Aston Villa: Good luck & best recovery to Bouma: has O'Neill gone too far over Barry?
At this moment there is a hostile atmosphere between Liverpool and Aston Villa fans over the protracted transfer negotiations regarding Villa skipper Gareth Barry. Martin O'Neill had pointed his finger at Rafael Benitez for leaking the interest to the local Merseyside publication The Liverpool Echo, without proof. Since then communications between AVFC and LFC fans have been somewhat scathing of each other, and I found O'Neill's outbursts publicly unwarranted and eventually due to be effective to his players.
Regardless, Wilfred Bouma suffered another injury in the game slightly similar to that of Arsenal's Eduardo against Birmingham last season, a dislocation of the right ankle, during the Intertoto second leg with Danish side Odense yesterday. Despite what is or has been said and done, I wish all the best to Bouma on his recovery. I dislike the injuries in the game and the injuries to Jimmy Bulard and Eduardo were very bad.
Bouma's injury may have some reflection on Barry as Villa used him as cover for the left-back position in the game. O'Neill has come out and said he wishes for more news from LFC as to our interest in Barry, as surely now Villa will be more determined to secure Barry's presence at the club, possibly at least until Bouma has recovered or until they have a left-back. Or indeed for good.
The thing is having made his outbursts, fined and banned Barry from training over his News Of The World interview over the issue, and Barry's opinion over the issue that was stated in the interview, has O'Neill pushed Barry over the threshold of moving so far that the former captain has made his mind up without any going back? I have maintained that O'Neill would regret his outbursts and that could well be the case now, if Liverpool were to come back once again with an alternative to their previous offers.
RedsMan.
posted by RedsMan at 7/27/2008 06:45:00 pm
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97 Comments:
I tell you what mate, at the game yesterday Barry showed us that he is a true Villan and didn't look like someone who is now in hurry to leave. I think the blame for this whole incident has to be laid at the doors of Benitez and Alex Black. Both have conspired to make this deal and Barry has been made to look a fool. Benitez should have kept his big mouth shut until a fee had been agreed and to prove it has been no fluke, he has done the same with Robbie Keane. He is an absolute disgrace!
7/27/2008 7:24 pm
Fuck you you Villa twat. MON is the cunt who started all the rumours and spread it to the media not Rafa. Barry is too good to play for you bunch of Midland twats.
7/27/2008 7:30 pm
sorry mate but you are speaking shit... Trainer are allowed to speak and tell how badly they want as far as players are concerned. MOT is the one who should be shutting his big mouth (like you) knowing that in no case he should now sell GB no need to tell to the press that people from Anfield are keeping their tongs in their mouth. absolute prick...
7/27/2008 7:33 pm
Chaps, calm it down, didnt want the profanity, just the debate. But to answer Anon (7.24PM), no, that is wrong. It was rumoured that, at the time when Benitez' position was being undermined and he was considering his long-term future at LFC as a result, that he had a list of players he was interested in and Barry was on that list. Benitez made no comment and O'Neill made the accusations thereafter about a leak to the Echo without proof or any foundation whatsoever. Then it was put to Benitez about what O'Neill had said and that is how it started.
You said he did the same thing with Keane. He said "Keane is one of the other names [on the list of interests] and OK, we are still working with other names. We were in contact and we will see now." He mentioned David Villa beforehand in the same sentence yet Valencia haven't come out about it.
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 7:36 pm
I am sure you meant your comment to say O'Neill and not Bennitez because the mess was caused by O'Neill making a false accusation and bringing attention to the offer to the press instead of saying, " No comment"! And, it is very clear that Baby MON has an extra large mouth which has caused trouble once again. He should have honored his 10 year player's request instead of giving him such a hard time. MON'S latest statement is that Barry is worth 18 million but we all know that MON would never pay 18 million himself for Barry or any other player for that matter. But, he wants us all to think he is sincere about his pricing of Barry. What a joke O'Neill has turned out to be!
7/27/2008 7:36 pm
To mister anonymous - you have unswerving proof that it was Benitez that did it. The story that it was leaked off the Villa fax machine seems to have just as much credance. O'Neill has consistently talked this story up. Benitez has said nothing other than put 4 bids in, and when he couldnt get his man at a realistic price, he held back and kept his own counsel. Methinks O'Neill doth protesteth too much. Maybe he say the chance to cash in on Barry in the last year of his contract when clearly he was not up for signing a new one. Now he is trying to save face
7/27/2008 7:38 pm
I used to like Liverpool but with their owners and manager they have turned in a joke. Slowly their supporters have also turned from fans you admire to total twats.
I now hope you fail, no money, no ground and with luck no Barry.
Die Liverpool, die!!!
7/27/2008 7:41 pm
Why would anyone with any standards at all agree to play for a team with such low life dispicables as fans. Liverpool is fast becoming the new cesspitt of the Premier League and no self respecting citizen would now want to play for, or even start supporting, them anymore. MON is a thorough gentleman who is doing his best to contain himself but in the face of such underhanded conivery from Senor Benitez, is only human, and has simply just shown a little of his frustration.
You Liverpool people are a disgrace.
7/27/2008 7:42 pm
Anon (7.36PM), dont understand the error. My beginning has stated that MON accused Benitez when the Echo leaked the interest.
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 7:43 pm
Why would Villa leak to the scouse press that Liverpool had bid for Barry in the week before the final game of the season, a game we HAD to win if we wanted to qualify automatically for the uefa cup? it was all Liverpool trying to unsettle Barry in the hope that it would force MON to accept a lower bid for the him.
All MON has ever done is said a) he's not for sale, and then b) ok he can go, but only if Liverpool come up with 'x' million pounds.
7/27/2008 7:43 pm
Eh eh, calm down, calm down like eh ? Barry wanted to leave for a club that could offer him Champs League footie - unfortunately, we the Villa cannot offer that to him this season. Can't blame him too much for that. What I can blame him for is what looks like poor judgement or poor guidance in his dealings with the press, making him look silly. I also blame Rafa for making his interest in Barry so bloody public weeks before the end of the season, and almost certainly unsettling the poor lad. I'd say Gareth's been a bit daft but is not by any means a heartless mercenary looking to dump on the Villa after all these years - and he was decent against Odense. Rafa, on the other hand, is a muppet. Why do Liverpool need any more midfielders anyway ? Surely they've got enough good uns?
7/27/2008 7:47 pm
O'Neill's expressed views have to be seen I think in their correct context, which is to say that he is very much in the business of acting in such a way as to create the impression that Villa and Liverpool are rivals for that final Champions League spot. I am certain that had Arsenal or Man utd come knocking for Barry then there would have been no fuss, but Liverpool, well thats a different matter. Villa are, according to their new signing Brad Freidel, aiming for fourth next season. That puts Liverpool firmly in Villa's sights. I think we can all appreciate that such talk, especially looking at Villa's current threadbare squad, might seem at this precise moment a little fanciful from ONeill, but I wonder what UEFA qualification will do for Villa's hopes in the transfer market, and I wonder very much if that aim will look quite so fanciful come the end of August. We will see.
7/27/2008 7:47 pm
Of course MON leaked it to the Liverpool Echo on the thursday before the bid was faxed to Villa didn't he. My mistake and I bet he got Gerrard to pour his heart out to the press about wanting to play with his great mate Barry. If bench warmer Crouch is worth 11 million then Barry (only England player to play in all games in 2008) is worth 18 million but you can't afford it. You best start looking over your shoulder boys because that 4th spot is going to be as easy this year.
7/27/2008 7:48 pm
To the comment about playing for Liverpool, we are better than that. We captured the signing of Torres who inspire us, and he took a pay cut of £800,000 tocome to Anfield. That in itself tells a different story, so your comments are rubbish.
To the other comment about leaking from Villa, no one said MON leaked anything, pay attention. Of course he wouldnt. He wanted any interest in Barry kept quiet so that Barry wouldnt be tempted. We did not influence Barry to put him off and in doing so does not bring his value down, that's absolute tosh.
