According to the club, Gareth Barry is staying at Aston Villa

i think we should get behind him now, no matter what.

we all make mistakes and when we fcuk up at work, atleast its not in the public eye.

I for one like the guy, he's a class act and i will be singing his name next season.

Great news.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssssssssssss.. The best news Ive heard all summer its all over the internet, mind you though the Sun web site is still insisting he's off regardless of villa's statement. If we was to sell him now we would look right idiots!

I hope it's not the end. As if that's the way it ends--with Barry wanting to leave (which he clearly does) and the club unwilling to let him go, I just don't know if we're going to get our captain back. Seems to me that our relationship is far too messed up now to continue.

Or maybe I was just hoping we were getting 17.5 and a defender out of the deal.

Happy days - we keep our best player. You must be the only Villa fan in the world who is not glad he is staying

Why keep an England international when we could sign an ex celtic unskilled boring workhorse?
Looking at the poll results Damian I really think you were in the minority wanting Barry to go but I can also see that the points you made were still valid. I hope he stays as beggars can't be choosers and it does seem as if we go to other clubs cap in hand at the moment, hoping for a supersaver deal.

Im very happy to hear that the Barry saga is over! Now we can get on with playing football and no matter what he did no one can say he isnt an asset to the team! Can I finally order my Barry shirt now? I take it he is keeping the 6 shirt?

Don't forget Arsenal wanna be kept informed guys.

MON has been waiting to see whats happening regarding Barry.

Now he knows he knows what he needs to push us on. we are now out of limbo and can crack on with things.

There would have been no point in him building the squad and not knowing whether one of the key players was stayin or goin.


This is like a signing for us. Spurs could'nt hold on to Keane, blackburn had to let Bentley go, for us to keep hold of him is a massive bonus.

Taddy

I don't really care either way if he goes or stays. If he goes and we get £18mn. then I think that is more than he's worth and it's good business. If he stays and puts on the shirt and gives 100%, regardless of ability, he'll get my support ..

I've supported Aston Villa for many more years than Barry has played for them and I'll support them for many more years after.

taglor

He's an England international, sure, but he was one before he played a few friendlies and a few competitive games that saw us not qualify for the Euro 2008 tournament. Let's see if he is still a regular come September when we've got to play competitive games again .. I'm not convinced myself, but I could be wrong.

But I wanted Barry to go, if they paid the money Martin O'Neill wanted. Personally, I would have accepted a little less and used that to get Bentley, but that is just me ...

Also, to both of you ... I really don't think is over and I wouldn't be surprised if it still happened.

Arsenal won't pay 18 mill for him

This is fantastic news! Now we can just get on with our own transfers and hopefully we wont have to read many more Barry articles (bar tomorrow) for a while. Those who think if he wants to go, he should go are forgetting his performance last weekend. If we get behind him, he will perform. He is a true pro.

Damian,

I agree with you - there's more to come on this, possibly a transfer request that will probably finally grease the wheels on the deals.

If he goes, good bit of business done in the circumstances - and thanks for your service over the years, GB, genuinely appreciated. If not, he will get my support too. He's no Milosevic or Alpay.

best news all summer Barry stays too right too liverpool have been pis#sing us about too much they had enough money but they chose leave probably to keep us in the dark for longer Barry is a professional and he will play even better this season hopefully this news can secure some more signings as the only way barry will commit next season is if we become a real force this season.it was plain to see he was pure class against Odense and still vital to villa

*they chose keane

DaveT-Solihull

a transfer request wouldn't surprise me and according to The Sun (I know):
[quote]SunSport understands that the two clubs were still negotiating terms on Barry's potential £18million move when the 5pm deadline that Villa had set passed.

Liverpool were prepared to match Villa's asking price but the stalling point to negotiations was exactly how the fee should be paid.

With the two clubs still haggling over the arrangement, Villa made their announcement.

