If you ever need a classic example of great man managerial skills then look no further than Ross Barkley’s upturn in form for Everton. Sometimes praise comes from unexpected quarters. Barkley had spent much of the season as the recipient of managerial criticism. After he helped outclass, West Bromwich Albion in a 3-0 win for Everton, the player had found his fan club had swelled and the criticism stifled as Barkley was subject to tributes from both Koeman and Tony Pulis.
The tune and doubts have changed, the sound of constant carping had been replaced by something more upbeat. Just before Christmas, Ronald Koeman questioned whether Barkley will fill his potential, eleven league games later – capped off with seven victories – an underachiever had immediately transformed into what has been destined to be. The manager though, remains unapologetic about his policy of tough love.
What Barkley is doing now is totally different, the January addition of Morgan Schneiderlin from Manchester United added with the steel of Idrissa Gueye, Barkley and youngster Tom Davies have found much freedom to flaunt their ability which has seen Everton draw closer to the top 6 in the Premier League table. Both in terms of his positioning and his productivity, Barkley has found a new lease of life.
Koeman has become the second man to reinvent the England starlet. Former coach Roberto Martinez inherited a substitute and marked his arrival at Goodison park by installing Barkley as his main creator, even before selling the previous incumbent Marouane Fellaini. Koeman is building a dynasty around Barkley, even without giving him a fixed position to play.
Instead, the stability of those behind him gives Barkley the platform and security to play. Koeman has constructed a midfield brimming with confidence and energy. His new signings Morgan Schneiderlin and Idrissa Gueye undertake the donkey work while Barkley and Tom Davies roam around the in form Romelu Lukaku – which in turn not only provides Lukaku with opportunities but also allows the Belgian powerhouse the space to manoeuvre. Against West Brom, Koeman selected Barry to keep possession, a change that proved vital to Everton breaking through West Brom’s stubborn resistance.
“We don’t need players like Barkley on the half-way line. We have enough players behind the ball,” Koeman explained.
“We need players like Barkley between the lines and close to the box. We need him to have shots, to have assists and that is one of his big qualities. The boy is so strong, so good on the ball. He is shooting left, he is shooting right, he is clever, he sees chances.”
Here, Koeman expertly identifies Barkley’s qualities which has led to the England starlets upturn in form and with a England call up to boot as well as coach Gareth Southgate named his squad on Thursday morning for games against Germany and Lithuania to come.
As we’ve grown accustomed to in recent weeks, Barkley’s ability on the ball mixed with his strength and eye for a pass is the qualities that Koeman has been trying to release out of the player and the balance between defence and attack has allowed Barkley to flourish.
With the No.10 position so obsolete, Barkley has a freer role, playing ostensibly off the right with a licence to roam, a tendency to raid and a habit of making those Gascoigne-esque rampaging runs. Earlier in the week, former West Ham striker Dean Ashton heaped praise on Barkley for his recent performances and compared him to the great Paul Gascoigne.
Ashton told talkSPORT:
“We all saw Ross Barkley’s talent when he came into the Everton team. He’s as close to Paul Gascoigne as I’ve seen in my time watching football – the way he can go past players, that strength skill and speed.”
Koeman’s midfield makeover has lent Barkley a new look, a new and better self-confidence. In one respect, he has proved Everton’s organic replacement for the injured Yannick Bolasie as the dribbler chief in the team, the man charged with providing unpredictability in the Everton attack. In another aspect, Barkley is providing efficiency. His last five games has mustered a goal and three assists. That’s what Koeman wants, the goals and assists – the numbers to prove how he is positively effecting the Everton attack, providing Romelu Lukaku with the ammunition to fire Everton to a European spot which Koeman has long desired even during his short spell at Southampton.
His performances have impressed Koeman recently, and maybe the constructive criticism that the Dutch coach has been employing maybe have to die down a little. Barkley’s form has rewarded him with an England call-up after being overlooked by three national managers in a calendar year. He was the only attack-minded player in the Euro 2016 party Roy Hodgson did not use in France.
Barkley was a victim of competition for places, with the precocious Dele Alli and Adam Lallana chosen over him , and rightly so as a result of their performances for their respective clubs – plus Wayne Rooney, granted the protection of the captaincy, being the preferred No.10s. His new role and form gives Southgate options. Barkley may not be your traditional winger but with his ostensible positions on the flanks for Everton may afford him the opening at International level that he has craved ever since he burst through the scenes.
If so, Koeman, a tormenter of England in his playing days, may belatedly make reparations and cut down on his tough love for the player – Barkley’s renaissance is due to take another step.
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