Where would Gareth Barry Fit into our team?

[Bootle Buck]

It appears Barry will probably be a target for Rafa once again this season but TBH I really can't see where he would fit in. He certainly isn't better than Xabi or Mascher in CM. I am not sure if he is creative enough to play wide left. Any ideas?

[Chili Palmer]

On the bench and filling in for Xabi or Masch when needed. I don't think he'll want to do that.

[Knox_Harrington]

It's a squad game.

[Flight]

Just typed this in the MON thread :

 

I'd still very much like to see Barry here. He would be better back up than anyone we have for any of Xabi, Masch or Stevie (though maybe not in the hole) and also for LM. More importantly he is a better option than Xabi (or Masch ??) when our opponents park the bus. Plus, there's been times this term when Masch deserved dropping as a kick up the a*** for poor form, but we haven't had anyone to bring in for him. At a reduced price him coming in is a no brainer for me; I hope we get him.

 

We played our first eleven for only the second or third time this term, yesterday. I can't think of anyone who would fit into that team and our style of play as seamlessly as Barry would - and in any of a number of positions.

[sutty]

It's a squad game.

 

 

Aye. He'd give us the option of not f***ing bricking it is Alonso isn't available.

[matty]

Left mid/Centre mid when we're resting players.

 

He's a very Rafa-type player. Fast, strong, hard working, effort, commitment, dedication, and a lot of devotion. And a lot of devotion.

[Jarg Armani]

instead of riera in a left sided kuytish role if we get someone nippy for the right.

 

instead of alonso/masch/lucas, he's versatile enough to do a job in place of any of the 3; better than lucas, more creative than masch, better dead balls than xabi.

 

i'm not particularly thinking about selling any of the players i've mentioned here, as KH says, it's a squad game. I would let lucas go if we got a good offer, there's nothing down for him unfortunately.

Edited March 23, 2009 by Jarg Armani

[Flight]

Left mid/Centre mid when we're resting players.

 

He's a very Rafa-type player. Fast, strong, hard working, effort, commitment, dedication, and a lot of devotion. And a lot of devotion.

 

 

Ah, but,..

 

.. does he offer any devotion ?

[fred milne]

On the bench and filling in for Xabi or Masch when needed. I don't think he'll want to do that.

Me neither. If we want to bring in an English CM, then I'd rather we take a punt on Johnson from City.

[Molby]

I am worried that Rafa will sell Xabi, buy Barry and a pacy wide player/striker (basically the player Babel is supposed to have become) and modify our style so that we get the ball forward quicker and try to jam the opposition in to their half - perhaps more pressing than smothering, if you follow

 

 

I am worried, not because I think Rafa is a bungling fool, but because I love Xabi and would hate to see him leave

 

just a hunch

[matty]

Ah, but,..

 

.. does he offer any devotion ?

break it down, break it down, break it down Flighty!

 

Sorry. I'm feeling odd.

[Swagger]

It's a squad game.

 

Aye. He'd give us the option of not f***ing bricking it is Alonso isn't available.

 

Left mid/Centre mid when we're resting players.

 

He's a very Rafa-type player. Fast, strong, hard working, effort, commitment, dedication, and a lot of devotion. And a lot of devotion.

 

Agreed. He can also cover LB, and thus would allow Rafa to cash on Dossena if a decent offer comes in.

[sutty]

Me neither. If we want to bring in an English CM, then I'd rather we take a punt on Johnson from City.

 

Nah, f*** him. He can't get in the city team

[Sion]

On the bench and filling in for Xabi or Masch when needed. I don't think he'll want to do that.

 

Agree with the first part. Think he'd reckon he could play his way into the best XI though. Similar to Carrick at Utd.

[fred milne]

I am worried that Rafa will sell Xabi, buy Barry and a pacy wide player/striker (basically the player Babel is supposed to have become) and modify our style so that we get the ball forward quicker and try to jam the opposition in to their half - perhaps more pressing than smothering, if you follow

I am worried, not because I think Rafa is a bungling fool, but because I love Xabi and would hate to see him leave

 

just a hunch

On the basis that Gerrard doesn't really play CM anymore, I'd say Xabi has a good shout to be considered the best CM in the land and one of the best in Europe. I'd question Rafa's sanity if he still wanted rid of him after the season he has had.