Villa lost then drew their last two games and that was down to Villa. If you are saying your team play hinges around one player, then you are in trouble if Barry leaves.
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 7:48 pm
I agree. However, I must say that Liverpool has always been a cesspit filled with low lives and this is not something new. It was only the Hillsborough tragedy that brought sympathy to these depraved animals that parade themselves as football fans. However, with the tragedy becoming ever more distant in the past this filth of a population is again becoming found out for the scum that they are.
7/27/2008 7:48 pm
mon leaking the bid makes no sense to the villa cause. C'mon think about. Pool leaked it probably through the brum mail to unsettle the player. Rafa has kept quiet since and fair play to him. But mon has been only voice informing both pool and villa fans of whats going on. Mon is protecting the club and he gets my support
7/27/2008 7:48 pm
"Of course MON leaked it to the Liverpool Echo on the thursday before the bid was faxed to Villa didn't he."
You meant to say Benitez instead of MON, no?
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 7:50 pm
Barry is a slighty above average player now stuck at a below average club with a deluded manager and fans. Poor Gareth could have moved to proper club and actually won something. O'Neill is the one constantly bleating over this, I never had a good opinion of him before, now he's even more a of laughing stock than usual. He typifies what a small minded, small-time club Villa really are.
7/27/2008 7:50 pm
O'Neill has come out of all this looking like a bit of a twat. He whinged about Rafa trying to negotiate the transfer in the press yet all he's done since, is talk to every journo that would listen to him. Spouting crap about how he hasn't heard from Liverpool etc.
It's laughable. Liverpool made what they thought was a reasonable offer for Barry's services, O'Neill rejected the bid and that's that. What more does he want to hear from LFC? 2-3 bids made. All rejected. End of the matter.
O'Neill has handled himself like an amateur, flying off the handle at every given opportunity and now after publicly humiliating his captain is trying to kiss his arse to make him stay. The fact of the matter is, O'Neill's had a bit of a shocker in the transfer market thus far, losing targets to other mediocre premiership sides and if he lost his captain as well it would be a complete disaster. By keeping Barry he thinks that would hide his other failings in the transfer market.
O'Neill has priced Barry out of the move as well as fining him, making him train with the reserves etc. Disastrous handling from start to finish.
7/27/2008 7:51 pm
How can LFC leaking to the Echo unsettle Barry when he is skipper at a club said to be destined for a Champs League spot instead of Liverpool?? Further, consider that we have had 4th the ONCE since Rafa's arrival, yet Arsenal had it twice and no one said they would fall out of the top 4 places? Spurs were rumoured to be taking over from Arsenal at the time when they had Bent, Berbatov, Keane and Defoe. Look what happened next. So in saying we should look over our shoulder, you're misguided. Fourth was ours last season, and you think the top 3 will maintain their positions again. No one knows what will happen in football. No one predicted Man U would be 2nd from bottom last season at any point. No one even dared to say Arsenal would drop to 3rd from 1st and give in in the chase for the title, yet many are saying Liverpool will be overtaken for 'fourth'.
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 7:54 pm
No redsman, i was being sarcastic. I'd just like to know how MON has come out of this looking a complete twat ds. Because Rafa has proved that his only transfer tactic is to squeal to the press about a player then make a derisory bid for him knowing that the players head has been turned. What does that say about Rafa, T W A T also?
7/27/2008 7:56 pm
What has Benitez said since stating that Barry was on a long list of potential targets?? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! MON seems to hold weekly press conferences just to talk about this mess (that he's made).
Would Barry improve Liverpool?, probably yes...is he worth £18m? No chance. Let him stay where he is for another season then he can buy out the remainder of his contract and join any CL playing club that wants him (if any). Lets see what o'neil has to say then!
7/27/2008 8:00 pm
Again redsman let me explain, Liverpoo echo is no doubt owned by the same company as other local newspapers. Therefore would soon make National and International news. Jeez no wonder you liverpudlians can't find jobs you need everything explaining twice!
7/27/2008 8:00 pm
No, Anon, I said before above Benitez mentioned no names yet Barry was said to be on his list. O'Neill then made his outbursts that then blew this way out of proportion. Had MON conducted himself better than he did, nothing would have come from this publicly at the least and that could have helped him in persuading Barry to remain.
When you read Barry saying the opposite of Villa's interest in him to that said by MON, who do you believe? Why would he say that if it was untrue? It is practically the only thing he has said since it started to overboil. MON should have said no comment and moved on, then spoken to Barry intimately to find out his POV and then if need be convince him to stay.
We had the same thing with Gerrard, he said we were not showing interest in him (which I felt was bizarre), the transfer request turned down, the Chelsea bid turned down, then the change of heart. That was incredible. I was angry, this after we had done against the odds the CL, and then I was resigned to losing him and cashing the fee.
It could have been the same with Barry had MON conducted himself in the issue more appropriately.
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 8:01 pm
Anonymous (7.56), I've already explained why I think O'Neill's come out of this looking like a twat. If you disagree fair enough but in the meantime hopefully you're tantrum child manager will shut the fuck up about Barry because we're all sick of his idiotic rants. Note how Rafa/Liverpool have not mentioned one thing about Barry for weeks now....it's the O'Neill show everyday.
7/27/2008 8:02 pm
"Again redsman let me explain, Liverpoo echo is no doubt owned by the same company as other local newspapers. Therefore would soon make National and International news. Jeez no wonder you liverpudlians can't find jobs you need everything explaining twice!"
What do you mean explain again? What was your original point? First you stated a doubt so your orferred evidence is circumstantial. Secondly, any leaking to any newspaper or media source is left to its own devices if the parties concerned simply remain tight-lipped. Benitez said nothing, MON did the opening histrionics. Of that there is no doubt.
If there is any unsettling of Barry, it is done by MON. If you are to be ignorant about Liverpudlians, you are the one who needs explaining to, not us.
Redsman.
7/27/2008 8:04 pm
O'Neill laughably values Barry at 18 million, Rafa doesn't. We made a few bids and they were rejected. After O'Neill publicly humiliated Barry, the end result is Villa are keeping a n unhappy player who no longer wants to play for them. Well played O'Neill.
7/27/2008 8:05 pm
Rafa has kept quiet because he knows that he can't afford Barry and has gone off with his tail between his legs like the little scared mutt that he is.
7/27/2008 8:05 pm
Sorry, 'orferred' is meant to read 'proferred'.
Redsman.
7/27/2008 8:05 pm
He didn't look unhappy yesterday mate !
7/27/2008 8:07 pm
"Rafa has kept quiet because he knows that he can't afford Barry and has gone off with his tail between his legs like the little scared mutt that he is."
This is yet more rubbish I have heard on other boards and forums. My question therefore is this: Had AVFC accepted the £15m we have been said to have offered, what would anyone expect us to have done then? Placed eight buttons on the table and gave an IOU for twenty-eight more by January??
This speculation at best about LFC finances is unbelievable. We can afford to buy Barry, but not at £18m. No way. That is not a sign we cant afford it, its a sign we do not value him as much. MON just cannot resist having a dig at us at every opportunity, now saying AVFC value Barry more than LFC do. So if AVFC valued Barry at £288m, that's a clear sign we regard him more important than we do??
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 8:09 pm
"that's a clear sign we regard him more important than we do??" is to be read as "that's a clear sign they regard him......"
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 8:11 pm
Anonymous (8.05pm), are you thick?
Why would Rafa comment any further on Barry signing? He made his final bid, which in his eyes was a reasonable offer. It was rejected and that's that. For any player, there's always a limit as to what you want to pay for them. Once the selling club prices a player above and beyond what the buying club want to pay, negotiations stop. So I don't know what the fuck O'Neill is going on about...everyday.
