1 Oct 2013

'He's exciting' - Redknapp hails 'Gerrard-like' £10m star. Future LFC target...?

After a 3-2 victory last night against Newcastle, Liverpool's arch rivals Everton remain the only unbeaten team in the Premier League, and former Reds star Jamie Redknapp believes that Toffees midfielder Ross Barkley is a key part of the club's current success.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Redknapp raved:

"Everton currently have one of the strongest squads I can remember them having - and at the heart of it is young English midfielder Ross Barkley.

"The 19-year-old is one of the most exciting youngsters I've seen, and if he hadn't broken his leg a few years ago he'd probably be a regular for England already".


Jamie Carragher - a boyhood Evertonian - is also a huge fan of Barkley, and in a recent column for Sky Sports, he enthused:

“There has been a lot of talk on Merseyside about Ross. We talk about the players that will come through and ask who is going to replace Steven Gerrard? Who is going to replace Frank Lampard? That goal on Saturday was Gerrard-like and Lampard-like"

Responding to Carra's praise, Everton boss Roberto Martinez took a more down to earth view of £10m-rated Barkley:

"That’s a great compliment and something you want to hear. I see what he means. We’ve got to be realistic and say he’s only played one game this season and scored a great goal. He’s not the finished product yet, but he realises what he has to do. He’s a great listener and the best is yet to come".

Barkley may well turn out be a natural heir to Gerrard, but there's probably no chance he'll ever actually replace Liverpool's captain at Anfield. After eight years at Goodison Park, Barkley is Everton through and through, and if he moves on, it's far more likely - given the David Moyes connection - that he'll end up at Manchester United.

Having said that, plenty of Everton fans have played for Liverpool over the years, including Steve McManaman, Michael Owen, Steve McMahon (who also played for Everton prior to joining LFC), and Jamie Carragher himself, so anything is possible.

In a recent interview, Barkley revealed that Reds captain Steven Gerrard is already giving him advice about his career. He told reporters:

"I was a bit star-struck when I first joined up [with England] but Steven was good to me when I was away. I sat next to him on the coach and he gave me loads of advice. He said playing is the main thing, going to another team and not playing would be no good for my development".

Nice one, Stevie. Keep him on Merseyside for a few years and then 'advise' him to join Liverpool :-)



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35 comments:

  1. I doubt that he will be as good as Gerrard, maybe more like Lampard.

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  2. £10m? LFC target?


    Hahahahahahahhahahahahahahahaaha


    Just a second, deep breath...


    Hahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahaahhahaha

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  3. Wouldnt want him then if he's only going to be as good as Lampard... ;)

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  4. He was impressive last night, as long as there's consistancy he has the talent.
    But there have been more than one English mid in the last few years billed as the next gerrard, and have failed to materialise so far, we'll see if the displays are still as impressive in the second half of the season.
    As for joining Liverpool?... Well i think everyone knows thats a bit of a stretch :)

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  5. Is this a serious article?

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  6. £10m rated Better player than Felliani £27.5m At his age £35m to £40m. Although he needs to stay at Everton for at least 4 or 5 years and could well be playing Champions League for them by that time.

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  7. Thanks for the praIse, but keep on dreaming if you think this young Blue would ever want to cross the park. COYB!

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  8. haha.. funny, because a goalscoring CAM is actually what our team needs the most.

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  9. Let's see how he does for the next three years. Ramsey was impressive, so was Wilshere but neither was ever consistent.Good players all thee of them but there is a big difference between being talented and showing your talent in patches and doing it consistently for fifteen years. So typical English to hype up every single youngster that can kick a ball. This time last year it was Raheem Sterling and where is he now? I hope for this kid that he has a career like Gerrards and can get away froml having to play for such a small club but let's not pretend he's already done it or that it's just a matter of time.

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  10. Carra and Macca did it. So did Owen but that was probably because he thought it would improve his chances with England. And he could Always end up here via Europe. It's been done before :-) Although it seems hard to imagine now that we'll be able attract the cream of Europe any time soon. What baffles me though is how you people Always seem to be fine with your players joining Man United.

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  11. oh my days, what a horrendous "article". £10m ? Future LFC target ? LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL.

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  12. If there is one thing to learn from modern footballers, its that loyalty is dead.
    Not saying he will go to Liverpool, but you can I would bet money if 'the right' offer was made, he probably would.

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  13. 19 million if Henderson cost 20mill he should be worth 50 mill , different class and u can just tell he's going to be a star

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  14. None of those players played for Everton though. It's not like Carra and Owen made the switch after playing first team football with Everton, they were just fans.


