Some interesting views are being aired at the moment on the future of Gareth Barry and his value or otherwise to Villa. I want to add some fresh perspective to this debate.

The English Premier League has changed beyond recognition in the last 15 years. Pace and power have been placed at an absolute premium by most, if not all managers. Many sides are starting to play at home like they used to play away - rugged and mean in defence and looking to punish opponents with pace on the break.

Very, very few players are able to survive in the Premier League if they are not consummate athletes, able to combine supreme power with genuine speed.

Look at Portsmouth - an incredibly successful side when compared to their support and size, punching way above their weight. It's all been done on the back of an investment in athleticism. Pompey are an intimidatingly massive team, full of big, strong players with a turn of pace that is devastating coming out of defence.

And then look at the big 4. All of them have fantastic quality up front and ruggedness at the back. All of them have superb ball-winners and excellent box-to-box midfielders in the centre of the park.

However, they all struggle a bit for that "extra ingredient". But they're all trying to find it. Xabi Alonso at Liverpool. Michael Carrick at United. Ballack at Chelsea. Rosicky at Arsenal. All the big 4 are searching for a player good enough to combine the timeless elegance and skill of some of our 70s and 80s heroes (Hudson; Worthington; Bowles; Currie; Hoddle etc) with the physical demands of today's game. And, by and large, they've failed. And they've failed because that player simply doesn't exist.

Or does he?

I'll let you into a secret: I once played against Glenn Hoddle when he was returning from a serious injury in a combined Spurs youth and reserve team. Apart from the stench of some over-heavily-applied aftershave, what I remember is his ability to "make time stand still".

To find space and time effortlessly when all the players around him were running like dogs. To see and pick out passes that nobody else on the field, whether in possession or defending it, could see. That's the "extra ingredient" I'm talking about. The Zidane factor, if you like.

And none of the big 4 have really captured it yet.

So is it really any surprise that the big 4 are eyeing Gareth Barry? Steven Gerrard is no mug - he may be Barry's mate, but he also knows that GB is a perfect foil for his own instinct to "bomb on" (his words, not mine). Frank Lampard is a great attacking midfielder with a superb eye for goal, but can he control and manage the tempo of a game in the same way Barry can? I don't think so. Arsenal's delightful football would be made complete by an experienced, visionary player in midfield who could pull a few strings.

So it's really no surprise at all that Gareth Barry is being seriously considered by the big 4. Because he's exactly what they need.

And this, to me, will be the ultimate measure of Aston Villa's ambition during the close season. We have a player who is prized by the biggest clubs in the domestic game. A player who has over and over again supplied the "added ingredient" to set Villa apart from Portsmouth, Manchester City, Blackburn and even Everton - great clubs with good first team squads and excellent managers.

Gareth Barry is one of the few remaining players in the EPL who can "make time stand still": put his foot on the ball; control the tempo of a game and pick out passes which others can't see. Liverpool or Arsenal may offer him £100k a week. Should we match that?

I think we should. And my reason is that even with the money for his transfer in the bank, we could only replace Gareth Barry with an athletic, box-to-box midfielder. We already have those in Reo-Coker, Petrov, Gardner and Osbourne. Sell Barry and buy Sidwell, for example? Are you serious?

We should all be aware of why the big 4 want Barry. He is a superb and rare example of a dying breed in English football. There are very few players left who can "make time stand still", and even as I write I can't think of an English one.

For me, Barry is the "added ingredient" which can help Villa to become great rather than just good. Ashley Young and Gabby will keep getting better as long as they play alongside him.

Barry's a big lad, strong and experienced and streetwise and a full England international with a good few caps under his belt. He may not be the quickest over 20 yards, but he thinks quicker than just about any player I've seen in a Villa shirt.

Sell him, and we're Portsmouth in the making. Keep him, build a side around him. and we may just have a little bit too much for one or two of the big 4 in the next few seasons.

It really is that simple.

Comments (31)

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Damian said:

the beauty of opinion is, we've all got our own i know i'm in the minority and i do see what your're talking about but i just dont see all of it .. i guess we'll find out soon enough though

April 29, 2008

oldman villain said:

its simple keep barry and carry on building the team around him whats the good of a racing car without the engine if he goes who would you have to replace him. sidwell dont make me laugh ...any ideas anyone.