7/27/2008 8:11 pm
Anonymous (8.07pm)...you're right, Barry was obviously delighted to play for a club he said he never wanted to play for again against the mighty Odense in a glamorous UEFA cup qualifying tie. Pull the other one fella.
DS
7/27/2008 8:14 pm
Come on, keep out the foul language guys. We dont need to resort to such language when exchanging views.
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 8:14 pm
The bottom line has to be, if Barry wants to leave then he wants to leave. After Spending 10yrs at a club surely Villa should grant him his wishes, he's 27 and if Alonso is being flaunted around for £12-16Mil i really can't see that Barry is worth much more. I feel that MON coming out in thepress saying LFC aren't interested is a desperate move to spark LFC into action. Villa need the money to fund other buys. It's all got out of hand. MON is showing his hand, Barry will end up a LFC player, MON can continue to say that LFC don't want him but the fact is that Barry will know what's going on and is probably being kept informed by his agent.
7/27/2008 8:14 pm
It has been made clear apparently that AVFC have sufficient funds in hand for purchases that they do not need the funds from a Barry sale to aid them. That's their business. AVFC think they are staying firm to us, and we are being treated like dirt because we are regarded as the weakest of the top 4. I doubt they would have been so bullish to the top 3, even if the top 3 were alleged to have been using underhand tactics.
Those who sympathise with MON can answer these:
1) What if MON knew of Barry's keenness to play CL football, during contract talks?
2) What if word got to LFC of Barry's keenness and therefore contact was made and denied? Then the leak came out, why MON blames LFC. This then gets to Barry and Barry feels annoyed MON didnt tell him about the LFC interest. Barry is then upset with MON and that could go some way to explain his underperformance in the Wigan and West Ham games (indeed if Barry did underperform).
3) What if MON then evaded Barry every time Barry came to him to discuss the interest? That would explain why Barry felt he was being ignored and not respected enough in contrary to that stated by MON.
I could state much more speculative questions that would put an alternative light to how this issue began and continued. I still maintain nonetheless that it is MON's fault why this has been messy due to his outbursts.
When you consider also that Bouma is severely injured out of nowhere, a player in a position that Barry could fill in for the interim, it shows again why I feel MON's outbursts will come back to haunt him. Predominately, he is fighting to keep a layer who wants to leave. That has never been good in football. And also the numerous heads who wish to predict on what is to come in the season on the basis of how particularly AVFC and LFC fared last season, you should think again. I told you already that football is unpredictable.
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 8:23 pm
Fat Rafa has been shown to be a complete clown and Liverpool have been shown to have very little money with which to compete. I'd be very suprised if Barry still wants to join Liverpool after this shambles and the fact the club can't afford a pot to piss in. Barry could always join Billy Smarts if he still wants to join a circus but I think he'll stay at Villa and go on to bigger and better things.
7/27/2008 8:28 pm
I dont think ONeill particularly cares how he looks on merseyside, or who he upsets. His job is to manage Villa, and I dont think you'll find anyone at Villa who is disappointed with how he has handled this. Villa dont need the money at all, they are owned by a Billionaire who has never refused his manager a single penny, so ONeill is playing from a very strong position. It is also pretty clear that basically his comments last night were aimed at Barry, not Liverpool, to say "come on son, its all over now, stay for another year, everyone here loves ya". At Villa the fans *do* love him (which cant be said for Liverpool, where i think there is alot of suspicion that Barry wants to play Champions League *for anyone* more than he wants to play for Liverpool specifically)
ONeill will feel, correctly in my opinion, that if Barry is still a Villa player on September 1st then he will have done his job. Barry will play for Villa perfectly professionally this season if it comes to it, as he did on Saturday night when he was close to being man of the match, so I dont think there are any worries about playing an "unsettled player". In short, ONeill's interest is to keep Barry out of a Liverpool shirt for next season, and if he upsets every single Liverpool fan along the way, I dont suppose he cares one bit, in fact that might suit him perfectly well, to build a little rivalry. Dont underestimate ONeill, he is a very clever manager
7/27/2008 8:32 pm
Boys, boys, boys ...
Gareth just wants to join a big club. The most successful British club in the history of football.
He wants to be playing in front of fans that are passionate, knowledgeable on the most revered stage of all.
He has played in front of apathetic Midlanders for so many years and, who can blame him, he's bored senseless. Villa fans are so, so limited in their football knowledge. I had to laugh yesterday. One idiot had a sign that said don,t go Gareth. You can't even punctuate properly!!
Much is talked about loyaly but, in reality, there is none from either side today in football.
Gareth has given you 10 years of service and he finally has a chance of playing at the top level.
That will now be denied him by a petty manager who is filling the team with players such as Harewood, Knight, Petrov, Maloney, Davies ... the list goes on.
If I was Gareth, I'd want to get out. You'll be lucky to be in the top 10 this season.
Best of luck boys. You'll need it.
You'll never walk alone.
7/27/2008 8:36 pm
Anon (8.28PM), the kind of moronic comment to be expected from someone being stupid. constant reference to weight and build, dont you consider saying something more constructive? What does life bode for you, as you see it? I am interested. People need to be slim now to be of some worth.
About the money, consult the accountants at Anfield. Read above. The shambles has been made by MON, Rafa has said little to nothing on it since. Villa have been touted for bigger and better things for seasons, MON has been there two seasons and last season has been his best so far. Two matches away from competing strongly for UEFA and they blew it and LFC get the blame for it. That's scapegoating.
I ask the question again: why would Barry leave for a club destined for non-CL qualification by leaving a club destined to overtake them?
If Barry does or doesnt leave, thats how it works out. The season will be the real answer, come May next year. Barry wants CL football and LFC showed interest. Where would he fit in in Utd's squad? Chelsea's squad? Only Arsenal could slip him in with Hleb, Flamini and Gilberto gone and I doubt Wenger would pay £18m for him. AVFC could well take £15m from him to be spiteful to us, from Arsenal, but I still doubt Wenger would look to pay even that.
If Barry stated MON did not show the interest MON claimed he did, how could he be settled all of a sudden from the friendlies? How would you feel having your name pulled in the media by your manager, saying this and that when you feel the truth is the opposite, you're fined and banned, stripped of the captaincy, then featured as a sub for friendlies? Is that how AVFC wish to show their true value of him right now?
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 8:42 pm
neither rafa or o'neil should be blamed. All blame should be put at the door of Barry's agent, for blantantly putting ideas into his head.
The simple fact of the matter is Villa want a price, Liverpool haven't got the $$$$. The sooner Liverpool piss off and sign ANOTHER foreigner instead the quicker both teams can concentrate on football, and not how much better Villa come off in this whole fiasco.
7/27/2008 8:42 pm
"The simple fact of the matter is Villa want a price, Liverpool haven't got the $$$$. The sooner Liverpool piss off and sign ANOTHER foreigner instead the quicker both teams can concentrate on football, and not how much better Villa come off in this whole fiasco."
What? Read above. Properly. all of it. We have the money, you MUST reserach and investigate and not believe what he said, she said over the internet.
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 8:44 pm
LFC have no money since the Yanks have stepped in with their debt package.
LFC will sell Torres next year, Gerrard will move on as well, JC will slow up next year. Reina will head back to Spain too.
A few Hungarian kids, starlet from PSG and a few freebies and the other average players LFC have today then LFC will not be a top 4 side - Man City and Portsmouth will start knocking on the door not just Everton with a quality manager in Moyes and the Villa with their money.
LFC in denial
7/27/2008 8:55 pm
I'd say there was a moment between the managers where things got heated. Both acted impetuously. The difference between them now is that O'Neill keeps on making more than the obligatory comments, and repeatedly uses the media as a means of making statements, whether to his team, his players, or his owners.
what is clear is that very few people are willing to talk sensibly about what has gone on. I applaud redsman for trying to do so.
7/27/2008 8:58 pm
"LFC have no money since the Yanks have stepped in with their debt package.
LFC will sell Torres next year, Gerrard will move on as well, JC will slow up next year. Reina will head back to Spain too.
