Barkley ignored by England again

Perhaps he showed too much flair in training.

2-0 against Lithuania; hardly ripping up the trees, Southgate.

Doesn't deserve that position.

Jake Livermore... give me a fucking break, batshit!

Liam (#3), spot on!

But something needs to change. Like Liam states it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if he was at Spurs he all of a sudden broke through the National side. The media would be all reporting that Spurs have developed him in to a regular starter for the England team, blah, blah, blah... When the only people doing that is the media.

It gets my goat and I'd be livid if I was him. We all moan at Lukaku for his outspokenness but maybe that would work for Ross. Get a dig in next time you win a MotM, pal... Live on Sky... Straight after a brace in the derby and when being interviewed "You never know... now England might start playing me too."

If I was him, I would be seething!

The whole scenario of Ross going the World Cup and not playing a minute, then being dropped from the squad completely, even after the disgraceful performance from the national team, and now being brought back in to watch again. I just cannot understand why Southgate has done this to Ross.

Unfortunately, it's hard to look past it, but surely there has to be something the national team has against Everton players. Stones also didn't play at the World Cup as a blue, but now he's at Man City (and stinking the place out, may I add), he's all of a sudden the main man, able to even ask to be rested as and when he feels.

The same sort of thing happened back in the Lescott days, Jags wasn't ever given a fair go at it... and as for Baines, he was probably there or thereabouts best left back in the world for around 3 years and still had it tough.

I hope to god Ross signs a new deal but, if he wants a future at international level, he may have to jump ship.

While that knobhead no-one's ever heard of... Coman... Coalman... Koeman or something – plays him every week. I know who I'd listen to.

I am absolutely sure Barkley would have been better off staying at Finch Farm than wasting his time, as he has done; he will learn more with Koeman than he ever will with managers and coaches like Southgate.

I hope Ross doesn't take this insult to heart, he seems a sensitive lad and needs to be given confidence instead of knock-backs like this.

Why call Barkley up and not give him any game time??

As said above glad he's fresh and injury free for Saturday hope he comes back a bit pissed off with an even bigger point to prove!!

Not sure him playing on the inside right position will be as effective without Coleman doing the legwork hope I'm wrong!!

Sadly I don't see him with us after this summer. And it bothers me to say this. But if he leaves Everton then he'll become a regular in the England team.

I couldn't care less about England; I leave them for the southerners.

How many games did Gary Cahill play for England, whilst he was at Bolton, add to that Henderson, Lallana, Ricky Lambert.

As soon as they sign for one of the media/fa darlings they get selected.

Is it any wonder youngsters want to sign for the big clubs, if that is the only way they are going to called up by their Country.

If Ross goes to Spurs there is no doubt he will be picked every game.

Ross is better out of this nonsense, despite all the blather people can spout about it being important to play for your country and all that drivel. Let's move into the present century, and have nothing to do with these ridiculous international fixtures.

It's no secret to anyone in football that Ross Barkely is highly unusual. He has skills most could only dream of, and yet he rarely grabs a game, any game, by the scruff of the neck.

This season he rarely scores any sort of goal, never mind a "worldie". For what it's worth, his "assist" stats are on a par with other English midfield players and as for his defensive stats, well, let's not go there.

I've said it before, he's a good player, and no more than that, after several years of first team experience. If he goes this summer the fee will reflect that fact. I'd be a bit glum to see him go but unfortunately there's little prospect of him further improving in the future.

I've just seen a graphic put up by a blue on Twitter that he has played ZERO minutes in his last seven call ups... tell them to fuck off, Ross, and btw... Please sign that new contract!

John Terry due for a recall next, no doubt.

Southgate looks like he's working the head and it's typical England picking players like Dier and Oxlade-Chamberlain, who've been poor of late for their clubs.

I hope Ross forgets England and is primed and ready for a great game on Saturday.

I'm not sure if you've been to many games at Goodison recently but, in my view, Ross has been excellent of late and certainly better than the likes of Livermore and Oxlade-Chamberlain. If the lad lacks anything, I'd say it's the self-confidence that most players with his ability have in abundance.

As for saying he's unlikely to improve in the future, I'd suggest he's improved considerably in the last few months alone so how can we possibly know he's reached the limit of his ability at 23 years of age?