April 29, 2008

stig said:

''make time stand still" - perfect analergy. I hope to god he doesnt go, it will ruin my summer - end of.

April 29, 2008

stig said:

has anyone considered a few banners before it is too late, to show barry how much we love him - home game against wigan and west ham perhaps???

April 29, 2008

richie p said:

i hope this all gets sorted soon, i hope he signs a contract or comes out n says he wants to stay cuz the longer things go on n the rumours appear the more i think hes already gone. barry is quality n without him would be a backward step we need to keep players of his quality and build around it

April 29, 2008

Holte1970 said:

I am totally onside with the Doc. Until this season I always had my doubts about GB. A great footballer but my main criticism was too slow at the back and too slow in midfield. However, this season GB has convinced me that he is the real deal. It may be that his England appearances have also convinced GB that he is the real deal and that may be the reason for his vast improvement this season. Self belief. We should remember that GB managed an England start not based on McClaren's tactical brilliance but injuries to the"regular" midfield such are the vagaries of football. As Doc's post mentioned Hoddle I would like to share this with you. Hoddle once said that at around 27 "the mist" cleared from his eyes and everything on the football field appeared to be so much slower allowing him to have more time and space. Again, maybe GB has reached this plateau. My final point in GB's favour is that in the last World Cup our television "experts" had a debate about the merits of Carrick and Hargreaves. The conclusion was that with Carrick he could not tackle but he could pass the ball and the problem with Hargreaves was that he could tackle but could not pass the ball. GB was not even on the radar. How things have changed and how much would Fergie give for the man who can do both.

April 29, 2008

villa64 said:

I think im with damian on this and even though i rate him and dont want to see him go if he chooses to go then let us benefit from the deal. All these clubs have quality players that can improve our team, i think he will go because champions league is at least a couple of years away for us and uefa next year might not be enough to keep him. The other point is i dont see how moving will help his england career i tnink it will ruin it as i beleive he is a player that needs to play regular football which he wont get at liverpool or chelsea

April 29, 2008

David M said:

As I have said before Barry makes it look so easy. I think it's because it all looks so simple that sometimes the things he does are not appreciated. However, it is not simple, otherwise we could all play like Gareth Barry couldn't we. I would be gutted if we lost him this summer and I just cannot understand how his detractors can think we could do without him for the odd 12 million. Although I respect your opinions detractors, losing Barry would rip the heart out of the team, rip the heart out of Aston Villa football club and rip the heart out of our revival. You cannot replace the irreplaceable. The other thing that hasn't been mentioned in this case for Barry mini series is just how much he has blossomed into the captains role. Yes he is not the blood and thunder type but he captains the team like he plays, calmly, with vision and effectiveness. If you don't believe me pay close attention when we play Wigan, he will orchestrate the play in an understated manner. The others don't need vision - Barry is supplying it for them. Barry has his best years ahead of him. Randy and Martin, make sure that you convince him that they are at Aston Villa - we are relying upon you.

April 29, 2008

villafandan said:

i think barry's been the difference in our side since he was playing on the left of midfield. i was always mystified the england set up couldn't see it then, especially since they were desperately trying to find a natural left sided player and joe cole ended up the best fit?!?! now he's playing in the middle he's become the heart and soul of our side. ironic that england finally noticed him playing in an area they were already quite rich in. the bigger clubs see it. he's keeping the likes of lampard, carrick and hargreaves out the starting eleven for england. every kind of stat available places him among the top central midfielders in the country. i'm not certain why he's being touted as a possible england captain, but that's fine, another feather in his bow. he was a captain of the under-21's after all. all the evidence says there's absolutely no question that it would be a massive loss if barry left.