A few Hungarian kids, starlet from PSG and a few freebies and the other average players LFC have today then LFC will not be a top 4 side - Man City and Portsmouth will start knocking on the door not just Everton with a quality manager in Moyes and the Villa with their money.
LFC in denial"
Wow, what absolute rubbish. Pity you couldnt justify how the other teams will fare, you're narrow-minded in that you only know of the top teams and their players because of the attention they attract. The likes of you fail to establish a star in the making and only follow others.
Just remember that LFC were hardly competing sufficiently for a top 4 place until Benitez came along, and we only failed in his first season. We havent looked far as we should be doing since but we have not looked back. Underestimate us at your peril, Benitez maybe a laughing stock to most of you but then again the English have hardly shown themselves to be knowledgeable outside of their own noses particularly when it comes to foreigners. Benitez may not have grasped the title challenge as yet, sufficiently, but he has not been that far off. It is a matter of time, when you consider what he put up with in Spain.
People can say the daftest of things for the want of attention and desperation.
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 9:07 pm
It seems to me people are being very silly here. The facts are 1: the story was leaked to the Liverpool echo (who leaked it is unknown). My club (Villa) is extremely secretive over all its transfer dealing so I can guarantee that nobody from Villa leaked that story. That leaves Liverpool and Alex Black. I for one don't think for one minute that Benitez leaked the story. Fact 2: The timing was the day before Villa played Everton (whom we were battling with to claim 5 spot) so it was the worst time. If I were MON I would've been argry too. Fact 3: Villa are the selling club if the buyers don't want to meet our price then you know what to do. We cannot attract a player of Barry's proven quality as yet so replacing him is impossible, he is worth more than 18 million to us. Fact 4 the NOTW article was disrespectful and very wrong and according to insiders at VP was down to Alex Blacks scheming. VIlla offered Barry a new contract, as well as having at least 2 meetings with the player and his agent. Fact 5: Alex Bleck has a record of similar actions.
7/27/2008 9:09 pm
Liverpoo FC = Manure wannabes
7/27/2008 9:11 pm
"Liverpoo FC = Manure wannabes"
That's graffiti talk, this is EliteFootballTalk. Very big difference. If you prefer to speak graffiti, this is not the place for it, Never will be.
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 9:22 pm
Martin o'Neill has been going on like a twat since it broke out in the echo and hes blamed liverpool for it. we didnt do anything wrong so why is he looking at us? Benny has kept shut and the fans keep on about barry this barry that when he doesnt want to play for them anymore. Its like having a Beemer for sale and you dont want to cos its nice and is a bird puller but its got to make way for something else and then you go and put it up for more than its valued in the books. No one will come fo rit and your left with a car you have to sale that no one will buy. O neill a mug, he can have Barry we have Alonso and crack on.
7/27/2008 9:30 pm
If you scousers could afford him then you would have paid already and not gone via the papers. MON has set a price. If you want him then you pay the asking price. We don't need to sell and the player hasn't put in a transfer request (although he obviously wants to go) so until you skint, giro scrounging, moustachioed shell suit wearing bindippers come up with the cash MON won't give him away for less than he's worth. FFS Do you want us to sit down and explain the unbiased actual truth. I would ask your teacher but they don't have schools in Liverpool or are you too busy stealing hubcaps to go. Even the writer of the article has got half his facts wrong.
7/27/2008 9:32 pm
Anon (9.32PM), I cant believe you would have anything credible to mention when you display such an ignorant stereotype. You should venture around Merseyside and gain some insight instead of sitting within your own realm and picking up on loose talk.
Which facts have I been wrong in?
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 9:39 pm
It amazes me that Liverpool fans who claim to be so knowledgeable cannot see that GB is a very good player who would actually deliver the holy grail of a title to Liverpool.
Personally I hope the GB stays, there is something special going on at the VIlla, MON is an excellent manager well supported by the Chairman. Shame the same can't be said for LFC. GB will help take us forward again but if he leaves then I wish him all the best.
It is time that 'knowledgeable' scousers started to look at Man U / Chelski and realise that part of their success is having a strong British presence in their team. Arsenal are the only exceptions that have won the league without this but they have Wenger.
I am happy being a Villa fan, my motives for supporting them are clear. My local team, which my family have supported since 1910, when at Villa Park I don't have to listen to prawn munchers, just fans who love hteir club and support them despite the lack of success. Can this be said of the big 3 and LFC??
7/27/2008 9:39 pm
"It amazes me that Liverpool fans who claim to be so knowledgeable cannot see that GB is a very good player who would actually deliver the holy grail of a title to Liverpool."
Why hasnt he then pushed Villa for higher heights, then? Wouldnt that then emphasise how better Liverpool is compared to Villa, that his presence would deliver us the title, in your opinion, while his presence at Villa has failed to get them into Europe since MON came in? If that is the case, why are so many AVFC fans claiming AV will replace us in 4th place?
7/27/2008 9:43 pm
"Can this be said of the big 3 and LFC??"
Blimey, now this old, old chestnut. Why not? I cant speak for the others, I cant speak even for LFC but I can speak for myself. Quite simply LFC until I die, through thick and thin. What is there to say when Anfield can fill the house particularly on European nights and be voicy, even when we were 0-3 down in the CL 2005 final, cheering out we will win 4-3?? Think about it. Fans may not be local but the proof of true support is in those who turn out at matches and their presence.
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 9:46 pm
I don't doubt the people who follow LFC do so with passion, I also think that many supporters of the big 3 and LFC follow them due to some need for success in their lives. I am delighted that my kids follow Villa and that VP is becoming full again with Brummies and not some sad sod from Southampton.
GB is a very good player and as long as I continue to watch good players like him I will be a happy Villa fan. I no longer expect us to win anything the CL monopoly has put pay to that but I will continue to follow Villa - how many LFC will do the same if you spend 25 years without winning anything of importance??
Come on the lions!!
7/27/2008 9:56 pm
And yet I find it so funny that this article, which has been labelled thus far as being half correct but not yet proven so, contains the injury and best wishes to Bouma and not one person on here at the least on behalf of AVFC have mentioned anything about him?
You guys make me shake my head at you. You havent anything to say on Bouma? Have you seen the pictures of his injury, of the team-mates' reactions? Nothing to say on where Villa will go on from this point regarding Bouma's absence, or whether you believe Villa will stick more firmly to keeping Barry just so that he will play at LB?
Doesn't your insight into footballing issues not venture past bile and spite and constant ridicule? And yet there are two AVFC fans who mentioned supporting AVFC, one saying it's been in the family since nearly 100 years, making no mention of Bouma but instead he/she and another making enough on whether fans of the top 4 actually support their respective clubs wholeheartedly??
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 9:59 pm
Time for more facts! Liverpool are the team that sent a bid to Villa park the day before a big game when both MON and Barry had already said that any talk of transfers had to wait until the 'END' of the season, that in itself is provocative. It's like Barcalona making an offer for Torres the day before the champion league final. Not welcome when there are much more important things to concentrate on. I used to like Benitez, but then he inflamed things even further by saying its not his fault our captain wants to leave. Now that is hardly going to calm things and improve relations. Finally GB won't win Liverpool titles (he will improve the team) but Liverpool lack quality attacking midfielders (Only Gerrard is not enough) and are toothless on the wings. As far as I am concerned quality wide men should be the focus of Rafa's rebuilding.
7/27/2008 10:00 pm
I am sorry that you feel the need for Villa fans to express concern over Booma - he is well oved by Villa fans as he typifies what we are about - honest and hard working. I could make some remark now about how this contrasts with the typical scouser but enough 'bile'.
It seems redman that a little bit of jibing seems to hit home with you - your not a sad sod from Southampton or a pathetic pratt from Preston are you??
7/27/2008 10:06 pm
This story is about Barry and the relationship between Villa and Liverpool. Not Wilfred Bouma. I and every other football fan (not just Villa fans) I am sure wish him a good recovery. Injuries such as his are fortunate and distressing whoever you support.
