Barkley or Barry hitting the splitting pass to send then on their way.

One last point.. we do not cross a ball. Hardly ever do you see a cross coming in from a full back or a wide man when we play them. They never attack a full back (except possibly Seamus but that's it). It's a bug bear with me – especially when you have a muscle-man the size of Lukaku in the box.

I realize you have this stereotype of the shifty football agent with the three cell phones working the media and lining his pockets, and sometimes it's true (Raiola), but not in this case. It's a big US agency called Wasserman Media Group, which reps some superstar Yanks, and Gerrard and Tim Howard among other footballers.

I assume the point man for Barkley is a young fellow named Daren Flitcroft, the agency's director of global football. You've never heard of him because he doesn't make public pronouncements. But you can bet that whatever advice Ross is getting from the Wasserman team, it's good. They know their business.

Keiran (#30) and Charlie (#34), my mention of Llorente was in no way a suggestion we pursue him. He's a one-dimensional player – in the air only – and, as mentioned, he's pretty old.

I don't expect Lukaku to make a move, he's always on his heels but Barkley is a footballer so he should have the brains to move and anticipate what the other players are trying to do. He doesn't; there is very seldom any pass and move from Ross, he gives a three yard pass and then stays for the return pass, getting nowhere.

He constantly passes and then moves towards the ball, instead of finding space away from the ball. Davies can do it and does; Barkley is like a moth to a flame regarding the ball.

My criticism is that he does not score enough goals, very rarely wins a header, jogs around rather than close the opposition down, and is therefore very one-dimensional..

He is not a bad player... he is just not top 4 material.

Don't get me wrong, it is a tragedy for obvious reasons but I get the impression that Keoman will be relieved to move him on for a good price. Remember, Moyes saw something in the lad years ago that made him question his long-term ability to progress at the highest level.

And then there's the exception that proves the rule: that fabulous cross from the touchline that Barkley delivered and Lukaku powered home with his head against Leicester.

You're right: we need a heck of a lot more of that type of footy!

Ultimately, Barkley as a player and a leader of the team(being the most talented) has to step up.

Any player in the world can complain about his lack of options, certainly plenty on this thread are throwing themselves to the defence of a player who does not produce performances akin to his talent level.

He has the physique and fitness to be able to trade on his skills for 90 mins, he is 24 and rarely gets injured.

The bar is high and the stick so stinging not because he is a local lad, but because he has shown skills that can separate our oft opinionated backends from our seats. We all quite clearly would like to see more please!

So this circles round to a lad whose options are 'limited' when we attack? Were is the intelligence to either understand that's the plan and you have to modify you game to suit?

Friday was the first time in ages the lad has driven forward and had a pop from distance. How much was down to him was debatable as they backed off but doing that more often will only create more chances.

Does he not realise having been freed of the drudgery of central midfield berth, mostly because he didn't have the appetite in the middle to work hard enough, he is the luxury? He's the one who has to dribble and commit, shoot more often and place doubt were there was only certainty in a defenders mind. Oh, get in the 'effing box!

He plays more often to retain possession in the top third of the field in an area were I can forgive players for taking a chance under most circumstances. So how much is down to orders or how much is down to the player?

If I were Ross, I'd leave because I firmly believe the 'managers style of play' certainly inhibits Barkley's natural instinctive game. That ain't gonna change lovers of powerful slow build up flat track bully footy. (Sorry, Koeman digs I find hard to leave out).

But I also believe if Ross was as good as many want him to be, then he would have found a way round it by now? He still may but Everton cannot wait to find out.

Most telling for me are the clues away from Goodison. Disappointing loan spells, England managers mistrustful of him and little paper talk from teams who often coming knocking at Everton for their precious gems 💎

Individually easy to dismiss, mock even on these pages, but every element has a grain of truth to it.

The saga continues... do you think Ross will get his own origin story?

'Excuses'?

So... any counter-arguments to 'he's shite!' are excuses?

You're the one who sounds desperate for an excuse - a couple of reasonable considered posts arrive suggesting possible reasons for why Barkley might not be performing like Pelé, and you're in a panic.

