The crafty French schemer: Arsene Wenger is now interested in Gareth Barry
Friday, 22 August 08, 10:10 AM · Comments (38)
When Martin O'Neill confirmed that Pat Rice had called Steve Walford about Barry back in July, I thought nothing of it, mostly because it is probably part of his job to keep tabs on certain players.
Then, a few days later, although I can't find a quote right now but I distinctly remember reading it, Wenger said he wasn't interested in Barry.
Well, apparently last night, he said he was interested in Barry. In fact, there is no apparently, what he actually said was: "I find Barry a good player. The problems with players who are 27, 28 is that you pay big money but you get nothing back, no resale."
Martin O'Neill has stood firm all summer with his valuation and I'm sure Arsenal will be told it if they make an approach, but I'd also hazard a guess that a deal could be done if we got the wee man Theo Walcott as part of the package. Now, he really is a talent for the future.
But that is me dreaming. Talking of dreams, I had one last night where the wife told me to put a circle around Edinburgh on a map, then I woke up. Really not sure what that means.
Moving on, but staying on topic. Fabio Capello has spoken about Barry's performance the other night and put it down to Barry having Liverpool on his mind.
Personally, I think this is just Barry. He was up against a good midfield and he got lost and that's what happens with him, but Capello needs time to figure that out and before anyone says anything, it's just my opinion.
Lastly, despite it getting the folks over at guardian.co.uk all excited last night, it appears Shaun Maloney is not going to be paraded as a Celtic player today, otherwise, surely our club would have told us something?
Anyway, it's Friday and I'm not going to get to involved in anything today, in fact I'm thinking about going back to bed.
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38 Comments · Add yours
Arsenal apparently had a £10mil bid turned down for Xabi Alonso which is why he turned his attention to Barry, I can't see Wenger bidding much more than that for Barry, and there is no way he will let Theo Walcott leave as part of the deal. I just hope that MON maintains his stance on Barry's valuation! I know one man does not maketh a team, but we are inargurably a better team with him!
Very unfair to criticise Barry the other night. The team selection was ridiculous and out of the 4 in midfield I thought Barry kept to his task best. But if you are going to use Capello as a benchmark I think it's well known he's a big fan.
AVMark
It's not me criticising this time. Capello has come up with an excuse for Barry's performance. I'm just saying that him getting lost in the game (if in fact that is what happened but it sounds like that from what Capello said) is what I've been saying happens with Barry, for years, every time we play a decent midfield with more than one idea.
I didn't even watch the game so I can't comment on his performance, but I've seen enough of Barry to know what probably happened.
no way should Barry leave for less than £18 million. Arsenal should not be treated any different to Liverpool. The fact of the matter is we want to keep him.
I think it is a done deal and it depends on MON signing a replacement before
theo is good for future but a cole type is what we need class
alonso would also be good get him awy from gerard and he can dominate and score goals
up the villa
enjoyed last sunday good to have plenty in the social carnt find these gems in paris
No way Wenger will pay anything like what NON wants and there would need to be a darn good player swap.
Damian, dreams about maps are, as you might guess all to do with direction. Either you're lacking it, or at a fork in the road or as it was your wife involved, maybe something to do with her? I think the fact that it was Edinburgh is arbitrary but the fact that there was a circle means that there is a destination (or decision) to be reached. Guess we need a dreams thread in the forum now..
Can't see Arsenal frontin the cash for barry, especially with him not being legible for the CL till after January, reckon wengers only willing to pay £13 mill at the most. But saying that, hes got alot of young talent he could off load for a cash and player/s deal.
Also MONs a big fan of wenger, so could be more willing to listen to a deal than Rafat Ben-eat-pies!
Wenger is never, ever, ever, ever,ever,ever ... ever going to pay £18 or the equivalent for Barry. The only destination for Barry is going to Anfield, if he goes anywhere.
As for your dream Damian. According to a dream analysis website:
'To dream that you see or study a map, signifies that you are being guided and led in a direction that will fulfill your needs and goals. It also denotes a new change in your business which will be followed by temporary disappointments and then stable profits.'
Fulfilling your needs and goals? Surely for you Damian this means a new forward and right sided midfielder. As for temporary disappointment, Stoke on Saturday, thanks Damian. Stable profits? Villa winning some silverware this year.
If this comes true Damian, then you should change your name to Madam Petralengrew.
Maloneys gone!!!
