Curtis Davies talks and I gotta say, maybe he should stick to getting fit again

Very well said Damian.

i can see where he is coming from, he is obviously trying to cool the situation down just incase the deal falls through and if it does fall through we should still back barry, because at the end of the day he is still a villa player

In fairness he was probably asked the question, and he can't, in all honesty, say that Baz should be loyal after he left for a better quality of football competition. I think we should all have a serious rethink about football players, because it seems like you have a distorted view...they are professionals with careers. You're not gonna stay at a lesser company if you can do better for yourself out of loyalty. We're fans. We support the club. They're players. They play for the club. We need to get realistic about the players. I understand your point that they already get paid obscene amounts of money, but the fact is Curtis could have probably lived quite hansomely off what West Brom paid him...would he have such a good and prosperous career if he didn't move to us and stayed with a yoyo team all his career? We appreciate that Curtis made his move to us, and there really isn't too much difference in Barry moving to the Scouse.

Have I got this right?

When Barry goes without submitting a formal transfer request does he "trouser" £x million as a signing on fee.

If I have this wrong the rest of the post is irrelevant - can someone clarify?

So if Barry goes without asking for a transfer and pockets millions of pounds this really is out of order. I can understand if you want to further your career but there are principles involved.

If he had asked for a transfer most of us AV fans would have said Ok we can understand, but may not agreed with the motive (career move, Champions League etc) but we are also disappointed.

But what he is doing is saying yes I want to go (but I'll tell the press) and also I still want a signing on fee (because I have not officially given a formal request) and I don't care about the contract I signed last year.

Also I assume that the transfer fee is payable by AV. Again, if this is the case the fee may well be about the difference on what MON wants and what Liverpool want to pay for Barry. Hence, the deal could have been done and dusted without all the hatred and animosity being generated.

Curtis Davies mentions how things grew ugly with the WBA fans. However, Curtis actually did put in a transfer request (not one but three) - a hell of a difference to Mr Barry.

In my last post the last but one paragraph should read:

"Also I assume that Barry's signing on fee is paid by AV."

not

"Also I assume that the transfer fee is payable by AV."

I totally agree Damian. It's worrying how far removed from reality these players are, that's why I'm so hard on them and expect so much and from the management and owners because they have it made. If it wasn't for us working hard and still finding the money to pay for their wages they wouldn't be all able to have bentley's and ferraris etc. The wife and i have a 5 year plan to move to Canada where her sister lives as this country is going to the dogs and I hate to say that as I love England.

I can see were he's coming from and I agree with the sentiment to a certain extent, but the loyalty quote is just wrong! His only loyalty is to his family statement doesn’t exactly fit into the context of what he’s saying. Why should we be loyal/understanding/forgiving of Barry’s actions and maybe Curtis’s future actions if the players have no loyalty to the people who pay their wages. I don’t exactly expect them to die for us but the minimum of a bit of common decency and respect would be nice.
Barry want’s to leave to further his career. That’s fine, put in a transfer request, forgo you loyalty bonus since its him who wants to leave and most importantly keep your mouth shut and don’t slag off the club, its chairman and its manager.

I've been a Villa supporter for 26 years and I am a big fan of Gareth Barry, I will be sorry to see him go, especially to a club like Liverpool, who I believe aren't that far ahead of Villa at this moment in time.

But, I don't totally agree with this article, if he should be loyal to the company that made him the money, shouldn't he still be at West Brom? If he stood by what you are saying Damien, he wouldn't be at Villa now would he?

If I was approached by a company who would offer me twice the amount of wages I am on now, with the prospect of fulfilling my dream, I would grab it. As much as I thank my bosses for giving me a comfortable life, I would still like to fulfill my goals and achieve much more in the short time I have in this life, football is a short career, you have to get what you can, when you can. At the age of 36, Barry's career could be over.

the only thing i really agree wit curtis on is the family bit.

Holte1970....By my understanding of civil law, which I add was only part of building degrees/diplomas but the same principle, then Barry has made a verbal request to leave, as he has stated he want to sign for Liverpool. Now to me that is a request either verbal or otherwise in my book. Obviously if it's stipulated it has to be in writing then that could well be another thing. Be a man with some respect Gareth and if you really want to go, put a request in writing today, get Rafa over to VP and sign on the dotted lines.

Damian, you have got a rosy view of footballers. Why the hell should they be loyal. All I ask of a Villa player is they work bloody hard to the best of their ability while they are with the team. IMHO I think your view is tainted by the fact that GB has gone about it all wrong and that makes him look disloyal. This is a learning experiance for Gareth and you may say he needs to mature, especially if he has aspirations of being regular England captain.

