Season › 2013-14 › News
Grounded Barkley just loves playing for Everton
Local boy focused on club and country
Now 19 and already a full England international, Everton's latest young diamond has been drawing inevitable comparisons with Wayne Rooney, his idol Paul Gascoigne — “Gazza is a legend but I'd prefer not to be compared with other players,” he says — and Steven Gerrard, his mentor in the national team setup.
He is also the subject of equally inevitable speculation linking him with a big-money move to the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United but, unlike the young Rooney of nine years ago, Barkley appears perfectly happy where he is. Gerrard, of course, knows all about devoting an entire career to your local team and he has been impressing on the young Evertonian the importance of staying with the club he loves.
"[Gerrard] was good to me when I was on England duty. I sat next to him on the coach and he gave me loads of advice," Barkley is quoted by Andy Hunter in The Guardian. "He said there is nothing better than being a local lad from Liverpool and playing for the team I support, as he's done throughout his career.
"He told me that playing is the main thing, that going to another team and not playing is no good for my development. He said the big-hitters will be looking at me and be linked with me but that the main thing is I stay with the club I'm at, the team I support and the team I love, which is Everton. I love Everton and all I think about is playing for Everton."
Spotted on a local park at the age of eight and picked up by Everton three years later, Ross describes the lonely bus journeys he had to take to get himself to Everton's Academy training ground in Netherton while his mother looked after his sister and some of the other players were being picked up in expensive cars.
He paints a picture of drive and determination to improve through his teenage years, exemplified by his road back from devastating injury three years ago when, on the verge of making his first-team debut under ex-Everton manager, David Moyes, he broke his leg in three places in an accidental collision with Andre Wisdom.
"It was difficult for me and I was upset because I wanted to play for the first team at 16. I looked up to Rooney and he had played for Everton when he was 16 and I wanted to do the same," he says.
"I was upset and a doctor in Belgium told me I might not be able to play again. I phoned my mum and she said I would be OK, so I stayed positive and when I got back to England the doctors said the doctor in Belgium had got it wrong."
His mother, whom Ross cites as the biggest influence on his career, told him that all his hard work would pay off if he just stuck at it. "I used to say 'If I play for Everton one day' and she would always say 'No, when you play for Everton'," Barkley recounts.
That kind of gritty Scouse single-mindedness is something the teenager believes is somehow ingrained and explains why Merseyside has produced so many great players down the years. “All Scousers are a bit different to anyone else. We are aggressive and winners,” Barkley says in The Telegraph. “We want to win. It is a feeling. When I was a kid playing you'd get Scousers on the line shouting ‘get in, get in' and it gets you built up. Playing Sunday league is tough. I just think it's in our genes."
And The Telegraph's Chris Bascombe describes a down-to-earth teenager unperturbed by the burden of the hopes of a nation:
"[T]he most enduring and appealing component of... [his] first major interview with national newspapers, is how he is utterly uncontaminated from the foibles of the modern game."No rehearsed bland responses, no agents demanding copy approval and no hints of media training as he occasionally openly seeks reassurance his description of a complex, paternal relationship with former manager David Moyes will not be misinterpreted.
"Barkley is not just the likely heir of Goodison icons, but sees himself as continuing a tradition of supremely creative Liverpool-born players. Products of the toughening up initiations of schoolboy football the clean-cut academies struggle to replicate."
While Moyes gave him plenty of support during his recovery, including sending him and his family to Tenerife to get away from things while he recovered from injury, and handed him his Premier League debut in August 2012, it is under new boss Roberto Martinez that Barkley has flourished since returning from the disappointment of England's early exit from the U20 World Cup in Turkey.
"Roberto is allowing me to make mistakes so I can learn from them," Barkley said. "He's giving me information about where not to make mistakes and where I can afford to take risks and I'm taking all of that on board. I'd say the new manager trusts me more, but David Moyes helped me a lot. I used to go into his office and he'd always be honest with me.
“When the new manager first came he gave me a lot of confidence by telling me I'm going to be involved this season and stuff like that.
“He said he believes I am going to be a big player for Everton this season and for seasons to come. He sees me scoring loads for Everton and he was putting confidence into me.
“The way he plays helps me because I know I'm going to be getting on the ball and that's what I like to do. He speaks to me and I'm learning a lot from him.”
In addition to consolidating his position in Everton's first team, Barkley has sights set on being included in Roy Hodgson's squad for the World Cup Finals in Brazil should England qualify.
