The NSNO Everton Forums

Will keep this thing to 1 thread and just change the title/poll but thought it would be a good discussion point for random players ahead of playing against a team they also played for.

Will also keep a leaderboard

Kicking things off with Ross Barkley

How you rate them and why is entirely your choice

Tough one to judge. Gave him a 6 because he was one of my favourites at the time and had a lot of talent and some big moments. Sour way to leave though and not sure if him being shit after leaving us for the most part makes it better or worse.

Definitely should have had a much better career.

6 sounds about right.

If his decision making with the ball had gotten anywhere near the rest of his attacking attributes, he could’ve been unplayable. The version of him that did everything brute force via size, strength, and technique was still very good (though increasingly infuriating as he never really improved)

Probably should have had a career that was Rooney-lite at worst but that’s ultimately the difference between having a good footballing brain and not.

I don't know if you meant rate his time with us, or overall career?

Anyhow, If we're talking about for Everton I stretched to a 7. I thought he had some really good games when he came through and was an exciting player to watch. When he left 7 is about where I'd say his level was, and he certainly had potential to kick on, which was why some good teams were looking at him.

On balance of his career though, 6 is more than fair. His most consistent form was probably with us.

I’ve gone 6 too for overall career.
A 7 with us if he’d not left the way he had. He had all the attributes to go on to be a top midfielder, but like many before, had his head turned too soon.

6 probably about right I'd say.

His biggest problem was that he didn't want to work hard in training, it's why he didn't get along with Moyes. Martinez came along, blew smoke up his arse and it got something out of him, but ultimately it was bad for his career imo as gave him a feeling of Moyes being wrong about the graft needed. Think had Moyes stayed we might have seen a better Barkley with more longevity even if it took longer to get there.

Some really good moments but very much a 'what if' kind of player.

It's a 6 from me Shogs.

I really liked Rosco, but he frustrated me so much as I liked him as he seemed capable of so much more. I think he's one of those who was great playing off instinct but got in his own head too often and ended up making poor choices.

This is the goal that comes to mind when I think about him. I don't think about him that often, just to clear that up in case you were wondering whether I still have my Ross Barkley duvet cover, I don't anymore.

6.

Had the talent in the feet but not in his head.

Proper airhead he was, still is in fact.

Agree he should have had a better career.

Only really showed his talent in purple patches.

Hes probably a 6 but should have been a lot more. Ultimately his career boils down to being a great prospect here. A good loan at villa and a good year at Luton. Everything else has been disappointing

Another victim of how we used to be run

blueToffee wrote: ↑Sat Dec 13, 2025 4:10 am I don't know if you meant rate his time with us, or overall career?

Anyhow, If we're talking about for Everton I stretched to a 7. I thought he had some really good games when he came through and was an exciting player to watch. When he left 7 is about where I'd say his level was, and he certainly had potential to kick on, which was why some good teams were looking at him.

On balance of his career though, 6 is more than fair. His most consistent form was probably with us.

As a toffee mostly I would say. Like Eto'o is 10/10 career wise but as an Evertonian less so

Weird career, always said he'll retire a very wealthy man but without the medals his talent probably deserved.

He just never had the discipline or mentality to be a top, top player, 26 years old and 33 England caps and should have been hitting his prime but then never got another cap after that. Injuries probably didn't help him but he should have had a far more successful career than he has, he had a decent season at Luton but he's been a bit of a journeyman since he left us whereas he had the talent to be the main man at any club.

For all the reasons above, I think he was no more than 6/10 for us, too hot and cold.

He could’ve really been a contender.

So many tools at his disposal, powerful, decent pace, excellent technique, passing, dribbling, shooting etc.

So yeah, on paper he was a 9, but career wise I’d have to go for 6.

I have our moto in my head so high expectations for anyone in the modern era. As a general guide to myself..

10 Title winning World XI standard (Dean, Ball, Southall)
9 Best of the 1960's and 80's title winners OR eg Lineker
8 Rest of the 1960's and 80's title winners OR eg Kanchelskis or Lukaku
7 Best of the 1st Moyes era or Ndiaye.

So for me Ndiaye as a modern example is currently getting a seven as daft as that might sound and as much as I love him.

So Barkley is a 5 - Glimpses of brilliance, a confidence player who could go missing if he started badly. He was also a shithouse for how he left us, proffessionalism, loyalty and being a good clubman counts toward calling yourself a "toffee", so a 5 for me.

Showing his potential for 15 years and didn't get better because his brain didn't develop with the talent