But talks are believed to be still ongoing to enable 27-year-old Barry to make the switch to Anfield. [/quote]
it sounds like we want the money quickly (which wouldn't be nice as it isn't what we've been led to believe is necessary) and it's just all haggling

i just don't think it's over .. and it's quite bold of The Sun to print this unless they know something ..

All the reports I've been reading today are pretty clear that he's going to go so it's strange that the official site would say something like that. I agree though, either way it's good for us. I think he's a good pro so if he stays he'll give his all and maybe we can break into the top 4, if he goes we get some cash to spend and maybe de la Red or someone will fill the gap. We'd probably also get Finnan which I think would be a good signing.

Okay well damien and others BARRY IS STAYING!
Official Villa website announcement means such.

So why the ifs ?? the cynical views etc etc?

As it says as you would have read/heard a deadline passed which ALL PARTIES (erm i would imagine that inc GB and Black his agent) agreed to therefor HE REMAINS AN ASTON VILLA PLAYER its simple and i have tried to explain this in simple terms for those who cannot understand.

If he wanted to leave the transfer request would have ultimately been put in. So theres no way hes leaving now even though transfer window isnt till end of august!

i thought i better point this out yoo regards transfers ;-)

By the way i respect all peoples views nd opinions on here as we all have varying ideas/beliefs and opinions which makes debating chatting posting so much fun.

I hope to have come across as straightforward thanks
And Up the Villa

JP

I hope you are right .. because if he does go, I'm going to have fun with the mickey mouse official club site staff ..

Like I've said above .. this could be Martin O'Neill closing the book on it and he may be staying - if so, then he'll probably play or he might not .. we don't know.

At the end of the day, we'll know for sure on September 1st .. then again on February 1st - if he's to play another full season for Aston Villa.

I can't believe you lot think this is good news! The player doesn't want to stay so why is it good? He's stuck with Villa now and although he will probably give his best he will lose that few crucial percent that makes the difference. I suppose it stops MON buying three 5m donkeys though!

Well he is a current international.... and come september he will make the Lampard place his own. Capello knows a good player, and gareth is far better than Frank..! As for Bentley, if spurs are paying 17mill thats there problem he is not worth that kind of money... Real are paying 8 mill for Van der Veart..!!

If the De la Red rumours are true, i can see Gareth maybe playing on the left (midfield)..

The website is the official word for AVFC !!!
Even though its staff seem quite incompetent at times !

So no you dont need to wait till september ! And yes Mon closing the book but read again ALL PARTIES agreed !!!!!!!

Also MON mentioned there needed to be a "timescale on this" which indicates a deadline.

AND ! that we are not at the "behest of liverpool football club" therefor reinforcing a deadline - which ALL PARTIES were AWARE OF !!

Wow this is simple stuff ! ;-)

Im happy he is staying but mainly because i have no faith in MON being able to use £18m in the transfer market. Plus it will give us a true picture on how much money Learner/MON has to spend this summer without this extra cash being used as an excuse for total funds spent.

Some people have said that we haven't signed anyone to make our rivals worry, but what message does this send out? I think it looks worse for Liverpoo than it does for us!

If he is indeed staying, it is good news because he settles the squad. Not that there aren't better players out there, but getting them in...Not so easy, obviously.

He'll have to perform if he wants to keep his England and CL ambitions alive...either with Villa or with someone else.

Until MON's next press conference or his actual words on the matter we wont know either way!!! i will be very happy if he stays regardless of his feelings... i was at VP on saturday and he didnt show ANY signs of lacking effort he was probably MOTM!!! Liverpool (or scum as i call them) showed they had money to quickly close the keane deal so my view is that angered
MON & RL and they have now lost patience and decided enough is enough barry must have agreed to the deadline!!! END OF SAGA!!!! ;D

And obviously, the fat waiter has more derision coming his way...He found no problems quickly stumping up for Keane, and one has to wonder how that all looks. Perhaps Barry won't be as unsettled as one might think, given the Keane business. And if the £17m tag for Bentley sticks, then it can't be said MON was asking for too much. Surely Barry is worth somewhere in the same neighborhood as Keane and/or Bentley.