Quotes or other material sourced from The Guardian
Reader Comments (61)
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
2 Posted 20/09/2013 at 23:56:03
I know it's early days yet, but I feel a new era is definitely starting to unfold at Everton, and maybe we will be able to provide the usual enticements for players wanting to move (CL qualification) etc... after all, it is not beyond the bounds of reality!
3 Posted 21/09/2013 at 00:02:06
4 Posted 21/09/2013 at 00:05:46
Good to see Gerrard talking some sense, even if the article was written by an arch Red, Bascombe.
5 Posted 21/09/2013 at 00:31:48
6 Posted 21/09/2013 at 00:37:10
7 Posted 21/09/2013 at 00:39:11
I hope I'm completely wrong. I honestly think Barkley could become a better player than Rooney if he plays his cards right.
Time will tell!
8 Posted 21/09/2013 at 01:04:32
9 Posted 21/09/2013 at 02:19:03
Just woke up, did I say anything stupid?
10 Posted 21/09/2013 at 02:23:02
Secondly, it's pretty amusing thinking back over the last couple of years posts on her about Barkley and the some of the comments about him not being good enough, too young, making too many mistakes etc. etc. Anyone who couldn't see what an extra special talent and truly world class player Barkley already was back then simply doesn't understand football or read the game IMHO. I don't think it was a coincidence that many of these posters also backed Moyes to the hilt, despite the 'evidence' on show on the park, they just could 'see' it.
Thank God Martinez arrived and is now building a side around one of the greatest talents to every come through at Goodison. I personally believe he is a much better player than Rooney at the same age and will be a much better players than Rooney in the future, and I thought (and still believe) that Rooney was ultra special too, so this isn't sour grapes.
I spoke to the Everton youth coaches about Barkley last year when they were over in Australia with the Tim Cahill coaching clinic and asked them whether Barkley would go or not like Rooney did. They said 'not a chance, he loves the club and we are his family'.
I also talked to Cahill's brother, really great lad and mad Evertonian, he apparently represents Barkley and told me they'd been begging Moyes to play him all Season but Moyes wouldn't, and they couldn't understand why.
If Martinez gets the best out of Barkley and builds a team around him, as it looks like he is doing, then I can't see Ross wanting to go anywhere, except perhaps Madrid eventually.
IMWT
11 Posted 21/09/2013 at 03:50:33
12 Posted 21/09/2013 at 04:39:54
13 Posted 21/09/2013 at 05:08:10
14 Posted 21/09/2013 at 04:58:12
15 Posted 21/09/2013 at 07:25:08
My only hope is that RM doesn't let Barkley's enthusiasm to play get in the way of being sensible with him. He's still young and needs to be rested at times - I'd play Deulofeu instead of him against Fulham in the cup - or else he'll burn-out.
If he starts 30 games in all competitions this season that would be fantastic, assuming we'll play between 41 and 50.
16 Posted 21/09/2013 at 07:25:32
I'd never admit it to my red shite mates, but I've always been jealous that they had a local hero all these years. I'd absolutely love it if RB stayed with us his whole career, but I think we're all a bit wary of getting too excited after the whole Rooney thing.
Ross sounds a real class act.
Lets never hear the words 'you can't turn down united' again
17 Posted 21/09/2013 at 07:59:32
18 Posted 21/09/2013 at 07:58:29
19 Posted 21/09/2013 at 08:41:11
I don't dislike Gerrard because he's good against us. I hate him because he's a diving, cheating misery-arse with a face like a fruit-bat.
His advice to Barkley is probably motivated by self-interest: Barkley will never sign for Liverpool but could go to Manchester or London. Nevertheless it is good advice.
21 Posted 21/09/2013 at 08:54:02
22 Posted 21/09/2013 at 09:01:00
From his first touch he looked completely at home, his effort that flew past the post was class, he always wanted the ball. A real player. Lets hope he stays with us for years to come.
23 Posted 21/09/2013 at 09:13:11
I am not having that at all. That leg break certainly put back Barkkey's debut and stalled his development, but there's no excuse for Moyes not playing Barkley last year. If Moyes were still here then he wouldn't be playing this year either. I think we all recall, "He's a young boy whose missed a lot of football." That translates to, "I'm shit scared to play the lad because he'll make a mistake."
Thank god Martinez has a different mindset and adapts the team to afford a precocious talent that has the fans off their seats.
25 Posted 21/09/2013 at 09:24:51
For sure, he's a terrible diver and he's a bit of a dirty so-and-so (at least in derby games). Oh, and yeah, he does indeed have a face like a fruit bat - ha-ha! brilliant! But he's a fantastic player, and I wish we had someone like that playing for us. Maybe Ross will be that good, or better? Fingers crossed.
