Sideliner

Hell this Barkley fellow was hot today - exactly what England is missing in their midfield at the moment. What a player. If only he had better players around him. Really a player to build a team around for the future. I am sure most Everton fans will agree.

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That puts him in 54 th position in the PL with 3 other Everton players ahead of him on that list - all 3 defensive mids/defenders - that is why i want more creativity in the final 3rd - 54th is our best in that department (final 3rd) and that is simply not good enough - that proves my point very well.

Then Everton must not expect much creativity and interplay in the final third if our main creater is a slow defensive mid like Barry. That is exactly why we are struggling to play through the middle like most great sides do. I would be very surprised if most Everton fans would agree that we are purposefully playing without a creative attacking midfielder in the final 3rd. That is Everton's missing link - and that is exactly my whole argument and why i am so harsh on Barkley - he is occupying space in the midfield which a creative player should do - not a dribbling shooter. Barkley should be played on the wing because his defense is too suspect to play him further back but everybody is trying to make a nr 10 of him which, as you rightly say, he is clearly not. We seem to agree on the attributes of Barkley but differ on his expected role in the team.

Who then is supposed to be our linking distributors and creative players? Because whoever they are (if it is not Barkley) then they are not doing their job in the final third. My argument is that Everton desperately needs such a player to keep things together in the final 3rd because Barkley does not suit that role.

Thank you Shukes for playing the ball and not the man. I am of the opinion that Everton's interplay and creativity in the final 3rd is lacking. In my humble opinion it is a nr 10's job to be the main link and the creater in that area. In that regard Barkley is letting us down by a long shot in most games.What is impotant is what Barkley does with the ball after a bursting run and after receiving the ball. He does not distribute quickly and creatively enough in open play. If this forum wants to encourage healthy debate members will have to be much more tolerant and much less abusive in their personal attacks on others. Some members focus on the positives other on the negatives - you need both to get the real picture. As soon as i do not feel welcome here it will be the easiest thing in the world to find another platform to share my "boring crap" with.

Just another emotional outburst by an Everton fan who cannot accept that his favourite player can ever play badly. I was not the only one on this thread who thought Barkley had a bad game. It is my right to focus on one player if i wish to - especially if i regard him as the weakest link in the team in that position.It is your right to correct me by pointing out all the good things he does. Barkley was pick pocketed like a schoolboy on a number of occasions which led to him giving the ball away by unnecessary loose passes as well - not good enough for a team's main play maker and creater. He went for goal from a long distance when Lukaku was begging him to lay it up - another failure as a creater. Everton will not go to the next level with him in the nr 10 position. It seems as though the English manager agrees with me as far as Barkley's potential as a nr 10 is concerned. Please read ALL my posts in a thread before you make sweeping, incorrect statements, mixed with personal insults. I expected better from an English gentleman from London. You sound more like someone from Stoke sir! -" just too sad" as they say.

Scrappy game with Everton's passing not good enough. We created far too few chances. We still desperately need a creative attacking midfielder. Barkley will never make it there. I am focusing on our weak spot more than on Barkley as a player. Sorry for upsetting some - but argue with facts not emotion if you do not agree with me. Good night.

Don't make such a rude comment if you clearly have not read all my posts. Look at the facts - how many balls has Barkley lost and how many chances has he created. If you lose more than you create you are not a creative midfielder.

Not only Barkley giving the ball away - others are also chipping in

Barkley is getting worse by the minute - another giveaway

Barkley gives ball away this time - remember he is our creative midfielder

Barkley loses ball again

Lukaku was begging for that ball Ross

Barkley has lost the ball just too easily a couple of times

Everton looks very rusty - very slow start at both ends - the middle is non existent

Holgate gets very little support from Davies and seems to be at sea in defense

That was a classic back 3 sucker punch - poor marking Everton

Greetings from Africa - 22h00 hours here. Good line-up good bench - now we just need good play for a nice victory!

Deulefeu is far too talented - not to make the Everton bench is unacceptable to me. Sad to see him go.

Well done Everton !! Good victory - well deserved.

Who is our spare nr 10 ?

Barkley must be less selfish and lay it up for Lukaku for a change. Barkley is not a nr 10 - too selfish - much better winger where he is forced to cross.

Lukaku losing possession twice in 2 minutes

Lukaku still shaky with soft touches