[b]From the beginning of June - Gareth Barry:[/b]

“But Champions League football helps any player. You only have to look at the England squad to see the amount of players who get in the squad and start the games - the majority play in the Champions League. That's all about the decision that will have to be made. Liverpool are in the Champions League and Villa are trying to push for that. That's all part of my decision if a bid gets accepted.

I would like things cleared up, the sooner the better. It would be easier for myself and for the fans as well, so I'm sure we can get it done pretty soon. I've got nothing planned with Martin O'Neill, but I'm sure the manager will want to speak to me and I'll eventually want to speak to the manager. That will come soon enough.”

[i]if a big gets accepted [/i]

[i]I've got nothing planned with Martin O'Neill[/i]

Barry is a turncoat.

No MONs best bit of business was Salifou for £400K! What a bargain :) :) :)He is the 18th best mifielder in Togo you know!

Flippin Heck I have to agree with you Damo! You have not said one thing today that I don't disagree with. But the day is young.

I don't think Liverpool can afford £18 million though. Come on Rafa, if your captain and yourself prize Gareth so much then stop trying to be cheap and get some respect by paying what our captain is worth. The offer is there, so it's up to you today to do the deal. Or are you a mouse Mr Rafa. Put up, or shut up!

andyarkitekt

This isn't actually me - it's Jon, a random contributor.

i used to like gareth barry but he has upset me. i don't think liverpool can afford him. if thats the case then hes buggered up his career because o'neill doesn't like players that fuck him about so its probably anothe r2 years of reserves and arse lcking for barry

Personally I think we shold take the £15 Million now and start spending it on players who want to play for Villa. 3 months ago I think we would have all been happy to get £10-12M for him, and this ridiculous saga has just made the bidding increase. £15M, but Sidwell and Robinson and have almost enough left over for SWP or Lennon. Those 3 are a damn sight better then GB for sure.

How could Barry do this?? He could have left with dignity and respect, but now he looks like a turncoat brown-nose w@nker, contradicting himself and sucking up to rafa. Pathetic. Its clear that since the beginning his mind was made up and now he's trying to deflect everything to MON.

I used to think he is a legend but he's gone well down in my estimation...

if he is so crap why is he your captian damian? and if he is not ur best player please tell me who is???? fair enough ur disappointed that he wants to leave, i can understand that but were u complaining during the year when he was winning you games? i bet if he never opened his mouth to leave aston villa you would be telling us how fantastic the captain is. By the way to use Moaning O'Niell's words "he was the last England player to wear the captain's armband" so he cant be as crap as ur saying. have a think about it buddy??? sorry to invade ur sacred website but this crap just makes me laugh

Scott D

First; I didn't write this, but I'll answer, because I'm in one of those moods today.

1. He is the captain, I'm guessing, because Martin O'Neill wanted to keep him at the club when he first got here and Barry was about to join Portsmouth. I'm guessing.

2. Better than Barry; Laursen, Davies, Young - to name three, but I fully expect to be able to name another three fairly soon, maybe more.

Lastly; if you read thought this website, you'll see I've been saying for the past four years that I don't rate Barry - my view hasn't changed on Barry - of that Scott D, you can be certain.

But, this isn't my post ;)

Utter drivel. How bitter are you? You are the turncoat for turning on your club captain and labelling him as a poor player. Your 'article' is nothing more than bitter rantings of a deluded fool. What does it say about Villa if you think he will be found wanting at Liverpool and is by far your best player? Fact is your manager and chairman can't be bothered to even speak to Barry to try to persuade him to stay and now even the fans are turning, how very sad. I hope that Barry buys out the rest of his contract for around £5 million (that is the contract worth) so you bitters miss out on a substantial fee for a very good player. Let him come to Liverpool where he will be appreciated.

This really removes the possibility of me feeling sorry for Barry if he is forced to stay. Before now, I would have pointed a very angry finger at Liverpool, accusing them of carelessly unsettling our captain and creating a scenario whereby Villa either accept their bid, or are foced to keep a player who has expressed a desire to leave.

But all Barry had to do was simply kept quiet, or better yet release a clear and optimistic statement of support for Villa - along the lines of: "I'm a Villa player, I am proud to be captain, this club will be playing in the Champions League soon etc. etc. etc.". If a bid then came around that was too good to be true I don't think anyone would have been too bothered if he'd trotted off to Pool, as the deal was beneficial to both sides.

But by voicing his desire to leave for Liverpool and slamming the manager for supposedly slowing up the process [i]he[/i] has alienated [i]himself[/i] from Aston Villa and us fans. So if he does spend a season rotting in the reserves he has himself and himself to blame, and I have absolutely no sympaty for him.