1. Sigurdsson 11
2. De Bruyne 10
2. Eriksen 10
4. Sànchez 9
5. Phillips 8
6. Barkley 7
6. Fàbregas 7
6. Lallana 7
6. Pedro 7
10. Lukaku 6

There was no-one in that midfield today that is a better player than Ross when he's at his best, not even close; it will be a very very sad day if he ever decides to leave Everton, the lad is top drawer!

One was a virtual testimonial versus Germany and the other match was never going to give England any problems and yet he doesn't bring him on to the field. I just don't see the point of the whole exercise, a complete waste of the lad's time.

How much pressure has he brought on us by his lazy attitude? Opponents near to him don't effectively get closed down – any efforts he makes towards this are very half-hearted to say the least; his decision-making is still poor and he over-complicates the game, taking momentum out of many of our attacks.

It may not be nicer to say, but that horrible article Alli is far more effective.

Barkley has stepped it up big time, hence the England call up and more importantly Koeman playing him every game when earlier in the season he had no hesitation sitting him on the bench. Give the lad a break, it's fans like you two that will hound him out of the club.

Alli is vastly over rated. But, because he plays for high-flying Spurs, he is then classed as a world beater. He is nothing but a dirty little cheat who does maybe one thing in 90 mins, ie, against Germany, he made one decent turn and that was it.

Ross is vastly more talented but suffers from confidence issues. But if he played for anyone else above us, he would be an England starter. This could wreck his confidence.

Also he has been great recently, not imperious but great. As saying he won't improve, will that's just nonsense. He is vastly improved.

I hope he stays.

We're lucky to have him. If he played with Spurs, Man Utd or Liverpool, he would be starting. Southgate is a clown.

Never gonna happen but wouldn't it be good if it did?

That game today called for a midfielder who can do something a little different, which Ross is well capable of doing.

I can see both sides of the argument as to his form lately. He does some great things, like the inch-perfect ball to Tom Davies for Calvert-Lewin's goal against Hull, but he also has little incidents of dithering where he seems to struggle with knowing what to do.

In my opinion, for what it's worth, he has really improved lately mind, and the positives outweigh the negatives.

He should have played some minutes in either or both of those games though... but, like most on here, I'm really happy he's undamaged for the derby.

Oh, one more thing... fuck England!

I bet a lot of people didn't even know Livermore had signed for WBA, he is that innocuous.

Not sure what Sterling brought to the game either apart from one run and cross...

I remember talking to a Cockney England supporter and explaining I wouldn't have been there but for Reidy playing and he couldn't get his head round where I was coming from. Dunno if that's a bad attitude on my part but don't care either!

But it's silly to denigrate Southgate and every manager he's ever been selected by, because after five years not one of them has been able to unlock the riddle that he remains.

Everyone, including himself, would be better off if it wasn't so but, in fairness, we still have a good player anyway. That's the reality... and to go on believing in greatness arriving next-time, next-time, next-time is by now just delusional.

I am though, delighted that our player was spared being exposed to injury with our important games approaching. Ross is going to be vital to our chances.

Fahkin' hell people want to take a look at 'Grand Old Team' – there's a whole army of these bloody divies chatting similar shite on there day in and day soddin out... Just wish they would take a focused step back and wait before they type!

The "greatest" are less than a handful in any generation. They're Messi/Ronaldo, Cruyff/Platini, Di Stefano/Puskas types. The greats are more numerous but there's few of them too. Think Aguerro, Coutinho, Sanchez, Costa, de Bruyne etc these days for instance.

In every team with greatest or great, the rest of the team and squad beyond comprise good players minimum and they're not to be denigrated or squandered. That's why it pisses me off that if I describe Ross as "good" – it seems to be some sort of put-down.

Good will do, but if that's the limit of what we aspire to there's no way we'll get close to winning things or qualifying for the Champions League.

I hate International breaks at the best of times but it seems to me the news is that we have just lost one of our best players to a long term injury he may never recover from, and our other two most valuable assets will be leaving in the close season.

I would dearly love Ross to stay and fulfil his potential with Everton but I am increasingly convinced he is on his way to another club.

