Villa ready to offer midfielder new contract as Liverpool finalise deal for Spurs striker
by stresster on July 28th, 2008 22 commentsThe one that got away. That’s how Gareth Barry might view his chance to play for Liverpool over the next few seasons, with the chances of him donning the famous red shirt looking more remote by the day. While one can’t help feel a degree of sympathy for the Villa midfielder, it’s hardly a poor consolation having to stay in the Midlands and play for a team who can land a top six spot themselves and where you’re one of the side’s key players.
The Guardian report that Martin O’Neill has played a canny game all summer, demanding a hefty ransom for the player throughout the month of June, hoping that the price tag might be enough to stop Liverpool signing his captain. It now appears that with the Anfield club forking out £20million for Robbie Keane, the Villans manager has achieved what looked to be the unachievable.
“The clear message regarding Gareth is that everyone at Villa Park wants him to stay,” O’Neill said. “I will talk to Gareth first of all. Our position has not changed – like I’ve said before, we will do everything we can [to keep him]. The player belongs to us. Liverpool know the situation. It’s not my job to pick up the phone to them.
“It’s very obvious we value him more than Liverpool do. He’s a top European player. The price we are asking is true and realistic. I think it’s really, really cheap actually but that doesn’t mean I want him to go. But if he felt he wanted to leave he saw the reaction on Saturday – it was incredibly positive.
“It’s obvious that we have some serious work to do with regards to getting players in. But I’m still confident that we will make progress with it in the next few weeks.”
You would have to say that Gareth Barry is more likely to be an Aston Villa player come 16th August than a Liverpool one. He still has a bright future ahead of him, with Fabio Capello clearly rating the guy and the Villans likely to be featuring in Europe over the next few seasons. Liverpool fans, are you gutted to have missed out on this player or are you pleased that Alonso looks likely to stay instead?
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bill - July 28th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
im happy barry is stopping, Alonso is a good player but hes another Alan Smith, 12 goal in fours season and hes just come back from a serious injury.
He played a couple of times as substitute for spain and was okay but theres no way i would pay 16 million for a player that is always injured. the last time was a broken leg and infact since that broken leg i cant remember seeing him play for Liverpool.
It makes you wonder why they want to get rid of Alonso if he was that good ? or is it Rafas been told Alonso is going to have more injury problems due to his many injuries hes had before?
Richard Hudgens - July 28th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
I’ll be gutted if we don’t get Barry. He has so much versatility, toughness, and leadership, which the Reds could use. Signing for Liverpool could make Barry that much hungrier and determined.
Ryan - July 28th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Ditch Alonso and buy Silva! Then our summer will be complete. Alonso still is a great player, but we need someone to fill that gap in the left side of midfield. If not him then Downing or Petrov or someone like that to spur us on up the left.
makkal sakti - July 28th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
its all about stevie wonders…..when he say he wants…he wants..when his brother say he wants means stevie wants….liverpool today is all about stevie G..not rafalution no more
makkal sakti - July 28th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
just let rafa do his job….got to blame the board for all this…if we end another num4…i blame board..
Toffee 4 life - July 28th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Alonso was a shite signing which is why you can sell him 4 squat! Keane will turn out to be a total waste of money and you will be trying to catch us in the league! RAFA aint fit to kiss Moyes’s boots
willco - July 28th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
i wuld love it if we signed barry he is a very good player he got a cracking pass a beutiful left foot , he is good in the air and he will form a good partnership with gerrard in the centre wich xabi cant. as for the keane signing i am chuffed mayb a bit over price but who cares evry1 sed tha abou torres last season and look what hes done for us
Mike - July 28th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
With keane now signed up, a quality winger to give the width we’ve be lacking should be priority.
In Rafa we trust
RafaTheRed - July 28th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Barry or silva will end up at liverpool! and I think Barry is still favorite. Also Barry is being targeted to play on the left of our midfield not the middle! With Keane now a Liverpool player gerrard and Mash in midfield were else is he going to play?
With the purchase of another right back (Rafina) and with the introduction of 4 or 5 of the very young reserve league winning team Liverpools squad has the depth, quality and management to compete for the title!
Chelsea favortites for me though!
Danny - July 28th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
It’s true that Martin O’Neill wishes to bury the hatchet with Gareth Barry and it’s true that the Villa fans want him to stay but for god sake since when has Barry ever heard the Villa faithful or O’Neill? O’Neill was the one who caused the problem Barry complained about him and nothings changed. Barry is annoyed at the faithful for the poor support they’ve shown him. Barry’s more than happy to stay in the reserves for a few months and let Liverpool pick him up in January for what £6m if that no problem at all.
chris - July 28th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Danny did you go to school? what language is that shite you’ve just been writing?
Jon G - July 28th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Look at the team that Rafa is building. In the last two years we have picked up Dossena, Masch, Lucas, Torres, Skrtel, Babel, and Keane. That’s impressive.