Just seen on OS site
I've got a feeling we'll sell him to arsenal for about £14mil. And we'll buy Darren Fletcher for £8mil, then We'll sign the sign the fabled RW and CF.
Would this mean our interest in De La Red is back on?
It would be nice to get Theo as part-ex, giving Arsenal the option of a sell on clause on him to smooth it over.
If we're still in talks with De La Red which seems doubtfull, as its dragged on this long with nothing said, he would still be a good replacement but id like more experience in there.
Joe Cole wont be leaving Chelsea, He is a valuable member of the team at The Bridge.
Maybe so.
Wenger's just messing about with he journalists. He's got no intention of signing Barry. He's not foreign enough for a start.
As for the England performance, hell, I'm even starting to have a bit of sympathy for Steve McLaren. As Capello is quickly fiding out, you really can't polish a turd.
I was shocked to read what Capello had said. Considering only 3 outfield players played the whole 90 minutes, and one was Barry, how come he didn't sub Barry if he was having an "awful" match. I think this is Capello sticking his nose into an issue that needs resolving once and for all.
Barry isn't going anywhere. Liverpool don't have the money, Aresnal don't need him, so they should just all leave him to show us what he's made off and do well for the club. Screw England, especially if Capello still wants to play Beckham on the right and Gerrard on the left. Biggest pile of rubbish ever.
With L Pool's english / spainish comedy team meeting 'being a success' I wonder what has been decided about Barry between them? I suspect they will have given Rafa the money, he just has to decide when and how to announce it and it would have to be soon in order for him to play against us in the up and comming match, a situation I believe Rafa would love. I just hope if he moves and plays we stuff it up em anyway, his position would then become very very unsecure. In fact betfair may be due a visit ;) UTV
Maloney's gone!
The only critisism of Barry in England's game is that he looked tired as hell. Understandable. The guy hasn't had a pre-season. Probably won't play against Stoke. He needs a rest. He's not going anywhere. So bored of this stupid subject.
Bloody hell Damian, I don't want to start a Barry debate again but I'm pointing out the fact that your opinion of Barry is as valid as anyone else but if you are going to use the opinions of other managers at least accept that Benitez, Capello and now you suggest Wenger would want him in their team - hardly supports your argument. Just be logical!
Regarding Barry's performance for England (which I didn't actually see), what pete2222 says sounds right. Barry looked short of full fitness against Man City, despite having a good game. The 90 minutes he got against the Czechs will, however, stand him in good stead. An England international merely a means for Barry to progress towards full match fitness? Regrettable though it is to say, this is about right. Any match involving David Beckham can hardly be taken seriously anyway.
And Damian, it's one thing holding an opinion about a player (OUR best player by the way), but it's quite another to criticise him with no pretext. MoN, Capello, Wenger and Benitez all rate him extremely highly, and all our massively respected managers (or at least Benitez was; his success at Valencia justifies it).
Should Barry leave, it could be the difference between us getting a top 4 spot or not (though if we failed to replace him with a quality continuity playmaker we'd be hoping for top 6 at best). I'd be very confident that Arsenal would finish above us if they signed him, but if we kept him, and spent the reported £25m on a striker and right winger, then I think, unless Arsenal make a couple of highly impressive signings themselves, we could well finish above them. That's the kind of difference Barry makes. Not only is he a couple of cuts above in class himslef, but he makes everybody else play better too. And let's not forget his talismanic status. Barry is close to being irreplaceable, and I can't understand why you don't see it.
Barry's good but i'd be willing to bet we could find a better replacement for his price tag.
To be honest the time where we could compensate for the loss of Barry is gone.Pre-season is over and the season has started, it would take too long for anyone else to bed-in in such a commanding position.So it would be the best decision for us if he were to stay IMO.
If barry gets injured during the season (if he stays) would our season fall apart ?. NO Because barry isn't the be all and end all of Villa he's one of our better players admittedly, but he can be replaced we'd just have to look for someone to step in to his position, Which wouldn't be hard.
I'd prefer him to go to Arsenal over Liverpool any day. Arsenal conduct their business in a much more professional manner that the scousers do.
from wot cappelo said barry was out of sorts for england because of this transfers debarcal ,then i think most of the england team must be on the verge (or not ) of a transfers to Liverpool.
I hope we stay clear of Walcot to be honest. Whenever i watch him his touch seems to get worse. I don't think he will ever develop into the star everyone thought he was going to be.
