Harvey Barnes’ comeback assessed following impressive impact in starting XI
Barnes’ style of play is fundamentally a modern winger’s role – cutting in on the right-foot from the left. However as most successful professionals, his weaker left-foot is also proficient. Evidently he can score an array of goals, as seen through his career in the West Brom first team, Leicester City Under-21s and his time with the Young Lions.
An aspect of the England Under-21 playmaker’s game which seems to be developing from being previously underrated, is the ability to pre-emptively envision a scenario and facilitate productivity. What this means is key passes, link-up movement with other forwards, in addition to an almost sixth sense for what is about to happen. Subsequently how he can selflessly elevate the move.
Crossing is an area which noticeably requires some improvement – maybe Marc Albrighton could be of training ground assistance upon his return, prospectively schooling his teammate. Although Barnes has an aptitude for seeing a gap, and his advancing colleagues, completing low, hard crosses.
These balls-in are tempting Vardy and the like, but again need refinement. A model for the academy graduate to study would be Manchester City’s tap-ins – through masterful Pep Guardiola play – elegantly executed; similarly to the extra pass in basketball. Basically setting up the open goal with clean pass and move – the players are never stagnant with one-twos etcetera.
Stretching the game with width in plenty of space is another trademark of the youngster. Even in his first few appearances he was able to draw the right-back out and enable runs of others into space. Or isolate his man to go directly at or swiftly cross.
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Can Barnes replicate Championship form for Leicester City?
So far since reuniting with his parent club, Barnes has been impressive; raw but auspicious. The most important question as this writer sees it, is assimilation or trust: should he fully commit to an almost robotic fundamental? Which is doing everything by the book on the field.
Another option is the maverick: make moments of individual inspiration in contests which need special impact; regardless of the manager’s general plan.
The latter is what made a player like, say Riyad Mahrez, rise as the cream of talented top-flight wingmen of a specific period. Certainly Barnes has this type of unrefined potential. At the height of Mahrez’s Filbert Way powers he was given freedom to express himself.
FoL suggests Rodgers adopts this philosophy in regards to his young attacker. Although, with the flying advancement of Ben Chilwell down that side during matches, Barnes may have more defending and tracking to contribute than the Algerian managed.