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