Gareth Barry can |=(_)(|< right off ^_^

i still cant believe that rafa thinks barry is better than alonso! we should try for a straight swap

that said if barry wants to go hold hands with stevie g each week and have his house robbed whilst playing the CL let him go, i was happy either way until i read that utter bollocks in the NOTW now i really want him to go and cant wait to start chanting -

"fuck all - you'll never win fuck all" when the turncoat comes back to villa park

An ode to Gareth:

Gareth Gareth where have you gone
You've grown and flourished under MON

He has given you the chance to lead
And you have just fulfilled his needs

A captain and an England place
How can you best return that faith

You want your slice of liberty
But at what price...your dignity?

You have been a servant that is true
And this might be what is due to you

But before you sign before you go
Consider the man that made you so

He has the skills to make you great
Recall this if you reach that place

Now I believe you need to go
To chase your dreams and heal your soul

Just one last thing before you leave
You had respect around your sleeve

This man is great this man is strong
But you now feel you don't belong

Remember Martin and what he did
An England player from a Brighton Kid

Good luck Gareth and I hope its everything you hope it will be!

[u][/u][u][/u]

Leave Barry on the bench see how that helps his England career until Villa are offered a great deal players plus lots of cash.

MoN we need to sign players and soon

The point is Scott D, The captian of a team is more than just being the best player. Barry has been one of our best player's over the past couple of years but to give a mealy mouthed interview to the NOTW shows a certain short sightedness and disrespect to Villa.

Being a captian is more than a playing position, it works internally, with team mates, but also how the club outwardly portrays itself to its supporters and other teams. Barry's remarks have brought his position as captain into sharp focus and he has been found wanting. He has put his interests above the clubs.

Being the captain of any team with any support elevates you above your terammates in the eyes of the supporters. They expect the best on the pitch and off it, which is why Gascoigne or Joey Barton would never make great captains. If Barry had remained quiet, Villa fans would have respected him far more. Damn it, it's undignified.

Conversely, MON has dealt with this situation excellently. He has known that Barry wants a move and as a consequence has held out for an appropriate price for him, England international etc... This isn't short sighted. He knows that if Liverpool spend big on Barry, they might not have any money left to spend in the areas of more immediate concern i.e. out wide. Therefore they could be weaker next season in the Prem, CL might be different but you never know.

If that proves a little difficult to follow Scott D, let me try to make it easier for you: If Mr Gerrard leaked messages to the press about wanting to go to Chelsea or Man Utd to get a chance of winning the league, you'd go apeshit.

As for Barry, he is no longer Gareth: Bye, bye remember revenge is a dish best served cold...

i hope he doesnt have anything to say about ronaldo :D :D :D :D :D :D

Get him out, he plays well under martin o neill then tries to jump ship... problem is, he has the ability to make our whole team play like a snail, andddd!! people call him a great passer, sure he somestimes spreads the play, but we dont have one real creative player...

:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Think about this: Agbonglahor got through on goal how many times? Barely any, with his pace... partly because of his idiotic timing of runs, but also because of lack of midfield creativity, barry wont give us that cutting edge, only player i knw whos done that is MR. CRAIG GARDENER. i.e Right back vs reading, puts agbonglahor through on goal with a superb pass from right back that forces Hanneman to take aggy out

Is it true that if Barry stays this season he can buy out the last year of his contract and leave on a free?

If he wants to go, he should put in a transfer request. For all his foot stomping he certainly does not deserve the £3m pay off. Surely he is in a position now where this is the only course of action. I don't think he's ambitious. I think he's greedy. I doubt he'll even make the grade at Liverpool - and their fans seem to agree. £18m will be perfect. Sincerley hope they bomb out of the Champions League qualifying round and we destroy them in the UEFA Cup!!

Iain Sherriff

I believe you have to be 28 years old to be able to buy out your contract and I believe, it's a maximum of two years that you can buy out.

This is from memory and I'd have to look it up but I'm a bit busy.

From my understanding, Barry could do this next summer.

Woulfeman i did go apeshit when gerrard wanted to move to chelsea, and rightly so but i still didnt go around saying he was an average player and wasnt worth sh*T. Dont kid yourself Barry is the best player at Aston Villa, how many of the rest of the team play for there country (and ahem captain them recently). So for your all rantings I still disagree. Any fool on here that says Barry is useless is just plain bitter and should grow up. Ok i am guessing you detest Benitez, but do you really think he would stupid enough to pay at least 13 million for a second rate player. That is the point my friend.

Scott D: do I really think Benitez would stupid enough to pay at least 13 million for a second rate player?

Antonio Nunez, Zenden, Josemi, Jan Kromkamp, Aurelio, Voronin, Gonzalez, Morientes, Bellamy, Sissoko, Barragan, Palletta, Pennant, Kuyt....

