Gareth Barry

paulbefc · December 27, 2015

Up there with Deulofeu and Lukaku as one of our top performers this season.

Dario Terracotta · December 27, 2015

ace first year,poor last term,and back to his best this season.

chicoazul · December 27, 2015

dannyboy said:
Can't do the job he's there to do and it's killing us. Our back 4 gets bugger all protection regardless of whether he's playing well or not.

How can you think this? He's been superb. Easily one of our most effective players this season.

chicoazul · December 27, 2015

Barkley1878 said:
Getting tired of this fella, too old and slow to be in the heart of our midfield. Doesn't shield the back 4 and gives away too many daft free kicks. Unless Martinez punts him he'll lose us points week in week out.

@Pacman would you like to update us on your thoughts now?

chicoazul · December 27, 2015

Foot Long Hot Dog said:
Barry is a busted flush. His legs have gone.

Did he get replacement legs since this post? They look just fine to me.

Foot Long Hot Dog · December 27, 2015

chicoazul said:
Did he get replacement legs since this post? They look just fine to me.

Nice one anvil head.

You telling me he didn't look a busted flush last season then lid?

Fair play to him, he's been great this season, proved me wrong

chicoazul · December 27, 2015

Foot Long Hot Dog said:
proved me wrong

Yes.

dannyboy · December 27, 2015

chicoazul said:
How can you think this? He's been superb. Easily one of our most effective players this season.

Looking for reasons why we haven't been picking up the points we should have.

It is possible for players to play well but not be of benefit to the team as a whole...

Khalekan · December 28, 2015

I don't think he will start tomorrow.

Too soon after the stamina sapping slog that was the Barcodes.

Huyton Layne · December 28, 2015

Khalekan said:
I don't think he will start tomorrow.

Too soon after the stamina sapping slog that was the Barcodes.

He deffo needs a rest. Think Newcastle should have been his rest with the dodgy Serb replacing him against relegation fodder. Can't see him getting replaced against a mid table mediocrity rival as the other options have either barely played or are coming back from injury.

Rook · December 28, 2015

did last year actually happen?

Huyton Layne · December 28, 2015

Rook said:
did last year actually happen?

Yeah. I've seen photos.

smileychap · December 28, 2015

blue62 said:
He is having a great season, reads the game brilliantly and I hope we van get another season out of him, but surely he will need resting at some point, he's older than Pat Jennings.

Good one

This echoes similar thoughts elsewhere, how do you get the best out of a midfielder at the last 2-3 years of top football?

Man Utd never replaced Keane, Giggs or Scholes - just kept them as long as poss with a Manager who knew how to play them. I've had my wings clipped for bemoaning Cleverley before the Geordie game (and I'm glad for the club if TC's gonna come good), but for me Besic, Cleverley, Barkley, MCarthy et al can all learn a great deal from Barry. He does read and pass well. I keep reading about the young squad we're bedding in, that means a few older wiser heads will be vital. Barry's a great one to learn from.

A page back or two someone made the point about fouls Barry makes (where he's usually done for pace), fair to say if he can reign than it it'd help take pressure of our defence a bit. Does that point to having McCarthy or Besic alongside him, rather than having Barkley deep - or does RB need to be our box-to-box chap (which I don't see him as)?