MON's given him a way back in, and we'll see if he takes it with both hands. I'm thinking that Barry will have a lot to play for.

Dont be mistaken, Barry is still coming to anfield.
Oneil has got the hump with benitez and is just being as awkward as possible.

nicely put JP

Why stir the pot even more Damien? You have done this subject to death and now and even my nan knows your feelings on the subject, Barry is staying so let's get on with things. We all know you don't rate Barry, but the majority of us are very happy to see that he is staying. 18 mil is only good business if you can replace Barry and as said in a previous post, you can only buy from clubs that are selling.

So we now have 4 very good centre mids for competition im pleased to be honest but i now feel money will only be spent on a left back and a right back plus Brad Guzan. We still need atleast another wide man and a proven striker imo.

When are we going to start "strengthening the squad" with these "significant funds?". Does anyone else think that Shorey is about as pacey as Barry (not a good thing) and might not fit our long ball running style? But at this point after wanting Barry to go, im just grateful that i wont have to read anymore articles about the whole "saga" in the paper or on the net. I agree with Damian,and i also think he will not sign another contract with Villa he will leave, if not in January, then next summer. But he is a Villa player now (and presumably wants to play for us now) and i will support him to no end.....

"Personally, I would have accepted a little less and used that to get Bentley, but that is just me"

Yes it is you ignoring the fact the we could afford Bentley anyway without selling Barry, ignoring the fact that Bentley wants to go back to London and is a Spurs fan - and also lets not forget that when first suggesting we should should sign Bentley you thought Bentley was a left winger!

Grow up and forget your personal vendetta against the player.

I just find it bizarre how throughout this whole saga you have obviously wanted him to go - you will deny this of course - but reading your pathetic articles over the last few months it is obvious that for some funny reason you have a vendetta against Barry. Well the real Villa fans made their real thoughts known on Saturday! ;)

Jimmy Villain

The fact the club released a statement is news.

The Sun newspaper are even quoting the statement but still saying it's as good as done.

This is a blog. If I have an opinion on news, speculation or anything related to Aston Villa, I post it. That's the point of a blog ...

Maybe it's done to death, but not just this site - most football sites have done it to death and with no other news from the club what am I to do?

I could tell you the Shorey deal is as good as done but I'll only get told I don't know what I'm talking about ...

Feels like we've made a new signing!!!

Taddy

You know, you seem to take this whole Barry saga quite personally - do you have to win every battle and be right every time? It looks like it, so I've got some questions for you:

How do you know we could afford Bentley anyway?

How did you know Bentley wanted to go back to London?

The fact of the matter is you don't know. All we know is we made a bid that was rejected by Blackburn. Paul Ince even came out and said it was £10mn.

I also didn't call him a left winger, I said he can play on the left - there is quite a big difference and I was referring to it in so much that Young likes to switch, so maybe it would be good for the team.

As for me having a 'personal vendetta' against Barry, how do you know that? It's actually childish to think that I would and I'll just set the record straight on something; on Saturday I clapped Barry off the pitch also as I thought he had a fantastic game. I also didn't boo him like some did.

However, if we got £18mn. for Barry, I'd say that was very good business and I think in Sidwell we've got a very good replacement and who knows, Ruben de la Red could have been a fantastic replacement.

You've also got to remember that we're all allowed to have an opinion and if it isn't the same as yours then you've got to accept that. Not everyone agrees with you on everything.

I can't really see the club backtracking on this now they've made such a bold statement. The official site might not be everyones cup of tea but I can't beleive that a statement like this wouldn't have been signed off in triplicate before being posted onto the official site. I think that the only possibility that this may happen is if Barry put in a transfer request as it would fundamentaly change things.

I also think that Liverpool have probably upset Barry too. You can't say you want him, then not stump of £18m and then go and sign Keane on £22m. I'm sure Barry would look at that and think if Keane is worth £22m then surely he's worth £18m and, therefore, how much did they really want him when clearly the money was there all along. My guess is that Barry has agreed that this may have been nothing more than a big ploy to unsettle AVFC who I guess Liverpool see as their biggest threat in removing them from 4th spot on a long term basis.

