Gareth Barry

deipnosophist · September 13, 2016

Thomasc said:
Remember when we gave him a 3 year contract and all of the experts on here said what a massive mistake it was?

GOT clearly knows best!

lol ...Idrissa Gueye was similarly pooh-poohed by GOT 'experts'

mkrudden · September 13, 2016

@Saint Domingo ?
How many more games before you do the noble thing my friend?

Saint Domingo · September 13, 2016

mkrudden said:
@Saint Domingo ?
How many more games before you do the noble thing my friend?

My judgement will be based over a whole season. If we keep playing him every game and he loses his backside after half a season then I'll be proven right, if he keeps this level of performance up then I'll dine on humble pie.

A few points though. He did lose his man quite often in the first half and give away silly free kicks. Sunderland weren't good enough to punish us but other teams will. My main worry is though that when we play teams with super physical mobile midfields (like Liverpool) we have been run over in the past due to Barry's lack of pace and Barkleys lack of aggression.

He does look a lot better without McCarthy though.

blue62 · September 13, 2016

He's got no pace so quite how you can beat him with that stick is anyone's guess. He needs pace around him but his positioning, reading of the game and passing makes him invaluable and his general attitude suggests he can pass that onto the younger players and help them develop. He was a great signing and I for one am delighted we have him for a few more years, he can't do a full season but he offers an awful lot to the team.

mkrudden · September 13, 2016

Saint Domingo said:
My judgement will be based over a whole season. If we keep playing him every game and he loses his backside after half a season then I'll be proven right, if he keeps this level of performance up then I'll dine on humble pie.

A few points though. He did lose his man quite often in the first half and give away silly free kicks. Sunderland weren't good enough to punish us but other teams will. My main worry is though that when we play teams with super physical mobile midfields (like Liverpool) we have been run over in the past due to Barry's lack of pace and Barkleys lack of aggression.

He does look a lot better without McCarthy though.

With Gana pressing forward and ahead of him Lukaku, Deulofeu, Bolasie and Mirrallas all pushing for a goal or two, it is little wonder that on the few times Sunderland did break against our lonely CM GazBaz that he got pulled about a bit.

Against the likes of Liverpool, I am sure we will see Gana leaving the attacking waves forward to the aforementioned 4. Against Spurs for example, we saw Gana and Barry working in tandem sat on the half way line. Barkley then picked up the ball from them. We also now press the ball in suitable areas which protects Barry and others.

If I may, and I know you won't mind, say - it does seem like your trying your best to pick holes in his performances.

Thomasc · September 13, 2016

Saint Domingo said:
My judgement will be based over a whole season. If we keep playing him every game and he loses his backside after half a season then I'll be proven right, if he keeps this level of performance up then I'll dine on humble pie.

A few points though. He did lose his man quite often in the first half and give away silly free kicks. Sunderland weren't good enough to punish us but other teams will. My main worry is though that when we play teams with super physical mobile midfields (like Liverpool) we have been run over in the past due to Barry's lack of pace and Barkleys lack of aggression.

He does look a lot better without McCarthy though.

Tun it in mate FFS! I know it's all about opinions, but don't be like the forum crank and labour a point when you have clearly been proven wrong.

"My judgement will be based over a whole season".....is basically code for I will jump on his back the first time he has a bad game. ZZZZzzzzzz

Nil Satis Niasse Optimum · September 13, 2016

When Barry retires somebody needs to freeze his body and send it to the Smithsonian in Washington so that they can investigate how he was the only professional footballer to have reversed the aging process. A modern miracle.

sarath · September 13, 2016

I really really wish Ross had Barry's brain to read the game better

Saint Domingo · September 13, 2016

Thomasc said:
Tun it in mate FFS! I know it's all about opinions, but don't be like the forum crank and labour a point when you have clearly been proven wrong.

"My judgement will be based over a whole season".....is basically code for I will jump on his back the first time he has a bad game. ZZZZzzzzzz

I responded to a direct question from @mkrudden on a long running debate we have had. This is a thread for discussing Gareth Barry is it not? Just because you disagree with my opinion doesn't give you the right to moderate it. Maybe leave that to the actual mods. I will, as ever, hear out any opinion you have on Gareth Barry.

Connor · September 13, 2016

Mad how he's the greatest player ever.

Pienaar'sdisciple · September 13, 2016

Replacing him shouldn't cost 30 million, we've just signed a player that's playing like a 30 million quid player for 7 million. The deals are there to be made. M'villa imo would be the perfect player to replace him.

neil999 · September 13, 2016

Nil Satis Niasse Optimum said:
When Barry retires somebody needs to freeze his body and send it to the Smithsonian in Washington so that they can investigate how he was the only professional footballer to have reversed the aging process. A modern miracle.

sarath said:
I really really wish Ross had Barry's brain to read the game better

joint research project

Saint Domingo · September 13, 2016

mkrudden said:
With Gana pressing forward and ahead of him Lukaku, Deulofeu, Bolasie and Mirrallas all pushing for a goal or two, it is little wonder that on the few times Sunderland did break against our lonely CM GazBaz that he got pulled about a bit.

Against the likes of Liverpool, I am sure we will see Gana leaving the attacking waves forward to the aforementioned 4. Against Spurs for example, we saw Gana and Barry working in tandem sat on the half way line. Barkley then picked up the ball from them. We also now press the ball in suitable areas which protects Barry and others.

If I may, and I know you won't mind, say - it does seem like your trying your best to pick holes in his performances.

I'm not picking holes, the holes have always been there, they are inevitable in any 35 year old player devoid of pace. The question is does the manager recognise this and build around it tactically to limit it or does he not? Martinez clearly didn't, our midfield was woeful do despite Barry's quality on the ball he could do little to stop us being run through on a regular basis (of course not the only factor leading to our rotten defence last two seasons)

Koeman is protecting him far better as you have pointed out allowing him the time and space to use his quality on the ball. Managed properly over a season this can be useful for us but based on previous viewings do you really think we'll get 38 games of this physical condition out of him? Koeman targeting Carvalho and Sissoko clearly looked to reinforce this area.

Look I agree he's started the season well but I still think he's not able to stop certain errors which better teams will punish. We will ultimately see though his much of the last few seasons was Martinez affecting his performance.