Barkley and Stones feature in England win

, 8 September, 47comments  |  Jump to most recent
England 2 - 0 Switzerland
Everton's three England representatives were named on the bench for this evening's Euro2016 qualifier against Switzerland but Ross Barkley made an unexpectedly early entrance.

The Blues' midfielder came on as a very early substitute when Fabian Delph pulled up with a hamstring injury in the first minute.

Roy Hodgson's side have already qualified for the Finals next summer but are looking to secure top spot in the qualifying group.

Barkley had a quiet first half with the ball spending a lot of the time going down England's left in a drab first 45 minutes but he had a sight of goal early in the second but couldn't beat the last defender with a curled attempt looking for the top corner.

He was involved in the move that led to the opening goal, though, with a neat jink past his marker to feed Wayne Rooney whose pass to Luke Shaw ended with Harry Kane driving home a cross.

John Stones was introduced immediately after the goal and handed 21 minutes of his own to impress Hodgson, albeit it at right back.

A drab encounter was notable for the milestone achieved by another Evertonian in the form of Wayne Rooney whose goal from the spot later in the second period took him past Bobby Charlton's all-time scoring record for England with his 50th goal.

 

Reader Comments (47)

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


Paul Hewitt
1 Posted 08/09/2015 at 20:07:54
Just stay fit, Ross, please.
Mike Oates
2 Posted 08/09/2015 at 20:27:08
Barkley is not involved at all, he cannot get into the game. I don’t know if this is where Hodgson wants him to play but he needs to come from further back and drive at people. I suspect they are worried with the ease he loses the ball.
Patrick Murphy
3 Posted 08/09/2015 at 20:28:35
Mike, he’s not involved because England don’t have a proper shape and he doesn’t seem to know what his job is.
Brent Stephens
4 Posted 08/09/2015 at 20:34:07
Haven't once seen Ross demand the ball or show a bit of speed to get into space to give the man in possession more options. He's hiding. Very disappointing.
Colin Glassar
5 Posted 08/09/2015 at 20:34:41
Ross quite blatantly trying to hide on the pitch. He's just jogging up and down, making no runs, not demanding the ball, not looking to get into space behind them, not tackling etc.... All in all, it's quite embarrassing up to now. Poor show Ross.
Mike Oates
6 Posted 08/09/2015 at 20:46:08
He’s got to show more energy, he looks as though he’s either bored to death, which he probably is, or just unfit.
Brent Stephens
7 Posted 08/09/2015 at 20:47:54
Even worse, the number of times Ross pointed to somebody else for the man in possession to pass to. Needs a kick up the jacksie.
Peter McHugh
8 Posted 08/09/2015 at 20:49:02
The difference in attitude and determination between young Rooney and Ross is staggering. I believe the difference in technical ability and skill not that great. Pity.
Brent Stephens
9 Posted 08/09/2015 at 21:01:52
Kane on, now a chance for Ross to drive from deep?
Mike Oates
10 Posted 08/09/2015 at 21:03:59
He’s dropped further back but he needs to be aware of his defence obligations, he ball-watches too much.
Mike Oates
11 Posted 08/09/2015 at 21:13:57
He’s looks far better playing deeper, taking charge. This No 10 role Hodgson and Martinez sometimes puts him is totally his WRONG position. He needs to face the opposition and run with the ball.
John Keating
12 Posted 08/09/2015 at 21:22:03
Not at all interested how he plays... As long as both him and Stones get off that pitch injury-free.
Steve Guy
13 Posted 08/09/2015 at 21:26:09
I'll grant you he's not having a great game but I would also say he is not being played to his strengths.
John Keating
14 Posted 08/09/2015 at 21:30:31
Brilliant Well done Rooney
Oliver Molloy
15 Posted 08/09/2015 at 21:33:41
So Rooney gets the record thanks to cheating by Sterling. The commentator said "He was entitled to go down, he did his man."

No, sorry, from what I could see, he wasn’t touched and took a theatrical dive fooling the referee.

What a joke.