Yes, I believe he would...

Villa fans;

I would just like to start by saying as a liverpool fan I have always had an afinity for AV. In recent years alot of Liverpool players tended to move on to Villa when their Liverpool careers had come to an end and I suppose for that reason I always liked to see them do well. But I also have always seen villa as a sleeping giant in england and always hoped they did well when it wasnt at Liverpools expense.

So I dont come on here to wind anyone up or simply have a go.

Personally I think Barry is a good consistent player who has the potential to become even better. Sadly for villa fans I believe he needs to leave if there is any chance of that happening.

However I dont think he is worth 18 million and to be honest I wouldnt pay a penny over 15.

I understand that the villa fans will strongly back o'neil on this but I just wonder how much Aston Villa have done to keep their captain when the fact is he has come out to the press suggesting that they havent done all of that much.

If would be very naive of O'Neil and Aston villa to go off for the summer leaving Barry with just the smallest amount of doubt about what he means to the club or what they will do to make him stay, especially when any of the teams in the champions league have reported their interest in the player.

So now this summer not only has MON lost Melberg on a free but he has managed to let his captain be alienated from the club to such an extent that even if he does stay he will probably be hated by most fans. I think MON is a super manager who has done a very good job with Villa but I also think his stance on this one could cost Villa dear particularly if Liverpool dont come back with the inflated 18 million villa are after. What happens then? Do they offer Barry to other clubs, do they strip him of the captaincy or do the keep him and let him rot. That way they will have lost Melberg and practically Barry but wont receive a penny for either.

Pride is a dangerous thing to allow get in the way of business and MON risks jeopardizing Villas season ahead if he continues to act on these negotiations with the stone wall defiance.

Personally I hope Benitez walks away now, not to spite villa but the simple fact is Barry isnt worth 18 million. But what I think the point that Villa fans demanding 18 million are missing that if we do walk away it wont be Liverpool that have missed out it will be Villa because I dont see how they could possibly find a way back with Barry to the ways things were before

Good article Jon! I do hope people won't soften the blow of Gareth leaving (and it will be a loss) by now slagging him off and saying that he's a crap player. Time will tell whether this whole affair works out best for us or Liverpool but wouldn't it be nice to finish above them next season!!

MON has been dignified in his handling of this, Barry a disgrace! but i fear the pool will soon realise he is not worth anywhere near the asking price and run, he's good but he ain't champions leauge good.
I look forward to seeing MANY signings in the very near future, my bum's getting twitchy!!! :'(

Cant wait til the 2nd best team in merseyside come to VP, I certainly don't think Barry will be getting a welcoming round of applause and a pat on the back for the way he's stabbed the messiah in the back.
I think we'll finish 4th with everton 5th and liverpool 6th.

God help Barry if he doesn't leave salifou will kill him >:(

B.Robinson,

All those players would get a game at villa, and none of them cost more than 9 million(so whats ur point). morientes was bad, but the others were all sold for more they cost. dont knock benitez buddy he has won champions league, fa cup, & la liga & eufa cup with valencia. what has moaning o'niell won?? i know u hate him but show some reaspect and a small slice of intelligence.

joe 123, dont always believe what you read in NOTW, Barry has quickly changed his tune, and his interview this weekend was a very cheap and not needed

all you need to do is look at the second sentence of the interview - Barry on the phone from florida, add to that the trips he's had to trinidad and dubai since the end of the season - yet he desperately wishes MON was in England trying to talk to him?

its utter rubbish

When GB returns to Villa Park with his 'great' new club! There should be a huge Banner on the Holte sayin simply 'Gareth, Watch this space' and then another one saying 'F*ck off and Good riddance'!

This whole saga has shown that Barry is immature and greedy like that tw*t ronaldo! His 10 years at B6 obviously means nothing to him because he's jumping ship at the first, sorry second opportunity! He's forgotten how we sung his name when gregory left him out of the team! He's forgotten how we've always backed him to be an england regular! He shouldn't get a good reception when he returns! We're obviously nothing to him!

The sooner he goes, the better!

barry can piss off now..
he can go join his boyfriend steven gerrard on a road to nowhere.. exept downhill fast..
im not denying that hes a great player..but coming out with that shite.. at least get the money out of him now.. even if it is over-valued.. we deserve it after the way w@nkers have gone about signing him!

good bye!

I think if I were Barry I would embarased that the club that wanted to buy you valued you so low and were trying to buy you on the cheap, What does that say for the future?