I am one of those people who was quite content either way. 18m would have been fabulous money for Barry.....on the other hand he is one of our better players and would mean one less player needs replacing.....

For me the important thing is to draw the saga to a close. Thats it now - Villa say the deadline for the transfer of Barry has passed. If we sell now I think we will be a laughing stock. As others have said it will also give a clearer picture of our ambition without the 18m from Barrys sale which would distort the picture...

I wouldn't get putting any money on Barry not wearing a Liverpool shirt next season.

barry will play for villa 1 more year then buy out his contract next summer and join liverpool for free. £18m down the drain in my opinion. if he wants to stay get him on a new 4 year deal!!

I'm wondering if Arsenal will come in now??

Great news he is staying, lets hope he is up for it and gives 100%. Now O,Neill needs to show we mean business and sign the quality players that the fans and barry want at the club. Come on Martin the ball is now in your court.

MON has spoke on os...and BARRY IS DEFINATELY STAYING!!!
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) ;) :D ;D 8) :P :-*

Ha, ha, ha egg on your face to Damien and every other fan who were quoting, just a matter of hours ago, that Barry was officially on his way!

Maybe he might go in January, but you never know what improvements the club will make by then, and Barry could well change his mind again.

It's so refreshing to see a club run by a manager and not a player.

Congratulations are in order to Mr. O'neil, and alot of grovelling from the doubters!

e.g. Mr.Taglor and bhunji

:-* I believe it noe MON has spoken. Great great news. Gareth can still be a Villa legend. With him this season we can finish above Liverpool. It is time some Villa fans realised what a talent he is though. For most of his ten years he has been superb and in my all-time Villa stars he is currently only bettered by Sid, Tony Morley and Paul McGrath.

we have offered him 70k a week plus a get out clause in his contract if we dont improve on last year,so randy and mon must be pretty confident.just 3 full backs a right mid and centre forward know please.no need for centre back after watching davies train he will be back sooner than we think....the faith is slowly returning...

me and me mucker queeren magraff are well chuffed barry is staying. up the villa & taglor & av33 and not to forget avfcarsenist.twats!!

I bet he will end at Arsenal, 15million Justin Hoyte !!!

Barry staying feels like a new signing for us.

I was slightly disappointed when we dropped our interest in Bently, but I'd take GB over him any day.

Now that we have some stability at the club, with our best player staying, being seen as serious about our ambitions, and with some European football on the horizon I hope it will encourage the players who might have been considering joining us to sign the dotted line and join the revolution.

This is a massive turning point for villa. Roll on the first game of the season!

Damian, for once I totally agree with you.

This deal isn't finished yet, by a long chalk.

If Barry doesn't go in this window, he will be gone cheap in January or for really cheap next summer.
If that's the case, it's bad news.

It's worrying that we were quibbling over how the dough was paid, as this hints that the money we are supposed to have isn't really there.

Then again, if he really wanted to go, he would have stuck the transfer request in, wouldn't he?????????

My guess is there are lots of shennanigans going on behind the scenes and Barry is only one little part of it.

I'd take the deal that was supposed to have been offered too, FWIW, as much as I like GB.

just read taglor comments after losing 4.0 to man u in march saying he would rather follow bcfc and we would not qualify for europe.i hope the infadel likes it in the coca cola league the blue nose geek!!ps how is matthew upson thease days GAYLOR!!

hahaha atlas good one!!! i like the way you spelled my name queeran hahaha very mature of you. did you do that before of after your summer play scheme.

Badger, i'm confused... you're saying that aston villa daring to insist that liverpool at least have the courtesy of offering us the standard premiership payment option of half up front and half within 12 months is somehow indicative that we don't have any money??

i see it the other way, to me it's indicative that liverpool never were particularly interested in adding barry to their team. it was more about removing the best player from one of the teams chasing them next season and they arrogantly thought they could make derisory offers and we'd just roll over.

still, i suppose it depends on whether you're a glass half empty or glass half full type doesn't it??

