ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Manchester City- Stunner: City sign Gareth Barry

Posted by Wallace Poulter on 06/03/2009

I have to say that I am stunned, utterly delighted, but stunned by the signing of Gareth Barry. For reasons that I'll go into below the England international was the number one player I would have picked for City to sign.

Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good when you write these columns. Here are my comments from two weeks ago which envisioned such a scenario:

"The bottom line with Villa next season is Gareth Barry. If he stays, and I don't believe that will be the case, then Villa should remain in contention. If Barry leaves then the heart of the club is gone and it will take them a year to regroup. Where Barry ends up is to me the most crucial off season move of all.

If Barry ends up at Liverpool then Rafa will finally truly have the squad to challenge United. Then again if it is Arsenal, which is where I believe he should go, then the Gunners will be right back in the thick of things.

As you may recall prior to the arrival of Martin O'Neill I was hoping that City could end up with Barry as he is a player I rate very highly and his form had artificially dipped. O'Neill got the best out of him alas and Barry returned to the England Squad. I'm very happy with City's midfield, but Barry would be a master stroke if the club could get him; simultaneously having a negative impact on a rival while creating a club captain for City."

But it's not just that City improved themselves and that Villa are massively impacted. Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal could all have used Barry and his addition to their squads could have been the crucial factor in next year's Premier League and Champions League competitions. At a reported £12m price tag United, Liverpool and Arsenal must be kicking themselves.

City can sign defenders, attackers and whoever else but what we really needed desperately was a talisman. That one player, like Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard, that can put the team straight and drive them to success. It's why I expected Arsenal, who need such a player, to make a bid for Barry. It's also why I wanted City to look at Diego before he signed for Juventus.

Liverpool and Chelsea have enough players to compensate if their talisman leaves the club. Villa do not. This signing is pure genius by the club.

And that's before Barry even gets on the field. As Hughes has alluded to in his comments, Barry also brings an ability to play multiple positions: a serviceable left back, an excellent left midfield, a great holding defensive midfielder and superb central midfielder. The latter is the role played by Michael Johnson, who we so missed last year.

This is yet another player signed by Hughes, after Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta, who can play multiple positions. And crucially can also fill the left midfield role if Martin Petrov were to be sidelined again. City now have a midfield group that can compete with anyone in the Premier League. I have fingers crossed that Elano, Petrov and others are not off loaded. Petrov, Barry, Elano, Robinho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Ireland, Johnson, Nigel de Jong with Kompany and Zabaleta as options is an incredible grouping.

And formation wise a 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1 and 4-4-2 now become reasonable options to go with the 4-2-3-1 and 4-5-1 that we saw last season.

City are still at least a season and a revamped defence away from challenging the big four, but what an excellent start to the summer.

Comments

Posted by Illmatic620 on 06/03/2009

an excellent start indeed, hopefully we hang on to Elano, that's what i'm afraid of

Posted by Martin Nazimek on 06/03/2009

I am also shocked. I am delighted though. A leader in the dressing room and on the pitch. What a start of a summer that is going to be very interesting. There are rumors of elano being off loaded, but hope that is not the case. We need enough midfielders to weather the long grueling season of the premiere league. What we really need now is a solid defense. Tevez would be amazing as well, but more importantly is the defense. 2 central defenders would be amazing. Come on city. CTID

Posted by Noah on 06/03/2009

Arsenal cannot afford to hand out 100,000 quid a week contracts left and right. City can. I doubt Wenger gave it a second thought.

Posted by Ahoyskin on 06/03/2009

Great article Wallace. While I must admit I also want to see depth in the team, I am also resigned to the fact that those who I once felt had so much potential might need to be moved to help the team chemistry. I used to dream of Sturridge getting an opportunity, but he is now gone according to reports. Elano was a massive lift to the team when he was brought in, but it is now being circulated that he is begging for an Inter move. My hope is that the owners will allow Hughes to make signings like these instead of forcing him to sign the superstars that don't fit in.

That being said, I don't see a 4-4-2 being a reasonable option unless another striker (or two) is brought in. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on who City might pull.

Posted by durk on 06/03/2009

There is not too much to disagree with on here, it's good foresite.
As good a servant as Dunne has been I think his "use by date" has arrived.
A power striker and 2 or 3 top class defenders is what's needed now. to round them off.

Posted by mark on 06/03/2009

pls.. barry is being too over-rated as you just described. he will not be needed at anfield tt's for sure. as a liverpool fan I would not want to see barry in a liverpool jersey. mascherano and alonso already are a solid centre mid partnership.

and barry for goodness sake only went for the money. man city are a far cry from europe. yes a team may have a group of good players but there are so many other things to winning than just good players.