Barry Lambert
16 Posted 08/09/2015 at 21:35:10
I hate criticizing Ross but what's the matter with him? He doesn't seem to want the ball. He looks scared to death. I love him to bits but such a powerful talented lad needs to show some more guts and hunger for the ball. Very disappointed.
Charles Brewer
17 Posted 08/09/2015 at 21:39:14
England’s Number One goalscorer is one of us.
Tony Hill
18 Posted 08/09/2015 at 21:44:35
Barry (15), I am sorry to say that you are quite right. It's so frustrating to see him like this once again.
Bobby Milner
19 Posted 08/09/2015 at 21:45:30
Well done to Rooney, but I was trying to remember which Everton striker said he didn’t count penalties. Anyone got any ideas?
Barry Pearce
20 Posted 08/09/2015 at 21:51:22
I don’t think I’ve seen Ross make a decent tackle for us or England.

He just seems to let the game pass him by.
Colin Williams
21 Posted 08/09/2015 at 21:58:58
Why are you getting on Barks back? This is International football – totally different to Premier League football.

Let the boy develop into an international player! Just remember he’s 21! Patience. Just look at the shite performances by "senior" players... What’s their excuse?
Tony Draper
22 Posted 08/09/2015 at 22:05:13
Barry @15, he completely lost his confidence last summer playing for that intellectual pygmy Woy Hidgson, and tonight when Kane came on Barkley was moved into DM, having previously been played mostly left of centre AM.

Then Hodgson pops Stones on at RB.

Sheer genius!

Jon Cox
23 Posted 08/09/2015 at 22:10:49
Well done Wayne and if it's any consolation, Sterling and Oxlade were both rubbish.

Barkley only woke up in the second half.

Charles Cook
24 Posted 08/09/2015 at 22:29:38
I was disappointed with Ross’s performance but not sure his manager will be.

I guess it comes down to instruction. His principle aim seemed to be to keep the ball – which he did well, but really... What a waste!

Phil Sammon
26 Posted 08/09/2015 at 22:42:40
Give over, Charles.
Paul Thompson
27 Posted 08/09/2015 at 22:55:58
Barkley was indeed poor in the first half, as were most of the England team. He and they were much better in the second. Though Shelvey hadn't had too bad a game, when he went off, England's shape improved, Ross moved back a bit and came much more into the game.

Luke Shaw was England/s best player and I suspect that the left back spot is his even when Leighton is fit. Smalling was also impressive and the long term future is him and Stones.

Tom Bowers
28 Posted 08/09/2015 at 23:08:45
Sterling was absolute crap. If this is the best he can do at this level then all I can say is Man City got well and truly robbed by the RedShite.

Having said that, many others played poorly and England should have had Kane on from the off. They will do better when Sturridge and Welbeck return but Rooney is not a target man anymore.

Harold Matthews
29 Posted 08/09/2015 at 23:52:21
Didn't think it was possible but England appear to have gone backwards and our two boys looked lost.
Mark Andersson
30 Posted 08/09/2015 at 00:05:04
This is why I have no interest in international football. Hope Ross has the right attitude and mentally against Chelsea.

Well done Rooney, a blue at heart. It would be great if England won something with Everton players as they won nowt with RedShite players at their peak.

Kieran Kinsella
31 Posted 09/09/2015 at 00:13:56
We really need to learn the art of man management and / or employ sports psychologists. John Barnes had a great start to his England career then hid for 90 games while coaches kept picking him on the off chance he’d rediscover his form.

Gareth Southgate was quizzed by a psychologist who said he was so negative he wouldn’t play professional sport in the US. But they let him take the crucial penalty in a shoot out.

I think Owen, Beckham, Shearer and Lineker are the only players in the last 40 years to play with the same confidence for country as for club

Anthony Dwyer
33 Posted 09/09/2015 at 01:57:21
A strange showing for me today by Ross, he seemed to be playing in a similar fashion to how he played for us last season. He looks like he simply has not got the balls to grab a game by the scruff of its neck.

Ross has bags of ability but he just won’t demand the ball, if anything he hides from it. His passing is crisp and true but he does more back an sides than a marine barber.

In my opinion, he needs forcing to play and I feel that is were his early success has come from this season as the more senior figures in the side, the likes of Barry and Jags have forced Ross onto the ball.

That will not happen with England so, if he wants to play regularly for his country, he has to demand the ball. That said, I would be happy to see Ross save all his best form for the Blues.