    It's hard to judge because I'm not English and have never been to England but our rivalry with Everton seems quite respectful when compared to Manchester United and even though modern football is showered with cash and disloyalty, I just can't see a first teamer switching sides on Merseyside

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  15. I agree and if he's really still good a couple of years from now, he'll be able to pick a team to move to so why bother himself and his family with the backlash of bigots by moving to us. It's what Rooney did and now Fellaini. What I just can't understand though is that when players like that choose to go to Man U, not one toffee seems bothered by it. Should he sign for us, himself and his family would be driven out of town. Now the last bit I understand, just not the first one.

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  16. would love to have him cant see it though
    still think suso is as good so no big loss

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  17. jamie kanwar
    the question we have to ask is why lfc are not producing barkleys,rodwells and rooneys?
    when was the last time we produced a decent scouse player?
    falanagan and spearing dont count

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  18. Yet so far Henderson has nearly 150 PL appearances behind his name and Barkley has 19. Let's see him get to 150 first and talk then.

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  19. Yeah that's a good point and to be honest I don't have an answer for you. But I don't think fans should dislike a team if they pinch a few players from their own unless it happens regularly. Same with players. Rooney was good money at such a young age and he has become a massive success. I'd be happy with the money they got for Fellaini considering he has done nothing in a United shirt yet. You have to remember that Everton accept the bids and they are willing to let players go.


    However for the first time ever I did experience Everton fans hoping that we would defeat United when we met them in the league a few games ago, so maybe things may start to change?

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  20. This kid is the real deal. People talk about the "next Gerrard" all the time with these names being tossed out there (incl. Hendo) and I've never bought into it. Seeing this kid play is the first time I've agreed with that comparison. He'll be his own person and forge his own way but this kid is big time.
    The one thing that he can do that warrants the comparison over the rest is that he can grab the game by the scruff and drive an entire team. He has so much confidence for a 19 yr old and is hardly ever "annonymous" in games; a real "all action" player. He has a lot of room for improvement but the sky's the limit if he conducts himself well and I believe Martinez is a good mentor for the lad to have.
    Obviously he'll never come across to us but I hope he gives Everton what Gerrard has given us (loyalty, leadership, and a strong core) and shuns the "big" offers and limelight to help Everton to become a real force once again. Its about time the Merseyside tide rose again!

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  21. A u joking u fucking prick suzos shite

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  22. You're right there that having Martinez is a huge plus for him, good manager of young talent IMO, will get him to where he needs to be without inflating his ego too much, IF he has the talent. Like the look of him, but really need to stop jumping the guns with these young mids. CM is a role you really dont perfect until mid twenties, unless you are very special, as in Fabregas or Iniesta special. So i will be looking with interest over the next two years, but with a little pinch of salt.

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  23. Well, I wouldn't swap them for anything in the world... so that kind of says it all...

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  24. the prem has been packed with one season wonders like this kid.....anyone remember arsenal splashing out 10m on jeffers the next big thing...come back in 3 seasons then well see

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  25. if hes any good hell drop everton like a shitty stick like rooney rodwell and co...kiss the badge then do one for big bucks hahaha

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  26. if hes any good and thats debatable at this stage hell be off like a mouldy block of chedder

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  27. or mallard the duck

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  28. Wow what a fantastically shit story

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  29. Lampard is in last year of his contract, I wouldn't mind us signing him up. He wouldn't come though.

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  30. Rooney gets grief every time he plays at Goodison,and he left under a cloud. The same with Lescott. I didn't really care about losing Fellaini. I'd rather have kept him,but £27.5m was a hell of a good price,and we're now a stronger side. I don't want any of our players playing for Liverpool, because I work with RS fans,and I don't want them rubbing my nose it,if one of our ex players gets one over us. It's the same for Liverpool fans. They claim they'd rather beat Utd than Everton, but it ain't true. Losing a derby ruins your week,losing against Utd and you're over it in a day. I know, as the Missus family are all red. We all know Barkley is never going to play for Liverpool.so there's no point even mentioning it.

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  31. Like Suarez,Owen,Mcmanaman,Torres,Alonso and Mascherano?

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  32. I can feel your envy from here? Barkley has pace,skill,power and a great vision. He can also tackle and has a cracking shot on him. Jealously is a horrible trait don't you know.

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  33. to be honest i havnt a clue if he can play or not i have very little interest in other teams ...one swallow doesnt make a summer

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  34. im under no illusions that if any our players make the grade to the next level they will be off ...the difference between me and you is i dont really care .

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