I am villa mad but a the moment i cant see how this is good for the club?

Dont get me wrong im happy hes staying, but the upcoming season is the last year on his contract and now we risk losing him for absolutely nothing when we could have got £15m for him which is a very good price in my eyes. We need to get him to sign a new contract or we're screwed and he'll go to liverpool, arsenal or chelsea for nothing!

atlas, you must be bored silly, no school to go to, so that means no teachers to pick on. lol never mind just think in a few years time you will be able to sign on and be able to buy your own internet instead of using next doors wireless on that laptop you stole from the person that lives next door to your dad in his dump of a bedsit

I wanted to write something on the Barry saga but i've completely lost my thread now after once again having to endure the comments from atlas.

I would like to think that the majority of members on here do not really want to have to read the gay innuendo that atlas continues to post.
I repeat...if you are indeed he "nice young lady" that you said you were the other day, you really should refrain from calling people twats and leave the sexual innuendos alone as this is not very lady like.

Really don't know what to think about what is going on at Villa Park at the moment.

UP THE VILLA ;)

Given MON transfer history, im happy to see a player like Barry stay on. If he does stay, he still has to perform to keep his place with England and to keep the transfer price in tact. If he goes, i cant see a decent replacement coming in to fill his boots. Personally, i think the pool was to good an opportunity to turn down and i think 18 million is to much to ask. We are a bit two faced if we put in a "fair offer" for bently (10 million was it) and expect 18 for GB. Following on, I know a lot wont agree with me on this, but i dont think qualifying for the UEFA cup group stages will be a good thing unless we sign at least 10 more players. How could we compete on all fronts with the 07/08 squad if we were in Europe last year. Now we are down even more players that will probably be replaced with average squad players and maybe one or two young english guys with promise. If we were not in Europe and signed 3 more quality players before the window closed, id be reasonably happy. Right now, i cant see any light at the end of this transfer tunnell as we have a lot of ground to make up and we have been here before. MON and Lerner are to tight with the cash and dont know how to spend what ever they do have. Also, there it appears that MON is to hands on with the transfer targets.

now then atlas...who the hells avfcarsenist? Did I strike a nerve with you the other day? I like how you try to make innuendo of other people usernames!! Such are Kieran's above etc. However if you had been listening in your remedial English class you would have know that you spelling of arsenist is actually spelt ‘arsonist’, You muppet!

Im glad he is staying id still like to see him say sorry tho

If he dont i wont get on his back about it at the ground but it wouldnt hurt him to say sorry he hurt a lot of fans

Im glad he is staying , we need him- whatever people think about the transfer saga, we cant easily replace him at the moment.

Bentley 18mil do me a fucking favour… Bentley is not worth 18mil, on what grounds is he worth that? He's been shit for england every time he's played for them and he was at pork pie rovers in a pretty average team. Tottenham are total mugs for paying 18mil for him, Barry is in a different class and anyone that disagrees - look at the records they speak for themselves…

"However, if we got £18mn. for Barry, I'd say that was very good business and I think in Sidwell we've got a very good replacement and who knows, Ruben de la Red could have been a fantastic replacement. "

Not in the same class Damien, not at all - sidwell is an average squad player that played well at an over achieving club and could get a game in a top 4 club. Barry is quality and would be in most of the top 4's starting line up…

Sour grapes anyone?? I love the fact that Liverpool couldn't get him from us, but now that he's back I have mixed feelings. We NEED him for our push in UEFA and the Premiership, but there will always be that lingering doubt.

