The Everton midfielder was once again in indifferent form against Crystal Palace on Friday evening.
Everton’s Ross Barkley in action with Crystal Palace’s James McArthur and Damien Delaney
Jamie Carragher has told Sky Sports that the main problem with Ross Barkley is his footballing brain.
The midfielder has endured a disappointing start to the season so far with a series of indifferent performances.
He has come in for stern criticism from fans, pundits, and even his manager Ronald Koeman, who have all demanded more from the talented midfielder.
So far he has struggled to produce, with Friday night’s 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace again seeing the Everton star struggle.
Everton’s Ross Barkley in action
The debate surrounding Barkley is fierce, with many offering different views on what the problem may be for him. For Carragher, it is his brain that is the main issue.
“Ross has been in the team for two or three years and it’s getting to the stage where you’re not a kid anymore, you’ve got to be judged like a man,” he told Sky Sports.
“Ross hasn’t got a problem physically, he hasn’t got a problem technically it’s between his ears. His understanding of the game and his decision making.”
Everton’s Ross Barkley is substituted
A look at Barkley’s stats does not back up the idea that the midfielder is a player out of form.
Despite his teams struggling last season he managed to top their key pass charts, assists charts and was second behind Lukaku for shots on target.
He has continued in a similar vein this year, registering the most key passes of any Everton player (20), eight more than his closest competitor, while also sitting second for shots on target.
Those are not the kind of stats for a player out of form and perhaps it is time his performances were given the credit his stats suggest they deserve.
Everton’s Ross Barkley looks dejected after the game
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