Its about time that MON just comes out and says it is too late for Barry to move so Barry will just have to get over it. Even if Pool or Arsenal come in with 18m just tell them to get lost. They have had all summer to come with the cash.
I don't get Wegner's comment. Yes, being cup tied reduces a player's value to other teams. But that doesn't reduce his value to us. We value him at 18 million. Pay it or go away. I sure hope that we don't---and I have to imagine that we won't---reduce our asking price simply because other teams can't use him the Champions League until February.
Well, considering Capello had Gerrard and Rooney as wingers, his whole team was kind of off the plot. Next friendly's midfield lineup has to be Young, Barry, Gerrard and Cole. Simple As.
At this stage I dont want Barry to go, we all know MON is a slow mover in the transfer market and he wouldnt be able to find a quality replacement for him I dont think. We saw at the game on Sunday what Barry does for us and I think its unfair to say that he gets lost against quality opposition Midfielders, there wasnt really many players who stood out in that friendly and alot of those are considered to be world class and worth £30mn each. I know you dont like Barry but we wouldnt be as good a side without him, yes I wanted him to go earlier in the window when we could have had £18mn and time to spend it.
AVFC Blog...
Shaun is talking to the press as we speak...
LINK
You hit the nail on the head kayarcee. I really don't like sticking his nose in Villa's business. Maybe Capello should take the blame for trying the same old MF (Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard) that hasn't worked for years and years. Yes England aren't as good as we all think, but that doesn't change the fact that a decent manager would've got them qualified for Euro 2008. It also doesn't change the fact that Cappello is doing the same things Second Choice Steve is doing and that is very disturbing.
I think its time to just let Barry go. Ths transfer saga has gone on long enough, He promised us last Sunday that if he played for Villa then he would stay and concentrate on our season. He still hasnt done the decent thing and come out said what his plans are or even handed in a transfer request. Its time for him to move on bring in Del La Red to take his place and i think we will be better for it and no more Barry talk hanging over our season.
Regarding England, I just can't understand what's so bloody hard about getting 20-some professional footballers to play two-touch football, get open, keep moving, etc. Even if they can't do it now, that's what Capello should be working toward, giving up on the older players, coaching up the young ones. But I had all that drilled into me as a schoolboy, by English coaches. I just can't understand how players get to a certain level seemingly without knowing how to actually play the game. England are the only major national team that look so inept at the fundamentals. It's a very simple game.
Barry...At this point, we're better off keeping him unless we truly do have a Diego or DLR deal waiting in the wings for just such an eventuality. This late a movement could be devastating, simply because we probably wouldn't be able to line up a replacement, and we don't really have anyone else who's particularly calm or steady on the ball. There's better than Barry out there, but can we get them in at this point?
Barry was no worse than the rest of the midfield to be honest. Beckham was atrocious.
Barry is no way worth 18 millon Liverpool must be mad to be even conidering it, when they get him we can all have a laugh at them spending that on really over rated player :D
firstly the England game was a shocker!! No width no threats down either wings!! They were crying out for a mr Ashley young!! Lampard must of been busy counting his millions because I never witnessed him touch the ball!! Rooney who!! I've gotta stop its bringing it all back!
Onto the Barry gate saga, I honestly can't see mr wenger paying the price for GB and I can't help but think these big clubs are really beginning to take notice of MON's work. I think we're seeing certain managers who we're starting to threaten seriously trying to unsettle our team!! I fear Ashley Young will be the next player the so called big four will come searching for??? Come on Mon right winger and a 20 goals a season striker finish above the scouse and I'll be a very happy villian!!!! ;D
Barry played ok - no-one shone. But the worst culprit, twice over, is the manager. He played a mad formation for the players he had on the filed and then he makes Barry a scapegoat.
Crapello may be a successful club manager, but as England fans know only too well, that doesn't make you infallible at national level. Don't make Barry a scapegoat - we don't buy it.
Yep i do agree, Barry is a top quality player and in all fairness only ever gives his all to what ever cause he is fighting for, so i agree!
But on another note, I cant see gareth barry going to arsenal, because it was clearly not just the champions league football he was after.
He wanted due to the experience of playing back in the england team, he wanted to play with steven gerrard, so i cant see it happening, plus O'Neil has been quick to blast all this stuff about arsenal! Barry with a bit of luck will remain a Villa player for the foreseeable future! And im grateful for that!