Gareth Barry – Do Villa fans want him to stay at all costs or move along?

February 23, 2009 by Martin Banks
Filed under: Aston Villa, Gareth Barry 
birthday cake

Happy B-day Bazza

Gareth Barry is celebrating his 28th birthday today, so first of all; Happy Birthday Gareth (I wonder what present you buy for someone on his wages?!).

The News Of The World yesterday ran a story of how Barry will stay at the Villa… IF we qualify for Champions League (Isn’t this story seven months old?). We have known for ages that Barry is only willing to commit to us if we make the holy grail of Champions League football and we are also aware of the unrelenting rumour that Benitez will be back for him in the summer (that’s if Rafa still has a job at Liverpool!).

So what do we think? Do we want to keep Bazza at all costs? Or would we rather see the back of him?

Barry has been a sensational player for Villa for a number of years now and has been a huge part of why we have been as successful as we have. Last season he was of monumental importance to our league position and whilst we had many good players, Barry was the key man who held us together as a team. It was no surprise that a top four side wanted him, and that Villa wanted big money. The biggest surprise for me was that Liverpool didn’t cough up and pay the asking price. If you ask me, he was worth every penny (in today’s market).

Barry was in phenomenal form at the time and as Liverpool were willing to meet Keane’s price, why the hell not Barry’s? Barry would’ve been a much better investment for them, especially with how the whole Keane fiasco eventually panned out.

At Villa, he is an integral cog of the machine, a backbone to our team (particularly alongside Stiliyan Petrov), whereas at a team like Liverpool he would be just a squad player. But he would be more guaranteed Champions League on Merseyside. So there’s pros and cons from his point of view.

The big question of replacing him

Who could fill his boots? Steve Sidwell was brought in as his replacement last summer but then Barry ended up staying and Sidwell’s Villa career was hindered somewhat by that, but could he step in if Barry leaves? Or do Villa need to look into the market? Who do you feel could do Barry’s job and would want to come to Villa Park?


Comments

5 Comments on Gareth Barry – Do Villa fans want him to stay at all costs or move along?

  1. Simeon on Mon, 23rd Feb 2009 12:52

    2. We won’t lose Barry, because we will finish in the top 4. It’s a foregone conclusion, because Arsenal are so poor, and because we are on an upward curve. 4th place would almost be something of a disappointment, as I think we should overhaul Liverpool. And speaking of Liverpool, if Barry had gone in the summer, he wouldn’t have been a squad player. He’s better than Alonso and Mascherano, and actually, he’s better than Gerrard as well. It’s a pity that ‘actually’ is necessary, because most people won’t see that Barry is superior. Of course, if football were a one man game, then there might be a case for Gerrard being better. But football was only ever a one man game in Maradona’s case, and that was because he was the best player who ever lived. Gerrard isn’t even the best player of his English generation. Personally, I think that Liverpool’s failings, albeit as well as their limited successes, are due to Gerrard.

    Barry will stay, because his heart is at Villa,and there will be no reason to leave, so my hypothesis that he is irreplaceable for so many reasons won’t be tested.

  2. Dan Price on Mon, 23rd Feb 2009 13:49

    3. Better than Gerrard – whatever youve been takin i want some, because thats some strong shit! To quote Torres Liverpool is “gerrard plus 10 men” and it is. I would argue he has been the prems best player over the last 5 years, and I dont think any one player has more influence on his team. Ronaldo will score silly amounts, but if he wasnt there, im sure rooney berby and tevex would manage to find the net, but without stevie liverpool wouldnt have lifted the Fa cup or champions league, not a chance!

    Oh and btw… Im a villa fan, one of the rare ones with a preseason bet on top 4, so i am optimistic of Villa’s ability, but to even compare Barry favourabley to Stevie is something even stevie wonder can see is stupid!

  3. jammin18 on Mon, 23rd Feb 2009 14:16

    4. Ok now. I love the villa! But to say that Barry is better than gerrard is utter bollo*ks!! I love Barry and think he would walk into many teams around the world but Stevie G is in a different class! We should try getting Stevie of Liverpool to play alongside Barry….. now surley that would make sense right ;)

  4. gingervilla on Mon, 23rd Feb 2009 16:30

    5. I support Aston Villa not Barry or any other individual if Barry stay brilliant if not we move on

  5. Simeon on Mon, 23rd Feb 2009 23:50

    6. I think you’ve missed the point of what I was saying. That Liverpool is Gerrard plus 10 men is exactly the point I was making. The problem is that a team that revolves around him is less than the sum of its parts. Yes Liverpool have some right old muck in their squad, but the defence is solid, and Mascherano, Alonso and Torres are very good players. When it comes down to it, Liverpool are an inferior team to Villa, despite them being man for man better. And this is because Gerrard is, in footballing terms (this isn’t a personal attack) an attention seeking ego-maniac, whereas Barry is the opposite. Without Barry, Villa would be – and have been on occasion – vastly inferior. If Gerrard were sold, and Liverpool had the opportunity to adapt to life without him, I think they’d make significant progess (if it weren’t for the fact that the top of the club is a complete mess).

    Take the Lampard- Gerrard situation for England. Given their respective qualities, it should have been possible for them to play together. It wouldn’t have been ideal, because it would have involved Gerrard doing the majority of the defensive work, but it could have worked, but for one thing; Gerrard’s lack of intelligence (or his inability to suppress his childish ways). Good players, as we are so often told, can play together. They find a way of making it work. Despite countless opportunities, Gerrard and Lampard never did make it work. Lampard may not have as many natural gifts as Gerrard, but he does have intelligence and tactical awareness, and that’s why he’s a better player. Barry made Gerrard look better than he has usually done in an England shirt, but he made Lampard look even better. He hasn’t managed to do the same with Carrick, but then I would argue that’s because Carrick is a joke of footballer. So both Barry and Lampard are superior to Gerrard, but at least old Stevie’s better than Carrick…

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