News came out earlier today that Rafa Benitez has put a bid in for Aston Villa's Gareth Barry. I have to wonder - is this a good move?
Today marks exactly 10 years since Barry's debut for Villa, and he has been an incredibly loyal servant to them.
Villa's 27-year-old talismanic captain has made 391 appearances for them in all competitions since then, scoring 43 goals, and became the youngest player to ever reach the 300 premiership games mark. He has started 376 of those 391 matches, which just shows how important he has been to them.
He has had another consistent season this year and even held down a regular place in Steve McClaren's England side as his main holding midfielder.
But would a move to Liverpool benefit him and Liverpool?
I'm not so sure.
One things for certain, he won't enjoy the amount of games he does for Villa at the moment. Recently, he's been playing in a central midfield role - the most competitive position at Liverpool with the likes of Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas and Alonso already there.
Gerrard certainly won't make way for him and, if he's being brought in as a holding player, we already have Mascherano, who I believe to be the best in the world in that position.
I also have to ask whether it would be good for Liverpool.
Barry is a good player, and a stand out performer for Aston Villa. However, if Liverpool want to make a genuine challenge for the title, they need to spend big and buy stand out performers from bigger teams.
Too often recently have Liverpool bought the stand out performers from worse teams, and the players haven't had the same effect at Liverpool, because they're not good enough to win titles. I'm thinking the likes of Benayoun and Pennant.
No doubt have these players done well for us, but if you look at Man United's counterparts - Nani, Ronaldo, Giggs etc, the quality difference is huge.
If we want to challenge for the title we need to stop buying good players like Barry, and start buying great players. The American owners want to show they care about the club? Spend big - bring Messi to the club.
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2 months ago
Sounds a bit to me like Barry isn't good enough because he is English. You said it yourself, he is a starting England midfielder but not good enough for Liverpool.
Alonso hasn't lived up to the promise of his earlier days at the club...Lucas is far from world class so there is plenty of game time for Barry.
And you get rid of Crouch and Carson, two more England internationals not good enough for Liverpool apparently.
2 months ago
carson isn't good engouh for liverpool - nationality doesnt come into it its about talent whether or not theyre good enough to play for liverpool. Crouch is good enough to play for Liverpool and i can see him playing a much bigger part next season. And i dont think barrys not good enough to win us titles because hes english. i would prefer messi to barry because messi's better not because barrys english.
And Lucas has bucketloads of potential to become a truly class player so bringing barry in would limit his chances and therefore limit his potential.
2 months ago
I understand Crouch to be part of the deal.
Messi is better and plays for a better club, I very much doubt he has his eye on Liverpool so why bother. Torres played for a rather ordinary team in Spain and Liverpool was a step up for him.
I don't think Reina is any good. Carson is just as good as far as I'm concerned.
And your happy for them to sign world class players (I doubt you'll sign one) to limit Lucas's potential? I'm sure you are as you don't have that much faith in him.
2 months ago
Liverpool don't need him. Even if Alonso leaves. And as Andrew said, Messi is better than any player Liverpool posses and is at a better club, so why take a step down in quality....
The only teams that can accomodate Messi in the premier league, in terms of quality is United, Chelsea and Arsenal...
from 2 months ago
I agree there is no chance of Liverpool signing Messi, he would cost upwards of £50m for a start, and he would not want to leave anyway, but Barca a better club? Who knocked Barca out of the Champions League last season?
Liverpool will finish the season approx 12 points behind the title in England, while Barce will likely be 12 points behind Real Madrid, a team who were knocked out of the Champions League by a decidedly average Roma side who have been comfortably despatched by Man U 2 seasons running, and who wll finish behind Inter this season again in Italy, who Liverpool also comfortably knocked out.
Messi at Chelsea? That would be like putting a Ferrari engine in a Volvo. The Volvo is solid, its gets the job done, and no-one can argue with its results, but a Ferrari engine wouldn't be seen dead in it.
