Still no place for Barkley in England squad

Sunday, 6 November, 2016 33comments  |  Jump to most recent
Phil Jagielka will be the sole Everton representative in the England squad this month as Ross Barkley is again overlooked by Gareth Southgate.

The midfielder lost his place in the senior England setup over the summer when he travelled to Euro2016 but was not selected to play a single minute and that continued under Sam Allardyce's brief stint as the country's head coach.

Southgate seemingly hasn't seen enough from Barkley to warrant recalling the 22-year-old so he will remain in the international wilderness but Jagielka is in the squad to face Scotland in World Cup qualifying and the subsequent friendly against Spain.  



Reader Comments (33)

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Kieran Kinsella
1 Posted 06/11/2016 at 21:05:44
Hardly surprising.
Dave Ganley
2 Posted 06/11/2016 at 21:07:12
Quite right too. Ross has done nothing to justify inclusion into the England squad. I'm amazed that Jags has kept his place to be honest.
Thomas James
3 Posted 06/11/2016 at 21:07:55
It's a shame Baines isn't fit.

Barkley didn't have a good weekend so no surprise.

Ian McDowell
4 Posted 06/11/2016 at 21:11:21
I'm not surprised. But if Barkley can't get in the worst England squad for years then he certainly can't be considered as a player for a top 8 Premier League side. Time is running out for him. Not for lack of ability but work rate, failing to close down etc. Koeman should defo be looking at midfield players for January and beyond.
Eddie Dunn
5 Posted 06/11/2016 at 21:16:36
Poor Jags is in the worst form I can remember, but the squad has benchwarmers, favourites and players picked on reputation. A poor squad that will find Scotland a real test.
Carl Sanderson
6 Posted 06/11/2016 at 21:54:19
Surprised at Jagielka's inclusion. He's looking, well, old at the moment.
Don Alexander
7 Posted 06/11/2016 at 21:57:04
Barkley has a contract until 2018. I suggest the fee, if he's to be sold, will be diminishing by the week due to his career long inadequacies when we're not in possession and his not much better performances this season when we/he is.

So, in his and our interests, I hope the manager and those he trusts at Finch Farm (or a hypnotist) are able to get him to release the abilities and performances that excited one and all, me very much included, when he first came to our attention.

For the record though, last season and this, he's scored one in every four games, which is bafflingly way better than his earlier career when he was so much more exciting.

His one and only "worldie", against Man City (had he run through any other team than the woeful Skunks for his only other worldie contender, I'd allow him that one too) was a very long time ago.

His average is a goal every six games, appreciably worse than Tim Cahill. Assist stats are to say the least questionable but we all know he gives zilch when the opponents have the ball, totally unlike Cahill.

If my criticism seems harsh, I'm sorry... but anyone but him, a local lad/one of us, would never have been given the licence he's had.

Charles Brewer
8 Posted 06/11/2016 at 22:26:42
Well, since he isn't good enough for a poor Everton side, his lack of a place in the England team, itself in the bottom third of world football, must be considered only slightly unfair.

Of course if he played for Chelsea third intersex team, he would be a permanent fixture of the England first XI.

James Stewart
9 Posted 06/11/2016 at 22:48:38
Who cares? Best for Ross not to be associated with the shit-shower that is the national farce.
Christy Ring
10 Posted 06/11/2016 at 22:49:58
Barkley doesn't deserve to be in the squad, but what has Jack Wheelchair done at Bournemouth, to warrant a place in the squad?
Fran Mitchell
11 Posted 06/11/2016 at 23:04:43
From what I understand, Christy, he has played quite well, and has got his fitness up.

Damian Wilde
12 Posted 06/11/2016 at 23:20:21
Wilshere is crap. Ross, although not the best player, is better than him. Forget England (I'm not too bothered how they do), should Ross start for us?

As for a transfer fee, it wouldn't be much. Who in the Premier League would honesty buy him? Sunderland, Stoke, West Brom, Bournemouth? If anyone says Chelsea, Man City or Man Utd, I'll laugh.

