It's fair to say Roy Hodgson will already have the majority of his England squad in mind for the upcoming European Championship, and perhaps knows his starting XI for the meeting with Russia. Indeed, injuries aside, those likely to kick-off the encounter with Leonid Slutsky’s side in mid-June have only themselves to blame if they fail to consolidate their place in the side in the coming weeks. Nonetheless, there is still time for a player to fall from grace and fail to convince Hodgson he is truly guaranteed that place in the squad in France.
You only have to look at Ross Barkley’s recent outings to show how quickly a player’s form can quickly falter. Granted, Everton have looked far from solid of late, with Roberto Martinez’s stock plummeting following a number of underwhelming performances from his side, but under a manager who bases his game on attack, Barkley is struggling to have the same impact he had earlier in the season. Between August and December, the England international was in fine form, netting six goals and registering a further seven assists as the Toffees were widely considered one of the most entertaining teams in England’s top tier.
Barkley was the creative fulcrum for the side, with his excellent form returning a WhoScored rating of 7.62, the best of all Everton players and seventh best in the Premier League at the time. In the first half of the season, only a handful of players were completing more dribbles per game (3), while 1.8 key passes per game was a commendable return for a player in his position. Since the turn of the year, though, the level of his performances have worryingly dipped.
In 2016, his rating has dropped considerably to 7.24, with Barkley struggling to match the dizzying heights of his early season form. His two league goals this year were both from the penalty spot at home to a Newcastle side that has conceded 36 league goals on the road this season; only Sunderland (39) have shipped more. Furthermore, the 22-year-old hasn’t registered a Premier League assist since the thoroughly enjoyable 4-3 defeat to Stoke at the end of December.
That comes as less of a shock given his average number of key passes has dropped to 1.2, though now only Wilfried Zaha (4.3) is averaging more successful dribbles per league match in 2016 than Barkley (3.9). This, though, perhaps points to an inclination for Barkley to take matters into his own hands rather than rely on his teammates as a means of attacking the opposition. Martinez’s questionable tactics also appear to have had a baring on the youngster’s form. Of Barkley’s 30 league starts this season, seven have come in a deeper lying midfield role in either a 4-3-3 or a 3-4-3 formation.
In a deeper position, his WhoScored rating is 7.22 compared to a superior 7.56 in the number 10 role. With more space afforded to him in a withdrawn role, he’s able to maximise his statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘dribbling’ more efficiently, averaging 4.8 successful dribbles in the deeper role compared to 2.9 in a more advanced position. However, while he has more space in which to run into and drive the team forward, his creative qualities are wasted here, with his key passes in the number 10 role dropping from 1.8 per game to 1 when deployed deeper.
However, having only made four league starts in a deeper role in 2016, it suggests the player is beginning to struggle as the season comes to a head. The rigours of English football are enough to tire out even the most physically imposing individual and Barkley - who has made 43 competitive appearances for club and country, 40 as starts - is no different. A lack of prolonged rest is beginning to hinder his performances, which is a concern coming into the final stretch of the campaign. Fatigue is evidently affecting his form, with the attacker playing all but 83 minutes of Everton’s Premier League campaign so far, not to mention 426 of a possible 450 minutes in Everton’s five FA Cup and Capital One Cup games in 2016.
A period of rest would certainly do Barkley the world of good, especially at a time when Everton have very little to play for between now and May, with the Toffees - barring a major turnaround in form from teams below them in the table - safe for another season. His form is declining and it’s cause for concern for both club and country, particularly with Euro 2016 rapidly approaching.
Barkley remains the third highest rated Englishman (7.48) in the Premier League this season and it surely would take a huge downturn in form or injury for Hodgson not to take him to Euro 2016 this summer. However, a starting spot is far from assured, particularly with the likes of Dele Alli, Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane all in fine form, while it’s expected that Wayne Rooney - despite an indifferent season - will start for the Three Lions this summer.
Given Barkley has been linked with a big money move this coming summer in recent weeks, he looks far from the player rumoured to be worth around £40m at present. Of course, he is still young and has ample time to improve his game further, and it seems as though mismanagement rather than an individual drop has been responsible for what has so far been an underwhelming 2016 for Ross Barkley.
Do you think Ross Barkley can re-capture his early season form in time for Euro 2016? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
Rooney should not start.