7/27/2008 10:07 pm
" am sorry that you feel the need for Villa fans to express concern over Booma - he is well oved by Villa fans as he typifies what we are about - honest and hard working. I could make some remark now about how this contrasts with the typical scouser but enough 'bile'.
It seems redman that a little bit of jibing seems to hit home with you - your not a sad sod from Southampton or a pathetic pratt from Preston are you??"
No, not from Sotuhampton nor Preston but a loveable lad on Liverpool! What actually hits home is constructive debate with facts backed up. I dont feel the need for AVFC fans in particular to express points of view on Bouma, I felt that this being an article that was initially featured on Bouma I would have some response on his injury and good wishes.
Alexei, read again. As I stated above, Bouma is indeed the first point of this article.
7/27/2008 10:15 pm
Apologies you are right. However do you really think that people are going want to comment on Bouma when there is a much more provocative topic in your article. Add that to the fact the most Villa fan have already been sending Bouma their best wishes for the last 24 hours. To be honest I am still in despair regard Boumas injury as not only is it horrendous, but we are now without our 1st and 3rd choice LB for several month and our 2nd choice want to go Liverpool and even then is better i midfield.
7/27/2008 10:21 pm
One more thing, why not reply to the facts I have put before you? I suspect its because there is very little you can say.
7/27/2008 10:23 pm
"One more thing, why not reply to the facts I have put before you? I suspect its because there is very little you can say."
Then you clearly suspect wrong. You couldnt even consider I would be away doing something else or indeed writing up my reply? I must answer instantly or be damned, then? Please, Alexei, think a bit more than that.
In fact, let me answer you in relation to your comment (10.00PM). What you said about the fax and the dialogue surrounding its arrival is what you've picked up from MON. I will provide a quote from Benitez on the fax later.
How is it provocative when it's in the form of a fax sheet? If it's rubbish, it's binned, no? Therefore Barry knows nothing about it. Now your part on Benitez saying it's not his fault your captain wants to leave. Now, Benitez was actually quoted to have said: "If your captain wants to leave, it's a problem, but that's football."
Benitez was also claimed to have said he had 'prolonged discussions' with MON, but no one can find such a quote and he has never been quoted as sayig anything like that. Yet MON reacted to it. Benitez was quoted as saying: "We made an offer but I think we were straight. When you make an official offer, you do so by fax. Some people see the fax and you cannot control everything.
"The Birmingham press found out about the offer and it was not our fault. They were very clever and used that information.
"I was talking with Martin O'Neill 20 days before that and nobody knew. We were doing things properly. We are waiting now to see what happens next."
I assume it's this discussion 20 days prior that MON denied occurred, although he did say there was a discussion but it was nothing of the length insinuated, a simple 'no, we are not selling Barry.' Done. But nothing at all, not the fax nor anything else, can be construed as being influential, provocative or of anything else untoward in the issue, other than MON's reactions.
You spoke of Torres before the CL final. Torres wouldnt be bothered if he feels to remain with Liverpool. Chelsea have made their interest in Torres after one season, which I found an utter cheek, but they were told he was not for sale and Torres is happy at LFC. That's stopped that interest. We havent alleged anything about Chelsea.
I can suspect the Chelsea players of influencing Gerrard on international leave, when they were winning the title while we got the CL trophy, but I have no proof. We havent alleged anything about Chelsea in this regard either. Benitez mentioned Villa of Valencia, again no mention of it from Valencia.
Benitez hadnt mentioned Barry in the first place but Barry was rumoured to be on his list. Even IF Benitez had leaked to The Echo, how would that influence a player who doesnt want to leave? Barry was said to have been unsettled why he played badly against Wigan and West Ham, but he was said to have been MOTM in that last game. How many other accusations are going to be thrown without substantiation, proof or foundation? That is all it has been.
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 10:37 pm
The only fact that matters is that we won't pay £18m for Barry. Everybody, including Villa fans, knows he's not worth that kind of cash for a 27-year-old midfielder with very little pace.
We'll just let his contract run down and snap him up for peanuts. We all know that he won't sign a new deal. He wants to play for a big club with his England friend Steven and if he stays this season, he will simply waste another season losing at home to the likes of Wigan.
You should have taken the money Martin. Now, I'm afraid, you'll be left with a real problem. When a player wants out, you let him go for a reasonable fee. We've offered reasonable cash and you've thrown it back in our faces and had a major strop, talking to every journalist under the sun, making it so, so public.
We're happy with Xabi thanks. We'd like Barry but won't pay £18m. Now you'll have to buy another left back so I'm sure you'll be trying to bring in another defender who can't defend.
The real loser here is Gareth. You had your chance to be a decent club and unfortunately you showed exactly what you are. A petty little club going nowhere.
Have fun in the UEFA Cup with your 14-man squad Martin NoDeal.
7/27/2008 10:46 pm
Martin NoDeal - hahahahahaha. Plonker. Credit the guy for his passion but here he has stepped on a landmine. Now he wants Barry at left back and Barry dont want to be a left back, Barry showing he can play but he feels deep down the manager has let him down. Say what you want Villa fans but Barry spoke fromthe heart and has not denied what he said so dont come with the bullshit it was the newsofthescrews doing it. anythign to stick up for the gaffer, well he played you lot good cos he didnt want to talk to barry about Liverpool, bad mistake, and then says he tried al he could with Barry!
7/27/2008 10:53 pm
"The only fact that matters is that we won't pay £18m for Barry. Everybody, including Villa fans, knows he's not worth that kind of cash for a 27-year-old midfielder with very little pace.
We'll just let his contract run down and snap him up for peanuts. We all know that he won't sign a new deal."
If that is going to happen, i'm afraid a lot of teams better than lfc will be in for barry. I just hope that if Barry does go it is to a team that plays the kind of football Barry will suite, not defensive kick and rush lfc style football.
7/27/2008 10:58 pm
In reply to Anon (10.58PM), I said this above: "Barry wants CL football and LFC showed interest. Where would he fit in in Utd's squad? Chelsea's squad? Only Arsenal could slip him in with Hleb, Flamini and Gilberto gone and I doubt Wenger would pay £18m for him. AVFC could well take £15m from him to be spiteful to us, from Arsenal, but I still doubt Wenger would look to pay even that."
RedsMan.
7/27/2008 11:03 pm
Pot, kettle. Some Villa fan has the cheek to ridicule our style of play. Have you watched your side lately? You only score from set pieces - you are the new and improved Leicester City.
The real problem is that the man who takes most of your set pieces will soon be on his way. That's the reason Martin NoDeal is so upset.
7/27/2008 11:06 pm
just like the spanish girl that plays upfront for you. Why do you think torres picked lfc above real madrid? Because real couldn't sign him from athletico without their fans going apeshit. Their answer was to let him go to another club before they sign him after he wins f all f and gets bored with england.
I'm afraid its all true, apart from liverpool not winning anything, they might do.
7/27/2008 11:11 pm
"How is it provocative when it's in the form of a fax sheet? If it's rubbish, it's binned, no? Therefore Barry knows nothing about it."
No its not that simple. As Barry's agent would have also been notified, and MON would end up with problems with his entire squad if it had turned out that he conspired to keep Barry (the Captain) in the dark.
"We made an offer but I think we were straight. When you make an official offer, you do so by fax. Some people see the fax and you cannot control everything." - This can also be interpreted as saying the leak may have leaked out of Anfield, but it wasn't me!
"The Birmingham press found out about the offer and it was not our fault. They were very clever and used that information." - The offer was FIRST revealed by the Liverpool Echo.
"I was talking with Martin O'Neill 20 days before that and nobody knew. We were doing things properly. We are waiting now to see what happens next." - To which MON said made it known the Barry was not for sale and no proper conversation had taken place, other than to tell Rafa Barry was not for sale.