You no what? Ive had enough of all this already.Barry has been excellent for us over the 10year,i done want him to go.But if he wants to lets just get a good price for him and move on.I wanna here about new signings coming in,not this barry saga.We have a promising season coming up lads.so lets get behind the villa and not dwell on this barry boredom!

villanz agree totally with everything

To be brutally honest, I am glad he is leaving like this. If we had accepted an offer, and he went smoothly, he would have been loved by Villa, Liverpool and England, despite it being obvious he was worming his way away from the Manager and team that MADE him. (Everyone knows the impact MON has had on GB).

This way, everyone knows what a little glory/money grabbing c*un this man is.
And I cannot wait to 'welcome' him come our 2nd home game of the season.

Barry has let himself down over this whole thing. You could tell after the Wigan game, he was off! As he walked around the pitch, you could tell he was embarrassed by all the chanting from the fans he was about to turn his back on!
He admitted in a previous interview that he'd had the meeting with MON & Lerner and he'd think about it while he was away with England.
His own agent said in a recent interview that GB rang MON when he came back from Trinidad and confirmed he wanted to go! He's now saying MON hasn't been in touch since then to beg him to stay!
He says he wants to leave to play Champions Leage football (this season!), so what is he expecting MON or Lerner to say! Own up Barry,It's all about the money!!
If Barry thinks Rafa's such a great bloke, then perhaps he should be asking him why he's not backing up his comments with a propper bid, rather than slagging off O'Neill for not accepting a lower bid!
MON's stance is clear, he made him an offer, he said 'no' end of conversation until a firm/realistic bid comes in Liverpool there's nothing to talk about!
So please Mr Beitez, get your head out of your arse and buy him, we're all getting bored of this and our 'once fond' memories of our former captain are being tainted, as he's clearly as mercinary as all the other greedy, ego maniacs in the Premiership. I've taken my kids to meet him at Bodymore Heath on many occassions, and thought he was better than that. He proberbly thinks Ranaldo's a nice, honourable bloke aswell. UP THE VILLA!!

Right lets get a few facts straight:
If your so called manager wanted to keep GB at the club then he would have had time off from bumping his gums during the euro's and tried to keep him at the club, if he still wanted him at the club all he has to say is NO you aint going anywhere, lets face it he is not worth 18m but he will be worth 20m when Rafa is through with him - you will see what a good player he is when he starts playing in a decent team.
Hey conVilla wind your brummie neck in you wanker.

Seriously, who gives a s**t?

Barry has spent 10 good years for us, and we've paid him his wages in response. He now wants to go, and we want to build for the future, let's take the £15m (£18m would be better) and go buy some young hungry players to move us forward.

Let him go, remember the good times and look forward to better times.

Good luck Gareth and thanks for the memories.

Now come on MoN build for the future and lets beat the 'pool home, away and in the FA Cup :-) :-) :-)

Biting the hand that feeds him before he has another to do the same, is stupid in the extreme.

Fact of the matter is Mr. Barry (and you stupid pool fans who come on here and run your mouth), you said yourself about 4 weeks ago "Until a bid is accepted, i have no decision to make"

Now, correct me if im wrong, but a bid has not been accepted. So why is GB making a decision?

No player is bigger than the club. The quote about how flattered he is by Rafa's interest made me laugh "i am flattered that someone like Rafa Benitez has such a high valuation of myself" (or something along those lines) HIGH VALUATION??? a few reserve players?!?! Get real GB.

after telling the manager that he wants to go, why the hell should we offer him something to persuade him to stay? That would send out an awful message to the new stars of our club (Young, Gabby, Davies etc)

What a muppet.

the prob is barry is worth more to villa than liverpool,to go out and buy him he is not worth 18m , but for us to lose him yes i think he is worth 18m with the balance he gives the side,its no good saying barry brookside is not that good any way becase to avfc he is ,so stick to your guns MON and get the 18m that we think he is worth to us.

it all smacks off barry tryin to engineer a move.

o an to frg67 - how did u feel wen gerrard almost went to chelsea?

has anyone seen anymore on the rumour that villa were insisting that villa wanted liverpool to have a clause in the barry transfer saying they couldnt then chase bentley?

im hoping this is true as well, nice sign of intention

Bentley won't come to us he's too good.

Well i really think Liverpool dont have the money.. I heard 2 weeks ago it was 50/50 and now juventus are stalling on Alonso, so i really think if there are no other offers or MON lowers his price. He will be at Villa park next season, and there is no way Learner will pay his £45k a week and let him rot in the reseves at the end of the day he is a buissness man not a Villa fan..!!

Scott D:

You asked a very simple, very specific question: "would you really think he would stupid enough to pay at least 13 million for a second rate player" and you got a simple, specific answer:- by citing the hoard of [b]second rate players[/b] that Benitez has purchased at Liverpool, any reasonable person would be led to believe that the answer to your question is [b]yes[/b].

