Is Barkley becoming a legitimate option?

[Smurphy Paw]

Three goals and three assists in his last three games
Finally living up to expectations
Dirt cheap
Low ownership

[Weedie]

I think so, I'm contemplating getting him in.

[Tacalabala]

If he can hold down a place, absobloodylutely. Today was the first time he completed a full game.

[escape_to_victory]

Depends on Hazard news for me


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[blahblah]

What does Eden have to do with it?

[um09a2k]

Too much of a rotation risk, competing with RLC and Kovacic for one position.

[swadd1er]

Really tempted but as mentioned, if he’s going to end up back on the bench when Hazard returns there’s no point. Another Ramsey scenario perhaps?

As the manager, can you really put someone on the bench in as good form as he’s in? I suppose Emery’s done it with Auba and Pep’s done it with Sterling + others.

[blahblah]

It is Kov, Fab or maybe RLC who would replace him, not Eden who plays with Pedro\Will i an either side of a non-scoring CF

It is far from daft for him to carry on starting as Kov\Kante and Jorgi aren't particularly attacking. But he could well be one rotation risk too many

[math!]

That position belongs to Kovacic when fit. I was already considering Barkley but too risky.

[carver]

That position belongs to Kovacic when fit. I was already considering Barkley but too risky.

Are you sure ? Kovacic played Europa league

[blahblah]

That position belongs to Kovacic when fit. I was already considering Barkley but too risky.

Are you sure ? Kovacic played Europa league

This is part of my temptation, tbh. Kov, Kante and Jorgi just don't fill the Hamsik type of role which Sarri wants, while Ross and RLC do, and possibly Fab, although age may have caught up with him?

I thin that I am thinking more of dumping Rich with this OOP CF mirage.

[math!]

That position belongs to Kovacic when fit. I was already considering Barkley but too risky.

Are you sure ? Kovacic played Europa league

I guess we will have to ask Sarri

I would love to see Barkley become the player that Football Manager assumed him to be years ago

[No Way Jose]

Apologies to whoever I chastised for picking him this week! Looks who is laughing now

Still a dud pick for me though.. but what do I know

[eastcentral1]

Pretty sure Kovacic was fit today. I reckon Barkley got the nod in part cause Hazard was missing, and we needed his direct attacking play. We've still got a lot of competition for that midfield spot, but Sarri's post match comments suggest to me that Barkley is no longer behind Kovacic. Still a wait and see for me.

[blahblah]

Interesting that the other 3 aren't good enough (going forward) without Eden.

Was Kov bought when Kante was being eyed up by PSG?

I can understand the appeal of playing those 3 initially to protect the defence, but it doesn't fit the Sarri "model" (or philosophy in LvG speak) as none of them are Hamsik?

[Pirlo's Beard]

none of them are Hamsik

You're right, blah. Clearly they need some dafter hairstyles in that Chelsea midfield.

[blahblah]

none of them are Hamsik

You're right, blah. Clearly they need some dafter hairstyles in that Chelsea midfield.

For all his 31 years he remains a raw, unpolished entity, a sort-of footballing hyena, a snarling, physical force eager to sniff out a weakness and deliver a telling blow. apparently from https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... -ancelotti

His hair is a bit lie a rugid\macho Paul Reubens Bill Cosby defended Reubens, saying "Whatever (Reubens has) done, this is being blown all out of proportion". oops re that character reference

[eastcentral1]

Interesting that the other 3 aren't good enough (going forward) without Eden.

Was Kov bought when Kante was being eyed up by PSG?

I can understand the appeal of playing those 3 initially to protect the defence, but it doesn't fit the Sarri "model" (or philosophy in LvG speak) as none of them are Hamsik?

I don't think he was ever seen as a Kante replacement. He's very comfortable with the ball at his feet, both tiki taka and dribbling. So he's good at the transition. But he does most of his work in those areas of the pitch and has very few goals to his name. I assume Sarri identified him (correctly) as someone who could fit into his style quickly.

[MiNiMaL_FuSS]

Interesting that the other 3 aren't good enough (going forward) without Eden.

Was Kov bought when Kante was being eyed up by PSG?

I can understand the appeal of playing those 3 initially to protect the defence, but it doesn't fit the Sarri "model" (or philosophy in LvG speak) as none of them are Hamsik?

