Thursday, 01 October 2009 10:33
Gareth Barry comes back to Villa Park for the first time on Monday evening when Manchester City visit and did you know that the reason Barry left Aston Villa was for £50.
Not just one £50 and not just once, but £50 from everyone inside a full Villa Park once every season. That is the difference between what he could have made if he had stayed, at the club that made him a millionaire and gave him international football and what he is now earning with Manchester City.
You will be forgiven for thinking it was for Champions League football, as that was the garden path he led us down, but we shouldn't hold a grudge and every time he gets the ball on Monday, instead of booing and breeding that negativity, can I suggest you hold up a £50 note instead?
Naturally, we can't stop supporters from booing and if O'Neill and the players got booed against Wigan on the first day of the season, you won't be surprised if Barry got booed, but it isn't nice. Saying that, he did sort of stick two fingers up at Aston Villa.
£50 for Gareth Barry :: Is Gareth Barry really worth £50 of your own money?
There is an element of risk in holding up a £50 note however, so instead, we thought we'd provide you one that you could print off. It isn't a real £50 note, but it will work and get the message across. We've even provided it in a high resolution image here for you to download, that has three of them on, so if you are feeling generous, why not see if you can pass one to him.
So, rather than boo, welcome Gareth Barry back to Villa Park with a £50 note, because that is why he left.
Click here to download your Bank of Barry £50 note
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Comments (161)
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Charlie Littlejohns
said:
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... Its never good when your best player leaves Villa I understand that. But Barry never won a trophy with us in 12 years.. and only once did he come close to winning one. For us Villa is everything, but for players its a career. A job. I have no doubt his head was turned a bit by the money on offer at City, but I'd be surprised if there are many people who read this who dont think City will be there or there abouts in the coming few years as far as trophies are concerned. What was his other option? Go to Liverpool... the team who f*cked him around last summer. I wouldn't of joined them either after that. Barry will no doubt get booed on Monday night... its just a shame Villa fans very rarely respect their former heroes. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... For the first time ever i actually don't really hold any grudge againest an ex player who has left in this circumstance. I still to this day hate Yorke but not Barry for some reason. |
robb david
said:
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... 40 million then, or there abouts. How many on this blog would leave villa for 40 million? never support them again, never watch a match. You would be telling porky pies if you say you wouldnt think long and hard about it. He still get booed long and hard, theres only one greedy bastard, one greedy baaaastard, one greedy bastard, theres only 11 greedy bastards, and a subs bench, and a squad of players that havent travelled to the villa. |
rob hathaway
said:
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... chaz, there is such a thing as loyalty. and surely barry owed our club some loyalty and if not at least respect. He did neither and therefore the guy lacks class. I cheer former players he leave on good terms and for the right reasons but when you sell out on the team that gave you your wings then that i cannot take. I have worked for the same guy since i left school and he has always looked after me finacially and morally. if i were to leave the company I would not shove 2 fingers up and say sod you thanks for nothing i am going for more money so up yours. Would you do this? Mr Barry could have been a villa legend but now he is not by the way chaz llok at the respect and grace villa fans show mellberg!!! if a player is genuine then the support will be genuine. |
Keith
said:
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... ak_27 Wait until he kisses the City badge in front of the Holte End! I personally wouldn't have minded him going if he had been honest. The bollocks he told the Birmingham Mail insulted the intelligence of every Aston Villa supporter (even the stupid ones that want MON out)  . A simple "they offered me more money than I could turn down" would have been easy to understand. |
Chris Harper
said:
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...“But things move on, he’s moved on now to Man City and I think we have made a shift ourselves. Interesting. Think it goes to show that the team at the moment isn't the strongest in MON's eyes. With the return of Young, Downing and possibly Bouma, we'll be a lot stronger. I think Downing is the missing playmaker in the middle at the moment. |
Andi
said:
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... I hate the bloke i understood when he said i want champions league, i could see his point, then when he held us to ransom and said if you get in the champions league i will stay, i could still see his point. But when he signed for Man City, who had finished below us and not qualified for nothing, i felt he had stabbed us in the back. It was obvious he went for money and the promise of playing with all these superstars, but he did not say he wanted that he said he wanted champions league football not in 2 seasons or next season he wanted it now. He is a JUDAS yes he was loyal to us and yes he was good but to say one things then do another to the fans who had backed him for 11years and to the manager who made him an england regular sorry i think that just spits in our face he is a TOSSER and i cant wait till downing is back and delph comes good then he will lose his england place Man City get champions league football attract the biggest names from around the world and Barry is flicked like a boggey and ends up at HULL or something and it will serve him right what goes round comes round Rant Over |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... Keef i doubt Barry would ever do something like that. To be honest his move to City was about more then money and chances are could be playing CL football and actually challenging for a title this time next year. Would he be doing that under MON any time soon? No chance. That is why he left. He as probably just sick of the direction and quality of football and calibre of player MON was targeting. |
Jon_Cass
said:
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... He gave Villa his best years and he should be greeted with a decent reception. Like it or not, City will be chalenging for the title in the next few seasons, something with our lack of ambition we most certainly wont. |
Andi
said:
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... Mr Barry i will greet you back to Villa Park with the same respect and loyalty you showed the Villa fans by lying to us after you had made us jumo through hopes !!! Welcome back I hope you get what you deserve from the Holte End all through the game, if not it will be me on my own and i will probably get thrown out or something  |
Andi
said:
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... Damian -- can we have a poll or have you had one and i missed it ? will Gareth Barry get booed and abused for 90mins, not interested or standing ovation ? |
Damian
said:
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... Jon_Cass and aston villa made him a multi-millionaire, gave him a life most of us can only dream of and he repaid that how? i wasn't his biggest fan as a footballer but the way he treated the supporters who sang for him to be playing for england season after season and who ultimately gave him a life that most of us can only dream of was and i could use any number of works here, just rude |
Andi
said:
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... ok damian -- can you use your powers of web based suggestiveness to suggest he gets the recpetion he deserves (take that how you want to and see fit) |
robb david
said:
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... cant wait till downing is back and delph comes good then he will lose his england place. Are you suggesting that Downing is better than Barry? Or have you seen something in Delph that would suggest he is any where near the player barry is, cause i havent. We might not like him, he will get booed, even if its just me and the chief, but he is a damn good footballer, and there is still a barry shaped hole in the middle of our midfield, that i have my doubts is ever going to be filled properly |
Keith
said:
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... Barry owed Aston Villa nothing but he owed MON a lot more loyalty than he showed. Mon stopped him being sold to Pompey, made him captain, got him to play the best football of his career and gave him a new contract with a big pay rise. How did Barry repay him? By trying to get a move to Liverpool, publicly criticising MON and accused him of not doing enough to get him to stay. Thankfully the fans who attend Villa Park will be showing him exactly what they think of him!!!! |
Andi
said:
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... ronrabbit -- do you not seriously think that downing or delp can fill the hole ? was downing not in the england as a regular before barry ?? and as for delph isnt he mobile, can shoot, tackle, run with the ball, pass ??? |
John Samuels
said:
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... Gareth Barry is a wicked player who played for our club for eleven years. Week in & week out, out of position in the rain etc because it was his job and let's be honest, he was bloody brilliant at it. I lost a huge amount of respect for him after the NotW incident, but he played well last year and if we had finished fourth i'm sure he would have stayed. From his point of view if he joins up with england and as we know he is a close friend of Steven Gerard, how do you think he feels going round Stevie G's house and see's CL and FA cup winners medals. It must have been a wrench for him to leave Villa, but the guy is in the last few seasons of his career as a player and wants to give himself the best chance of winning something. I believe he can win things at Man City and good luck to him, I hope he wins something really big like the league or CL. We have moved on and many will know I have been banging the Downing drum since the day he signed and MoN is obviously of the same opinion. Give it till the end of the year and I for one will have forgotten about this Barry nonsense. The reason