Ross Barkley Scouting Report At Luton Town 2023/24

Luton Town shocked the footballing world last season by earning promotion from the Championship , with questions and rumours about their recruitment following soon after. Of course, the Hatters have had to be smart in the transfer market, tasked with bringing in the best players they could on a challenging budget. Arguably, their most high-profile signing this season (so far) is former England international Ross Barkley , who joined the club on a free transfer following a spell with Ligue 1 club Nice. With over 200 Premier League appearances under his belt, Barkley brings not only a strong calibre but also some much-needed EPL experience to the fold at Kenilworth Road. This Ross Barkley scout report will provide a tactical analysis of the former Chelsea man's role in Rob Edwards' Luton tactics , with the analysis looking at how he operates in and out of possession. Ross Barkley Heatmap So far this campaign, Luton have deployed a variety of back three/five formations, with 5-4-1 and 3-4-3 appearing the most. The two-man central midfield partnership is something Edwards clearly values and has also been an important feature when deploying a 4-4-2 – the only four-at-the-back formation the Hatters have used up to this point in 23/24. More often than not, Barkley operates on the left side of the central two, forming partnerships with the likes of Pelly Mpanzu and Albert Sambi Lokonga. The heatmap gives you an idea of Barkley's involvement from game to game. While he fulfils defending and attacking duties, his presence in either box is very limited, as Luton want a constant presence in midfield. Naturally, he drifts out wide on occasion in the final third as he adopts the roaming playmaker role, but most of his work is executed from central areas. Ross Barkley Ball Progression While Ross Barkley brings several beneficial skills to the table, this analysis will zone in on one of his trademark, most effective assets – his ability to run with the ball.

Sure, dribbling sounds like a prominent midfield trait. Still, Barkley's technical ability allows him to dribble out of trouble in tricky areas as well as make significant progress up the pitch by carrying the ball. He is no stranger to producing "wow" moments thanks to his innovative thinking and imagination on the ball while dribbling. Barkley averages 3.57 dribbles per 90 – one of the highest rates for central midfielders in tier-one leagues, demonstrating how vital dribbling is to Barkley's style of play. His map of ball progression via dribbles above paints the picture of where he likes to execute this action, and interestingly, very few dribbles come from what would be considered the middle third, around the halfway line. Most of his dribbles come in more advanced areas just as you enter the final third, with a fair number coming from deeper midfield areas, too, showing good ball progression skills. Additionally, he can execute progressive runs from deep midfield areas into more advanced areas. [caption id="attachment_477184" align="aligncenter" width="2200"] How Barkley utilises technical tricks & skills to beat opponents.[/caption] Technical flair is an integral part of Barkley's skillset, with little tricks and turns often making an appearance in moments where he looks to shake off opposition pressure. The example above showcases that skill, along with his ability to get involved with passing combinations to increase attacking momentum. With Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko looking to close Barkley down with seemingly nowhere to go, the midfielder pulls out a swift step-over before knocking the ball forward to get away from his opponent. Knocking the ball in front of himself and charging past opponents is something Barkley does regularly and effectively. This gave Barkley the space and time to pick his next move: a quick pass into Andros Townsend, who was in a higher position on the same flank, executing a sharp one-two combination. [caption id="attachment_477185" align="aligncenter" width="2200"] Barkley likes to receive the ball from deep midfield areas before driving forward.[/caption] We see this ability to power his way past players in various areas, including deeper midfielder zones. His strong levels of awareness play an important role in Barkley's tendency to drop deeper to receive the ball, constantly scanning for oncoming opponents as the ball reaches him. This scanning action allows him to start planning his next move – not only can he see the opponent closing him down, but he can also see the space left by that opponent, which Barkley will look to drive the ball into. His dribbling is also effective in more advanced areas, including carrying the ball into the box – which he has done 20 times to date this season. As you can see, most of them come from similar areas on the left side of the penalty area – Barkley tends to do this to create the opportunity for either a cut-back cross or to cut inside onto his right foot to attempt a shot or a lay-off. Ross Barkley Out of possession: a balanced role While a two-man midfield partnership offers some positive elements in midfield in possession, the need for discipline and structure when the opposition have the ball is absolutely vital – if one of the two is caught out of possession or simply not pulling their weight, the opposition has a strong chance of overloading midfield areas and breaking into the final third. Barkley's role in this respect is crucial, and his level of aggression and anticipation comes in handy, too. [caption id="attachment_477187" align="aligncenter" width="4011"] Luton's tactics demand a certain level of positional discipline.[/caption] The aforementioned positional discipline in a midfield duo also requires the know-how of when and where to increase the intensity to raise the pressure on the opposition. Barkley shows a good level of understanding. The example above demonstrates this – while Barkley is fully aware of the highlighted Sheffield United midfielder, he doesn't instantly close him down as this will leave a dangerous gap in midfield for the Blades to exploit. Instead, the former Everton midfielder waits until the highlighted opponent is about to receive the ball before slightly increasing the pressure, stepping up to squeeze the opponent. This is not a fully-fledged press from Barkley, with one of the attacking players often tasked with dropping in to add the higher-intensity press. [caption id="attachment_477188" align="aligncenter" width="2200"] Barkley's work rate off the ball is also a bonus for Luton.[/caption] Awareness, as mentioned, is vital to Barkley's role and is an essential skill in football. However, what is even more crucial is how a player reacts to these situations. In the example above, Chelsea are looking to move their attack forward quickly following a failed Luton attack – one that saw Barkley operate further upfield. While (sadly) we'd see a substantial number of midfielders not making the effort to get back into a helpful defensive position, Barkley possesses the work ethic to do exactly that while being tactically aware. He doesn't simply run back to just be there – he initially looks to block the passing lines to Cole Palmer, which he does successfully, before getting into the box to add defensive presence on that dangerous right flank. [caption id="attachment_477189" align="aligncenter" width="4129"] When and how is Barkley able to leave the midfield line to execute the press?[/caption] There are times when stepping up the intensity is needed from midfield, and Barkley lends himself to this nicely, just like in the analysis image above. Barkley could have opted to sit deeper in his initial position. Still, he chose to capitalise on Luton's already-higher presence in the opposition half by increasing the pressure on the ball. It's a small detail, but it simply rushes the man on the ball to make a quicker decision, which requires a much higher level of technical ability to avoid the risk of giving possession away in a dangerous area. For tactical and physical reasons, Barkley can't afford to be a constant high-pressure presence in midfield, but his strength and power enable him to be effective in a press. As you can see from the visual above, he is capable of winning the ball back in high areas, particularly out towards the left. Counterpressing is also a strength of Barkley's, with his power and burst again coming in clutch to win the ball back just after his side lost it. If Luton can start capitalising on those counterpressing moments, they'll be much more dangerous in transitions . Conclusion Ross Barkley was once heralded as the next best thing in football, and while he didn't reach those lofty heights set for him by the media, nobody can argue that he has carved out a very good career for himself. The 30-year-old is currently on 247 Premier League appearances, so reaching 300 is a very realistic target, but only time will tell if that milestone comes in a Luton Town shirt or not. Regardless, Barkley's presence at Luton has given Edwards' side a much-needed boost in quality in the midfield ranks, and his experience at the top level only adds to the benefit of having him in the team. Luton have a considerable task ahead in terms of staying up this season, but if Barkley continues to perform as well as he has been – and with perhaps a couple of new additions to the squad in January, we may just see Premier League badge on Luton sleeves next season.

Ross Barkley Scouting Report At Luton Town 2023/24 – Style Of Play

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