I don't think he was ever seen as a Kante replacement. He's very comfortable with the ball at his feet, both tiki taka and dribbling. So he's good at the transition. But he does most of his work in those areas of the pitch and has very few goals to his name. I assume Sarri identified him (correctly) as someone who could fit into his style quickly.

This. Kov is a talent footballer, but he definitely more of a transitional/box-to-box type than he is someone with an eye for a goal.

For me Barkley gets brought on whenever Chelsea need a goal or if Eden is taken off as he's that bit more attacking - I don't see him becoming more than that sadly.

Avoid for me - although if Eden's back is still playing up the next couple of matches then I'll regret that!

If you've got spare cash burning a hole in your pocket he'd make a great 5th!

[Smurphy Paw]

It’s as the 5th midfielder I was mulling it over. Depending on your purchase price, Hazard/Højbjerg to KDB/Barkley costs the same money.
TBH it’s not my usual type of move and I probably need to put any spare ££ into my forward line rather than a back up player who will troll me from the bench when not needed and have the weekend off when required (sadly much like Højbjerg this weekend!)

[carver]

The stuttering form of richarlison and Maddison and the fixture slump of Fraser makes Barkley less of a risk to punt on .

If kov and RLC get a league cup run out then the decision is easier .

P.s. I'm not getting him ...

[alexmj]

He had no touches in the box yesterday.

[Joccki_10]

He had no touches in the box yesterday.

And he got 17 points. Imagine when he does get touches in the box.

[blahblah]

He had no touches in the box yesterday.

And he got 17 points. Imagine when he does get touches in the box.

ooo err missus

[wonkypenguin]

I've brought him in for Richarlison with one of my frees while I decide. Worst case I use the other one at the end of the week to bank the 0.1 profit.

[blahblah]

Interesting that the other 3 aren't good enough (going forward) without Eden.

Was Kov bought when Kante was being eyed up by PSG?

I can understand the appeal of playing those 3 initially to protect the defence, but it doesn't fit the Sarri "model" (or philosophy in LvG speak) as none of them are Hamsik?

I don't think he was ever seen as a Kante replacement. He's very comfortable with the ball at his feet, both tiki taka and dribbling. So he's good at the transition. But he does most of his work in those areas of the pitch and has very few goals to his name. I assume Sarri identified him (correctly) as someone who could fit into his style quickly.

This. Kov is a talent footballer, but he definitely more of a transitional/box-to-box type than he is someone with an eye for a goal.

For me Barkley gets brought on whenever Chelsea need a goal or if Eden is taken off as he's that bit more attacking - I don't see him becoming more than that sadly.

Avoid for me - although if Eden's back is still playing up the next couple of matches then I'll regret that!

If you've got spare cash burning a hole in your pocket he'd make a great 5th!

Hmmm, yep to both and adding 2 and 2 to get to 3: Kov is on loan, and seen as was a low\no risk way of transitioning to Sarriball (honestly, I didn't make that word up) while the likes of Barley and RLC got the idea of it. Although in theory Fab could have done this, I sense CFC know something about Fab's legs etc and they don't seem to be interested in offering him a new contract?

I was critical of Barkley at Everton as he rarely\never passed and certainly the simple ball was usually beneath him. However, preseason and earlier he was always passing, even when if wasn't the best option - and usually to Jorgi. I guess this was him being over zealous or stupidly taking Sarri's "give Jorgi the ball, so he can focus the attack" a tad too dogmatically as he was doing it when the attacks were flowing. (I think it was Ross who had the ball wide left on edge of opponents Pen Box and picked out Dave at RB pretty much on the halfway line, and not far from the touchline. Apologies to him if it wasn't him, but such a pass was made in the Prem a week or two ago.)

And 3 is the magic number?

My real worry would be if he was getting those 2 min 1 point things. 0 or starting would be fine for me to have him as 5th Mid.

[xJosh-]

3 goals and 3 assists in his last 3 games surely makes it his place to lose over kovacic. Kante is a guarantee and probably Jorginho but you can’t argue with those numbers. If he was playing badly and getting those numbers it would be hard to argue not playing him. Easy pick if you fancy him but for meI would say it’s one of them where he’s still a CM so v unlikely he carry’s on scoring like this and you’ve already missed the boat.

[Panserjohan]

Never!

[ricardo68]

Heavily traded in and recommended by the scout suggests - NO !!

Hehehe

[um09a2k]

So Kovacic starts league cup. Probably means Barkley on for this weekend.

Now this got interesting.