Over a pint this evening, a Sheffield Wednesday supporter told me that he couldn't believe the change in Gareth Barry. Ineffectual, he had thought, in previous England appearances, but extremely effective against Israel at Wembley today.

Now this isn't really rocket science. Give a player half an hour, out of position, and there is the slightest possibility that he will not show you his best. Offer the same player a full 90 minutes in the same position he is playing his club football, and you may just see something else.

We all know that England's number seven today was the same intelligent, composed and influential footballer we see week in and week out. How encouraging that the nation is beginning to understand.

Those of you who have read Steven Gerrard's autobiography will know that when Gerrard first took his nervous "new boy's" steps into the England camp, the first bond he forged and the first friendship he made was with Gareth Barry.

It showed on the Wembley turf this afternoon. I don't know how many times Gerrard and Frank Lampard have tried to play together in the centre of England's midfield, but it has always looked a clumsy and forced partnership. Barry and Gerrard hit it off first time, and the relationship worked like clockwork throughout the game.

It would be futile for me to even attempt to be objective, as I am a Villa fan and a Barry fan. But, though the BBC 1 brigade highlighted more the performances of Heskey, Richards and Wright-Phillips, Alan Green and Chris Waddle on Five Live raved about Barry - and Glenn Hoddle on Sky described our skipper's showing as "exceptional".

Make no mistake, whatever colours you wear on a weekend normally, Gareth Barry was immense against Israel.

I think there are a number of reasons this was such a fine performance. Firstly, Barry started the game and rumour has it that Steve McClaren had demanded a performance. That is pressure - real pressure. And the Villa skipper never looked under any pressure from minute one to minute ninety: now that's character.

Secondly, and possibly quite rightly, Barry has taken some criticism for over-cautious and somewhat negative displays in an England shirt recently. Today, whilst he showed all the patience on the ball we have become used to, Gareth was hugely positive, and repeatedly hurt Israel with his vision and with the passes forward he picked out.

Thirdly, if you're going to be handed your first start in seven years, then central midfield - alongside Gerrard - in a crunch qualifier puts you straight into the pressure cooker and straight under the spotlight. The boy responded to that challenge, utterly exceeded the nation's expectations, outdid the recent performances of both Carrick and Lampard in the same role, and made every Villan proud in the process.

I for one have raised many a glass to Gareth Barry this evening.

So will Barry be handed a start for the Russia game on Wednesday night? Chris Waddle, Glenn Hoddle and Ray Wilkins - who between them may know a bit about the international game - all reckon Barry should start, whatever the fitness of Frank Lampard and Owen Hargreaves.

Being the Doc, I suppose I had better give a view. Firstly, I expect McMuppet to revert to either Lampard or - more probably - Hargreaves against tougher opposition. England may well need a player focused on breaking up the Russians' play, and there Hargreaves will fit the bill for ginger Steve.

I would play Barry, because I know he is very fine defensively but also has the passing ability and vision to hurt Russia going forward.

I don't think Hargreaves has those abilities. Also, I have an old-fashioned belief that if you give a superb performance for your team on any given day, whether that's the Dog and Duck on a Sunday morning on the village meadow or England at Wembley, you deserve to keep your place. We'll see, I guess.

If Gareth doesn't start - and I don't believe he will - then we should take comfort anyway. Firstly, Barry will be fresher for the weekend's game at Eastlands. Secondly, he's made his point and made it loud and clear. And damned good on him too.

I may just have another glass of beer, now. And you know what? Like the last six, I'm going to raise this one to our inspirational skipper.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you...Mr Gareth Barry!

Comments (20)

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alextaylor24 said:

hold on doc, you wrote this today. shouldn't you be on the morning coffee! unless its past midnight! couldn't agree with you more. Barry played very well and looked comfortable alongside Gerrard, whereas Lampard has always looked awkward in that position. Barry should be given another start and if England win with a half decent performance. Barry should be given a prolonged run in the side as clearly something is working if they got through to potential banana skins unscathed.