"I'm not having that, my reasons explaining why Barkley is shite, are good solid reasons, their reasons for why he's not shite are just excuses!"

Behave.

There are times when there is zero movement ahead of Barkley and he has to either turn back and play the simple ball in order to retain possession or, on occasion, simply hit and hope as his statuesque team-mates stand idly by.

However, there are also times when he has the opportunity to play the killer through ball and he under-hits it or doesn't react quickly enough and waits too long and the chance has gone.

Eugene, to disagree with your points doesn't mean that Barkley is shite. He's actually a decent player but, as Dave A says, he's just not top drawer imo. Too often he goes up blind alleys, slows down possession when players do make the runs, he turns back on himself so often and so slowly that he gives the opposition time to reorganise themselves then the break is lost.

His stats against other top players at their age aren't bad as you point out but I tend to make a judgement with what I see on the field. Ross can be great but I can't actually remember a game against good opposition whereby Ross influenced the game and stood out.

The players like Scholes, Lampard, Slippy G etc all influenced important games, Ross doesn't. It doesn't mean he's shite, it just means he's not top drawer. Compare with Coutinho even in the derby, he's only a year older than Ross and was woefully out of form but he took that game by the scruff of the neck and ran it. Ross just ran round in circles and the Holgate chance aside created nothing.

Yes, we need players to make movement but we also need our talented players to lead by example. Ross just doesn't do that. He's not a kid anymore, he's played in excess of 150 games and should be stepping up to the plate.

We all want him to be a success but I fear he will just be a decent player and nothing more. Sigurdsson would definitely be a step up in class. Problem with Ross is that, every once in a while, we get a glimpse what he can do... then it just disappears as fast. Frustrating to say the least.

e need someone who can do that on a regular basis not someonWe who still only shows promise 5 years after his debut.

Ste Fearns wants to see Everton win the league with a scouser, I want to see how Everton do with a striker with more movement!

He was mutually consented seemingly.

I genuinely hope you get your wish. It might be a different scouser though and I haven't a clue who the striker might be.

The legal position is that it's down to Ross whether he stays goes. Koeman / the club can lean on him to go and he can run his contract down and go on a free.

He's entitled to play brinkmanship to get the best deal and Koeman is equally entitled to publicly say what many have on here – ie, we want to do business early and we need to know where we stand.

Ross/his agent know they don't have to say anything. They can leave it to Koeman to shout his way through the negotiation and look daft. Doesn't make Ross a better player though. If Koeman had paid, say, 㿅m for such an inconsistent player, would you be criticising his team-mates' lack of movement, or would you say he's a shit signing by a shit manager?

At the end of the window, I want us to have at least two decent midfielders who play forwards, who like to shoot and score. I don't think Barkley, Mirallas and Deulofeu are consistent enough to do this regularly. I'd like Ross to stay, because I think the penny might drop when he has better, mobile players around him.

I'm not going to pretend to know what's gone on behind the scenes. I can give my opinion, which is that I don't think Ross is good enough to get a regular game in any of the teams above us... and that, if he is the focal point of our midfield at the start of next season, I will be very, very disheartened.

I agree with the guy who said that Ross's problem is he takes risks when played deeper (in areas where you don't want to lose the ball). And he keeps possession when playing as a Number 10 (when you don't mind him risking a shot, a flick or a dribble).

Lukaku has been a media darling for some time and, even though every now and then he gets pelted for his lazy no shows... his lack of movement has not been critiqued for the piss poor standard that it really is.

What is Barkley meant to do when he has a striker who makes straight line runs which allow opposition players to block the route to?

Ever seen Lukaku drop and do a give and go with Ross? Ever seen him feign to go one way then go the other? Ever seen him use the new offside rule creatively... which actually doesn't see him getting called offside. Ever seen him bend runs?

Doesn't do them... he just has one setting... a straight line.

My fear is watching Barkley play with a striker of intelligence and movement for another team.

We need better quality players and he would prosper but its stick or twist time for us with regards Ross. I just hope the club / manager have a game plan they can execute this summer.

Maybe that's why they need a quick decision from Ross as, not knowing if he staying or we have to sell, could seriously affect the game plan.