With Carra, Agger, Alonso, Reina, and Gerrard…looks good. What’s missing?
WINGERS!!!!! If we were to pick up a Silva…watch out! That’s a good looking sqaud.
Do we need Barry? Could we use him? Yeah of course…but is it essential? No not really.
deeb - July 28th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
£20m for Keane! Stop it Rafa my sides are hurting.
When you do leave ‘Pool, (around October/November I reckon), I’ve heard Billy Smart’s are always looking for clowns.
shadda2002 - July 28th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Its not over till its over. I love the little comment from the Everton fan above, poor little soul won nothing for a long long time, Moyes has had 6 years and brough zero trophies.
As for Barry he would be a good buy but if we had the money he would be ours by now. Need to sell, Bentley is leaving Blackburn so Pennant could be gone rumours Kuyt is in shop window now. Things will happen fast, O neil is whinging as the spotlight he loves so much as turned off as LFC have stopped talking about Barry. So O neil is making up headlines just to keep him in the papers, who have they bought with Randy’s money? Not a lot.
bill - July 28th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
@Danny
It’s true that Martin O’Neill wishes to bury the hatchet with Gareth Barry and it’s true that the Villa fans want him to stay but for god sake since when has Barry ever heard the Villa faithful or O’Neill? O’Neill was the one who caused the problem Barry complained about him and nothings changed. Barry is annoyed at the faithful for the poor support they’ve shown him. Barry’s more than happy to stay in the reserves for a few months and let Liverpool pick him up in January for what £6m if that no problem at all.
Hehehehehehehehe!!!!!!!!!!!
i think you will get him if your in the top 4 and we are not, but im sure Barry will be playing in the first team and like i said earlier he wouldnt want to threaten his place in the ENGLAND team.
Like Oneil said leave it a season and if we dont make the progress, and break onto the top 4 then he can go, maybe not for 18 million, but with 12 months left on his conract id think he would accept a bid off about 12 million.
I have to say as a Villa fan fan Oneil has played it really well in this situation , he’s managed to keep a player that all Villa fans want to stay, and it now looks like Barrys going to be Villa player this season.
DO you think if Man Utd bid for gerrard 15 million and gerrard said he wants to go Rafa would not stick a massive price tag on him to keep him at Liverpool?
That what Oneil has donE and all Villa fans love him for it
Ben - July 28th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Would like barry but it is the money situation!
bill - July 28th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I think if Liverpool do well this season and win something and Villa finish outside of the top 4, Barry will join Liverpool, but i dont think there will be much chance of that now this season, as for him moving in January the prices seem to go up in that window, Oneil would probably ask for 20 million.
I think keane and torres will be a good partnership, when there both fit and playing, just a shame they have no other top class forward as back up.
smartie - July 28th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
O’Neill is a class act. I don’t think anyone could deny him that. I wouldn’t like to play poker against him. Rafa has been made to look stupid.
Jon G - July 29th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Smartie…you’re a jackass! You’rs not smart at all.
You see things only through your Villa-eyes. There has been times where I have disaggreed with Rafa and his tactics. But to say that O’neil is a class guy and Rafa isn’t is misguided.
O’neil is as much of a jackass as you are. Here’s the thing…I used to like and respect MON. Not anymore. He has blown this situation out of porportion. His antics have been disgraceful.
He blaim-shifts. He is a peice!!! (fill in!)
Why can’t you see it? Why can’t you see he’s a jackass? (oh…nevermind…you can’t see what you are)
Good luck next year…Jackass!
RJ - July 29th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
If barry dont sign his new contract villa are f***ed. If I were Villa I would sell him for 12mill while u can beacause by January we sign him on a pr contract n u get JACK!! Jus like Mellberg!!
Tipsy Mcstagger - July 30th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
RJ
yes you are a thick twat
THE CHOSEN ONE - July 31st, 2008 at 1:02 am
SEEMS SOME PEOPLE HERE THINK BARRY HAS ONE YEAR LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT. ONLY THE TRUE FANS KNOW ITS 2.
OK IM A RED FAN FOR LIFE AND TRYING NOT TO BE BIASED.
MAYBE ONEIL WON HES GOT BARRY FOR NOW BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS BARRY HAS TURNED, LOST CONFIDENCE IN ONEIL AND IF HES ANY RESPECT FOR HIMSELF HED REFUSE A CONTRACT OR PUT A CLAUSE IN TO GO ON A CHEAP FEE NEXT SEASON. SAY 8MIL. AND I REALLY HOPE VILLA ACHIEVE TOP 4 BECAUSE IF YOU DONT THEN 10 MILLION AND WAGES OF 60K A WEEK HAS ALL BEEN IN VAIN. THEN WHO WILL LOOK THE FOOL?
IF I WAS A VILLA FAN I WOULD PRAY……..