I watched the England game and didn't agree that SG wasn't passing to Ross. I thought that was utter paranoia. He's the England captain, FFS. He's bigger than that.
I think there's more chance of Rooney coming back to us than there is of Ross going to Man U. Talking of which, another Red, Carragher is saying in the Daily Mail today that if Rooney does move he should go back to Everton. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2427111/Jamie-Carragher-Wayne-Rooney-Manchester-United-star-good-Kenny-Dalglish-pomp.html
I don't hate LFC, I just love Everton.
26 Posted 21/09/2013 at 10:04:04
27 Posted 21/09/2013 at 09:52:34
It was also heartening to see Steven Gerrard giving the lad sound advice. I am from a generation that referred to Liverpool as the Reds and had respect for their players such as Liddell, Hughes, A'Court etc. My father and two of my brothers were Reds, and attitudes such as Gerrard has shown bred respect rather than blind bias bordering upon hatred for our city opposition.
Perhaps the development of such respect will help the likes of Ross Barkley consider that his long term interests lie at Goodison Park.
It would be nice to think so but I am not holding my breath.
28 Posted 21/09/2013 at 10:03:13
29 Posted 21/09/2013 at 10:08:23
30 Posted 21/09/2013 at 09:59:35
1) If I wanted to keep a young player, the last thing I'd be doing is running a huge advertising campaign about him by putting him up in front of all the national papers and
2) While Barkley has huge potential, I prefer to sing a player's praises once they have actually made a contribution beyond a handful of matches. On the few occasions Moyes brought him on last year, he didn't look ready. There is also a chance that too much hype means too much pressure and expectation, and this backfires.
Hopefully, Barkley means what he says about his love for the club and we'll be in a position to sing his praises with good cause in a few year's time. And if I was really dreaming again, I'd hope our board would see it as an opportunity to build a CL level team around him and provided the necessary funds to achieve this.
31 Posted 21/09/2013 at 09:51:42
I only remember one person saying Ross was'nt good enough and you could never in a million years describe him as "pro Moyes", mind you the same guy was advocating giving Big Vic a center mid slot instead - draw your own conclusions.
The EPL places ridiculous demands on young bodies. Players like Alan Smith, Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, Lee sharp, were all viewed as future superstars. . They were all finished by their mid twenties. I know there are exceptions ( Giggs ) but there is very clearly a case for introducing players gradually. Whose right ? I don't know.
Moyes clearly rated Barkley, but being of a cautious nature he chose the softly sofly approach. Many people thought he was right and possibly just as many thought he was wrong.
It appears you were amused by a debate you didnt quite understand. The knowledge that Ross was talented, wasnt the issue. The issue was always about how that talent should be nutured and I gues we'll never know for sure who is right.
I hate to break this to you Robbie, but rather than watching Ross's progress - seeing things, not seen by people who don't understand the game - you were merely seeing what everyone else saw. . . The blindingly fucking obvious
32 Posted 21/09/2013 at 10:46:43
Im not sure I buy this whole burnout argument, and why it only applies to younger players rather than all players in the EPL.
Lee Sharpe and Alan Smith had horrific injuries which ruined their careers. The only case where it is true in Michael Owen and he said himself I think in an interview. But he's made out of glass and he's not a bulky lad who relies on pace, where Barkley is a big lad.
There are of course exceptions to the rule, like Gerrard, Lampard, Fabregas and all the Utd title winning side of the late 90s.
Age doesn't matter, if they're fit and good enough, play them. If they're tired, unfit or injured them, don't play them. Doesn't matter whether they're 19 or 34, it's still the same.
But fair play with Barkley. He does seem a level headed lad, especially in comparison to Rooney. I still think he's going to leave though, Everton can't afford to keep top, top players unfortunately.
I really hope Im wrong though, he can be a legend at the club. He has that potential.
33 Posted 21/09/2013 at 10:56:19
Not sure I buy it myself, but I accept some people do and I know there are lots of people with different ideas of when and how gradually youngsters should be introduced,
Thats an entirely different argument to claiming you spotted talent others couldn't
BTW Ross's injury was every bit as bad as those suffered by Alan Smith and Lee Sharpe
34 Posted 21/09/2013 at 11:07:33
But make no mistake that the reason Chelsea have loaned us Lukaku is so we have a better chance of taking points off their title rivals
35 Posted 21/09/2013 at 11:21:01
Those injuries to Sharpe and Smith were sustained mid-career and they never recovered. That is totally different to Barkley who has had his very early on and recovered magnificently.