I wrote on the matchday report that Barkley suffers because of his extremely limited options, but I should not have stopped there. It's not just him; they all suffer.

Good football requires good movement; disjointed football is nearly always the result of poor or no movement. That's the reason we look like Stoke's ugly sister. Our players will bust a gut to get back, but when was the last time you saw, Gana or Schneiderlin or Barry bust a gut to get beyond Lukaku? It simply doesn't happen. Michel Platini would struggle to pick out a pass in this team.

Koeman has deliberately stalled all season long when it comes to Barkley's contract; he repeatedly trivialised it. "We'll discuss it in the summer" leaving Barkley and his agent in no-man's land. Now he is getting a taste of his own; he has lost control. His hysterical demands to "sign or be sold" don't seem to have worked.

What will he do when his latest deadline passes? Become even more Basil Faulty, then draw another line in the sand? What if Barkley comes back in three weeks and says "You know what, now that I've had a break from playing and a proper chance to mull it over, I reckon this is a good offer, where do I sign?"

Daft, corner, himself, twat, into, painted.

However, you ask if we have seen Lukaku play one-twos, bend his run, feign to go one way- then go the other? The answer to all of these questions is yes.

Lukaku often looks to play others in, he often wanders into an offside position and ambles back- causing confusion in the defence, and I have seen him bend or slow his run to good effect,

The real problem is that Lukaku is often the only one doing anything and so the options are limited. We looked so much more creative v Watford when Valencia's movement and Davies' pace down the right, were added to our play.

The team, is often too static, especially away from home. Baines doesn't help with his reluctance to get over halfway, the loss of Coleman and the attempt to squeeze Holgate into a right-back haven't helped, and the decision to play so many defensive midfielders also stymies our approach.

Add to this a tendency between Jags, Williams and Joel to launch hopeful long balls to a lone striker, who wins one in 8 of them and you see the burden on Ross or any incoming Number 10.

Of course, if Lukaku also leaves the whole scenario will change anyway.

Just shows you how irrelevant our opinions really are I guess. Money talks; as supporters, we're just observers.

You see a lot of the things I see, but what is so annoying about Lukaku for me, is that he so often probably sees someone coming in with the ball, but he doesn't try to move in front of that defender near him.

How many crosses into the box have been easily intercepted by the player who was on that same side of Lukaku for the previous half-a-minute or so already?

He's very good when he's got the ball outside the box, taking on players and trying to set someone else up, even for a return pass. But he just looks like he's always expecting any cross towards himself to magically pass over (or through...) his marker!

This may be due to being the local lad and us expecting more. Does anyone think by moving the pressure may be off to allow him to perform better?

All I know is he has improved under Koeman and will only get better. Koeman has been harder on Ross about the contract publicly than Lukaku, who has never been out of the press, wanting to move. Perhaps an arm around Ross might help things... But I fear it might be too late.

(sighs, raises eyes, tuts, mutters 'ffs!') Do you really? That's very novel, I tend to do it the old-fashioned way, based on Madame Zaza's reading of tea-leaves.

By the way, when you're expertly using this 'seeing' method, do you look as closely at player performances, as you do at TW posts?

You began by addressing me – "Eugene, to disagree with your points doesn't mean that Barkley is shite..." then add "His stats against other top players at their age aren't bad as you point out."

Yeah... except I didn't point out any stats, that was someone else.

You also (seemingly oblivious to arguments about the standard of players we have) give us "I can't actually remember a game against good opposition whereby Ross influenced the game and stood out. The players like Scholes, Lampard, Slippy G etc all influenced important games, Ross doesn't."

Think you'll find those players were surrounded by team-members who played for top 4 sides who were winning titles and cups (and were rarely involved in playing for sides for whom 7th place was an improvement on the previous two seasons).

For instance, he's repeatedly shown himself to be unreliable in scoring or taking free kicks and corners around the oppo's area (and admittedly he's not the only one in that regard) but he's also visibly useless when it comes to trying to win the ball back in their half.

If he wants to refrain from the muck-and-bullets of winning the ball he just has to make more of a case for himself when in possession, but in that regard he has a major problem of his own creation because, like any other player on the field, he'll usually have possession for just two minutes per game.