Following that conversation the press found out of Liverpool's interest and raised the question about Barry at a press conference, when O'neill told the media that any transfer talk regarding Villa players had to wait till the end of the season because we were trying to qualify for Europe.
"You spoke of Torres before the CL final. Torres wouldnt be bothered if he feels to remain with Liverpool. Chelsea have made their interest in Torres after one season, which I found an utter cheek, but they were told he was not for sale and Torres is happy at LFC. That's stopped that interest. We havent alleged anything about Chelsea." - Firstly Chelsea aren't Barcelona and and the offer wasn't made before one the most important matches in for the club in 5 years.
As for the Gerrard - chelsea talk Chelsea never made their approach at such an important time either. The two managers never spoke of 'conversations' or even confirmed interest (Mourinho only said he thought Gerrard was a fine player). And Mourinho never told Benitez its not his fault your captain wants to leave.
Barry is a professional, and will give his best whoever he plays for. However if one's mind is on other things it doesn't matter how professional you are. Barry was very quiet in that Everton game.
The simple fact is that Liverpool should have waited until the end of the season to bid, as had been requested by both MON and Barry already. Don't you think it is disrespectful to bid for a player when you have been told publicly that any offer before the end of the season is unwelcome as the remaining matches were of great importance to the football club.
Rafa was disrespectful and its as simple as that.
"he's not worth that kind of cash for a 27-year-old midfielder with very little pace."
Barry has never had pace, but he is still one of the best mids in the country. The fact is as Barry does not need to rely on pace he can play well into he mid 30's as Makalele has done. Barry's game is about Passing, awareness, positioning and keeping the ball, as well as being a good tackler. Barry is twice the player Alonso is, Barry is, stronger, has better positioning, a better defensive game, more skill to hold up the ball, and has a great understanding with Gerrard. Plus there is the fact he can play, def mid, attacking mid, left mid, left back and centre back.
7/27/2008 11:18 pm
Listen, if Stevie G came out and said he wanted to go to Chelsea, what would your reaction be? How would you react to John Terry saying he'd love to have his pal at Stamford Bridge? What if Chelsea offered a large some of money?
Stevie's given years of good service to Liverpool so surely you'd grant him his wish and let him leave wouldn't you?
Fact is Steven Gerrard is NOT for sale, and neither was Gareth Barry for less than £18million. He's our captain and the last player to captain England. You want him, you pay - simple as! Considering he's keeping Carrick out of the England team, who also cost £18mill would suggest the valuation is spot on.
7/27/2008 11:44 pm
A few on here seem to have short memories, so I'll use this opportunity to remind those with Alzheimers.
Day 1 - Benitez calls Martin O'Neill to say he wants to buy Gareth Barry.
Day 2 - The story appears in the Liverpool Echo.
Day 3 - Martin O'Neill blows a fuse, claiming that a private conversation between him and Benitez was deliberately leaked to the press.
Day 4 - Benitez denies leaking story to the paper, but does say he can understand Martin O'Neill being upset at the fact that his captain wants to leave Villa.
Day 5 - Steven Gerrard appears with a reporter saying 'I want Gareth Barry to come to Liverpool and play alongside me'.
What you have to ask yourself, is how the hell did Benitez know that Gareth Barry wanted to leave Villa, given that he hadn't had permission to speak to the player? We know that Barry hadn't been interviewed at that stage.
Conclusion 1 - Steven Gerrard, England room-mate of Gareth Barry tapped up Barry and acted as a go-between.
Conclusion 2 - Gareth Barry's agent leaked the story.
Either way, Liverpool either spoke to Gareth Barry or Gareth Barry's agent without the permission of the club who own the players contract and pay the players wages.
I think that both managers wish this had never happened, Martin O'Neill was so furious that he acted out of character. Benitez underestimated O'Neill, and believed he could pick up an England regular midfielder who is in his prime on the cheap. If the FA had any balls they would investigate the trail on this mess, because it's pretty obvious that Liverpool didn't do this one by the book.
7/27/2008 11:51 pm
"Day 1 - Benitez calls Martin O'Neill to say he wants to buy Gareth Barry.
Day 2 - The story appears in the Liverpool Echo."
What a lot of people forget is that before the bid and the reports of it in the liverpool echo, MON and Barry had stated in a press conference that any transfer talk involving Villa players would have to wait until the end of the season. Also Benitez's initial conversation with MON (when MON told him Barry was not for sale) happened be before the press conference so Benitez should never have made the offer after his as he knew where Villa stood on the issue and to bid at that time Rafa knew it would not be welcome (at the very least he should have known).
7/28/2008 12:00 am
conclusion: benitez is a liar, gerrard is as sneaky as his cheating wife, villa fans are always right and liverpool fans are bitter, deluded, unquestionably ignorant and from a crap city that won city of culture due to a pop group thats half dead.
7/28/2008 12:26 am
MON's recent comments
"Having not heard anything from Liverpool for some time it is clear we value him more than they do."
and
"We obviously don't want him to go, so the price we are asking is a fair and realistic one for a player who is so good. In fact I think it is really cheap."
sounds to me like those of a man saying hey come on, let's get back to the bargaining table, let's work out a price for GB.
Wouldn't surprise me if MON had worked out a deal for the sale of GB, despite all his posturing at the press conference about all transfer talk waiting til end of season etc, and he was forced to act outraged when the story was leaked or AVFC fans would have his head, and slap a high price as a smokescreen.
Now his tactic has backfired on him.
7/28/2008 12:52 am
And now that Bouma's injured and they need GB they're offering him a new 4-year contract ... but why didn't they do it earier if they really valued him?
And wait, he can leave next year if he still wants CL soccer, but except with a 4 year contract instead of 1 year remaining on his current one, MON would probably price him at 28 million because he "values" GB more than anyone else.
Sheesh.
7/28/2008 1:06 am
@Alexei,
Come on now, Chelsea had been interested in Gerrard for a while and they knew he was unsettled with Liverpool's ambition. Gerrard knew of an interest and felt to use it as a wild card were Liverpool not to persuade him enough of their intentions for the future. The timing is irrelevant. MON said wait until the end of the season. There were two games to go, forget about the Everton game, AVFC fans have stated it happened around the last two games of Wigan and West Ham. And he performed excellently, according to reports in the last game.
Why would LFC wait until the end of the season when other clubs may just make approaches themselves that could influence a transfer in their favour? That's ludicrous. It's a smokescreen, you tell me why it was so important over just two games when Villa have been going through the season so well?
"Fact is Steven Gerrard is NOT for sale, and neither was Gareth Barry for less than £18million. He's our captain and the last player to captain England. You want him, you pay - simple as! Considering he's keeping Carrick out of the England team, who also cost £18mill would suggest the valuation is spot on."
What the blazes does it matter he was the last captain? In a friendly?? Oh you are grasping at straws now. And this 'You want him, you pay - simple as!' as been repeated so much it shows you follow others. If it were that simple, we wouldnt be talking about it.
Now your comparison of Barry to Carrick. Man Utd chose to pay £18m for Carrick, and yet they hardly play him. Your logic is Barry is picked ahead of Carrick for England therefore he is worth more than Carrick. Carson was chosen ahead of James for the crucial Croatia game, does that then value Carson more than James?
OK, move away from that point. Spurs paid £16m+ for Darron Bent. Barca paid £16m+ for Henry. Do both represent value for their money? Man Utd chose to pay that value. Carrick's sale does not provide a precedent for valuation of central midfielders.
And I've answered on Stevie G wanting to leave already. I was resigned to it happening and would have swallowed it and carried on.
Neutral observer, more speculation. Conclusion on what, guesswork? You failed to state Benitez learned Barry wanted to play CL football, not necessarily leave. And Benitez has never denied anything in regard to the leak, that is fundamental.
Further, if Barry were to speak to his England colleagues, much less Gerrard, and stated he wanted to play CL football, how is that tapping up? Again, you are siting pure speculation as if substantial, much less circumstantial, fact.