At least that was an exciting England team packed with entertaining players and big characters coupled with a charismatic manager in Terry Venables.

This pile of dross from the last decade and the current crop?

I couldn't give a damn to watch the mind-numbing backwards sideways pedestrian football that makes Roberto Martinez's ethos look positively enthralling..

When over-aged players are getting picked even though there are many younger, faster players chomping at the bit to get a start. My mind goes back to the idiot who picked Leon Osman way after he had any club form to warrant selection if he ever did.

I watched the game today and it was like watching paint dry. Against a team like Lithuania, England should have impressed and run up a score but they were poor.

Qualifying with teams like this in the group means nothing and I cannot understand why a big crowd would even pay hard earned money to see teams like this. Just doesn't make sense.

Get a bit of kip and prepare for the derby, we love you x

This speculation seems to have been entirely fuelled by journalists who are unable to grasp that Everton are rapidly moving on to the same level as the clubs that supposedly will be bidding for him this Summer.

I feel confident Mr Moshiri will ensure Ross will sign a new contract.

Actually thought Livermore had a very decent game against Germany on Wednesday. Not entirely sure why Oxlade-Chamberlain got the start ahead of Barkley for the Lithuania game though, but that's Southgate's call.

As for Southgate: how sickening must it be for real England supporters, who watched him miss that penalty in a home based major competition, then shamelessly make lots of money in a Pizza commercial, basically taking the piss out of all those disappointed fans?

And also, his managerial record is negligible, yet he gets the job after pissing all over the nation with that advert!!! Crazy decision by a money grabbing bunch of morons at the FA.

Dick (#59) – when you get back to planet earth, see above.

As for England, another turgid display against a team who leaked goals in their friendly with the Czechs last week but who we found almost impossible to break down. Like most of the crowd I had almost fallen asleep until Vardy's goal, which should have opened the floodgates but failed to do so because in a game crying out for the player who has created more chances in the Premier League than anyone else this year, Southgate opted to leave him on the bench.

Is there an FA rule that tells managers that England must not play creative, incisive football and should play just enough to secure a win, no matter how weak the opposition? This was another rubbish display from England and to be honest, Ross is better to not be associated with having been a part of it.

Seems the days have gone when an England manager picks the form players AT THE TIME in any given position. They instead select crocks or players who can hardly get a game for their clubs. How they expect to win games with such a selection policy, God only knows.

Of course his agent is probably playing games to get the equivalent of our annual wage extra per week and that is where my sympathy/empathy runs out for the lad from Wavertree.

Who knows what England might have achieved with such better team selection? But the tradition of poor selection, and indeed poor managers and tactics, carries on. It's surely an indictment of a national set-up that the likes of Allardyce could be chosen as manager. Southgate is merely another in that league.

The good old England set up. They're nothing if not predictable.

And seriously how does Jesse Lingard get in anybody's team? He's a shite Tom Cleverley. Which makes him double shite. Plus he does unnecessary handshakes and dabs. Which makes him a twat. He's a double shite twat.

No use me thinking it Ross, is what he should be saying, because although I think you're the better player, you haven't got to prove it to me. Now get out there and fuckin' run the show, kid, show them whose boss... Ross!

It's time for the selection process of the England manager to be changed. At the moment, only sacked managers need apply.

Ross was the only player not to get a run-out in both games. Southgate, you're a prick.

Congratulations Scott, you win the internet today.

First laugh of the day

For me, his performances of late have been reminiscent of Arteta when most fans were clamouring for him to be selected for Spain or England.

Barkley of recent has been outstanding. He takes the attention of two opponents and his decision making, passing, positioning and work rate have been of a high standard – far better than what we were used to when the boorish jealous fans would be giving him endless grief.

I believe there may well be a personality disorder that can be associated to the dislike of this lad. Moyes and Hodgson had a terrible bout of it. Many Everton fans seem to have it – my diagnosis is jealousy and identifying a sensitive/lesser intelligent kid with an unbelievable talent.

Perhaps getting to the standard we want at the club is fairly recent and more great club performances will make him ready for internationals. Maybe Koeman and Southgate can talk! If so, great for us. All players develop differently.