2 months ago
Well, where to start! Firstly nationality wouldnt play a part in whether Barry will come to Liverpool. Its about the quality of the player, it wouldnt matter whether he was English or Spanish, its the talent itself which shines through. Also, Lucas is one of the best young buys Liverpool have dealt in within the last decade or so, since the arrival of Michael Owen. He is young and has all the potential of becoming a top quality centre midfielder, and has already shown that with the Under 21's captaincy of Brazil!
And it is a very strong accusation to say that Messi is far better than any of Liverpool's players. Spanish football, theres alot more time on the ball, so Messi has had time to take on defences, and seems to be one of the only players in the Spanish league to be able to find that cutting edge whenever he is given the ball. As for Liverpool players, Torres and Gerrard can also rip open defences, but there is alot less time on the ball, alot more compact football, so it will be harder to play within the English league than it would in the Spanish league. If Messi were to come to England, it could well be a different story. As at the end of the day, the Spanish and English leagues are miles apart and you could never draw accurate comparisons from the two countries. And as for saying Barcelona is a better club than Liverpool is again a very rational thing to say. Barcelona are currently off the pace in the Spanish league, and also in the Champions league and Europe. They just dont look like the same team as 3-4 years ago. And with Ronaldinho leaving at the end of the season, dont be suprised if other players leave aswel as him. Liverpool however are a team on the up. Good quality youngsters coming through: Torres, Lucas, Babel, Srktel. And a dominant force in Europe. Liverpools hopes for next season look like there will be a huge title challenge, already with two youngsters from south america in the bag. So work has undergone early in Liverpool and looks like a promising 08/09 season. But as for the move for Barry, we dont need him, we have, alongside Man Utd, the best central midfield pairings in the Premier league, and possibly Europe. So move for Barry wont be needed, need to focus on bringing in a support to Fernando Torres, new wide men and possibly a new full back!! possible targets are rafinha, lennon, moreno, degan, rakitic!
2 months ago
as good as Barry is, he isn't what Liverpool needs. Mascherano, Gerrard, Alonso, Benayoung, Lucas... There's plenty of good players for that spot, so why do we need another one?
I agree with the fact that a better wide player is needed. Pennant struggles to make the impact you would expect him to. I don't think Crouch should leave. He's a good player, and his height can cause some problems for defenders.
Returning to the original point, unless some of the recent signings are on their way out ( which seems very unlikely) Barry is not what Liverpool needs.
2 months ago
Barry is a class act, a proven Prem performer who works very well with Gerrard for England. I watched the game between Everton and Villa recently and he was by far the best player on the pitch.
I think Alonso will return to Spain this summer, he hasn't looked comfortable in recent seasons and I think the English game is too quick for him to display the full range of his ability, he needs time on tha ball and he just doesn't get enough of it. Barry will be an ideal replacement and him and Masch will give us a formidable base.
I also don't believe that Crouch is part of the deal. No-one has confirmed this at Villa or Liverpool, and its just paper talk. The only quotes regarding Crouch have all come from Rafa, and have all been 'We have offered him a new contract and we want him to stay'. I don't believe Rafa would say that and while trying to get rid of him through the back door.
I agree we need a class wide player, but how do you know we will not sign one? We have been heavily linked to Bentley, and I think he may join also. I think Rafa has realised that having an English core to your side gives you more chance of winning the Prem title, because you need that fight and determination to get over the line in every game.
You are also judging Benayoun after one season, which is ridiculous, especially a season in which he has scored 10 goals. He has had some bad games, but overall he has made a decent impact, and will be better next season now he has settled into the club.
2 months ago
Just to clarify some stuff, the Messi point about him coming to liverpool was hope, not expectation. I know he won't come to liverpool, and its not because barca are better than us. And as for benayoun, he is a good player and has performed well when hes played for us this seaons - but can you see him in the man utd side? i cant, and we need to be thinking like that to match them next season.
2 months ago
If Alonso leaves, then Barry would be the ideal replacement, but still, Rafa should try and sign some exceptional talent for the wings. Bentley is one such option, but the club would needs some top class - they tried to sign Malouda but he fled to Chelsea. Maybe Joe Cole or Wright- Phillips?
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