RedsMan.
7/28/2008 1:13 am
Good point, Anon (12.52AM). Alexei and other AVFC fans can answer my previous question on Barry - how can MON say he values him so much when he has played him off the bench and stripped his captaincy during the pre-season? If he is that important give him back his armband and start him. No, while MON professes his desire for Barry to stay, he wants to teach him a lesson in not messing with him, in that Barry can then turn to MON and plead to be returned to his full status. I can speculate too.
RedsMan.
7/28/2008 1:17 am
You know what, this is going nowhere and Villa fans are going on all stupid. Barry will play as long as he is a Villa player, showing MON he will not be affected by MON jumping up and down. MON knows he has to watch what he says and does because if he upsets Barry again the other lads will feel it. You think they don't feel the same way in wanting to play at the highest level? Liverpool get 4th in one season and already you stupid Villa lot talking out moving us off 4th spot? You have tried that already season after season and still not done it. Only Everton got there in Rafa's first season and they hopelessly failed that one.
Do you even have the pedigree to maintain a CL fight? Benitez has, MON has not. You talk about 4th place and you dont even secure 5th! What are you lot on? That is why MON is having kittens, without Barry he feels he wont make it and I dont blame him. But like Benitez said that's football and Villa should face up to it. We can fight for the title when we are ready, we drew most games and only lost four times, it was down to us, not Villa, not anyone else. We kick into proper gear we can challenge for anything with Rafa at the helm, dont believe what is written in the media about him, they dont know jack. They think they know, the pundits talk all the rubbish but no manager ever comes with their view on where Rafa is going wrong.
Rafa is a schemer, he is a top UEFA coach and for good reason too. If you think as Villa you can overstep that, then let's see it. Because you havent shown jack, none of you, from Spurs to Everton, to Pompey to Blackburn. You just want to jump at Rafa cos MON said so when you dont check the facts that your player wants to go. MON caused this fuss and you lot will have to take the blunt end of it as it will get to the players and destroy their game. So think about it, will you, and stop going on about us when you should look at your own club.
7/28/2008 1:28 am
I have been trying to put forward a proper intelligent argument, but all I get in return is dross. Not for the 3rd time: - the everton game is relevant as the bid came in two days before the Everton match with 3 games remaining (proving you don't even know your facts).
Barry is worth every penny of that 18 mill to us. We don't care if henry was only valued 16 mill. Barry is worth more than 18 mill to Aston Villa. Liverpool should be happy thats all we want.
"Why would LFC wait until the end of the season when other clubs may just make approaches themselves that could influence a transfer in their favour?" - Are you stupid? Villa stated that no bids would be welcomed. If you know that a bid is unwelcome and you bid anyway thats just plain stupid. The fact is and always would be that Villa were going to get pissed off bidding two days before the most important game of our season.
Villa are the ones losing out here not Liverpool, we are the ones who were trying to finish 5th, we are the one losing one of our best players, and yet it's Villas fault that the transfer became messy. Not the fool that bid when he knew it would be unwelcome and was careless enough to let it get leaked to the press too. What planet are you on.
Also for the 3rd time: - The press conference on the friday before the Everton game was the one where MON slammed the bid. Two weeks earlier we had a press conference with MON and Barry saying wait to the end of the season to do business with Villa.
Also Carrick was a mainstay in the Man U midfield this season, if you keep in touch with football outside your own club you would have noticed this. Carson is a bright prospect and has many years ahead of him and James has 2 season left at best. Jame would cost no more than 2 mill, yet Carson cost Baggies 3.75 mill. Bent is a player who scored 20 goals in his first premiership season at 22 years old. Henry didn't score 20 in his first season in the prem and he came from Juventus not Ipswich. Incidently Henry cost 10 mill then (after being a flop at Juventus) which in todays market would be a lot more. Also the fee for Keane is 18 mill and Berbertov is worth at least 25 mill, and it surprises you that a young inexperience 16 mill striker is preferred to 18 and 25 million strikers in their prime! Oh and the 16 mill striker still had the best goals to game ratio in the entire spurs squad.
It's not all this debate, as even the biased article writer can't see through his red tinted specs. You speak the same rhetoric that those rubbish tabloids do. Responing to my facts with made up ones of your own, conjecture and opinion. You need to learn how to make a sound and valid argument.
7/28/2008 5:38 am
Man U fan here and I have to say well said Alexei.
And yes, Carrick was crucial to our midfield last season!
7/28/2008 7:19 am
Liverpool wont win the league until they remember the need to have a strong British presence in their side. Think back to the time when LFC were dominant and you'll recall that they had the best of british talent in their side. Now they have Stevie G and someone who has forgotten that he's English. You need players like GB, and he's worth £18m.
7/28/2008 7:32 am
Henry was only a 'flop' at Juve because he wasn't played up front.
He looked good on the flank for them.
Anyway, I hope Liverpool sign Barry. ( I don't support them).
Liverpool haven't pulled out of anything yet, as it would be officially made public.
Some arseholes on here too going on about low lifes etc that has nothing to do with the barry topic.
Those tossers are born shit houses who probably wank while wearing their mother's tights..
7/28/2008 8:37 am
Alexei, you cannot surely be referring to me entirely in your recent post because some of what you stated I didn't even mention. Other parts I have already provided why that was not the case with other Villa fans. And this statement that MON was not entertaining bids until the end of the season, provide a link to it please. Because thus far you are the only one who keeps referring to it.
I dont have red tint specs, my eyesight is 20/20. I am objective, not bias, not subjective which a number of comments have clearly been since. And your comments on Henry, Bent and the rest is mixed up when referred to why I made the point involving him and Bent in the first place.
I am on the same planet as yourself. The accusation is there yet again that LFC leaked the interest. Where is the proof??
Carrick and the other points on Carson and James, well, again, you wrote as if you didnt get the point why they were mentioned. You did on Carrick, I do admit, but Carson at the least was being lambasted by AVFC fans as costing them the UEFA Cup place! You need to venture further and absorb the comments made elsewhere.
Anon (7.32AM), the best of British maybe, the best of English failed to even draw much less win their way to the Euro2008 tournament, it is no longer the case that the best is at least English and their numbers.
"Some arseholes on here too going on about low lifes etc that has nothing to do with the barry topic."
That is another good point. Some of these comments haven't been constructive at all.
RedsMan.
7/28/2008 8:53 am
Shove this article up your hole, you even have Liverpool players on the banner.
Up The Villa
7/28/2008 11:42 am
Villa fans 1 Liverpool fans 0.
End of.
7/28/2008 11:50 am
What is the relevance of such a point? Liverpool and Arsenal players appear on the banner, for good reason. What difference does that make to the article? And to think it is I who was asked as to what planet I am on.
People want to read what they wish to read and not take in an alternative view that clashes with their own. Great comparison, perhaps if the law courts took that view on prosecutions, where people are convicted on no substantial evidence or debate but instead on hearsay and pure guesswork, we wouldnt have so many criminals.
Thumbs up on positive thinking, and more graffiti language, you two.
RedsMan.
7/28/2008 1:25 pm
Neutral fan here. I may upset someone but the author has made sense of the whole fiasco on Barry. There is no proof Benitez leaked anything, we have only that which Martin O'Neill has publicly said and he has not implored for Benitez to publicly deny what he (O'Neill) has said. Since O'Neill's public speaking on the matter, Benitez has kept quiet and I read so many people cussing him all the same.
O'Neill is incensed because his best player and captain wants to leave when O'Neill wants all his best players to stay and go for Europe. Thing is they were doing just that and then they went downhill when they needed to win, losing to Wigan and drawing with West Ham.
It had nothing to do with the Everton game, Everton went to Arsenal when Aston Villa hosted Wigan and Villa should have beaten Wigan, at home, yet did not. O'Neill fears he would get stick from the fans if they sensed he was willing to deal Barry out of Villa Park so he goes into little fits when he is publicly asked about him.