the fans are angry is because Man City are now a bigger club than us and have done it the cheats way and whether it's some sort of misplaced jealousy (I for one blame the way the game is at the moment) or just hatred of the way the game is going I really don't think you can blame Barry for wanting to provide for his family's future and try to go down as a winner and not the best player never to win anything. I'm glad he learned his lesson and sorted out the transfer early, which I believe was a mark of respect for the club and regret at the way he handled the Liverpool situation the previous summer and freed up the money to get the Downing transfer done without a fuss. I will never boo Gareth Barry because he doesn't bloody deserve it, but it seems to be the Aston Villa way at the moment 'if you don't like it, BOOOO' even if you don't have a bloody clue what is going on and might make yourself look like a fairwether, fickle, ignorant fool. |
Andi
said:
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... is there no songs for this day yet ?? if so can anyone let me know what they are please ? |
Andi
said:
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... JPA -- I dont care how the game is gowing nor am i jealous of man city, chelsea or anyone else for that matter the bloke sold the fans and the manager out simple as that !! |
Keith
said:
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... Chiefy "Gareth Barry what a w****r, what a w****r" "One greedy bastard, there's only only one greedy bastard" |
Keith
said:
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... JPA Barry would have stayed at Villa and turned down the money at Man City? Load of crap! He wanted to play for Liverpool, he wanted to play with Gerrard, he wanted to play Champions League football. Why didn't he sign for them then? He wanted Man City's cash more!!!! |
John Samuels
said:
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... Chiefy, how did he sell us out? I don't understand that. I can understand if he'd gone to Notts County who haven't got a snowball in hells chance of winning anything in a decade, but from what i've seen you've got to class Man City as a team who could lift the league title this year surely. He has gone there to try and win trophies, trophies that are realistically more than one season away for us, maybe three or four seasons away and GB will be considering retirement by then. He wanted to leave this doesn't make him a Judas, he didn't go to Brum did he? I Man City signed Harewood would anyone care? It's because we loved him, he was our captain and because he left we feel betrayed and let down, but if I was in his position I would have down the same thing. You can say he let O'Neill down and showed disrespect by leaving but O'Neill has come out and said he understands the situation and suffered the same decision as a player himself. Who knows what was said between the two behind closed doors, we never will but MoN certainly doesn't appear to hold a grudge. Boo if you want, print off your £50 notes, but you'll all look like idiots on match of the day when Hansen sits there discussing how ungrateful we are. Make Barry sorry he left by showing him the adoration he deserves. Don't make him go home thinking, yeah, I made the right choice, i'm in a place where everyone appreciates me now. |
Chris Harper
said:
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... To be fair to him keef, he was obviously told that Man City were challenging for the title this season by bringing in class, expensive foreign players. Thats exactly what they've done and lets face it, they have more chance than we do...for the time being anyway. |
Andi
said:
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... JPA -- he had a pop in the news of the world which was not needed, he then went on to say he wanted champions league football, he then told us if we qualify he would stay and then all of a sudden he goes man city who at the time nobody had any idea they would sign the players they have or do what they have and why did who do that ??? money thats why ? |
Stu Ward
said:
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... At the end of the day, whatever your views, this is all part of the joy of being a football fan. Barry will be expecting a lot of stick from the terraces and he won't be let down. Its what being a passionate fan is all about. As much as we discuss the pros and cons. No matter how much we fight the corner of our opinion. No matter how much people bang on that we would of done the same for the money. Come Monday there will be a verbal fountain of abuse with a greed theme and it will be fantastic !! |
Slowey
said:
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... What a childish lot you Barry bashers are! It's time we realised footballers are not supporters with an undying love for our clubs, it's a job of work to them and, how many of us would turn down a pay rise like the one he was offered by City? For God's sake get real! |
the goat
said:
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... some divided opinions here i see... well apart from "chiefy"..lol. I didnt realise what a good player Barry was until seeing him week in week out. Its hard to take when your best player decides to up and move, believe me we've had our fair share of that too. However, i believe barry gave you great service and deserves more than being boo'd, unfortunately though, it seems to come with the territory of the modern fan these days. Enjoy monday, i reckon its going to be a cracker. and good luck rest of the season. |