Andrew Keatley
13 Posted 07/11/2016 at 01:26:28
25-man squad, and no Dele Alli through injury; Barkley is falling down the pecking order fast.
Ian Linn
14 Posted 07/11/2016 at 02:01:22
Surprised that Jags got in bearing in mind his current form; not surprised by Barkley's omission.
Phil Sammon
15 Posted 07/11/2016 at 02:33:24
You might laugh, Damian (#12), but Barkley would stand a much better chance of thriving in a team that attacked with more verve. I would compare him to say Ozil or Nasri in terms of personality.

Put any of these players in a crap team and they will go hiding. Put them in a good, free-flowing team and they excel.

Alan J Thompson
16 Posted 07/11/2016 at 03:37:58
I don't know if this one's any better but look what happened to the last England manager who didn't put Barkley in the squad.
Brian Porter
17 Posted 07/11/2016 at 06:14:21
Southgate proves that all England managers are the same, selecting on name and reputation.

Jags is in appalling form, yet makes the England squad. He shouldn't even be in our first team at present. Ross may not be setting the world alight, but Wilshere? He's only started a couple of games for Bournemouth and gets picked for England?

The is hole national team set up is a joke, pretty much like the England team itself. I wouldn't be surprised to see the passion of the Scots carry them to a victory probably sealed by a goal from Stevey Naismith.

James Byrne
18 Posted 07/11/2016 at 07:52:02
If we had of sold Barkley to one of the Sky 6 a few seasons ago for £20M plus he would be one of the first names in the squad.
Shane Corcoran
19 Posted 07/11/2016 at 08:42:16
Wilshere is over-rated but he's playing well for Bournemouth.

Barkley isn't playing well for us apart from a good performance against West Ham. Must have been close though with Alli out.

Damian Wilde
20 Posted 07/11/2016 at 09:11:07
Phil, personality, but not footballing ability 😅😅
Dennis Stevens
21 Posted 07/11/2016 at 09:37:57
The only surprise to me is that Jagielka is selected, not that Barkley is omitted.
Mike Allen
22 Posted 07/11/2016 at 10:53:45
Hard to find anyone who is a genuine international in the squad; the standard has got to be at its lowest I can remember. It's hard to believe that they are ever even thought of as international players.

Barkley should not be in an Everton shirt at the moment, yet again... along with more than a few others.

Damian Wilde
23 Posted 07/11/2016 at 12:13:35
Article on Barkley:

'Taking three touches, when one or two is suffice; dallying in possession when a simpler pass is available.'

Barkley every game this.

Another part of the article:

'He was accused of reporting for the pre-Euro 2016 training camp 5kg heavier than usual; former England captain Terry Butcher branding Barkley 'overweight, lethargic and apprehensive' ahead of the tournament.'

Not great is it?
'

Brent Stephens
24 Posted 07/11/2016 at 12:21:58
On the one hand, there's the view that you only get selected if you're in one of the Sky 6 teams, even if you're crap.

On the other hand, Jags is not in one of the Sky 6 teams and is playing some crap.

So, which is it?

Les Martin
25 Posted 07/11/2016 at 12:24:05
No surprise as how would you merit his inclusion on his current form?

As for Wilshere, I would be interested in him at Everton when fit and his head is sorted. Very talented when right and still very young with lots of potential.

Bobby Thomas
26 Posted 07/11/2016 at 12:32:13
One half-decent performance against Wes Ham doesn't really cut it for me. He's been poor for a year.

There's a lad across the park who has developed a bundle in the last couple of seasons and demonstrates how a No 10 should affect the game in terms of general play, creating chances and goal threat. Ross is nowhere near.

Dave Older
27 Posted 07/11/2016 at 12:45:09
Ross is one of the most frustrating players to watch in recent history, although Lukaku, Mirallas and Deulofeu fall in to that category too!!!! They all have the ability but only show it when they can be arsed.
Craig Walker
28 Posted 07/11/2016 at 13:16:05
What Bobby @26 says.

Just to add to that, I don't think Ross should be in the Everton side, let alone the England team. We aren't in a position where we can play someone who'll have a good game every 5 or 6 matches.

Jim Knightley
29 Posted 07/11/2016 at 15:03:46
Phil, is your post a joke? Or did you really just compare Ozil and Barkley?

