Graeme Souness believes that although Ross Barkley has immense talent, he needs to add goals to his game to become a top class footballer.
Ross Barkley celebrates scoring the third goal for Everton
Former Liverpool player and club legend, Graeme Souness, believes that Everton midfielder, Ross Barkley, needs to raise his game if he wants to become a top footballer.
Souness, writing in his column for The Times, notes that Barkley has done little to convince him that he has progressed since his breakthrough season four years ago.
“That’s why I called him a “playground player” after watching his performance in the Merseyside derby last weekend,” wrote Souness for The Times.
Souness adds that Barkley is a player with loads of potential. He is powerful and sees a pass, but decision making is one element in his game that he lacks and it is preventing him from becoming a top attacking midfielder.
However, according to Souness, where Barkley really needs to work is on scoring goals and providing assists. This season Barkley has scored four goals and has seven assists to his name, and Souness believes that the Everton midfielder does not contribute his share of goals.
He feels that this element of his game separates him from other good players like Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli, who has scored 16 goals in the Premier League this season.
“He has to score as well as make assists. You can’t be the second most advanced player in your team and not get goals. That’s what separates him from Tottenham’s Dele Alli, who scores his share,” Souness added.
“He needs to show greater understanding of the game and greater consistency or he could end up sitting on the bench. Instead of the rumours of him moving to a bigger club, he may find himself bound for a smaller one.”
Souness is absolutely spot on here. Barkley can be entertaining to watch because of his boisterous energy, but he lacks the finishing quality and a matured footballing brain.
That is why he frustrates more than he appeases and gives the impression of a very good impact player. He is 23, and the time is ripe for him to make a strong impression now.
Everton’s Ross Barkley
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