He and Koeman therefore share one identical expectation courtesy of Ross's outlook and that is "play me and I'll cause havoc to the opposition". But Ross rarely ever does, and that's why his very few "worldy" moments are already written on fast yellowing paper.

And okay, England aren't replete with world-beating forwards but they're way more mobile than our Incredible Sulk, yet Ross is rightly unselected for internationals. The lad's football SatNav just ain't switched on, and that's not permissible if we want success.

SFX: Family Fortunes wrong answer noise.

No, the fact doesn't remain, your opinion remains (facts are something entirely different).

And sentiments like 'the incredible sulk' (chortle chortle) tell me yours is an entrenched position, that I'm not going to get much sense here and that even if Barkley scored a hat-trick in every game for the next 10 years, you'd still be giving it "Yeah but they're all with his feet, he never scores with his head" etc.

If as Eugene says (and I don't doubt him to be fair) the lad is receiving the ball, looking up and seeing no runners, why have I never seen him gesticulating or calling out his team mates? I would say that the quality he lacks to be a leader in the team is... well, leadership?

I play a shit level of football. If people are not making runs up front the midfielders generally give a bit of a verbal volley. A kick up the arse.

If Ross is continually finding the same happening, why cant he be giving a shout? Would the manager give him a bollocking for a little call of "wheres the movement?"

Even Jags gives that little "Anyone actually want this thing" shrug with his shoulders and hands before pumping it aimlessly forwards!

Happy to be corrected if someone can say they have seen him do this.

Koeman had the right idea building from the back. He needs to sort out his attacking options this summer. As I've said previously, two midfielders who are energetic, mobile with the ability to shoot and score are badly needed. The grafters need people to pass to.

That's more important than what anyone 'knows' about Koeman and Barkley.

Movement, as Darren says, is everything, and so is playing with real drive, which is something Tom Davies always tries to do. I also sit in the Upper Gwladys, Eugene, and when Davies had to have a shot the other night with his left foot, it was because Barkley or Lukaku simply don't match his drive.

He broke forward, they both looked at him, he carries on driving, they then have to move forward, but it's too late, and he's already advanced to within 5 yards of both of them. A dangerous pass before will now be a nearly square pass, so he might as well just fucking hit it himself. Great save by the keeper, but if they got up to speed in both movement and thought, I'm sure one of them would have been played in on goal?

Best thing Lukaku did all night was his little dummy to let Gueye play Valencia in for a one-on-one near the end. The keeper saves it and Lukaku is berating Gana for not playing him (Lukaku) in earlier. I always hated playing with this type of player, unless of course this type of player was the hardest working player in the team!

So Eugene, you castigate people who sound desperate for an excuse and you're doing it yourself. Barkley can't influence anything because the players around him don't play for a top 4 club?

Oh dear... That the best you can come up with? Even big Dunc managed to shine against good clubs, especially the Mancs and RS, and you could pick out the number of great games he had on one hand.

Great players will shine no matter what. That's a really piss-poor arguement tbh. So you take by trying to belittle posters with acidic wit to blind your shitty argument from the fact that it's thinner than wastrel model.

We're all meant to be supporting the same team here so, if you can't reason with constructive arguement, then save your breath from just insulting someone. I think I'm over school-ground mentality now.

Whatever the outcome, I wish him well.

Have you selected "castigate" as your word of the week or something?

Hardly think I went that strong on the subject.

I merely stated that:

"Nothing I've seen thus far from Koeman or Walsh gives me great confidence in their ability to conjure up game-changing signings, whether they be bargain buys or considerably more expensive captures".

Not exactly hammering the pair and they can quite easily prove me completely wrong this summer by working this transfer window more successfully than they have the previous two. I haven't written them off altogether as weak transfer-wrangling wankers, rather merely mentioned that their manoeuvring in the market thus far has barely raised (in me) a reaction above "meh".

----------
"As for castigating them on the rumours and near misses, well we didn't get those players so no problem."

I was careful to only include those players the club actually wanted, made a verified play for and only failed to purchase due to outside forces. Anything that failed to rise above 'rumour' remains securely in the drawer marked 'speculative shite'.