Everyone knows what it's like when you come to move on to a new job or position. It starts with an idea and then some encouragement and the whole thing snowballs, then all you want to do is move on, because it's then in your head and there's little chance of turning back. I think this is exactly whats happened to Gareth. Gareth then ends up a bit of a pawn. Rafa want him cheaply and MON does not want him to go, wel at least not for peanuts? It then drags on and then all Gareth feels he can do is stamp him feet because he's getting frustrated. He will be more frustrated about this issue than we are I can tell you. For us life at VP will move on, for him he has to weigh up if he's making the right decision. I'm not defending GB, but I do understand.

Just remember Damian. Fottballers are only employees, not family.

I thought the same when Mellberg ran down his contract and went off to earn a fortune at Juventus. We did not even get a blessed transfer fee for him. ;)

I said in a previous post that MON's lst press statement said that in the case of Liverpool match our asking price, '...he will get his express wish to leave...'. I wonder if that is an indication that Villa deem his comments and statements to MON as a transfer request.

I agree Davies would be better keeping quiet but personally I am more saddened by Delaney's comments. Here is a player who was injured when MON arrived and out of contract. They paid him until he was fit and gave him a chance to resurrect his football career. When that proved impossible they have tried to help him with a voluntary coaching job at the club. Now he has come out with comments in the Mail directly in opposition to the clubs interests;

""Martin O`Neill knows Liverpool are a bigger club than Villa. It hurts me to say that as a Villa supporter through-and-through. The club mean a hell of a lot to me. If he (O`Neill) didn`t say he would have done the same as a player he would be lying. Anyone would."

I couldn't imagine this going on at Man U; expect MON to put his foot down soon

right so they have made the offer of 15 2 mill...

its not good enough i thought we could have got 18-20mill...

if Barry wants to leave at that price he should either buy out his contract which would be an extra 2mill or rip them off with a decent part-exchange plus the 15-17mill.

I think the Davies is just one of these players who likes to speak his own mind, though I fear he may not be the sharpest tool in the box. We should admire that quality, as most players are manipulated into saying very little in interviews.
Perhaps in this case, however, that would have been better.

DAvies can say what he likes about loyalty and ambition. Although sad that Barry wanted to leave, at his age and with his talent I can understand why in the next two years he sees Liverpool as a better option. It is the way that this saga has been conducted that is at issue. He has been dishonest and underhand and that more than anything is why people are angry.

accept the 17m for barry, buy green, guzan, hart and sidwell, that should be that money gone, then go spend the transfer kitty on 1 right back 2 Centre Backs 1 Right Winger 1 Center Mid and 2 Forwards then a promote some more youth players

Damian,

On Barry you keep telling us you are going to park it and then you write articles like this. I dont really understand the point of them?

If he is such an average player - why are you so obsessed with him?

At the end of the day its a game of football. What has he ever done to you? If you are honest he is making the same decision as probably any Villa player would if Liverpool came in for him. Mellbrerg would have done the same, and I have no doubt Young for example would do the same also. Its not right but its just the way of the world now.

Move on and look forward to next season.....der der der nigel reo coker der der der ball across the floor.

I am not so into this 'loyalty' idea. I hate to dispell the romance, but football is a big business, run like a big business with very little consideration for those who support it. Maybe it was different in a bygone era, but that is certainly where we stand today.

My concern is not with Barry looking to better himself. He has proven himself at this level and it is (although I hate to say it) a promotion of sorts to be playing Champions League football.

My concern is that he has either not been shown a satisfactory plan to get the Villa to that stage, or the one he has seen is not very impressive at all. My hunch is that MON wants money for him and has not tried to keep him because he understands his limitations - if that money is spent wisely I would have to agree.

Where is all this talk of players having no'loyalty' when players decide to come and join us? It is not something that can be turned on and off at ones convenience, and arbitrary to any discussion about the Villa today. We should be discussing AMBITION, not loyalty.

Taddy

Have you seen the name of this blog? The reason why Barry gets a mention today is because he is an Aston Villa player and the talk is this is the last bid from Liverpool. But this post above is mainly about Curtis Davies.

There is nothing personal and no obsession - if it was any other player in the papers every day, they'd probably get the same coverage - if not more.

My only opinion today is that £17mn. is a very good price for a player. Even more so if you consider we were going to sell him for a little over £4mn. two seasons ago.

I've moved on, so much so in fact, that as far as I'm concerned, he's gone.

Damian, not sure that you should be targetting Davies here. He does say a lot; however, he's class and seems to love playing at villa. I think that this article might be focussed a little too much on what Davies is saying rather than what Barry is actually doing. He's the one who's leaving after all. Hate to criticise one of your articles mate: 9 times out of 10 I totally agree with what you're saying.