April 29, 2008

lurman said:

If im honest im with the doc. i keep thinking to myself we can cope without him, he's not THAT brilliant etc, but honestly, who out there can we get to replace him? the only way i'd accept barry leaving would be if we replaced him with a van der vaart, a luko modric (missed out on that one then!) etc. someone, in short, who has got the craft and vision of barry, if not more. like holte1970 i had my doubts but i dont think its the england caps that have given him the self belief, i honestly believe it is pretty much ALL down to MON. he's that type of manager, all the players say he is, someone who gets the very very best out of the players he has. this situation is so similar to the gerrard one a year or two ago, apart from the fact that gerrard could stay at liverpool and stay in the champs lge, but seriously, if we spend as much as MON says we are going to, if we spend it well, we can, and i honestly believe WILL, seriously challenge for top four next season. and thats why i think barry will stay. like gerrard has liverpool in his heart i think barry has villa in his, and faced with the actual prospect of leaving, at such an exciting time for us, i dont think he'll be able to do it, i just wish MON would stop saying "we'll do all we can" etc. Id much rather see "barry wont be going anywhere" even if just so we can get an extra £5m IF he does go. but yes - stig i agree. i wont be there next week but the 40,000 that are have to persuade GB, for the full 90 minutes, that the mighty mighty aston villa is where he must be next season, banners & all! UTV

April 29, 2008

BarcaVillan said:

We've being saying exactly the same thing for years about GB! He's a yard quicker than anyone else "upstairs"! The only other player that used to be able to make time stand still was Paul Scholes! If we are going to compete we should be looking to sign the perfect foil for GB not let one of the big 4 sign GB as a perfect foil for Lampard, Gerrard etc! GB for England Captain anyone? SOTC

April 29, 2008

jaf said:

That was a really nice read... i totally agree, i'm in my mid 30s and was lucky enough to see some great players in the 1980s (Hoddle included). Watching Barry does remind me of those days, composed and sure of himself on the ball.. I thinks it a real shame that this Blog, spends so much time on "Olaf Mellberg Day" and designing flags for that "Huge Event". When really the time and effort should be used for Banners and flags for Gareth, letting him know how much need and want him to stay..!!

April 29, 2008

PaulE said:

Doc - you've made an excellent case. Good players always look better when they are surrounded by good players and Barry has always looked a class act when playing for England alongside Gerrard. For me, he has entered a similar sort of class in the last season or two, especially with our new attacking formation. We need to hang onto our real quality players and build a side around them. Those players are Barry and Young. Without them, we really aren't all that different to Pompey.

April 29, 2008

villadaz said:

GB will go, not because of the state of our club, but he wants a fresh challenge. Good luck Gareth you did us proud.

April 29, 2008

andy5759 said:

At the start of this season I was in the Damian camp. Now I'm with Doc. MoN has brought GB along nicely, thankyou. Yes, we should do all possible to keep him. If we lose that battle we must ensure that he goes for no less than £20mn. If he chooses to stay we should (and I think will) build for a title challenge next year. Liverpool offer us X amount for GB, we offer Liverpool the same for Gerard, though we need Gerard less than Pool need GB.The irony would be that Villa next season supplant Liverpool in the CL qualifying poositions.

April 29, 2008

Robbie said:

I love Barry as much as the next guy, he's an honest worker with an ability to turn back on himself in a way that very few players can in order to create space for himself and to then release a pin point pass to a team mate. But to say that he's got so much ability is a little bit of hyperbole gone mad. He's quality, don't get me wrong. And at our club he looks immense. But saying that the top 3 are after someone like Barry, sorry i'm not having that. I think he's an integral part of our team, but to be honest i still don't believe that the top clubs actually want him, and i'm more inclined to believe, against MON's comments, that this story is just spin to make Randy part with some cash. It may not be true, but more true than making Barry out to be the most sought after player in the prem. When we were losing no one was banging on about how good he was. No one was complimenting his captaincy, in fact quite the contrary. He's not a captain in my eyes, and he's not world class either. He's simply the best that WE have, and probably the best that we can really hope to have.

April 29, 2008

villafandan said:

something else to consider, not yet mentioned i think... our goal is to crack the top four. we're going about it the right way, step by step. liverpool are the weakest of the top 4, surely our aim next season is to close the 11 point gap currently between us? maybe not edge past them, but at least close the gap. surely it's inconceivable to sell liverpool ANY of our players??

April 29, 2008

kayarcee said:

@BarcaVillan: We already have Gareth's perfect foil: Stan Petrov.

April 29, 2008

lurman said:

andy5759 - i like ur thinking! villafandan - good point! robbie - while i have doubted that barry is good enough for any of the top 4 i think the doc makes a great point - imagine barry WITH lampard! regardless of that in my eyes the top 4 is actually a top 3 plus liverpool so no, chelsea or Utd prob aint that interested in barry but pool could well be. add in to that UEFAs quota system that rafa's sh*t scared might happen!