September 09, 2007

Damian said:

actually Doc did send this last night. i went to bed early last night. or should that be fell asleep earlier than i would have liked to have gone to bed

September 09, 2007 | url

timmy boy said:

why are your blogs so borin and long to read doc

September 09, 2007

M4Baby said:

Damian has inserted a button, Timmy Boy, at the end of the first paragraph of every post. It says "Read More" on it. I think the idea is that you click on it if you want to read more. It helps you avoid reading long and boring blogs. The idea would be, if you want to avoid reading Doc's long and boring posts, you don't click on the "Read More" button. Very clever, really. Also, Doc helps people to avoid reading lengthy and boring blogs by entitling them all "The Doc's Diagnosis". This makes it easy to spot a Doc blog, and even easier to avoid its length and boringness. That is, by not clicking on the "Read More" button. Anyway, to further help Timmy Boy, I'm going to suggest that the Doc now calls his posts: "The Doc's Long and Boring Diagnosis".

September 09, 2007

aaron_villa said:

i agree but i was nervous for him everytime he kicked the ball at the start of the game. We all no gareth has the talent to play for england because we watch him every week but he didnt make one mistake.Him and gerrard lookd solid and he set up 2 can u ask any more from a central midfield player? also if macca is asking the likes of barry heskey and wright philips to go out there and take ther chance what happens now that they actually have? does he start them all or does he now drop em cus over rated frank's bank i guess we will find out UTV SOTC

September 09, 2007

Andrew Fitzpatrick said:

hi i just thought that i would post some news i have, my mum is the cheif immigration officer at birmingham airport, and she just phoned me to say she had Moustapha Salifou with her right now and she has stopped him coming through, as he doesnt have a work permit, she asked me wether he had infact signed and any other details i new on him. she is trying to sort it out now. intresting bit of news for readers, will update you as soon as i know more. comment on that if you will

September 09, 2007

timmy boy said:

i agree with you m4baby they should be called docs long and boring diagnosis see im not the only one who thinks there long and boring

September 09, 2007

Villa Dad said:

I agree about Barry. I was very nervous for him and enjoyed his performance enormously. I think Steve Mc will play him against Russia because he can't afford a failure and knows this side have played the best for him than any other he's put out. Also, thanks to Doc, (and Damian), for his entertaining posts. I always enjoy reading them and what's the point of posting negative comments about this blog which is the best on the net. If you don't like it bugger off.

September 09, 2007 | url

alextaylor24 said:

why is everyone slating his long blogs. if they are boring for you, don't read them. what difference does it make! anyway, this post was well written. whats everyone whining about. alex

September 09, 2007

Villavon said:

Barry looked the most composed and assured of any England player and by his standard put in an average performance, which is still significantly better than others tried in the same position.I would love Barry to start the game against Russia but imagine McHairstyle will opt for Hargreaves or his 'blue eyed boy'. I must be the only one who doesn't think SWP is our 'best' option on the right. I think he played very well in the first half, when the opposition didn't really know anything about him but became quite predictable in the second half, along with his inability to put in two consecutive decent crosses. I'd probably still put him in ahead of a fit Beckham as at least he can go round people,use both feet effectively and doesn't have a questionable temperament. By the way DOC,I enjoy reading your blogs,I'm sure you'll treat the negative remarks made by some of the less edified Tubes' with the contempt they deserve.

September 10, 2007

steveAV said:

It would appear that newcastle were trying to sell owen as they have quite a few strikers before the deadline day came. If so, as we see to be going for english why not owen, he's quick, knows how to finish and seems like he links up with owen as i saw on many occassions against israel. Owen in a villa shirt i can see and would keep me on the edge of my seat at every game? Any views on this?

September 10, 2007

M4Baby said:

Do you think Timmy Boy realises I was taking the p**s?

September 10, 2007

EvilDaz said:

Barry was great, I was in London (right next door to the Brentford ground) at my girlfriends sisters. Anyway, her Husband is a Bristol Rovers fan, and he had a negative view of Barry like most who are only familiar with him through internationals. I said "watch him, he will not give the ball away and he will have a solid performance". I was happy to say I told you so and he had to admit that he was solid and had a great game. Well done Barry!! Any way, a great post Doc, they usually are, and timmy boy , I think you'd be better off turning on CBeebies than reading intelligent writing. There maybe something more to your taste on there. UTV

September 10, 2007

brett said:

is it just me who sees barry's inevitable exclusion from wednesdays game as another nail in the england national teams coffin? his starting on sat was brilliant; finally a player picked cos he was playing well (injuries helped but i still expected carrick to be a shoe in)rather than his stature surely hargreaves or lamps walking straight back into the team (forgetting the defensive option excuse of OH) is a huge dent in the ambition of every english footballer in the country

