Aston Villa midfielder ‘not as good as Liverpool or Chelsea counterparts’ according to former England player
by stresster on October 8th, 2008
| 330 words |
It sometimes gets a bit tiring listening to former England players passing judgement on the current national team set-up. Especially when these individuals have pretty much failed as football managers themselves, and don’t seem to appreciate that the best team is not always about the best eleven individual players available.
John Barnes has shot wide of the mark with his latest comments, where he states that Gareth Barry is not really up to scratch when it comes to playing on a world stage for England. Despite the Aston Villa midfielder shining more than Frank Lampard in a white shirt over the past couple of years, the former Liverpool winger claims that Lamps and Gerrard are the way forward for the national team. The Express and Star report Barnes’ reservations.
He said: “Lampard and Barry played well against Croatia and maybe Gareth will start, but, as for long term, other players are big game players. If you are playing Brazil in the semi-finals of the World Cup would you play Barry?
“He doesn’t have to shine, he is good enough to compete and be effective, but I don’t think he is as good as Gerrard or Lampard in terms of what you want from a midfield player.
“He is good enough to be in the team at the moment and good enough to be in the squad but long term I’m not sure.”
Hmmm, we’re not sure whether Fabio Capello will be swayed by people like Barnes, who seem to think that playing for the England team gives them a divine right to pass judgement on who the current manager should pick. Let’s not forget that the ex-Watford winger had an awful time in charge of Celtic, and that the national team have recently won 4-1 in Croatia.
Does anyone agree with him that Gareth Barry should be out of the team, and that the incompatible duo of Gerrard and Lampard should be in?
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Tagged Under: Aston Villa FC, Chelsea FC, Frank Lampard, john barnes, Liverpool FC, steven gerrard
Spencer - October 8th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
John Barnes makes me laugh coming out with comments like this. As stresster says his managerial career hasn’t been exactly a success and he is now the manager of Jamacia - with respect not exactly a huge national team on the world stage.
He’s even cheekier considering that apart from one amazing game against Brazil he never really produced for England as a player and is a great example of someone who played completely off their club reputation.
Barry has contributed well so far in the games he’s played for Englad and kept out a few high profile rivals who were probably also picked on the basis of their reps for too long as well. Stick with Barry and Up the Villa!
Timbo - October 8th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I think your last sentance summed it up. Sure Gareth aint as good as Lamps and Stevie G but they have proved time and time again they dont work well together.
Gareth should remian in the England starting 11
Sukhdev Kandhola - October 8th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Barry has been Englands best player for the past two years. Performances are more important than reputations, Lampard and Gerrard are great players but they are used to being the single focal point in their club midfields and do not have the discipline required tp perform in “Barrys role”. On top of this i believe Barry is far better at dictating the pace of a game, he is patient, his 1st touch is immaculate and his passing is as good as either of his competitors. Barry should remain in the team, and arguably first choice midfielder…
YSB - October 8th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
You can bleat all day about the balance of the team but let’s not forget Barry was part of the midfield that FAILED to get to the Euro’s. Barry does an ok job but he’s not as good as Lampard, Gerrard or even Carrick. Simple as.
Magnumopus - October 8th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Everybody has an opinion… Barnes is allowed one just as you are!
Barry is not as good as either Lamps or Gerrard. Perhaps the manager needs to make things more clear as to how they are to play together for them to get their best out of them.
Jean Phillipe - October 8th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
“Bleat all day about the balance of the team” It is exactly this attitude and view on football that has prevented England from acheiving its potential.. Balance is essential for any team. Look at Greece they won the Euros with an average team of players, but they won it because they had the most organised and balanced team. Barry is essential to the balance of the England team, and he’s extremely under rated
KOP Red - October 8th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Stresster, are you a complete idiot or your brain just isn’t working today?
A few points…
1. Have you ever played at John Barnes’ level to actually know what he is saying is right or wrong?
2. Football is all about opinions and you certainly seem to have yours so what is wrong with John Barnes having his?
3. Why dont you use your suprior football brain and come up with an opinion that is worth talking about you idiot!
This site is so crap its untrue!
YSB - October 8th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I agree, Jean. Barry was essential in failing to get to the Euro’s.
I’m not saying the balance of the team shouldn’t be considered but that team balance doesn’t equate to inserting an average player in the place of a good one. The system should be instilled in every player from youth up to the 1st team and then each player will know how to play within the system. Barry does ok because he knows how to play a disciplined role not because he’s any better than Gerrard or Lampard.
EamsVilla - October 8th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Tosser!!! The England side only settled down once Barry started playing - the first time in years that we have commanded in midfield. Now we have a little bit of confidence the old boys act comes back in. England will always start with Gerrard but Barry is more consistant at International level then Lampard has ever been. The fans that follow England have given Lampard stick for his inability to play at this level, and I would take their view over a ‘media licker’ like Barnes.
Andrew Boyers - October 8th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Gareth Barry is in the England team because he serves a purpose, and is incredibly functional and very good at what he does. His holding of the ball and passing, and the way he generally links up play are qualities are exactly what’s needed at international level. And it’s not as if he can’t do the rest too. For Aston Villa he’s regularly supporting the attacks, and is also an excellent penalty taker.
Lampard, plays well for Chelsea because he’s deployed in the free role. He doesn’t have to worry about tracking back because he knows someone like Mikel, Essien or Ballack will do it for him. Why do people suddenly expect it to change when he plays for an England? He’s exactly the same player as he is for Chelsea, so needs the same environment to succeed. Gerrard and Lampard, as good as they are, don’t work together.
Barry is crucial to England’s success, when he can allow players of Lampard and Gerrard’s callibre to play properly. For too many years we’ve presided over a time when the ‘best 11′ gets picked. At least Capello seems to be creating some balance to the side, which will be far beneficial in the long run.
calvo - October 8th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
As much as i loved barnes as a player his assumption is totally wrong!england managers have tried numerous times and never got the results there reputations shud have delivered.i agree with 1 comment that lamps has had makelele now mikel,essien to make him look better.barry deserves his place.the players that i think will help the balance of the centre would be hargreaves o carrick who like barry just get on with their jobs and have proven champions league experience.i just hope that capello does not let the media dictate who he picks.so no john barnes barry IS as good as gerrard or lampard when it comes to england simply because he HAS performed when played!!
gunner - October 8th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
lamps and gerro r both attacking minded players thats why we never qualified for the euros because there was no1 in the middle breakin up play.
barry does this perfectly, no he might not be as good as lampard n gerrard but england doesnt need him to do their job, we need a holding midfield player
if barry plays we will be a better team. and wots wrong with either lampard or gerrard comin goff the bench for eachother… that way if one isnt performing the other can take over..
Donavan Ried - October 9th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Spencer - October 8th, 2008 at 12:13 pm …………. ” he is now the manager of Jamacia - with respect not exactly a huge national team on the world stage.”…..
I take issuse with that I think Jamacia will win a world cup by, I don’t know..Let’s say 2909.. lol
mark - October 9th, 2008 at 11:03 am
ysb- you are a complete tosser, it’s not the point of who is better than the other it’s the case of who fits well into the england team, lampard and gerrard are great attacking players, but they are the same kind of players, that’s why barry is better suited to play for england, also why change a winning formula, keep the same side as against croatia and let them build momentum and inprove their team work together