John Samuels
said:
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... Keef, Liverpool wouldn't pay the asking price and dithered around, I think they missed the boat and hughes stepped in in the interim and just banged the deal home. I'm not saying the money had nothing to do with it, but it meant we had a nice quick and smooth transfer and a cool £12m which we would have struggled to get from another club. Players go for sod all in the last year of their contracts, Krancjar? £2.5m? come on. I'm sure there was an offer on the table from Man City and i'm sure Barry's bloodsucking agent squeezed a bit more out of them. As far as i'm concerned it's a brilliant signing for City, Barry may get his wish and win a couple of things there before he retires and we now have Downing, a big chunk off the wage bill and we also have a clean slate with which to kick on and improve. It's a game and we will always be Villa fans, but for the players it's a job, that they do for maybe 15-20 years and then it's all over. I'd hate for a player like Gareth to have stayed and not one anything and then regretted it later because this lad can really play and after eleven years loyal service and for most of that being paid far less than a lot of footballers he deserves a bloody break. |
Keith
said:
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... As I stated before, the fans who attend Villa Park will boo and it will be deserved. JPA we wont be on MOTD Monday night |
Andi
said:
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... Slowey -- i understand you but at the same time we did more for his career than he did for the villa and its history and how did he repay us ? |
John Samuels
said:
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... Chiefy, So you don't think Hughes sat him down and talked him through their transfer targets, their five year plan, showed him plans for the ground and training facilities and let him meet a few of the players like Robinho? Tosh, absolute Tosh. They are a bigger club on the pitch than us now, I know it's not nice to think about, but Man City over the next three seasons are going to win things and qualify for the CL. We might, but it's going to be a hell of a lot harder for us than it is them. |
Keith
said:
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... Chris Barry wanted champions league football before he became too old, he could have been playing it this season. He chose the chance to possibly play champions league next season or the season after. Why? |
NQT
said:
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... Man City fan here. Some of you are getting pretty wound up over Barry and I would expect those of you who are to be in the younger age bracket (I remember those days) My opinion (for what it's worth. A player will never ever say he left a club for the money. I remember Kevin Keegan leaving Liverpool to play for Hamburg which was all about money. Keegan said it was to do with a challenge and to win trophies. Liverpool were reigning European cup holders at the time. I now (in my mature years) realise that footballers are just a very well paid commodity and hardly any have any real loyalty. Whilst the player's wearing your shirt you cheer and support him. When a former player returns to your club, your reaction to him, whether applause, silence or verbal abuse should entirely depend upon how much effort that person gave whilst wearing your colours. At the end of the day how many of us wouldn't jump at the opportunity to double our wages and join an extremely wealthy and ambitious company, especially when you've only got a few years left at the top of your game. Some of you might think I'm only posting this because City are mega rich. But I still remember Wright Phillips leaving us for Chelsea for these exact reasons and is this not the case why Downing joined you? |
Andi
said:
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... JPA -- anyone can show any body plans it depends if they work and if they come together and with players and buying them as they found out with kaka money doesnt buy you everything. Like i said i dont care what Man CIty do or dont do that is not what this is about its about the way barry handling it, lied and stuck two fingers up to the villa fans because of a few quid, to put in context in to values a bit different from football wages, would you support man city for 40k a year ???? |
Keith
said:
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... JPA Liverpool matched the offer of £12m and Barry chose Liverpool. Both Rafa and MON confirmed this. Stop trying to make excuses for him. |
John Samuels
said:
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... Keef I think you've got me there. He still doesn't deserve to get booed. Dwight Yorke went to one of the most successfull clubs in the world to win trophies and we still booed him. This is where I feel a lot of arguments fall down. You boo because you're are bitter. Not because the player deserves it because he doesn't. Why didn't you boo after the NotW thing? Because he was still playing for us that's why. |
Keith
said:
