Gareth Barry

[Rupert's Tower]

He's probably on 60/70 grand a week and when RM persuaded him to sign permanently was probably promised he'll be first choice, all very well saying crap, get rid but the reality is it's not that simple. He's still good enough for the Prem, tactically and positional he's class, but not starting every single week and I think that's why he gets all this hate. Why is a 33 year old defensive midfielder completely undroppable when we have a talent like Besic rotting on the bench

 

[mkrudden]

It's the same FIFA playing Soccer AM beauts who can't see his value to the team.

This.

This and the Jagielka thread are the ones that boggle my mind the most (now the transfer thread is dead).

I just don't see how people don't see how important he is for us.

 

[Kiwi]

This.

This and the Jagielka thread are the ones that boggle my mind the most (now the transfer thread is dead).

I just don't see how people don't see how important he is for us.

Baffles me. He adds four crucial things to our team that would otherwise be lacking. A masterful reading of the game, height in midfield, leadership and control of tempo. Yes his legs aren't good for 90 minutes every Saturday and weds but he's good for once a week in my mind. Crucial player in allowing our young players to play well and reach their potential.

 

[mkrudden]

Baffles me. He adds four crucial things to our team that would otherwise be lacking. A masterful reading of the game, height in midfield, leadership and control of tempo. Yes his legs aren't good for 90 minutes every Saturday and weds but he's good for once a week in my mind. Crucial player in allowing our young players to play well and reach their potential.

Absolutely spot on mate.

 

[zandvoort blue]

Long in the tooth now.

Should have flogged him before the season started.

his hair is amazingly black tho'
@Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian

 

[Vaughan]

i think he's still an important part of this squad, and chelsea is the sort of game he should be starting. we need his nous in there

but at home, or even away to a bottom half side no way should he be starting. barkley or if he's fit cleverley should be deep to get the ball moving

 

[royalblue66]

His missus is fit,so it's a yes from me.

 

[Walken]

Baffles me. He adds four crucial things to our team that would otherwise be lacking. A masterful reading of the game, height in midfield, leadership and control of tempo. Yes his legs aren't good for 90 minutes every Saturday and weds but he's good for once a week in my mind. Crucial player in allowing our young players to play well and reach their potential.

Tremendous LOL at this, for an ex CH i've never seen someone so poor in the air, his only significant contribution at a set piece was to take out lukaku, added to all this that you lot are in agreement with chico on a football matter

 

[Saint Domingo]

Baffles me. He adds four crucial things to our team that would otherwise be lacking. A masterful reading of the game, height in midfield, leadership and control of tempo. Yes his legs aren't good for 90 minutes every Saturday and weds but he's good for once a week in my mind. Crucial player in allowing our young players to play well and reach their potential.

I'm curious. If he is offering 'control of tempo' as you say, why are we playing some of the slowest stuff in the league struggling to break down some of the poorest sides in the league at home? A tempo that last season saw us to 11th place? Can you also explain our goals for record in games when he is not playing and explain why we score more without Barry's tempo being set and less when it is?

 

[bluestevon]

I'm curious. If he is offering 'control of tempo' as you say, why are we playing some of the slowest stuff in the league struggling to break down some of the poorest sides in the league at home? A tempo that last season saw us to 11th place? Can you also explain our goals for record in games when he is not playing and explain why we score more without Barry's tempo being set and less when it is?

Maybe because he sets a god awfully slow tempo

 

[toffeestillidie]

I'm curious. If he is offering 'control of tempo' as you say, why are we playing some of the slowest stuff in the league struggling to break down some of the poorest sides in the league at home? A tempo that last season saw us to 11th place? Can you also explain our goals for record in games when he is not playing and explain why we score more without Barry's tempo being set and less when it is?

Which poor sides have we struggled to break down at home this season when Barry has played?

FYI for those interested, here's how we did when Barry didn't play or played a limited amount, since his arrival.