I never knocked Benitez. I made no reference whatsoever to hating him. I never denied he has won tournaments and titles. I never denied his abilities to sell players at cost or for a profit. I never said those players would or wouldn't get a game at Villa.

Yet you 'intelligently' assumed all that from what I posted?

nice to see villa have took the barry signed shirt of there web site

Let him go down to liverpool and do nothing all the days of his life.. as the bangles might've put it. Fact is he is a very valuable asset to us, more valuable sold though than staying on another season and you can be sure that MON and Randy know this. Why a better cash&player arrangement hasn't come about is probably more to do with pig-headedness from Benitez that MON exposed his transfer skullduggery ;)

Pazzler - I didn't cry like a baby like you Villa fans are. If he had left then fine. At least our manager and cheif exec took the trouble to speak to him, in fact if memory serves me right at least one of them came back from holiday to do so. Martin O'Neill did not coem back from his money earner at EURO 2008 (even though Gary Linekar coudl to take his partner to Ascot!!!). What does it show about O'Neill that he rather grease his own pockets doign tv work for the BBC than tend to the club he says he has so much passion for!!

Damian - I think it may be 27 and have to be 2 years into a 4 year contract.

I'M sick to death of these scousers coming on this site and sayind shit about MON and us villa fans. I'm sorry but i dont believe that MON didnt try to stop Barry from leaving. As for the scousers saying we shud stop whining.....i remember a couple of seasons ago when a certain Jose Morinouho was tryin to buy gerrard...THE UPROAR from the Liverpool fans...how dare morinouho try to sign our captain....saying that chelsea was tryin to stir...BUT forgive me if im wrong..isnt that wot liverpool are doing now

Truth is MON spoke to Barry before he went off to T&T with England and made him a few oofers to think about! Then when away Barry got talking to Gerrard and it all went from him wanting a proper chat with the club to him wanting to leave asap, do you really think that no tapping-up was done by Stevie G? what a complete load of bo#ocks, he has had his head turned, in my mind Gerrard had said something to him during the Euro qualifiers and it's been going on since then!!

So no I dont buy this we've done nothing bo#ocks, it's all about Liverpool geting away with all sorts of underhand nonsence.

[quote]At least our manager and cheif exec took the trouble to speak to him, in fact if memory serves me right at least one of them came back from holiday to do so[/quote]

So you are saying Liverpool have made an illegal approach, and spoken to the player without Villas permission? That sort of thing can lead to a points deduction

PS, Scott D: O'Neill has won all those trophies (except spanish title) as a player and led a bog-standard Celtic team to the Uefa cup final, sorry he has never managed a so-called top four side where trophies are guaranteed by spending stupid money on players, he has worked the system and that is why he is and always will be better than fatty Benitez, oh and yes he has also captained Northern Ireland to qualify for the world cup finals, a feat that won't be equalled soon, please Pool fans stay the hell away from our site

Scott D

Benitez is clearly a p***k. He acts like a petulant child and has an extreemly large head. You my friend also sound like a p***k with an extreemly lagre head. So why don't you piss off!!

Amusing that all the plastic scouse don't want Barry, seems they know as we all do that with or without Barry the best they can hope for is fourth place next season, whilst watching the Big Three get further away from them.
Oh and Red Sonny, how's the weather in Surrey, la?

Barry is such a plonker and is gonna sit on the scouse bench 4 yhe rest of his career.

I wonder if Barry remembers who actually resurected his career to a level where he became an England international again....three letters Gareth - "M" "O" "N"

We expected better of you than this - always level headed, always quiet and composed, now look at you. Liverpool is clearly the best place for you, so do one sunshine, that'll be £18 million please and don't let the door smack your arse on the way out.

Barry will be gone within the week. IMO, I hope sooner. I just hope that it does not have an effect on the other players. I agree with one other post that said take what is offered and start our rebuilding ASAP. I have been watching football for years now, and I must still know nothing as I really can't see why Barry is rated so highly....and thats not sour grapes, as when Yorke/Platt/Olly etc left I always said they are top player.

This debate tends to focus around club loyalties and gets a little one eyed & angry at times. Trying to be as objective as possible I do think Villa are going to come out of this better than Liverpool. Barry is a decent player and has been v. good for us - it is really sad to hear what he is saying in the press which demeans the club & makes a lot of Villa fans understandably angry.

At £10m this would have been decent business for Liverpool but the way it has been handled by both Rafa and GB has pushed the price up. Liverpool fans clearly love Rafa but I don't see how this reflects well on him at all. If we get £18 million for Barry MON's reputation will be enhanced everywhere outside of Liverpool. Potentially Barry will be a good pairing alongside Gerrard, but not for long, at best I would think 2 years because he is very slow and not going to get faster.