Mark Andersson
34 Posted 09/09/2015 at 04:28:51
You should add Gascoigne to that list.
Richard Lyons
35 Posted 09/09/2015 at 06:32:27
Most of the posters here are absolutely right: Ross clearly had no clue what he should be doing... Then again, neither did Sterling. I lost count of the times Shaw passed to him and then ran into space, only to be ignored by that expensive hairstyle on legs. Sterling was exactly the same when Baines played – he’s no Steven Pienaar.

But I suspect Ross is not a natural Number 10 either, in fact I can’t really work out what role he should play, as his defensive work leaves something to be desired as well... I’m afraid to say it, but maybe his best role for Everton would be "cash cow"?

Kim Vivian
36 Posted 09/09/2015 at 07:01:25
Spot on, Oliver Malloy. I’m surprised no-one else has criticised that dive.

Congrats to Rooney, anyway, although with goals scored against so many miniscule countries that didn’t exist a few years ago it seems a little hollow. But nice that the record is held by an Evertonian, despite the colour shirt he wears from week to week!

Kim Vivian
37 Posted 09/09/2015 at 07:10:22
Oh, and I meant to say about Ross. I didn’t watch the whole game but did not think he was so bad, actually, given the role he was asked to play.

He prodded the ball about somewhat, pretty much always to an England player. Indeed, I saw no incisive runs but he did seem to be asking for the ball to his feet a fair amount (and not receiving it) but I don’t recall seeing him actually losing possession.

I have not watched or read any post-match post mortems so I do not know what pundits other than posters on here are saying.

John Keating
38 Posted 09/09/2015 at 08:21:13
Oliver/Kim,

You both may well critisize the way England got their penalty but you’d be moaning every week as it’s normal nowadays. In fact it may well have started... well not sure but remember Anders Limpar against Wimbledon?

I can’t remember many Blues being as concerned as you two appear to be.

Tony Abrahams
39 Posted 09/09/2015 at 08:45:36
Agree he’s only 21, and obviously a very different character to Rooney. He seems to have a problem with having real confidence in his own ability, which is possibly why Rooney singled him out after the game.

Bravery can come in many forms on a football pitch, but the players who are constantly looking to get on the ball and play, will always be the bravest to me.

YOU HAVE GOT TO START BELIEVING IN YOURSELF MORE, ROSS BARKLEY. Go out and show everyone how good you are, and take real pride in showing them.

Steve Cotton
40 Posted 09/09/2015 at 10:26:35
Ross looked a bit bulky to me. Too many weights might look good on the beach but can slow you down on the pitch.....

Just ask Lou Ferrigno. Great soccer career ruined by wanting to play the Hulk.

Kim Vivian
41 Posted 09/09/2015 at 11:19:00
John K,

Not concerned as such. It just takes the gloss off the moment (the goal) really when it goes in our favour, and infuriating to the point of homicidal when it is against us. It’s the way it is these days unfortunately and it begs the question...when is a foul not a foul?

It seems to me that often a player will get fouled and not go to ground and it will NOT awarded because he stayed on his feet, unbalanced but with the intent to carry on. If he hits the deck even if someone gets too close and breaths on him too hard it just gets given.

I remember (I think at the start of last season (I forget the match and actual date because I have slept since then but it might have been Chelsea), Seamus running into the box in possession, getting properly interfered with, managing to stay on his feet but the ball running it out for a goal kick I think. If he had gone down penalty no argument. He WAS fouled but because he managed to stay upright - no foul apparently. Nothing given - it would have been a penalty and could not have been critisised.

You see this every week, every game these days, all over the pitch and it just seems to be the case that players have to fall to draw attention. I admire the stance that is attempting to be taken over simulation as they call it but I do become incensed at the pretend agony that so often is demonstrated. Some is clearly genuine but all these efforts to get opposition players booked, sent off etc does my head in frankly.

This could turn in to a long running debate, and probably deserves its own thread actually (I would gladly write an article if anyone agrees), but the parallels in the world of sport which are punishable retrospectively are multitude. I just abhor cheating even if it works to our advantage but you feel it is necessary sometime just to even up the balance sheet, as it were.

I am a big fan of cycling, and have been a reasonably competitive cyclist at club level. The dark years of doping epitomised by the rise and fall of Lance Armstrong (an individual, along with MANY others I do not respect, by the way, for the nature of his evident successes, and who is also a pretty unlikable character) reflects this. Everyone was doing it (doping that is... some ’better’ than others – read in to that what you will) but in a kind of way you have to respect Armstrong’s achievements because it was still a reasonably (although ludicrously) illegal playing field. It would be interesting to take away all that illegal activity and advantages and see how the results panned out.