The problem with Barkley is that he did not perform for long periods of time, but was spoken about as if he was the next big thing (not his fault, and he was never good enough to be spoken about in those terms). He has, in general, slowed our play down and his game falls to pieces when he is low on confidence (a trait shared by many but not the truly great players).

There were some wonderful performances (like Wilshere too) but a lot of sub-standard ones. He failed to make his mark on games, and too often appeared as a square peg in a round hole. The younger Alli completely outstripped him in terms of performances in the league, consistency, and goals.

You'd have to be his parent, or have some peculiar emotional attachment to him, to deny his failings and his lack of consistency. And he has turned 23 – he is not 19 anymore.

Yet, the last three months has seen a different Barkley. He has controlled games in a way he simply did not before. He has been a livewire – fluid in his movement and constantly dangerous. He has been superb. He needs to keep that going now – to not fall away. Because if we want to be a top four team we need consistency in that position.

Our rivals have the likes of Ozil, De Bryune, Silva, Eriksen, Alli, Hazard, Coutinho – Barkley needs to join that club if we want to really kick on. For the last few months he has managed that, and Liverpool and Man Utd away offer perfect opportunities to show Southgate why he was wrong to not give him more of a chance.

I can't agree with you. Ross when selected has sat on the bench for 7 matches. I don't recall Koeman dropping him or benching him for 7 straight games.

I'm getting rather disillusioned with international football, we are 2nd tier at best and will never win any competition for the foreseeable future.

I can't quite fathom out Southgate's mindset with his squad selection!

But whilst Southgate is blowing smoke up Lallana's arse, Ross has no chance.He'll just have to play him off the park next weekend.

I thought it at the time that Rooney was ditched by England after the slightest mention of him possibly returning to us!

Yes, jealousy. Jealous managers who had a fraction of his talent.

Jealous fans who think if they had his talent would be so much better like they know the position he plays in and what he should be doing.

Ex-footballers like Scholes and Merson really rate the lad... really rate him. They know enough about the position he plays.

I'm even more upset Tom Davies didn't get a starting place or near the squad. That lad's champagne – he and Ross together are amazing.

He is an exceptionally talented footballer but fails by comparison with others because he is an introvert and lacks the ego of some of his rivals. He is a much better footballer than Dele Alli but lacks his aggression.

Some of Barkley's through-balls of late have been sublime. Defoe and Vardy would have thrived on the service provided by Barkley.

England's performance was poor against a second rate team. It lacked flair. Huff and puff won't be good enough against top teams.

Me, I'm glad he isn't playing for that bunch of arseholes – makes him less likely to come back injured for the derby.

I think he's a good player but I know diddly-squat about his "evolution". Given his age and years of first team experience under various managers, I'm regrettably of the opinion that he's unlikely to develop any further. To do that he'd need to show an ability to grab a game by the bollocks in the way that great players do, and not just once or twice a season.

As a good player, he seems incapable of doing so, ever, like just about every other player in our club. That's what I hope the new set-up has recognised; we need two or three great players to do the business, supported as they will be by good players all around them and on the bench.

Last season, Leicester were stunned like the rest of us to discover they had great players in the shapes of Kante, Vardy and Mahrez and good players all round them. This season, the two still there have reverted to 'good' and a few of the lesser ones have become less than 'good'. I hope we're aiming higher than that. We'll have to if we achieve what's projected by Mr Moshiri.

Ross or any other players can make me look stupid any time they want to by consistently winning against teams above us by the way. Let's give it a year to see where they're going eh? I'd love to be amazed!

The truth is the managers are NOT to blame; reality is that there is a lack of quality players to choose from – why? Because the FA & Premier League have allowed premier league squads & academies to become full of foreigners, thus restricting the opportunity & development of English players.

Those of us around in 1966 and pre-Premier League know that England managers had loads of decent players competing for every position – that's a significant factor in why players like Colin Harvey & Howard Kendall, who would look great compared to England's current midfield players, had so few England caps. And why a lot of players getting capped now wouldn't have got in the squad had they been around way back then.

Alan Mullery had 35.

Get your head around that one, if you can.

Oh yes, Mullery was playing for Spurs.

If Ross stays at Everton and continues to work hard under Koeman, as he has been doing, I will be surprised if he does not establish himself firmly in the England team over the next year.