2013/14 season:
Fulham (CC) -Barry subbed on in 69th - Lost 2-1 (losing 2-1 when Barry came on)
City Away - Lost 3-1
Palace Home - Barry subbed off 58th - Lost 3-2 (losing 2-0 when he came off)
City Home - Lost 3-2
2014/15 season:
Swansea Away - Lost 3-0
West Ham Home - Won 2-1
Wolfsburg Away - Won 2-0
Sunderland Away - Barry subbed off in 12th - Tie 1-1
Leicester Home - Tie 2-2
Newcastle Home - Won 3-0
QPR Away - Won 2-1


To me it looks like it's all over the place. I don't think you can say that we're consistently better at breaking teams down without Barry.

I also think Barry has looked far better this season than he did at any point last season, which can be said for most of our team.

 

[orly]

Which poor sides have we struggled to break down at home this season when Barry has played?

FYI for those interested, here's how we did when Barry didn't play or played a limited amount, since his arrival.

2013/14 season:
Fulham (CC) -Barry subbed on in 69th - Lost 2-1 (losing 2-1 when Barry came on)
City Away - Lost 3-1
Palace Home - Barry subbed off 58th - Lost 3-2 (losing 2-0 when he came off)
City Home - Lost 3-2
2014/15 season:
Swansea Away - Lost 3-0
West Ham Home - Won 2-1
Wolfsburg Away - Won 2-0
Sunderland Away - Barry subbed off in 12th - Tie 1-1
Leicester Home - Tie 2-2
Newcastle Home - Won 3-0
QPR Away - Won 2-1


To me it looks like it's all over the place. I don't think you can say that we're consistently better at breaking teams down without Barry.

I also think Barry has looked far better this season than he did at any point last season, which can be said for most of our team.

 

[Raino85]

Every time I see this post rise to the top I am hoping he has picked up an injury

 

[toffeestillidie]

Not going to edit, you know what I mean

 

[Saint Domingo]

i think he's still an important part of this squad, and chelsea is the sort of game he should be starting. we need his nous in there

but at home, or even away to a bottom half side no way should he be starting. barkley or if he's fit cleverley should be deep to get the ball moving

Agree with the second part but 'his nouse'? This is the same 'experience' that gave that stupid pen at Arsenal in the cup effectively knocking us out, got a load of suspensions last season, and got sent off v Chelsea costing us a point.

Which poor sides have we struggled to break down at home this season when Barry has played?

FYI for those interested, here's how we did when Barry didn't play or played a limited amount, since his arrival.

2013/14 season:
Fulham (CC) -Barry subbed on in 69th - Lost 2-1 (losing 2-1 when Barry came on)
City Away - Lost 3-1
Palace Home - Barry subbed off 58th - Lost 3-2 (losing 2-0 when he came off)
City Home - Lost 3-2
2014/15 season:
Swansea Away - Lost 3-0
West Ham Home - Won 2-1
Wolfsburg Away - Won 2-0
Sunderland Away - Barry subbed off in 12th - Tie 1-1
Leicester Home - Tie 2-2
Newcastle Home - Won 3-0
QPR Away - Won 2-1


To me it looks like it's all over the place. I don't think you can say that we're consistently better at breaking teams down without Barry.

I also think Barry has looked far better this season than he did at any point last season, which can be said for most of our team.

Let's look at those games then. The carling cup games Martinez put out weakened sides away at premier league teams so we rightly lost. It then follows that the only games in two seasons that we've lost when Barry hasn't played were both against City (I seem to remember both were good performances with poor refereeing). The other game we lost we actually scored 2 in the last half hour once he left the pitch after leaving us 2-0 down? Also show that we are unbeaten in the league last season when he doesn't play. I'm also not seeing the 3-0 home win over QPR that Barkley and Besic orchestrated.

So over a 6 game stretch last season (in the league) we won 4 and drew 2.

We beat a top European side away from home.

And the only league games in two seasons we've lost when Barry hasn't played were both games against City where we put in good perfornances.

Clearly we're a good side without him. Imagine extrapolating that league form over a whole season.

In terms of points thrown away this season? 2 at Watford, 2 at Spurs, both poor sides that other teams will seat aside with ease. We could have won both with some positive play from midfield. Indeed once Roberto moved Barry to left back against Watford and pushed Barkley back we pummelled Watford and scored 2.

He slows down everything we do. Drop the geriatric cruise boat now.