Gerrard was asked about Barry and he gave his modest reply, which others look to convert into tapping up. That is nonsense. I'm sure O'Neill has made comments in the past on his interest in another player elsewhere. When someone connected to the top four teams mention having a player in their team, it is labelled as 'tapping up' and everyone starts jumping around like headcases over it.
Daniel Levy of Spurs may have a case with Man Utd but there is none about Benitez and Keane. Why is there something of a deal in the pipelines if there were?
Villa are incensed Liverpool enticed their player but the author here said it could not happen if the player himself wanted to leave. If Barry was happy at Villa he would not be talking about leaving, he would say it is closer for Villa to be challenging more thoroughly for European football. He has a chance of attracting a club partaking in Champions League football and Villa are being stubborn to prevent him leaving, and yet while they say they can guarantee funds when O'Neill wants some, they go short of saying the same where European football is mentioned.
I don't see where Liverpool have been going wrong but I can see how Villa are reacting wrongly that will come back on them. They have started shakingly in the pre-season, just scraped through into the next UEFA Cup qualifying round, boo the very same man they now wish to keep and make happy, and they have a left-back out severely injured. I bet O'Neill is wishing he had not reacted towards Barry as he did in the first place.
7/28/2008 2:30 pm
Ha ha ha ha ha
Man Utd=class
Chelsea=class
Arsenal=class
For anything else, there is utter shite, and that means Liverpool.
I thank you.
7/28/2008 2:33 pm
Anon (2.33PM), seriously contemplating deleting such comments, what does that say about you? Did you really have a concise point or just browsed through to find somewhere to release your virtual waste on? There are so many who think such a level of comment is smart, bright and popular.
So far the opinion on this article is quite split on whether MON had gone too far on Barry, and my vote says he has. But with Bouma injured and Villa on the verge of an entrance into the UEFA Cup competition, Barry COULD, COULD, choose to remain and fight it out amongst Europe in this campaign. Is that the best for him? Perhaps he and his agent will have a highest say on that point. But ask yourself the question: would you settle for the UEFA Cup, knowing you could be within a move of playing the highest level of club football in Europe?
RedsMan.
7/28/2008 5:26 pm
Decent write-up, wouldnt call it an article being that it's not that lengthy but decent all the same. Having read some of the comments (being as the rest are supplied by morons who growl rather than talk), I too feel O'Neill has overstepped this too much.
It was someone call Alexei who said O'Neill wanted to talk at the end of the season and he said this before the away game at Everton. Being as both Everton and Aston Villa were tying for 5th place and the match ended 2-2, that meant the remaining games with Wigan at home and West Ham away were the important ones. The Villa fans have maintained this is the point where Gareth Barry was influenced after hearing of Liverpool's interest in him.
How Barry is meant to suddenly play poorly after hearing of this interest is strange, because you would think he would be more than excited about it and play very well. And I read Redsman say Barry was mentioned as the best player in the last game with West Ham, so I would summarise he was not influenced against playing at all.
This then cuts the argument that Rafael Benitez exposed the interest to the newspapers to unsettle the paper. That is a load of codswallop and Aston Villa are looking somewhere to take their anger out on.
Barry is a good player, only coming along in the past two to three seasons and it has gotten him an England call-up ahead of Carrick, who Man Utd have not played as regularly as they should do having paid so much for him. Also when you consider Man Utd have just paid out £32m for Tevez and he has not produced the goals expected, that is money being thrown at players. Ronaldo valued at £100m? Very good player when he is on form but not £100m worth. That is extravagant.
Truth is Villa value Barry at £15m and want £3m extra to cover his 'whatever' fee. I think O'Neill will now sit down with Barry and push him into a corner by saying Bouma is injured and unlikely to come back before 2009, they have no cover for left-back and if he (Barry) were to leave now, then he would leave the club in a difficult situation and would be hated by the fans. Yes, the very same fans who booed him against Walsall yet cheered him when he came on for Bouma.
O'Neill is now desperate and after he appeared to have been leading us all up the path over his desire to keep Barry (why would Barry publicly lie?), after he wanted to show he was in charge and won't be moved, banning him, fining him, subbing him and taking the captaincy away to teach him a lesson. O'Neill now will plead to Barry to stay. And after what I have read said about Barry by his own fans, they are hypocrites. So is their manager.
What did he make public the other day? Arsenal's interest in Barry. Why did he do that? To pressurise Liverpool into providing a better offer. Didn't he accuse and criticise Liverpool for going public to use the media attention to manipulate Villa into selling Barry? Yes. Isn't he, then, doing the same thing revealing the Arsenal interest? Yes.
I'm a simple Reading fan, for the record, where relegation has hard us hard but we will build it up back again. I'm impartial too, so when I say this has been a load of silly bickering, mostly started by O'Neill and then vented by the Villa fans, from what I've read, I'm on neither side. Both clubs should come down the middle now and deal with it. £15m and £18m, split it to £16.5m, however they do it. They valued Brad Friedel at £2.5m, Carson was £3.75m by West Brom. They value Steve Finnan at £1m, Liverpool say £2m. Values going all over the place.
7/28/2008 10:40 pm
Well, thanks for your thoughts, Reading Fan.
I notice that there had initially been the number of dissenters against my article, a number had disputed what I had said and have not returned to explain why or any further. Alexei, for one, is it that you now have little to say to what I have replied with? This qoute from MON that talks were to be held after the end of season you have repeated, where is the link I asked for? Could someone please supply a link to these words being mentioned?
Unsubstantiated claims, guesswork, finger pointing, all with little to no evidence of any wrong-doing. Consider that Spurs' chairman, Daniel Levy, maintains we approached Keane yet is content to accept a donation to charity. Does that supersede a bona fide case of tapping up if there was one?? LFC have decided to remain tight-lipped in public and has not responded in public to Villa nor Spurs over their respective issues. Levy can preach up and down the nation, if he had a case Keane would not be a Liverpool player today.
RedsMan.
7/29/2008 12:17 pm
just want to say to all you thick villa pricks who sang a disgusting song about eduardo at the emirates HA HA HA HA what goes around comes around you stupid cunts
7/29/2008 2:04 pm
Yeah, you Brummie cocks, you cant say nothing now can ya?All the large about this and that, my player is being tapped up well now your player is being taped up to put him together!! Shouldnt have said that about Eddy, you think you lot are all that your wankers and I hope the scousers stick you for all ya worth cos your worth shite Eddys coming back waving bye bye to your Willy
7/30/2008 1:56 am
While you purport to be Arsenal fans, and I don't condone the ugly ridiculing by some Villa fans to the Arsenal fans regarding Eduardo's injury, I equally do not condone it being made right following Bouma's injury. Banter is banter but put yourself in the position of those two players at the time of the injury and tell me it is fine to be ridiculed, and then tell me it is fine to ridicule back in, more or less, the same manner.
I must point out that the voicy commentors have gone quiet.
RedsMan.
7/30/2008 4:21 pm
I'm not sure who to believe and who is in the right. Maybe both parties have acted in ways which in hindsight could have been more handled more sensitively and courteously.
I liked Alexi's input - diasgreeing with Redsman but doing it in a no-confrontational manner. This is how it should be - but as also seen in these comments some people struggle to get this basic respectful approach.
On Barry himself - for me he is a left-footed Lampard - someone who grows in presence by the season and has very good footballing intelligence. He is Premier League conditioned and I think would be a superb addition in Liverpool's aim to win the title.
Also want to add that Robbie Keane is an astute and excellent purchase by Benitez. As an Arsenal fan I have been lauding this guy for years - and will say again that if he was Brazilian he would have received far more recognition for his skills, goals and teamplay than he has. Again he is Premier League conditioned so can make an instant and consistent impact.
Benitez is showing with these two targets that he is serious to achieve Premiership title success - as distinct to success in the Champs League cup football.
8/09/2008 9:35 am
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