April 29, 2008

villa 82 said:

Im a Barry fan and I cant see him leeving its just speculation. Besides if we take our villa gogles off he wouldnt get into the arsenal team because he is to slow to be a arsenal winger and in the middle they have fabregas, same at chelsea and man u. the only team he would stand a chance at is liverpool but even there would be very tough competition and with the rotation system even harder

April 29, 2008

Leroy said:

I love Gareth hes quality, but if we could gave him to Arsenal in exchange for Walcott, Diaby, Bendtner and Hoyte or get a replacement of similar value, like your Diego or Van der Vaart or even both,(yeah right)id do it in a heart beat.

April 29, 2008

Not so Silent Bob said:

when mon left the foxes they printed a4 banners for the crowd that read dont go martin !!! (kept him there for an extra season...lol) i'll design a banner for everyone to print off in the forum section of avfcblog that reads dont go gareth! if we all print one off we can fill the ground on the next 2 games that should help to convince him to stay!

April 29, 2008

RSamVillaFan said:

How man clubs have actually stated that they are interested enough in Barry to put up the cash? Coz, from what i can see it's just a case of the London biased rags trying to unsettle a challenge to the top four. Barry will be here next season, of that I'm certain, he aint that stupid and neither is MON.

April 29, 2008

j_mmy3 said:

I always agree with Damian, I love Barry and he is the BEST player in our team but i don't rate him as a CM. This can be reflected by the ineffectiveness when Barry and Reo-Coker playing in the central midfield in 4-4-2. However, i would love him to stay and play as LB or LM. On the other hand, we must bring in a MC with real quality next season and also Crouch

April 30, 2008

ConVilla said:

j_mmy3 - there is no way i'd play barry in LB or LM after seeing the way he plays in the middle..no way. he can hold it, he can play it, he can create space, he can create space for others, he's got a magic touch, he drops back when the other midfielders go up and vice versa.. a yard more pace and he'd be the perfect CM no doubt.

April 30, 2008

celtic_villian said:

yeh man yr totally wrong about cm barry. exceelent wen at his best in the middle, not quick enuf 4 the left, and as we have seen in the past, he is not good onugh defensively 2 play at the top level at the back. but he is in the middle. if yr tlkn bout wen he and reo play in the middle, i suggest u look at reo! if he duz go, i like this van der vaart tlk, he v. good. but can we stop this, we are only adding to the media circus! f your posters, you just bringing further attention 2 the fact that he may leave!!!! idiotic!

April 30, 2008

sutton_villa said:

IMO MON made Barry the player he is now. If he goes i fully expect MON to do this again, be it with Sidwell, NRC, or even Salifou. However I think that Barry will see out one last season at VP moving on end of next year. All the best for last 2 games boys.

May 01, 2008

winner said:

hewo he har he har ho

May 01, 2008

Peter said:

You talk sense Doc - This is what I have been trying to explain to Damian - we need to build the team around him - not replace him with far lesser players than Sidwell. Still Damian seems to have finally given up on his Barry aint good enough stance. I think he feels a little foolish about it all.

May 02, 2008

VLLANad said:

To loose Barry would be a real set back but i dont see him as irreplacable. Im not convinced that he's going just yet anyway, whether he's gerrards chum or not. If he wants to win silverware and is in it for 'medals and not money'then its Chelsea, Arsenal and Man utd. Utd dont need him, Arsenal have Cesc flaming Fabregas and Chelseas transfers are decided by big Roman! To go to liverpool (who have won what exacty this year?) would be a mistake i think. Replacements for Barry, puuhhhhh John Obi Mikel (Aint seen much of him this year) Diego Xabi Alonso in an exchange Besides all this i feel its more important to sign a quality RB like Miguel, who i was delighted to see us linked with strongly for 8m, than to worry about what Gareth Barry will do. Schweinsteiger would be a brilliant signing also incedently and i wouldnt be distraught to see Barry leave if we have players of Schweinsteigers' quality comig in.

May 04, 2008

andy patterson said:

i spoke to barry last night in birmingham about the whole liverpool thing... he says hes still thinking about his future etc,.. from his tone / manner it sounds like hes already made his mind up and hes off...

May 04, 2008

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