September 10, 2007

Leroy said:

Stevie Mac always goes for the names.....it doesnt matter. Beckham,Cole,Lampard and Gerrard ,and throw Hargreaves in there, are all hard working midfielders(exception Becks lol) but they simply wont beat anybody hands down through pace,everyone knows that. When England play any of the before mentioned players together without SWP or Lennon(who probably wont play for England ever again) or Young or Pennant,they look predictable and boring. SWP was excellent on the weekend because he burned every defender that looked at him. Ashley Young will do the same when he finally gets his go. I think Bentleys inclusion is a waste of time,hes a poor poor mans Lampard at best. Barry was always going to play well when he got selected in his preferred role. And whoever wants Owen brought in at Villa needs to wake up. Ok so he has scored a couple of times in the past and has regained form of late, granted,but he has lost about a quarter of his once electrifying pace, and that was really the only thing that set him apart from the rest of the field. We are just fine up front at the moment, Carew needs to sharpen up , but Moore looks better evry game, Gabby is running and running and running some more ie playing well, Maloney is in form but will just have to wait for his chance (Ps all Maloney needs is a shag, its obvious lol) plus Young can play up front too. Why would you want to stunt the growth of our young stars and bring in Owen who willnever regain his pace that made him so brilliant before? Just my view Steve AV

September 10, 2007

chris hoy said:

I've just read on the bbc sport page that Steve " Dumb F**k " Mc Claren is ready to drop Gareth Barry and Heskey . Heskey I understand, never liked him, not only for being a F**king bluenose but for triping over his F**king bootlaces and generally being tall and s**te. Gareth Barry to be dropped ? FOR F**k SAKE MC CLAREN DO YOU WANT ME TO DRAW YOU A F**kING PICTURE ??? COME ON HE SET UP TWO AMAZING GOALS AND PLAYED HIS HEART OUT !!! We seriously need to think this appointment out cos its going to be dissappointment all over again and this " Hobby " of being p**sed off with English team is right beging to F**k me off ....... Please somebody explain to this twat where he's going wrong and as for putting P Robinson back in the team ? Don't get me started on that on .... A Disappointed Villa Fan Chris Hoy Lichfield

September 10, 2007

davesayers said:

from the bbc website http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/h...986596.stm Steven Gerrard believes his close friendship with Gareth Barry helped them combine successfully in the centre of England's midfield. The two midfielders linked superbly against Israel on Saturday and could play together against Russia. "I'm not sure whether everybody knows what good friends we are off the pitch," Gerrard told BBC Sport. "The communication was there, we weren't strangers and that was the key to the partnership working." Frank Lampard is a major doubt for Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia at Wembley, although Owen Hargreaves is thought to have a good chance of recovering from his thigh injury. And Gerrard, who has been passed fit to play on Wednesday after playing with a fractured toe against Israel, explained what he thought made a successful midfield partnership. "Balance is about working hard for each other - when one midfielder attacks, one defends," he added. "You can go on for weeks about formations but it is important that with whatever formation you go with, you have the right flexibility and the right personnel."

September 10, 2007 | url

andy5759 said:

I've just heard that Lampard & Hargreaves are definitely out for Weds game v Russia. This leaves GB in the side. Fingers and lots else crossed for a good result and individual display from our hero, then let's see Lamps getting splinters in his bum from the bench - ha ha ha!! Life is so good at the moment.

September 10, 2007

BZ said:

Villavon why are you such a stuck up arogant TWAT??? This is a football fans site not an english language forum you w****r

September 11, 2007

merlin1 said:

SMc should start the same XI on wednesday vs Russia! Mclaren has to ask himself if he wants to play with a confident XI or a cautious unassured cagey XI that i think England will be if OH and FL come back into the side. Lets face it, FL and SG don't play well together, never have, never will. They are too similar to play in the same team. Both very attack minded and both desperatley want to get forward at every opportunity! Unfortunately this leaves us vulnerable at the back. We need balance in the midfield and I feel that you need to play one or the other (SG in my opinion is 10x the player FL is). I think most people here agree that GB should play with SG and for that matter i feel that EH (can't believe i'm saying this lol) seems to work really well with MO so play them !!!! Come on McLaren Come on Barry Come on England

September 11, 2007

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