[Bigal]

Nah, f*** him. He can't get in the city team

 

is right, he cant get in ahead of Elano who is s*** on toast

[Bigal]

On the basis that Gerrard doesn't really play CM anymore, I'd say Xabi has a good shout to be considered the best CM in the land and one of the best in Europe. I'd question Rafa's sanity if he still wanted rid of him after the season he has had.

 

I agree

[stressederic]

In home games against teams who sit deep we can put Barry and Alonso in the centre of midfield together and let them try and pick passes.

[fred milne]

Nah, f*** him. He can't get in the city team

Is he fit at the moment? I know he has struggled with injuries but he looked like a great prospect last year.

[sutty]

Is he fit at the moment? I know he has struggled with injuries but he looked like a great prospect last year.

 

Believe so.

 

There was talk about him going out on loan in January

[Sion]

Is he fit at the moment? I know he has struggled with injuries but he looked like a great prospect last year.

 

Mixture of injury and being a bad bellend apparently. From what a city mate told me, he's one of them 'i've made it' before he actually had types, see Pennant.

Edited March 23, 2009 by Sion

[Magic8Ball]

I am worried that Rafa will sell Xabi, buy Barry and a pacy wide player/striker (basically the player Babel is supposed to have become) and modify our style so that we get the ball forward quicker and try to jam the opposition in to their half - perhaps more pressing than smothering, if you follow

I am worried, not because I think Rafa is a bungling fool, but because I love Xabi and would hate to see him leave

 

just a hunch

Gerrard is a striker, and getting Barry means he can stay there - also getting barry means we can play 433 and not miss Babel

in short getting Barry gives strength to the midfield and allows us to raise more cash for " the player Babel should be"

 

I think we'll keep Alonso

[GWistooshort]

It appears Barry will probably be a target for Rafa once again this season but TBH I really can't see where he would fit in. He certainly isn't better than Xabi or Mascher in CM. I am not sure if he is creative enough to play wide left. Any ideas?

 

He would replace Lucas meaning we would pick 2 from Alonso/Barry/Mascherano for centre-mid, with Barry likely to replace Mascherano when we are playing more defensive teams (particularly at home)

 

He could also cover at left back for Aurelio & Insua meaning as Swagger said we could sell Dossena & the fee we get for him plus the fee for Lucas means that Barry should end up costing us very little if anything overall

 

Plus he's a locally trained player which is important given our squad for the Champions League knockout rounds is currently 2 players short because we don't have enough locally trained players

 

If the stories about Michael Johnson's attitude are correct then I don't think he has the right mentality for Rafa

[Woodsyla]

I am worried that Rafa will sell Xabi, buy Barry and a pacy wide player/striker (basically the player Babel is supposed to have become) and modify our style so that we get the ball forward quicker and try to jam the opposition in to their half - perhaps more pressing than smothering, if you follow

I am worried, not because I think Rafa is a bungling fool, but because I love Xabi and would hate to see him leave

 

just a hunch

I think Rafa was going to buy Keane and Barry and play 4-3-3. Having proved that the league can be won with two holding central midfielders this season (whether we win it or not, the team that destroyed Villa was a lone striker with two holding midfielders) and having the best two in the world it would be madness to change it now. I expect Rafa to change his tack or for us to get Barry for much much less that than Villa want and for him to rotate with Masch and Xabi in the centre and to offer a more Kuyt like option on the left.

 

I really don't see Rafa messing with this formation now it has proved that with the right players it can succeed in this country.

[Molby]

I think Rafa was going to buy Keane and Barry and play 4-3-3. Having proved that the league can be won with two holding central midfielders this season (whether we win it or not, the team that destroyed Villa was a lone striker with two holding midfielders) and having the best two in the world it would be madness to change it now. I expect Rafa to change his tack or for us to get Barry for much much less that than Villa want and for him to rotate with Masch and Xabi in the centre and to offer a more Kuyt like option on the left.

 

I really don't see Rafa messing with this formation now it has proved that with the right players it can succeed in this country.

 

 

not so much the formation, as the approach

 

fewer passes, get the ball forward quicker, a la Houllier

nothing wrong with it either, I'm just hoping Xabi is not sacrificed (bearing in mind that finances would dictate this)