The manner of midfielder and Academy graduate Ross Barkley’s departure from Everton always meant that a section of the fanbase would relish any potential future failing from the 24-year-old and following his cheap £15million switch to Chelsea, hindsight shows Everton may have received a little too much for the former England man as he’s only made 12 appearances for them since transferring last January.
He doesn’t appear to be overly in new manager Maurizio Sarri’s plans, although he has appeared eight times so far in 2018/19 – but you can hardly argue he’s living up to his previous billing and potential.
He did get a rare start in Wednesday evening’s clash against Liverpool in the third round of the EFL Cup as Chelsea took victory and it wasn’t a great showing and plenty on social media were happy to revel in the fact he’s a shadow of his former self now.
I always liked Ross Barkley but what happened to his arse? , it's huge and he is struggling to carry that weight around the pitch #efc #coyb #LIVCHE
— Dive at Dawn (@DiveatDawn1) September 26, 2018
Swear if Ross Barkley had a brain he would be class.
— Lewis Highton (@LewisHighton) September 26, 2018
Ross Barkley taking too many touches then playing a poor pass… I, for one, am shocked.
— keith (@keith1878) September 26, 2018
Ross Barkley still frustrating as ever I see
— Simon J Villiers (@sjv_simon) September 26, 2018
Ross Barkley is disgustingly bad
— Sean (@sozmarra) September 26, 2018
It fills my heart with joy to see #rossbarkley once again in a blue shirt……. Losing the ball in dangerous positions #efc
— Gavolski (@cc1e) September 26, 2018
See ross barkley has made no improvement whatsoever, no footballing brain.
— Paul Bruns (@BrunsypPB) September 26, 2018
Time is on his side if he can get himself going and maybe the performance was a reflection of the true match minutes he’s got this year as he tries to get back to his best, but plenty of footballer’s fall of a cliff never to be heard of again and that would be a shame given his talent – irrespective of the shenanigans of the move.