Barry in the Villa kit will keep me happy, but we all know that it's only a matter of time at this point. This is only a coup for now.. we need to look forward past Barry

UTV.. UTV.

err Ron what have I got to grovel about? I never said Barry was definitely leaving or that i wanted him to go? Read the previous posts and don't rely on your booze soaked brain which is failing in every department. @ atlas ........ grow up and maybe try being constructive instead of homosexual innuendos and embarrassing posts. Do you love villa atlas? well why don't you marry them? see, we can all play dumb. ;D

Its obvious whats happened here Liverpool matched the amount villa wanted and when they sat down and discussed payment the fat waiter putt all his coupons on the table i.e he wanted to pay in installments caus clearly he has to sell to fund the move, villa rejected this and the deal went south. Worse case here is we keep him for a year he helps us progress and if he still wants to jump ship sell him for around 10 - 12 million (about what hes actually worth). He will never be totally forgiven as a villa player but we need his quality to progress.MON put it to bed and get on with signing of new faces.Is finnan still an option? nah i doubt it

Damian,

I know Bentley wanted to go to Spurs cause he has signed for them you muppet.

I know we could afford him cause Lerner is a billionaire and we made an offer.

I know he is a right midfielder - cause I actually watch football - I dont just mess about on Wikepedia - same as I know Miliner plays right wing - cause I watched him play there for half a season for the [u][b]VILLA[/b][/u]

Oh and please find me the quote or media clip directly from Ince where he said our offer for Bentley was ten million??????

Absolutely fuming Bentley has gone for £15m. There are two possible reasons why we didn't chase him, and both are unnacceptable:

1. The cash isn't there, or
2. MON refused to pay more than he thought Bentley was worth.

I personally think it's 2. Sorry Martin, that's not acceptable. If you want quality players, you have to pay the asking price, whether you think it's worth it or not. Spurs now have themselves a potential world class player and we don't because you didn't want to pay the asking price.

Extremely p'd off.

Oh, and has everyone seen the reports this morning? Liverpool supposedly met the asking price "15 minutes late", though I can only assume this is the work of a popular tabloid newspaper trying to make it sound oh so much more exciting that it actually is.

We should have known this would be drawn out further still >:( >:( >:(

[b]Barry not going has shot us in the left foot.[/b]

OK so Barry staying is GREAT but it is a very short sighted view.
Everyone is trying to say that MON has won some great morale victory........WHY?
We have an unhappy player (or 'GODlike phenonemon' as the likes of 'Taddy' would have it).
We have a player who is unlikley to want to negotiate a long term contract extension.
We potentially will lose him to the scousers on a free next year anyway.

Some of the facts:
- Barry is a good solid but never worth anything over 15 Million
- 15 Million comming in would at least have bought 2 to 3 solid squad players so we could at least have filled the bench this season
- Randy must not be encouraging O'Neill to spend to push on
- O'Neill must be telling Randy he can manage on a shoestring
- To survive and win something these days you have to spend not scrimp and save
- This is actually 2008 O'Neill not 1978 so sell Barry, demand some money of the Yank, buy some quality world class players, get some good quality squad players to replace all the players who have moved on since you joined the club and show some real ambition in the modern game.

There you go Taddy. You've gone and done it. Personal abuse won't be tolerated against other users.

You'll not get a chance to reply to this but once again, you're assuming I should take your opinion as my own.

You say Bentley wanted to go to Spurs because he went there. Clever lad. Spurs were the only club that made a bid that was accepted.

I don't have to show you proof about comments made by Paul Ince. They were made and if you search - you'll find them. There is even a link to them on this site.

As for Lerner. Just because someone is a $ billionaire doesn't men he's going to spend it.

As for your goading about what position players play, it's just childish behaviour looking to score points and well, you're just making yourslef look a little stupid again.

Read what I've said above about Bentley. As for Milner - he was actually with us for a season and if you took off your rose tinted glasses you'd see that he plays on the left as well as the right for Newcastle and even on his club site they have him down as a left sided midfielder.

Just because Dion Dublin played in defence it doesn't make him a defender.

Somehow I don't think this is the end of the Barry Saga, remember it's Villa and nothing ever seems to be simple.
What if Liverpool make an 18 million offer? Barry wants to go, I don't think MON could stop him

I dont like this at all,until we get a quote from gaz baz i dont think anything has changed,we should go to the F.S.W.and his scouse scum club and ask for alonso and finnan

Let's not forget that the deadline wasn't actually yesterday

The deadline is August 31st at midnight. The club setting deadlines is pointless

I'm fairly confident he'll still be a Liverpool player next season mostly because the club have a reputation of communicating bollox.