Sissoko opted for Spurs over Everton; Moyes refused to countenance Kone leaving a club he was about to adrenalise with his cocaine like charisma; Arnautovic chose to stick with Stoke (despite a load of seductive 'come link up with me' calls from Lukaku) and the attempt to sign Belfodil turned into a typical Everton / Scooby Doo 'What the shit is going on' saga, with player, agent, Scrappy and both clubs seemingly working off different scripts until everyone got sick of it and the plug was pulled.

We were definitely in for all of the above, with none of those named 'links' being simple page filling defecation let loose from a red-top journo's dirty ringer.

You say it is 'no harm, no foul' because we didn't actually bag those players, but one, or both, of Koeman and Walsh damn well wanted them and were willing to spunk away circa 㿷m to get them.

That they were subsequently prevented from shelling out such astronomical sums on the most popped-arse foursome since fucking All Saints were polluting 'Pure Shores' and perforating eardrums all over the place, shouldn't prohibit questions being raised over the pairs eye(s) for a quality player or the behemothic barrel of quids they were quite prepared to throw at those bordering on bang average.

But isn't that the crux of the problem for everyone now though, with most players being decent, but not really caring that much once they've signed such a lucrative contract?

We all want to sign very good players, but it's never been so difficult with the ridiculous prices bang average players now command. We all want to be prudent or just look outside the box, because it seems to me that the more money you have, then the more money you waste, and it's possibly one of the reasons it's so hard to get excited about the transfer market right now.

One things for sure though, and that's if the final say doesn't come from the manager, then it really does leave me puzzled, or does it really matter because there's too much of a muchness in the players that are out there, right now?

From the interviews I read Belfodil was a Walsh target, the Stoke guy was all rumour and no substance, I don't think I read an actual quote from Koeman or Walsh on the validity of that.

Sissoko was a real dodged bullet for Koeman but even the very best fuck-up in the transfer window, remember Kendall's magnificent 7? Kone, well he can be a quality defender and at the time most were advocating getting him, although watching him this year I glad he isn't with us as attitude is appalling.

Fair enough you haven't given up on them but I think Koeman is in credit at the moment for transfers. Schneiderlin and Gana huge plusses; Bolasie question mark still as has been injured for a while; and Williams who is so-so. Sissoko would have been a negative but we didn't get him anyway. I accept that it could have been £30m wasted (although may not have been you never can tell how these things play out, wouldn't be the first to go to Spurs and bomb out and do better elsewhere, Sigurdsson, Pienaar spring to mind).

You may be right, time will tell but I just think it's bit too early to be too critical of transfers when I think it's been okay at the moment with players in and out. Hopefully 'okay' will turn to 'very good' this summer

The "Incredible Sulk" was a reference to Lukaku by the way, but maybe I should have checked with Les Dennis what 100 people might have said if they'd been asked who I was talking about. Sorry!

You know what, I wouldn't dispute this, he doesn't look like a 'leader' to me either. However, I would ask why he's picked out for special lack-of-leadership criticism?

He's basically playing in a team of mutes, we have senior players (including our captain) who appear to have been coached by The Pinball Wizard.

If it wasn't for the crowd shouting 'fucking man on!!!' no one would. Why the easy/easier ride for Baines/Jags/Barry etc?

When you look at these senior pros, do you honestly think 'leader!'

Dave (#93) - I'm glad my post rattled you and I won't respond to your individual points (loud whines) as I've heard them all before (always know a poster is floundering when I see "We're all meant to be supporting the same team here..." cry, winge etc).

It is a strange TW phenomenon how so many of those who confidently, loudly or stridently criticise players, suddenly get a fit of the vapours when someone pulls them up on their 'insights'.

But again, instead of replying with a constructive arguement, you throw out "loud whines and cry winge etc" toys and pram spring to mind with you when you can't formulate an arguement.

Fair enough if you post to supposedly rattle as you don't have enough in the tank to counter argue, then I'll just bypass your posts in future. Being insulting doesn't make you intelligent smart or better – just makes you small minded incapable of engaging in debate.

Hmmm...'when it can be seen'? And 'ditto for my other points.'

So just to be clear, you're talking facts NOT opinions?