Also GB can be affected mentally & emotionally by what's going on around him. I think this is proven by his uncharacteristic outburst. This can affect his form & I wouldn't expect him to be at his best at the start of the season which will only increase the pressure on him. I can't see anything good coming out of this for GB, or Liverpool whereas I don't think anyone would quibble that £18 m is good business for us.

[quote]if he is so crap why is he your captian damian? and if he is not ur best player please tell me who is???? fair enough ur disappointed that he wants to leave, i can understand that but were u complaining during the year when he was winning you games? i bet if he never opened his mouth to leave aston villa you would be telling us how fantastic the captain is. By the way to use Moaning O'Niell's words "he was the last England player to wear the captain's armband" so he cant be as crap as ur saying. have a think about it buddy??? sorry to invade ur sacred website but this crap just makes me laugh [/quote]

Scott D - my argument isn't that Barry is rubbish - he's obviously not rubbish, given that he's the captain of a premiership football club and represents his country. All I'm saying is that he's not worth anything like £18m to Liverpool.

Also, Damien complained quite a lot about Barry even when we were winning games. He's good against rubbish teams, but up against the best and he's not good enough.

Villa's best player? Martin Laursen is without a doubt better than Barry in his respective position.

You need to understand that MON is very clever. I think he knew as soon as the first bid was made public that he would lose Barry. And I think that's why he's bigging up the armband thing - just to get the best price he can.

So I wasn't meaning to offend you - but only time will tell - you may be right about him and he may push you on - but i just can't see it. Although it may be that his relationship will Gerrard really works and it pushes you on big time, creating some stability.

What do you think?

If the comments in the NOTW are true, Barry spoke to them from Florida to have a rant about MON being in Austria/Vienna. Pot/kettle!

Is he supposed to follow him to Florida to beg him to stay (again!) after he resurrected his faltering club career which established him as an England regular! I didn't see Benitez queing up to buy him 2 years ago, the last time he wanted to leave!

10 years (1 very, very good one), I hope your newly found form & ego can handle being a squad member and not the man the team is built around.

I know how proud you were, wearing the Captains armband for England, if the chance comes around again, would Capello consider a player who's not even a Captain at club level? I think not!! Thanks for the memories, but shut the door behind you!!

UP THE VILLA!!

>:( >:( >:( >:( ALL OF YOU SCOUSER IDIOTS >:( >:(

Why you all bum off benitez i have no idea, he came and you were in and around 4th place, he spent loads of money, and now your just about grasping onto 4th place ( lucky for you everton slowed down ).. so why is he a good manager?

MON made barry good, benitez will do nothing and make him back into the mediocrity he used to be, and to some extent still is.

Get ur wallet out please, liverpool

I do like Barry and didn't want him to go.

However he has said his bit if you believe the papers as has MON so only time will tell. Personnally if Barry goes I guess it gives us a new edge makes us less predictable again. All clubs know what we was good at come end of the season and who bounces off who.

I wonder what Barry really thinks, he must think we won't be playing Champions League football any time soon. He's probably right you don't become great over night it takes a few years, for me I can wait 3/4 years I guess for a player of Barry's age he can't.

Well, rate him or not GB has given a lot of service to Villa and I feel he owes us nothing, he want out then good luck to him. I personally can't see why he would want to go to Liverpool, he won't be a regular and they seem to be having a different drama every week.

Good luck sunshine

I think Barry has to remember that when MON took over at Villa, his career & form was on the slide as he was out on the lash with Lee Hendrie most nights! (anyone in the Solihull area would tell you the same)
MON saw Barry was wasting his talents, so he sent Hendrie packing to Stoke to stop GB p***ing his career away like Hendrie who was already passed saving! So it's nice of Barry to repay MON with his recent comments.
Not sure where Hendrie is now, last I heard he was struggling to get a game at Leicester. Perhaps he could get a game at Accrington Stanley so he could meet up with his old 'drinking' buddy!! ;D

I think you are seeing what players are like now. I stood by Barry for years when most thought him nothing better than average. But there's a lot more to a player than what he does on the pitch. Barry has showed his colours and for once I'll back MON on this - Barry has showed he's a greedy, selfish and arrogant person. I firmly believe as do many Liverpool fans I know ... That Barry going there will be a nail in their coffin. They have serious money troubles at Anfield and the thought of £18 million for a bit part player really worries people. Also Stevie G has stated that if Liverpool don't win next year he would have to look at his position. Well Liverpool aren't ever going to win the title and the 4th place is the very best they'll get.

Why do people keep referring to MON being at Euro 2008 as a pundit?? Do you not think this would have been lined up about 6 months ago? It's no just some over the table conversation when these things happen - Oh, Martin if you're not busy next week how about coming and doing some punditry??'.