I want a public apology to the club, it's fans and the manager.....and then maybe I will find it in my claret and blue heart to partly forgive him and get behind him while he is wearing villa shirt! But people let's not be naive here, this man wants to play for someone else and the chances are at the end of this season....or even midway through he will leave, so don't get too attached!

good news but wont believe he is dedicated until he signs a contract!!!

i come to work in the morning and everyday the manure fan here says "have you heard , Villa swooped overnight" "have they" i ask agog......"have they f.ck" is the inevitable retort.
and i stand for it almost every day.....i'm frazzled by O'Neills complete lack of ability in the transfer market , be it buying or selling. Let me ask a question , working on the assumption that we aren't a club who are going to go out and spend 80m quid in a transfer window , how are we going to make up the lost ground caused by lack of investment in the last 4 transfer windows ?

Damian "All we know is we made a bid that was rejected by Blackburn. Paul Ince even came out and said it was £10mn".

Taddy "please find me the quote or media clip directly from Ince where he said our offer for Bentley was ten million??????"

"I don't have to show you proof about comments made by Paul Ince. They were made and if you search - you'll find them. There is even a link to them on this site".

Where is it then Damian? I cannot find it. Oh thats right it does not exist - but no doubt you will not print this because I have proved you wrong again


You bang on and on about the [u][b]OFFICIAL [/b][/u]CLUB SITE - but you just make things up dont you?

...and according to today's Daily Mail he's going.

Their headline today 'Liverpool finally agree £19m deal for Gareth Barry despite Villa's 'staying' statement'.

Well that's 17.5mil Steve Finnan actually. Oh, and Gareth's sorted a place to crash at night in Cheshire.

What's the story????

Damian,
MON tried to buy BENTLEY with straight cash (virtually same amount as what SPURS have paid) and he said "No thanks." He's a cocky cockney pleb who is as much interested in football as he is trying to be the next Beckham fashion icon. Top players who come to Villa will be coming for predominantly football matters. Birmingham will never have the appeal as LONDON MANCHESTER or LIVERPOOL despite its revamp. I would snap BENITEZ hand off for £15 mil FINNAN. The scousers are bricking it if this deal goes through.

vivavilla - i actually think it's refreshing that MON will only pay what he thinks a player is worth, at least he's making a stand and maybe others will start to follow suit and ridiculous transfer fees will be a thing of the past. We might not agree on the valuation that MON puts on a player but that's a different point and without knowing all the ins and outs of what's going on it's mainly conjecture on our part.

I'm quite liking the fact that we are showing that we won't be pushed around by other clubs. If MON starts paying over the odds for players we'll be stuck with that reputation(like Chelsea) because everyone will think that we will give in and pay up eventually.

Win-win for us. We keep Barry, OK he'll do a professional job but his position as Top Dog is eroded and his platform for holding the Club to ransom is gone. We sell Barry and get a lorra lorra money plus a full-back.By the way ..watch Arsenal-this could be the best bit of brinksmanship of the year by MON ie. to play hard-ball on the asking price knowing 'Pool can't afford it but setting the bar for a bid from Arssenal at above that.Plus, one on the nose for Raffa.

Ghosthunter, don't get me wrong, I admire the way O'Neill sticks to his guns and won't allow bigger clubs to boss us around - to a certain extent. However, in this day and age, the fact remains that you need to spend big to land established players. Bentley is a superb prospect and I personally wouldn't think twice about paying £15m. He'd instantly improve our team. I think O'Neill knows that too, it's just frustrating to see him so unwilling to be flexible with his own valuations.

Vivavilla - We'll agree to differ then because I'd be a little reluctant to spend £15m - £17m on Bentley because I think he's got a crap attitude. But I agree that MON should be flexible with his valuations sometimes as I'm sure he is. The main point is we don't know what happened so it's difficult to make assumptions.