36 Posted 21/09/2013 at 11:23:56
I saw Rooney snap at Gabrielle Clarke after the Leverkusen game in midweek, it was a glimpse of the lads intelligence (or lack of) that he got riled by a question that anybody could have easily dealt with in a mor tactful way. He has had his arse wiped for him since 16 with that greedy agent of his, Stretford the rat, I'm sure if Barkley stays at Everton and emulates anything near what Gerrard has at Liverpool there will one day be an envious 40 year old Rooney.
Ross Barkley the future is your lad!
37 Posted 21/09/2013 at 11:44:24
38 Posted 21/09/2013 at 11:57:06
39 Posted 21/09/2013 at 12:38:55
Rooney was tactless but I think if have to be the same to these idiots. I can't remember the last time I saw an interviewer ask a genuinely insightful question. It's just the same old garbage recycled.
40 Posted 21/09/2013 at 12:38:24
Moyes hardly played Barkley because Moyes is instinctively risk-averse.
It explains his tactics in some of the big games, and it also explains why under Roberto we face more of a roller coaster ride, but also more fun and pleasure on the way.
I know which one I prefer (…. so long as we stay in the Premiership)
41 Posted 21/09/2013 at 12:41:48
I am still surprised to see how many people still want to bring up Moyes, and try and somehow insinuate he held Barkley back. Moyes is gone, no matter how much it hurts that he has gone to United, we just have to get over it. Why not just enjoy and appreciate Barkley's talent instead of using him as another reason to bring up a guy who no longer manages our club.
42 Posted 21/09/2013 at 12:59:08
You may notice that David Moyes is quite heavily mentioned in the title article.
43 Posted 21/09/2013 at 12:52:06
I DO hate Gerrard;
1- He always scores against us.
2- He single handedly won LFC trophies
3- He's lauded as a great long passer, when he has the same shit completion rate as Jags.
4- His freakessly small forehead (or should I say threehead)
5- His comments after the derby
6- not getting sent down for that night club incident ( don't care if he's actually innocent or not)
7- He's a Burke.
Having said that, fair play to him for giving RB sound advise
44 Posted 21/09/2013 at 13:42:53
45 Posted 21/09/2013 at 13:50:06
Actually 'Burke' is 'berk' -originally rhyming slang and shortened from 'Berkshire Hunt'.
(from Prof C. Untz "How To Fucking Swear Properly")
46 Posted 21/09/2013 at 14:04:35
You forgot to add diving, trying to cripple Campbell, Kilbane and Naysmith in separate derbies, and marrying Alex Curran.
47 Posted 21/09/2013 at 14:11:14
As well as having the personality and charisma of an Andrex toilet roll.
48 Posted 21/09/2013 at 15:22:36
49 Posted 21/09/2013 at 08:39:23
If any local hero is going to be bribed away from our (or anyone's) local club, the ultimate blame lies with Rupert Murdoch.... Although one could add though in our case that Everton has a 'double whammy' in that department in the form of Mr William Kenwright.
50 Posted 21/09/2013 at 17:18:58
51 Posted 21/09/2013 at 17:47:29
Fair play to Gerrard for what he said, but I will never respect LFC while they are dissing us - "little club", and all that shit that Shankley said about us. Even now they seem to think they have a divine right to CL football. I can't help cheering up when they lose!
52 Posted 21/09/2013 at 18:34:47
53 Posted 21/09/2013 at 19:25:47
I don't get het up about other peoples opinion, but I do get annoyed when somebody wants to portray himself as having a better understanding of the game than people who don't share his opinion.
You sound desperate to be right, but if you havent yet realised, football is about opinion. its you who doesnt understand the game.
Try enjoying todays victory, because Evertonia doesnt care whether you are right or wrong
54 Posted 21/09/2013 at 23:43:15
I think we can really make a mark this season. OFM did leave behind a very good legacy in the shape of our squad, the kids and Finch Farm.
I get to see my first RM match live at the Cottage in 3 days time. Very excited.
55 Posted 22/09/2013 at 00:33:01
Obviously not an articulated Lori.
56 Posted 22/09/2013 at 00:47:03
57 Posted 22/09/2013 at 10:48:45
Nah, I'll stick with twat
58 Posted 22/09/2013 at 18:28:42
59 Posted 23/09/2013 at 09:57:10
60 Posted 23/09/2013 at 14:39:44
61 Posted 23/09/2013 at 19:35:47
62 Posted 23/09/2013 at 20:33:38
63 Posted 24/09/2013 at 16:34:32
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
1 Posted 20/09/2013 at 23:56:03
He has everything he needs to be one of the finest footballers of this generation. I really hope he's gracing Goodison for many years to come, but I suspect Uncle Bill will already be having other ideas.