The whole Barry saga is just a thorn in his side but one thing I can guarantee is that you will never get MON to flex to your every whim. You only have to see the way he deals with petulence from other players to understand that.

Barry should never have done that interview with NOTW. It is clear that he has gone from hero to zero overnite. IMO he's quite a decent player but, as I've said before, he's a confidence player and a few drops onto the bench at Liverpool and I don't see him recovering. I also think he's gonna be too slow in the next season or two (some would argue that he already is).

I'm not sure but from what I've seen and heard of Fabio I don't think he will be overly impressed with his outburst. It seems that MON and Fabio are both from a similar mold in that respect. It wouldn't surprise me if his England chances have already started to erode!!

Like I say, decent player but definitely replaceable and this is probably the optimum time.

Barry should never have opened his mouth. I rate him highly but won't be disapponted now if he leaves no one is bigger than the club. As for liverpool supporters you have very short memories on hear goin on about our atitude about barry when you lot burnt your captains jersy outside the ground when he wanted to go to a bigger club and when your not burning his gear you busy yourself robbing his house

The EPL needs a salary cap to put a lid on overpaid, ridiculous footballers . . . latest exhibit Mr. Gareth Barry.

Oi Liverpool suckers..we have this great african prospect in the wings, his name is Moustapha Salifou.

10m and he's yours :)

I have to say that, last year, GB was outstanding for us.However i'm struggling to remember anything before that!

I was gutted to hear his recent comments bad mouthing MON and the club. His outburst has shown a genuine lack of respect and loyalty toward the fans that have supported him through good AND bad! It's a shame he never took a leaf out of Matt Le Tissier's book.

If we can get 18m for him then that represents excellent business on Villa's part. Liverpool fans - you will be buying a very good player for too much money.

When the day comes and Gareth eventually signs for them up there it will be like finding out my wife had slept with my best mate only it will hurt a million times more.

I for one am gutted he is leaving but as much as I love him I cant bring myself to wish him well, players come and go but us fans are here forever.

If Man Utd Chelsea or even Arsenal had come in for him I could understand him wanting to better himself but them alloy wheel stealing scumbags are not that far away from us.

We need him to stay to better ourselves because at the minute the position we are in he is irreplacable.

Do you know how long it took Barry to accept Liverpool's offer? The time it takes for him to read someone saying Martin Laursen is better than him. The guy would be fifth choice at Liverpool (behind Carragher, Agger, Skrtel and Hyypia). Actually, apart from Barry, the only other Villa player I'd want is Young, he's very, very good. But, like Barry, we'll only find out how good he is once he leaves Villa and go play for a big team and Champions League football. Maybe we can buy him next year and help him evolve.

Oh, and I don't watch too many Villa games, but every time we have played you for the last five years, at least, Barry has been your man of the match. Always with a good pass and movement, and scoring goals, mostly penalties though. He's been the one I always envied Villa for. RB will get him for 15 mil and MON can take the money and buy Sidwell or any other midtable player. Are you sure you don't want Pennant? It would be a step up for you guys.

if barry is so good why dont anybody else want him...new song .. BARRY FOR LIVERPOO BARRY FOR LIVERPOO

So time to move on. We all know GBarry is a two faced slimeball who no one at Villa would trust with a tin of maggots.
He wants to play at Liverpool where players come home to find the jewellery missing, whose fans have made bleating to 606 a full time job, whose owners are skint and whose manager is in fear of his life.
Gareth you and the scousers are made for each other. Villa their fans, owner, players and manager have always looked up to real men fighters who would die for the shirt. And you Gareth were never one of them !

Ive seen a few comments saying gerrard "tapped" up barry whilst in T&T well have we forgotten that patrick berger told barry to go.

If he wants to go to anfield let him with 18m we could buy a real match winner sure he has been a brilliant player for us but i don't think he a p***k for wanting to take the next step

Boring. It's boring. Barry is boring. Transfer windows are boring. Liverpool are boring. Benitez is boring. MON is boring. Summer is boring. Boring, boring, boring, boring.
I'm going to try and go outside and engage with the real world for a few minutes.

It was boring.

Barry is great, no get rid of him. Oh fanny.