Ozil – one of the finest playmakers of the modern era – with Barkley, who is less a playmaker than Leon Osman was.

Barkley, as I've said multiple times on here, and as many of us claim, is massively overrated. He is a Match of the Day footballer, applauded by those desperate to fetishise English talent, and by those who watch his goals but not his all-round play. He is not intelligent – he takes an age to play the right pass. He dillies and dallies...

In contrast, a player like Ozil, who Barkley will never get near, knows what he will do before he gets the ball. He plays it immediately. He will hold onto it when he needs to. He will orchestrate an entire team, like a great deep-lying playmaker at points, or will be involved in the thick of the action, laying on the pass for the goalscorer.

Barkley cannot do that. He does not have the ability, vision or intelligence. He is a second striker, a perennial square peg in a round hole. He does some good things and is positive when his confidence is high, but he will not become a great player. He does not have it in him, especially in the face of the rapidly evolving game. He is nothing on Liverpool's Coutinho, Man City's De Bryunne or Arsenal's Ozil.

Unfortunately, I think Barkley will hold us back like some others in the side. It is not that he is a bad player, but he is not the creative force we need. We need a Mata – we need someone to control the tempo, and to orchestrate our side. Like many English players, Barkley is lacking in that form of intelligence. That is why we so often stumble at major tournaments – it is a lack of intelligence, and an inability to adapt tactically.

Wilshere, much maligned, is comparable to Barkley in certain ways as esan example of apparent unfulfilled potential. He doesn't have his goals, but he is a wonderful creative player at this best. He signaled his brilliance by dominating the awe-inspiring Barca midfield, but injuries and off the field issues have killed his potential. Yet, if I was to bet on one of Wilshere and Barkley making it as a top class player, it would be Wilshere. He can control the tempo, he plays the pass when he needs to, and he can drive teams on, in a way that Barkley has failed to do.

I expect Barkley will occupy a place on lists of players who have unfulfilled potential in the future. He will have a decent career and will score an acceptable amount of goals, because he is a good striker of the ball and can play with both feet. But, when people lament the player he could have been in the future, they will be mistaking what he was. He was never going to be a world class player, he was merely another overrated talent, celebrated by people whose understanding of football over-emphasises the English game.

Still, I expect him to be a valuable squad player who will score a worldly every couple of months. We just need to stop thinking of him as the next big thing.

Mark Morrissey
30 Posted 07/11/2016 at 17:04:33
Kieran @ 1 says it all but I cannot see why Jags is in either. It was like watching Steve Bruce in his career embers, watching Jags try and catch up with Pedro and the others at the weekend. Head down, face fit to burst, huffing and puffing but legs akin to Peter Kay's piss-take on dads running. Getting nowhere fast.

Not Jagielka's fault at all. I feel sorry him. Must be shit when you're legs have truly gone but he needs to say enough is enough. It will get embarrassing for him. At the moment, he can afford a few games here and there but, if Koeman cannot see it, well... to be fair, Williams is not far behind.

Paul Holmes
31 Posted 07/11/2016 at 17:53:19
After watching playmaker Courtinho for Liverpool, Everton need to sell Barkley. He's slow, can't run, does not score enough goals and is the main reason Lukaku gets no service.

Lukaku in any other top six team would score for fun. Everton need to buy a playmaker ASAP. Don't get me started on OAP Gareth Barry!
Keith Monaghan
32 Posted 07/11/2016 at 20:56:16
Jim @29 – spot on!

My only disagreement is that I don't think he'll be a good squad player for us if we get up/near to where we want to be. He'll be worth very little on the market too.

I'm sure Koeman has his card marked & will replace him with a decent creative player if/when he gets the chance.

The role he's supposed to fulfil is crucial and his failure makes it very difficult for Rom, Mirallas & Bolasie (to a lesser extent) - as Paul @ 31 says they'd all get several more goals with decent supply.

Slightly off topic, Deulofeu is no better than Ross – both lazy, faint-hearted & ineffective. GD will never get near Barca's 1st team.

Peter Fearon
33 Posted 09/11/2016 at 19:56:48
Barkley should take a three-week holiday somewhere sunny during which he does not kick a ball. It might do him the world of good. He looks completely mentally exhausted and confused.

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