It’s just a shame that the whole thing was spoilt by the extent of cheating that was demonstrated. I hope anyone reading this can see the parallels – you can cheat your way to success but cheating is cheating. End of.

I still just love the sport of football though.

COYB – let’s see off Chelski at the weekend. can’t wait.

Paul Cherrington
42 Posted 09/09/2015 at 11:26:06
I thought Ross did well last night and the game before too; him and Shelvey especially seemed to combine well. Maybe cos he has someone who will actually pass to him for a change. Don’t forget, he can demand the ball all he wants but they still need to give it him which some of them still seem to avoid.
Tony George
44 Posted 09/09/2015 at 13:56:06
Just two comments about last night. As far as 'that' penalty decision is concerned, I suspect it would hardly get a mention here were it not for the antecedents of the alleged victim whilst on the performance of Barkley, we are again making excuses for his 'no show'.

On the latter point, I am increasingly believing that Ross will remain 'a nearly man' for so long as he fails to take a game 'by the balls' and show everyone what he is made of!

Jay Harris
45 Posted 09/09/2015 at 14:16:21
My feeling on Ross is that it is a coaching issue mainly.

He is unsure of his positioning because the respective coaches are telling him different things and are coaching his natural game out of him. He is frightened to make a mistake for fear of upsetting the coaches instead of playing his natural game.

All the Everton players stand off the opposition since RM came and this is a big weakness in Ross's game. His positional sense is also very poor but, as I said earlier, I think this is confusion about his role.

A good coach will spend some time with him and put him on the right track. He has a ton of natural ability, he just needs to show it.

Jimmy Salt
46 Posted 09/09/2015 at 16:23:55
The fact that no one has really mentioned John stones shows how well he slotted in, I thought he looked ten times more assured on the ball than all the other defenders put together.
Colin Williams
47 Posted 09/09/2015 at 17:48:58
The only players that pass/ link up with Ross are players who are not competing for the same jersey. These mid- field players are shit scared of our Ross, they can see the massive potential in his game... Their not stupid!

Ross constantly was looking for the ball, creating angles and finding space demanding the ball off these so-called c/f players during the game and very rarely, would they give him the ball, fecking so annoying! Shelvey, Milner, and the rest of these so- called team players in central area's know when our Ross get's plenty of ball time, this lad will be unstoppable and dominate the m/f area... And they are shit scared of that happening, wankers!


Paul Cherrington
48 Posted 10/09/2015 at 11:29:29
Colin above is spot on - I agree totally as I posted myself earlier. you can only 'take a game by the scruff of the neck' if you have the ball and you can only get on the ball if your so called 'team-mates' pass to you. I saw ross getting into space a lot and calling for the ball and he was ignored. this is the reason why england never win anything - they don't play as a team cos most of them only care about looking good personally. hello raheem sterling i'm talking to you
Colin Williams
49 Posted 10/09/2015 at 15:34:38
Paul, when you look back over the games he played for England, the same thing happens game after game. Ross does demand the ball constantly but these tosspots totally ignore him... knowing when he gets going and things start happening for him...

He is different class and yes he’s 21( young lad) what a talent! All he needs know is a coach that will develop this Huge talent.

Paul Cherrington
50 Posted 11/09/2015 at 09:19:33
That’s right, Colin, I think that Ecuador game scared them all stiff (the manager included for reasons I still can’t fathom) when he showed how good he really was. Since then, only the Everton guys who play like Jagielka and Baines or a few of the others from the ’smaller’ clubs pass to him. I have to admit that Wilshere does seem to, which surprises me, but he obviously just wants to win rather than be the hero.

The coaching thing is right too although to some extent I think he could probably do with less coaching. As a lot of people in the game (and fans) have noted, he seems better when playing by instinct rather than to a set of instructions.

The only coaching I would give him is when you get the ball, get on your bike and make things happen for us. I would also tell the other person(s) playing alongside him in MF to make sure they’re ready to cover his back if he loses it, which would eliminate the problem if he does lose posession trying something.


Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

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.


About these ads

© ToffeeWeb