Barry has been an excellent servant 2 villa for the past 10 years, he has had his highs n lows throughout his villa career. We all knew from when the first story broke about barry leavin, that he was going 2 leave! Bad thing is, it has been stretched out for sooo long that we are all fed up with it by now.
I would happily take 15 mill for barry n wish him all the best in his liverpool career. But i dnt think moving to liverpool will help barry n i feel his england future myt stumble because of his lack of first team oppotunities. Liverpool usually play a 4-2-3-1 formation with alonso n macherano playin just in front ov the defenders, barry will find it incredably difficult to budge them out of the first team.
Alsoo i dnt see why liverpool are even interested in barry, the centre of the pitch is not where they need 2 strenghten. They need players on the wings instead n i crnt imagine barry being asked 2 play left wing all nxt season.
I just ask 4 all this saga 2 end, and end sooon! ! ! because its wastein valuable time when MON should be scouring the transfer market lookin for a viable replacement.
Plzzz add quality instead ov careless, irratic buys.
Up the villa !!!! ;D

der der der nigel reo coker der der der ball across the floor.

Sign em up, sign em all up evryone last one of em - then lets conquer Europe again. We can do it I know we can, I just know it.

der der der nigel reo coker der der der ball across the floor.

MON.....Just tell Rafa to pop down Villa Park with a bag of £15 million and sign Barry over to them and call it a day. Wish him well (not too much) and then lets get some quality purchased...Lets move on. How hard can it all be? UTV

pre-season is starting back on thursaday i think a deal will be done by then, how could GB go back to training with villa after all he said and if i was the other villa players i wouldnt want him at training.15m and steve finnan is a good deal but i dont think liverpool have the money.

Plus does every one realise that if GB signs for liverpool he will end up breaking up a family, the Gerrards, im sure stevie g-strings wife will not like him staying over with GB every night sharing a bed, thats why he really wants to go.

LINK



if spurs are to get anything near 20million for Keane Villa should be getting Ryan flipping Babel and 10million for Barry! Keane is trash and Rafa is to pay 10 plus crouch for him! It's Rubbish!

I just hope it ends soon and that Barry ends up playing center back in the reserves

Eli you muppet, what football have you been watching? Keane is the sort of player that Villa should have signed years ago. Thanks again Doug. >:(

First of all i think barry has been quality for the villa.

But some of the comments in that interview in the NOTW just dont add up. What i dont understand is that his reason for leaving for liverpool is because he wants champions league football.

So what use would an improved contract offer from O'Neill be anyway? Obviously we're not in the champions league so there is nothing O'Neill can do. He's stated his desire to keep him on numerous occasions but if barry's really set on sitting on the bench for half a season and finishing fourth let him get on with it... especially for £18m!

Lets just hope O'Neill uses it 2 buy the creative player we have so desperately craved at villa park since merson left!

UP THE VILLA!

Taddy, you really are a muppet
You are typical of the type of fan who cant see through the MON smoke and mirrors. You watch he'll sign a few last minute no hopers who will perform above their weight for a few weeks and then we'll see how good they really are when the pressure is on. If reo coker takes anyone to Europe he'll have to be driving Gareth Barry in the Liverpool Bus. That way he may find his true vocation in life. Come on MON and sign some decent players not just sqad fillers.

ive been reading your comments about barry, and i agree with most villa fans, but has mon been totaly honest with you. he didnt want him 2 go but ill have 18 mill 4 him. frank lampard 4 8mill weres geremy beadle , barry is not worth five, cant understand why raffas gone 4 him. i dont want him, cant understand how u can treat someone who has served u so well

For someone who's been through thick and thin with a club like yourselves, this is all he got just because he wanted to play CL football. Goes to show what a buncha knobheads AV fans really are underneath all the standing ovations given to Barry, your skipper. You lot are a joke. You can stuff £18 up your wherever and keep a defeated, low moraled skipper to yourselves. We'll see who'd be laughing by the transfer window in January. GB and Gabby are just about the best players you've got. Seriously get real, 6th place doesn't warrant a ridiculous price tag and I suspect 6th spot will be the closest you lot ever get to smell. YNWA

Ola, I am Liverpool Supporter (booo hiss) anyway, just a couple of things.

1, if Barry was to be placed into the reserves to rot, i am sure there is a Fifa ruling which says he can leave for free, either at the end of the season or january as they were on about it on sky sports with regards to the ronaldo saga.

2, I agree with the villa supporter who said that barry is worth more to villa than he is to liverpool, but in essence if you keep him for one more season and he buys his contract out at the end of the season, then you will only get £5m instead of the £15-17m that liverpool are offering now.......now my maths was never that good, but is barry really worth a £10m loss for one season? that money could be used to buy some quality young players (something villa are very good at doing)

3, for any player to play for a club for 10 years is quite something, and yes stating that he wanted to leave was a stupid thing to do in the press, but please remember that a football career is short and i am sure he wants a better opportunity to win things.... i dont mean that to sound patronising, but liverpool have proven in recent years that they are more likely to win trophies than villa. i am not saying applaud him should he go to liverpool or any other club, but at least respect what he has done for villa for the past 10 years.