Well let's take that first 'point' about crosses – key word here for me is 'many.'

Let's say you don't want to be seen as someone who, for some mad reason, has a downer on Barkley (heaven forbid) and will always be analysing what he does with a critical eye.

How many crosses are we talking about?

How many good crosses were there?

What are the figures?

Because (and this is a fact) without the stats, it is, as I state, simply opinion.

Let's have a look at another...

"But Eugene, the fact remains that Ross disappoints in so many basic areas, regardless of the alleged ineptitude of team-mates re movement."

Sorry but more none facts.

'He disappoints you' is a fact; 'he disappoints' is opinion.

So Link

(By the way, I'm presuming you're completely unaware how passive aggressive 'old bean' makes you look.)

"Being insulting doesn't make you intelligent smart or better – just makes you small-minded, incapable of engaging in debate."

That's exactly what Ernest Mayflower-Thrussett said in a letter to Oscar Wilde.

(Who's Ernest Mayflower-Thrussett? Exactly!)

Compare myself to Wilde?

No, absolutely not!

Don't get me wrong, he was a witty enough feller but he rarely got big laughs and (like you) simply was't in my league re Ross Barkley-related analysis.

(A Reading fan I think... him, not you.)

The master of quick wit and ready repartee strikes again... erm ,so good that no-one managed to get it. A legend in your own mind.

Have to admit that, with witticisms like that, I'll accept not being in your league – as I'm sure Oscar Wilde would agree too.

Meant more as an observation than an overt criticism. You are right on the count that he isn't the only one with this affliction, but he is the subject of this thread.

"Passive aggressive" had me scurrying for the dictionary however and, as I'm sure you know, it's defined as:

"Passive-aggressive behaviour is the indirect expression of hostility, such as through procrastination, stubbornness, sullen behaviour, or deliberate or repeated failure to accomplish requested tasks for which one is (often explicitly) responsible."

Can't think who that reminds me of, unless it's Rom and Ross when the ball is lost in the oppo's half. But that's only my opinion, and quite a few others'.

Agreed, he is the subject of the thread (and many others this season – an unfairly disproportionate amount imo), but he is part of a team and his performances will always be influenced and affected by those around him.

He is one man in a team of 11; ask yourself (honestly): Is the stick he gets fair compared to others?

Personally, I have no doubt it's way over the top and see much of it on TW as simply repetitive venting (my opinion – often more revealing about the insecurities of posters than enlightening about the subject).

Dave (#105) –"The master of quick wit and ready repartee strikes again... erm, so good that no-one managed to get it."

When you say 'no-one' are you speaking for the entire world or just one rather narked feller?

Love that first sentence though – "Could have sworn that you quoting, you were comparing; so, if not comparing, was there any relevance to any of your comment at all?"

(Although I personally wouldn't let my kitten run around on my keyboard...)

Nowhere do I say (or hint) it upset me, I merely pointed I knew what it was.

(If, by a billion to one shot, your boss is named Bertie Wooster, I will accept I'm wrong.)

Didn't he predict the coming of the jet-propelled portaloo and the 'dead popular' terrace chant "fucking batty-fang that Ross Barkley, for he remains naught but a nose bagger"?

Far more important than football.

In this particular case, could the lad help himself by being a bit more vocal? I think probably yes, and not relating that to leadership, simply to communicate to his team mates that they are not giving him good options. Fans may see this (may) and take note of his feelings/intentions. That "Fuck off, Barkley" could become "Fuck off, Kev". Or maybe not...

Should other players be more vocal? Yes, and it has been highlighted on TW – particularly in relation to Williams.

You add..

'Try actually reading my first sentence and it'll make sense.'

I did.

It doesn't.

And just to make yourself look even dafter, we get...

'Night worder your posts make for no sense/laborious reading Eugene'

Link

Let me guess Vulcan?

Or Jibrovian maybe?

(I do believe you're pissing yourself though...you poor devil)

Oh yeah you're too busy quoting other posters words to actually make a reply that makes sense.

There's a bag of straws that you're trying to clutch and failing miserably.

I guess you understand Vulcan or Jibrovian because that's what you write in mostly.

No coming back from that, Dave!