U need good team spirit, good coaching, leaders on the pitch and u need the players to gel with one another. On top of that you need world class players to carry the team when the team is in the dumps.

man city have still a loooonnnnnnggggg way to go. robinho is too inconsistent and i wouldn't call petrov and ireland world class.

on the whole i feel you have written from a very biased POV and have not analysed well enough the man city team and gareth barry's abilities. he is not a good left mid as he has no pace anf flair..

Posted by Kabaale on 06/03/2009

Greatness has no price but quality built over time. Lazio tried it with disastrous results, Chelsea are not yet great and City will spend so much only to rub shoulders with the true greats for a while.

Posted by Keith Sharp on 06/03/2009

Totally brilliant that Mark Hughes was able to convince Gareth Barry to sign with City. Sends the right message that City are shaping into a formidable force.
Now if we could just get Tevez!
Can't see Elano staying and we would have to get someone like Tevez to convince Robinho to stay.
But still, great addition.

Posted by Joseph Soh on 06/03/2009

100% agree. Gareth Barry is a great addition to the City squad. City need a clinical striker to work with Robinho.Maybe Tevez.Being a die hard utd fan,still bitter about defeat in rome, but i think that city may actually challenge under Mark Hughes! Once the transfer season ends, perhaps you may think City as a possible team.
City still need a STRONG PAIR of center backs.Vidic and Ferdinand work out GREAT but they may have to look at the BEST INTERNATIONAL center back pair and buy them. With Slyvinho released, who knows??

Posted by Damian on 06/03/2009

The problem with the grouping you came up with is competition for playing time. Elano is not the number one choice, but beyond that most of those players saw (or would have seen if not for injury) substantial playing time. Players can quickly become disillusioned while sitting on the bench and I fear City's over packed midfield will have a few casualties.

As a Liverpool fan I am glad we did not sign Barry. I just don't see where he would fit into the side in his favoured position (as a first team regular anyway). Alonso and Mascherano are perfectly matched in our central midfield and Riera is in good form on the left. The only place I think we may have used him consistently is at left back, which is not where he wants to play in order to play for England.

Posted by Steven Chow on 06/03/2009

I think you have over-rated Barry. Aston Villa have great players this season surrounding Barry. If he is really that great, Villa should have finished top four.

Posted by Gary on 06/03/2009

I could not agree more - what a great signing by City, I can't think of a better way for them to start this summer transfer market. However, while it does give them more formation options, I wonder who the opening match starters will be, with several quality players at the same positions. Barry can play multiple positions, but left-wing is his best. DeJong and Kompany are also versatile, but most effective as holding mids.
I think I'd like to see Bellamy up front, Robinho and Wright-Phillips as attacking mids, Barry and Ireland behind them, and DeJong as the holding midfielder.
I think Richard Dunne's time has passed. I can't remember seeing a top-flight player falling off so far in quite some time as Dunne did this season. I think City would be well off to pay 15 million for Bassong and also see if Toure can be had for a reasonable price from Arsenal. Toure can be a mentor to Onuoha for the next season or two until Bassong and Onuoha are ready to take over in the middle long-term.

Posted by bobo on 06/03/2009

Barry is a quality signing. Exactly what City need. Hopefully there will be a domino effect, with each player City signs making it easier for them to convinve others to get on board. The only problem I have with Hughes is whether he has enough prestige to attract the really big name players, but the signing of Barry suggests that perhaps he has the clout. Good article.

Posted by Steve Clarke on 06/03/2009

I'm not sure that the midfield will be that congested:
Robinho - Inside forward
Kompany - Central defense (Dunnie sub)
Elano - Gone (too light weight/bad attitude)
Zabaleta - Right Back (Richards as cover)
Petrov/Johnson - subs (gotta prove themselves)

Starting midfield: SWP, De Jong, Ireland,Barry

Posted by Darrenzo on 06/03/2009

I feel its a ok signing for city,I just think Barry is a good player not a great player.Villa will definatley miss him as he was there main man.. "big fish in a small pond".I think if he was that good liverpool would of went all out to get him last season and he is not a world class player that will attract other big name players to follow suite to city

Posted by KDutch on 06/03/2009

A great signing for any club challenging for honours but Barry is a mercenary looking to cash out on his final years. He claims to want Champions League football yet he shuns the teams that can provide this in return for money. Villa fans are justified in their anger and for Man City it will be wait and see! A group of talented players does not necessarily mean a good team or gaurentee trophies.