I completely agree davis should keep out of what does not concern him or face the wrath of MON >:( >:( >:(

Gareth Barry does not owe Villa any loyalty. He has been here for 10 years and that is a long time for a player to be at one club. However, he does owe MON more loyalty than he has given. MON stopped Barry from being sold, gave him a new contract with more money and made him captain. He also got Barry to produce the best form of his career. Barry's interview with the NOTW was a kick in the teeth. Liverpools so called final offer is £15m plus £2m in add-ons if they win league/european cup etc, which isn't going to happen. MON has told them a price and I hope that he stands his ground.
For anyone who hasn't read the article by Matt Dickinson, chief sports reporter for The Times about Barry, I would read it now. It is spot on. www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/aston_villa/article4244853.ece

Too true, he has gone. As for Curtis Davies, i appreciate that he speaks his mind and is careless with his words...no one is like that more than Martin Laursen, the amount of interviews i've seen with him where he's said something so unlike a soundbite that you usually get that i drop my jaw. This is why i don't think he'll get captain next year...but i sure do love the passion and care that this shows.

Why are you all so obsessed with Gareth Barry, Damien, Taddy etc.
He's 99% gone. As a club we seem to have no real ambition. We put all our hearts into backing people like MON and GB but we have the smallest squad potentially in the football league and no sign of any decent players. We go on about achieving top four status, my god! to do that we need world class players. That means MON getting off his a*** and spending some big money on big time players. Birmingham may not be as attractive to some foreign players but neither is Manchester or Liverpool. Why not by them a bllody helicopter and they can live where they like. Come on MON prove me wrong and spend some money before the window of opportunity closes.

Leave him alone, he will be a great footballer for Aston Villa no doubt about it. He's only engaging with the fans probably cus he feels a bit isolated from the team and has plenty of spare time on his hands. GET OFF HIS CASE!

Darryl,

Why are you always do negative about this great club. Anyone would think that you supported a small club that really does have no ambition like Burnley?

Let him go. Soon you'll find another half decent player to obsess about. Think about the team, think about the club. Players come and players go. Although in our case it's mainly players go. I realise this extended speculation is hard for you but the separation anxiety will dissipate eventually. I'm sure if you are a season ticket holder they may lay on some bereavement counselling on. Cheer up and get down to see the quack for a couple of months of prozac. If MON doesnt sign some decent players soon you may need a repeat presciptoion or two but chin up and get on with your life (if you have one.

I find it hilarious that the EPL is run in such a fashion that a player can come out point blank in the paper and state they want to leave; but not 'officially' put in a transfer request, thus ensuring a lucrative transfer booty once they given the boot.

Shouldn't the situation be that if something is 'quoted' in the press, the player gets the option of categorically denying it or it IS a formal transfer request.

It would certainly help keep their tongues from wagging. It would also ensure we wouldn't end up with these trial by media situations?

I know these guys get paid the big bucks because they are the stars of the show, but the clubs are getting pushed around, leading to bigger wages, greater transfer fees & more incentives.

We aren't too far from a major correction whereby a big club (Leeds United anyone) will suddenly be shown to be financially up the Khyber.

All this talk of loyalty is bull. If GB hadn't produced the goods on the field would Villa have been loyal to him and paid him for 10 years? No way, he'd have been shipped off to West Brom or something. As a young kid he probably dreamt of playing in the Champions League, this is his chance. It is not as if he will leave for nothing, a near 15 million profit for a player no other top team is interested in is not bad.

Look at Wayne Rooney, he said he would stay at Everton forever but he soon realized that just wasn't realistic because there is a big difference between being a fan and a player. He's now won two PL titles and a CL title.

If Villa want to hold on to their top players they are going to have to somehow push Liverpool out of that 4th spot. Until they do that they will always have difficulty holding on to their England Internationals.

All this article just because he said "you have to look after your own house"?

Amen to that Damian..and while we are at it, let's hope MON doesn't follow Curtis advice and sign that big time Charlie of Anton Ferdinand, he's an overrated donkey.

No, all this article because when you read that some pampered tart moans that he needs to "safeguard his family future" despite already being on stupid money and thousands of people - earning a pittance in comparison but still doing their best to follow their team - are supposed to reach for the tissues and buy this rubbish you understandably tend to reach breaking point.

Sporting reason yeah, I can just about stomach that but financial..do me a favour Curtis.





Now, if you tell me Barry wants to go to Liverpool to get an immediate chance to sample the big time I'll say good luck to the bloke..but money as a reason is taking the piss.