---
title: "Aston Villa: Fans react to Smith’s comments on Barkley"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-fans-react-to-smiths-comments-on-barkley/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa"
published: "2021-04-23T12:10:32Z"
modified: "2021-04-23T12:10:32Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Fans react to Smith’s comments on Barkley

**A number of Aston Villa fans have been having their say on Dean Smith’s comments regarding midfielder Ross Barkley.**

Barkley [arrived on loan from Chelsea at the start of the season](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54352181) but has badly fallen out of favour under Smith in recent months, despite Jack Grealish’s injury problems.

Up until the end of February, when fit, the 27-year-old was a [regular starter](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ross-barkley/leistungsdaten/spieler/131978). However, Barkley has been left out of Smith’s [last eight Premier League starting line ups](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ross-barkley/leistungsdaten/spieler/131978), having to make do with a place on the bench, even with the club missing star man Grealish in a position one might expect Barkley to fill.

\[freshpress-poll id=”353254″\]

This has led to speculation over a potential permanent deal now being off the table. [Smith was asked about Barkley](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/ross-barkley-transfer-aston-villa-20440712) following the club’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday, to which he said:

> “He’s got another two years left on his contract at Chelsea and that’s not been discussed at all.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”350804″\]

### Villa fans react

Those rather blunt comments were shared on Twitter by [@AVFC\_News](https://twitter.com/AVFC_News/status/1385194640912044034) on Thursday lunchtime.

This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with some speculating if there are problems off the pitch at Villa Park.

**“Is there a problem in the dressing room at the moment because their was certainly a problem with Big T and Ross last night for all too see.”**

[Credit: @tw1708](https://twitter.com/tw1708/status/1385200181696737281)

**“Something’s not right within the club Smith has a big job on his hands coming up in the summer!! As Barkley not alone, you could class another 4/5 players that have been dog for us!!!“**

[Credit: @MarkPau86473828](https://twitter.com/MarkPau86473828/status/1385197680545222664)

**“Plague and avoid spring to mind. He’s just not a good fit for us”**

[Credit: @Villandrew](https://twitter.com/Villandrew/status/1385298561345204226)

**“He just appears to be coasting out the rest of the season with us with minimal effort it’s sad to see as he has such potential”**

[Credit: @Cypher79C](https://twitter.com/Cypher79C/status/1385213897418973185)

**“Thank the high heavens there is a god”**

[Credit: @av\_reece](https://twitter.com/av_reece/status/1385273425116155904)

**“That’s a very polite way of saying no way Jose”**

[Credit: @HoItender](https://twitter.com/HoItender/status/1385196131496431617)

***In other news: Many AVFC fans buzz at Purslow’s ESL comments, find out more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/aston-villa-fans-react-to-purslows-esl-comments/).***