Barry would have been great alongside Fabregas or in a rotation with Gerard/Alonso/Mascherano or in the heart of Man U midfield. Instead he will either be another misfit in a disjointed team or a masterstroke and the glue that holds everything together. I still foresee unrest in the Man City dressing room, especially with personalities like Craig Bellamy and Robinho who aren't afraid to voice their opinions and often in the press for the wrong reasons. Is Hughes strong and respected enough by the players to control them? we wait and see! Good luck in closing the 40pt gap to the to Man U.

Posted by paulo on 06/04/2009

Elano is gone. Hughes doesn't like him, doesn't need him, doesn't want him in the squad or making statements to the press.

Posted by Bazza on 06/04/2009

it is a good start, now time to unload dunne and richards. Zambaleta, Onuoha, Kompany and Bridge in the back, DeJong, Barry, Elano,SWP in the midfield with Tevez and Robinho up front.. Bridge seemed to be having a hard time keeping up and maybe could lose a few pounds.. Barry should hopefully help hold things together..
Elano maybe will play better with better quaility around him.. he seemed to turn it over time after time.. fingers crossed

Posted by Nik on 06/04/2009

As a Liverpool fan, I'm honestly very relieved to see Barry move. With Alonso and Mascherano already in midfield, the addition of Barry would just be overkill IMHO. Lucas is also growing in stature and more than a capable replacement should his services be needed.

Don't get me wrong now. I highly rate Barry and appreciate his partnerships with Gerrard. If one of Alonso or Mascherano is not with Liverpool, I would be gunning for Rafa to go for Barry. But instead, I'm glad he went elsewhere and kills away that transfer rumour.

Will be interesting to see where Teves ends, as he can be a big shift to even out the odds.

Posted by James Vella Bardon on 06/04/2009

Brilliant signing. But another three or four proven world class performers is going to break the top four. With the quality in this side, City can become Europa regulars or at most replace Arsenal in 4th spot. Then the really hard lessons and realisation about the quality gap that must be bridged will begin. I expect them to sign more this summer, and they will.

Posted by trevor on 06/04/2009

man city are miles away from the big time.barry was a good signing for now.he's nothing special.he's certainly no gerrard or lampard.what city need to do is get rid of dunne,and a few others.i remember when middlesbrough spent millions on ravenelli,emerson,and junihio,and had kick-and-run players like mustoe,pearson etc...there was no balance.a good team needs good players all around.trevor,new york city.

Posted by Joel on 06/04/2009

Agreed. I'm an Arsenal fan and I've always hoped Gareth would come to the emirates after it was reported that we were interested in him. He's a fantastic player and leader- something I think Arsenal lack this season. But that being said, I believe that Wenger will still find the right man, or men, with the funds at his disposal. Fantastic signing for mancity though. I see them making the top 5 next season.

Posted by Lyall on 06/04/2009

As a Villa fan I am not all that heartbroken at the departure of Barry. I think he is overrated by the English public as he is one of their own. Stillian Petrov demonstrated his superiority as a defensive midfielder by winning both awards for player of the year.

Yes he distributes the ball well but what Villa lacked last season was an attacking midfielder with a bit of creativity. With reo-cocker also in the squad, selling the 28 year old Barry and replacing him with an attacking midfielder (who can score goals from open play) is only going to help the team.

Posted by Ford on 06/04/2009

It is clear Barry's decision was entirely about money from the beginning. He is taking a step back career-wise, as Villa will be playing in Europa and have a legitimate shot at qualifying for Champions League football next season.

Don't doubt O'Neill. Aside from being a masterful tactician, he also draws players.

Central midfielders are not easy to find, but Sidwell can be developed and they now have a kitty to hit the transfer market this summer.

I wager Villa finish higher than City next season, perhaps even in range of a Champions League berth. Barry will regret leaving.

Posted by Adetunji on 06/04/2009

Barry's signing is good for the club but i doubt he has any ambition of playing in CL any time soon.

Posted by mancity on 06/04/2009

man city can seriously finish 5th or even 4th next season..if they make some sensible signings this summer...next year they won't have to worry about playing in europe... so epl and the cup are the only things they need to concentrate on.... not qualifying for Europe next season is turning out to be a blessing in disguise.... good luck to man city... overall man city's most effective signing since the arrival of arabian owners has to be shay given and in future barry could prove to be very effective...