Er sorry, carry on...

For context, this is in line with might be considered the top midfield players Alli – 47, De Bruyne – 85, Hazard – 84. Source – Squawka.

Now, I admire Lukaku; I want him to stay, but little triangles, lay offs are not what he is about. He needs top delivery from wide. We are devoid of width right now. Ross gets the ball and nine of the team are behind him.

In the right team, I believe he will be top drawer. For now, I am prepared to believe we can be the right team.

Unfortunately, right now, it seems to me, that Koeman is setting up a team that makes Ross look a shadow of what he can be. Perhaps he is an arm-round-the-shoulder player. Ronald does not strike me as an arm-round-the-shoulder coach. Maybe they cannot work together. I hope they will because I would hate to see Ross become a star somewhere else.

Also, I think, because we've all seen glimpses of absolute sublime skill and vision from him but then more often than not we've sen moments when he looks either clueless or frightened to death of making a mistake.

I feel for the lad, especially as he's oh so uncomfortable with the celebrity side of his football fame.

I am sure he will not want to be in that position again. Tell Ross and anyone else, "Sign before Monday or you aren't part of my plans, thanks and goodbye."

Here's hoping we get all our targets in as early as possible and get the pre-season up and running quickly.

If Barkley had Kane, Costa etc ahead of him, he'd have occasions when the central striker would make a run that pulls the defence out of shape and there would be space ahead in which he could operate.

Christine Foster is absolutely right. For reasons which to me seem unfathomable, Koeman does not like the lad and has handled him appallingly: lots of stick, very little carrot. Some people respond to stick with determination, others just say, "Bugger it". Koeman is not a man-manager, he's a bully and he will cost us the best Everton-grown midfield player since Colin Harvey.

I want Barkley to stay – he has so much more to offer – and I want Lukaku to go; he is not good for Barkley or the club and we shouldn't have to explain why... it should be obvious to anyone who goes the game.

Koeman does seem to have it in for Barkley which is very worrying. He could sell Barkley and then leave the club himself. And it is Koeman who has under performed – not Barkley.

I'm sure someone will provide BOLD Links in deg2ence of, Ross, though 🙄

(see hopeless cat).

(see hopeless cat)."

---------------

"Hopeless cat? More like a lion! Got my own mane and everything. A g2erocious lion!!! You hear me mother g2ucker?"

Link

I'm liking the look of the middle 3 that Koeman is starting to put together but I think he's struggling with what to do up top. A Mata or Silva type player (probably not actually them) is what we need if Ross moves on.

I thought a new ground was a shoo-in now we are awash with money. Guess we must of gotten our selves one of those skint billionaires... Liver Building was a nice touch but we are no nearer moving home than we were 12 months ago.

Barkley... who cares??

This whole thing has become like a silly soap opera and paints the club in a very poor light to potential signings, amongst other areas. Koeman, whilst not the only one responsible, is the chief protagonist in what has been a very poor start to our communications in the Moshiri era.

Koeman and the senior people at the club need to sit down with someone that really understands communication and they need to do it fast. Negotiations may be difficult behind the scenes and may occasionally turn into a pig's ear despite everyone's efforts but can it really be so hard for a huge business like Everton to get something like this right in 2017?

Whether or not Koeman is made to look a fool is small beans in comparison to the good standing of the club.

If we truly have aspirations to be a top 4 or even top 6 club, then we have to be prepared to pay the higher wages that those clubs offer. If clubs below us are able to outbid us and offer better salaries then we will be going no further forward and Koeman and his project will be dead in the water.

Moshiri has to get Kenwright out of the picture when it comes to contract negotiations or I sense another disastrous transfer window looming.

What makes you think Moshiri doesn't share the same "so things on the cheap" mentality? So far he hasn't actually put forth any cash to sign players. We've sold players like Stones and used that cash. But actually showing big investment in the playing squad? Moshiri hasn't shown any of that.

Do you think that maybe that is the reason Kenwright chose Moshiri to come aboard? We already see that plenty of the supporters are happy to settle for a third string Southampton castoff as the "best we can expect" because we're not in the Champions League.

I'm beginning to feel like I've seen this movie before.

Link