Other games 21st/22nd/23rd Dec

[RedReet]

He's so much more technically gifted than Rodwell though. Awareness, vision, decision making, close control; he has already got a skillset few English CMs have, he'll be able to dictate games played at a slower tempo if he develops as he should. Scholes is the only other player England have had like that in a very long time.

Well time will tell. If he turns out to be half as good as Gerrard, then Everton will have a world class player on their hands (until he goes to their parent club).

[meffin]

Barkley is very good already and only 20. Stevie G wasn't the best in the world at 20 and got a lot better- so will Barkley.

I don't think he will develop into the player Gerrard is, but he has the potential to- just depends if he can resist a big fat contract from City, just to sit on the bench and waste his potential.

[RedReet]

Barkley is very good already and only 20. Stevie G wasn't the best in the world at 20 and got a lot better- so will Barkley.

I don't think he will develop into the player Gerrard is, but he has the potential to- just depends if he can resist a big fat contract from City, just to sit on the bench and waste his potential.

TBF, at a similar age Gerrard was lifting trebles and starring for England. That's not taking anything away from Barkley either, he's obviously playing for a lesser team and is a year younger, but I think it's easy to forget just how good Gerrard was sometimes.

[john316]

I think Moyes wasting a year of him last year didn't help him. He's got that extra bit of class about him that stands out. Not sure though exactly position he plays though long term. Not a striker, not really a 'no.10', not really a wide man and not a central midfielder.

[Norbs]

Bit like Gerrard then

[RichC]

Sounds exactly the same

[Chris]

No chance. Barkley's good but he's nowhere near Gerrard's level IMO.

Yep, thats quite clear. Doesn't have the vision or passing ability, decent dribbler, stunningly bad composure when infront of goal sometimes like yesterday when he was clean through.

[RichC]

He's 19

[meffin]

He's 19

He turned 20 this month

[meffin]

Few city fans I've spoken to are confident he'll be going to them at some point. Apparently they have been tasked with signing the English "next big thing" so its either him or Luke Shaw.

Might be bollocks, like.

[RichC]

Well close enough!

He's going to develop and get better hopefully not at Everton or their parent club though

[Norbs]

Sounds exactly the same

What stood Gerrard out was sublime ability and being able to win games on his own. He was better than 99% playing in most positions across midfield. Most amazingly though was that no opponents ever managed to find his Achilles. I can remember Gerrard having plenty of bad games, and occasionally being out muscled, but not through being tactically negated.

I think Barkley looks more like a Lampard player and as such might be easier to suss out over time. He looks to have an angry side, this could cause him problems

[Norbs]

'Was' as in his best days are sadly behind him

[RichC]

What stood Gerrard out was sublime ability and being able to win games on his own. He was better than 99% playing in most positions across midfield. Most amazingly though was that no opponents ever managed to find his Achilles. I can remember Gerrard having plenty of bad games, and occasionally being out muscled, but not through being tactically negated.

I think Barkley looks more like a Lampard player and as such might be easier to suss out over time. He looks to have an angry side, this could cause him problems

More ability on the ball for me than Lampard, he's a good young talent that'll get better if he keeps working at it but he's a long way to go.

[Norbs]

Personally, I hope he gets gangrene and ends up playing for Marine reserves