Posted by gunner999 on 06/04/2009

I heard A Wenger during a french match. He summed up Gerard "A rolls royce" and then barry "A diesel, lacking in imagination"...no way barry was ever going to Arsenal

Posted by Mitchacho on 06/04/2009

Arsenal need a talisman? Do you honestly think that Barry is a better player than Fabregas?

Posted by Dr Zen on 06/05/2009

LOL. Citeh fans are surely not so deluded that they mistake a workmanlike, decent midfielder for a top-class player? I mean, yeah, a good signing, but he's no Kaka.

Posted by Sumit Aggarwal on 06/05/2009

One thing is that money does matter in football and with the Primiership attracting big money from all over, I think Barry has cashed in on the last 2-3 seasons.

As for City it is a good buy, talismanic features of Barry or not, but I think Hughes will have to think about keeping sanctity in the dressing room now with all the stars in the club.

As for Villa, it was the inevitable for sure and its better now than later. With the money lets see which english player can O'Neill get from the market. Maybe the ironny will be in signing Joey barton, the ex-manchester city talisman.

Posted by Scott on 06/05/2009

Don't agree with the fellow Liverpool fans who don't rate Barry. First, he's not a like-for-like replacement for Alonso - he's left footed, and even playing in the central midfield that means something. It lets you pass more easily in the center triangle of a 4-2-3-1 - gives you a base to build off of.

And it's a good signing for City - you can't reasonably expect a top team to play a flat 442 anymore, and together with Kompany, Barry can hold that midfield, with Ireland ranging ahead of them. It does congest the attacking midfield, but you can solve that by pushing Robinho wide left, and have him interchance with Ireland. Thinking like that, this signing is even better - you shield the back four with Barry/Kompany, which allows SWP, Robino, and Ireland to float in front of them. Still pretty lightweight up front, but a definite improvement.

Posted by boba on 06/06/2009

first of all, liverpool is a team which i never like. luckily barry didnt join that team. if barry join that team and didnt perform for the first few games, his future in liverpool is over like robbie keane. even if barry join liverfool, i dun think they can fight with the others big 3.

Posted by Edwin on 06/06/2009

Good and truthful article.
From reading all posts of Pool fans, I conclude it's very hard for them to accept the fact Baz had signed for Citeh. Maybe Rafa would speak the truth if he is to comment on this move, "I felt so flabbergasted when he signed for City"....
With Pool's owners now in a bad shape with the losses and funds to pay in July, there's possibility Alonso also be sold. Maybe then, the Pool fans here would also say "Alon's s**t, we don't need him, we have Mascherano, Benayoun,...."
Citeh for CL spot next season. CTID....

Posted by Chris on 06/07/2009

As a pool fan myself, most of us do rate Barry as a very good player, however if he comes to Pool, we already have macherano, alonso and gerrard, it's gona be too congested in the centre, unless you expect Barry to come in as substitute, that's why we're glad for Barry that he went to City, im sure he's a regular starter there.

and guys, please, don't be too hyped up about espn's article's on Liverpool's doomsday financial clout bla bla hehe do u really believe Liverpool as a club gona come crashing down?

Posted by Gregory on 06/07/2009

Gareth is just one of many England Internationals I expect to move this summer......I think everyone is aware that the plans are for rule changes ...and it is very likely that your registered squad of players MUST consist of quite a few English Players....So I look at this signing as very clever....NO barry is certainly no KAKA...but if you had to sign an Englishman, that was NOT going to casue any more egotistical upset to the team...then Barry would have to be the choice.

I would not be surprised to see an attempt to lure more England Internationals into the CITEH squad....the only way a club of immense riches can be brought back to reality is to make sure they HAVE to have some English Players......Kudos to you Sparky and as much as I hate Man City.....we will possibly see you in the finals of the Champions league next season me thinks!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Steven on 06/07/2009

I must reiterate all the other Liverpool fans' opinions. Gareth Barry is a great addition to Manchester City and i'm happy to see Manchester United have rivals that are capable of doing a double over them. Nevertheless, Barry will never be a Xabi Alonso. I'm extremely happy that Rafa has stated his intentions of keeping hold of Xabi. Sure Barry's a good player, but he reminds me of Carrick. Decent player but never world class enough to oust Liverpool's midfield trio of Xabi, Masch and Stevie. Sorry Barry, not worth Liverpool's 12million quids or a 100,000-a-week contract. All the best in City.

Posted by David on 06/07/2009

Gareth Barry is an over-rated player but then doesn't Manchester City specialize in over-rated players. It was crazy for Liverpool to contemplate exchanging Barry for Alonso. As for Arsenal they already made their key improvement with the addition of Arshavin. They were an enormously better team after his arrival.

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