Ipbopmalik - I'll readily agree that London has a bigger draw to it than Birmingham but Manchester and Liverpool!!! - You gotta be kidding me, have you ever been???? They're about as appealing as picking up some disgarded chewing gum and having a munch on it. In footballing terms we have to accept that they are currently more successful areas but that wasn't your point. Nonetheless it's an important one and why I think we should all be hoping that the likes of Baggies, Blues & Wolves improve as it will only help raise our own profile further (so long as we always beat them!).

if plays for villa,we should treat him like this never happened.

Barry to stay sounds good but a little birdee told me that liverfool have agreed a price and the deal will still go through lets wait and see theres still time anyway i personally believe that if a player wants to go u have to let him go it makes no sense having a half hearted player running your team and lets face it barry is not and i say again is NOT irreplacable there m ust be a player out there that can fill his boots and probably for half of that 18 mil if villa really want to challange the top four we need to look for younger more talented players i know some villa fans will be cusing me but think about this how much money would we have got if barry left to tottenham 2 seasons ago i rest my case

'Personal abuse won't be tolerated against other users', is calling somebody a muppet abuse Damien? If it is, at least be consistent rather that barring people because they know what wings Bentley and Milner play on. I say consistent, because the other day I referred to some people on this forum as 'muppets' for saying that Warnock was a left-back (probably 'friends' of yours Damien?)and you didn't bar me. As for Taddy being 'childish' and 'stupid' get a mirror and take a good hard look in it and while you're at it you can bar me as well!!!

oh queeren love your answer to power hit a nerve have we.please jazmundo and power please reply to this alter serving gay priest slave and up the villa.there is only one mcgrath and that is paul 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

I was reading this article, amongst many:

LINK:-A-true-Villain-is-born-...

Decently written, I thought, and reminded me of what we had, until so recently. As GB says, there is no turning back, even if we get a little longer with him but reflecting on this article my mood is changing a little.

I am now satisfied that Villa will pretty much maximise their return so now I'm feeling less hard-done-by for us but I'm now truly concerned for him, that this will turn out an unnecessary mistake. I hope not, I really do. He's given me so much to cheer for so long but the irony might well be that it will be Villa players that displace him in the squad places of the England midfield.

Villafandan,

[i]Badger, i'm confused... you're saying that aston villa daring to insist that liverpool at least have the courtesy of offering us the standard premiership payment option of half up front and half within 12 months is somehow indicative that we don't have any money??

i see it the other way, to me it's indicative that liverpool never were particularly interested in adding barry to their team. it was more about removing the best player from one of the teams chasing them next season and they arrogantly thought they could make derisory offers and we'd just roll over.

still, i suppose it depends on whether you're a glass half empty or glass half full type doesn't it?? [/i]

My understanding is that usual practice now is to make 4 or 5 instalments. I could have read that wrong of course, but a big point was made in the papers, of the fact that Villa asked for it in two payments, which shocked Liverpool and forced them to go to the bank, to see if they'd ok it, hence the delay.

Trust me I'm a glass half full fan and still trusting in MON ;)

Seeing as Daman is probably on the lash, I'll comment on this thread.

MON has admitted that Barry is gone, on the OS.

£18 million? I'm a happy bunny, although he will take some replacing.

Shorey is coming this week and I predict more to come.

I stongly expect us to spend at least £40 mill on top of what we've already spent in this window and if we don't, it's IMO, proof that the dough isn't there.

FWIW, I think MON has played this perfectly and has sent a strong message to the likes of Manure who will inevitably come sniffing around Ash, should he do the business again this season.

No offence to Gareth or Villa - but is he really worth it?

Regardless of your answer, do you want him to stay now he has openly said he wants to leave? Not really the behaviour you want from your skipper.

It is a shame because Villa fans and the club have stood by Gareth.

Anyway, you can always replace that Barry with a new one
[url]LINK[/url]