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... JPA I think you are misunderstanding me. 1. I think Barry is an excellent player. 2. I don't blame him for wanting to move after so long without winning anything. 3. He showed no respect for MON with the NOTW interview. 4. He insulted the intelligence of every Aston Villa supporter with his letter to the B'ham Mail. 5. He chose money ahead of Liverpool. 6. He is a cock. |
Chris Harper
said:
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... I'll only give him verbal abuse if he: 1) Scores 2) Sets up a goal 3) Kisses the Man city badge 4) Cripples one of our players. All of the above a worthy of abuse. Lets hope I don't have to give him any! |
f****elot
said:
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... It's well known Villa offered to double his wage's to 80k and he's on 85k at City(was only papaer talk he was getting 100k, they make up numbers all the time. So you really think a 5k rise is leaving for the money? If it was about the money he would have let his contract run out and got a fat signing on fee! It's all about ambition look at Villa's squad and look at Citys, you sign players like Heskey,Sidwell and Collins we sign Adebayor,Tevez,Robinho,De Jong,Toure and Given etc etc Now think again. |
Keith
said:
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... JPA He got booed after the NOTW thing at Walsall, pre-season. Yorke was booed for kissing the Man Utd badge. What are you talking about? |
Damian
said:
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... Ficklelot I don't mean to question you, but you post a link to his contract details or something somewhere that Barry has said he is earning £85k a week please |
John Cityfan
said:
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... The guy played for you for 12 years and left for a club that will in my opinion finish above you this year, and has much more chance of winning a trophy over the next 5 years (which is what he has left as a player). Ok I'm a city fan and therefore have the slight bias view like all fans do for their respective teams. But if any of you seriously think he just left for money then you are deluded. Surely having watched us play this season and seen the amount of money that’s been spent on players, infrastructure, facilities, our website etc then you will see that City are going to be challenging for the title in a couple of years. You guys have a fabulous youth team, and have brought the best out of a number of players. But if your honest the best chance you had to break into the top 4 came last year, and you couldn’t do it. Barry left after 12 years and I don’t think it was an easy decision. He clearly holds Villa in his heart and that is apparent by the lengths he went to appease the fans and try to justify in your minds why he left your club. But like someone else posted, he’s a professional footballer and of course money does come into it, but he has at best 5 years left playing top tier football and perhaps he does want a nice pay off before he retires. However I’m sure he wants trophies and champions league football equally, if not more so. Maybe you should hold judgment for 5 years because hindsight is a wonderful thing. If City go on to play champions league football and win the premier league, FA cup etc in that time, will you all be calling Barry a mercenary then? |
Charlie Littlejohns
said:
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... JPA - Totally agree Rob H - The way he handled things with Liverpool was terrible and had he left in that way then I'd agree with you. He was very poorly advised by his agent ( who he then sacked) at the time. Yes, he still didnt have to go through with it, but his agent would certainly have been a big issue. The move didnt go through and so he played his heart out for us last season to try and get top 4. It wasn't his best season but then I dont think it was down to effort. He wanted Champions League football... Villa couldn't offer it and lets be honest, we are not near winning a trophy unless we take the League cup seriously. Man U and Chelsea didnt want him, Arsenal couldnt really afford him, plus he's English and too old for them. So it left Liverpool. Liverpool and Benitez messed him around the summer before so I dont blame him not going there. Plus Benitez admitted he was an option to cover left back and left wing. Not a sensible move in World Cup year Im sure you'd agree. So it left us or Man City. He's been with us 12 years and as I've already said never got near a trophy except for once in the FA Cup. Man City are going places and are much more likely to offer Barry a trophy than we are, sad but true. Im not saying clap him on Monday night.. but not Boo... what good will that do the team? |
Slowey
said:
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... Keefvilla, Liverpool did not make an offer for him - they don't have the money and won't for quite a while. His choice was stay or move to City. Being realistic, who's got the best chance of CL footy and winning things (boils down to who's got the strongest squad), be honest, there's no contest is there? |
Scrumpy
said:
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... My anger over the "want to play Champions League" has subsided. Whatever the reasons he wanted to go. He probably was stale, and some times only a change of scene can change that. Liverpool would have been a safe bet, Man City will certainly be an interesting ride for Barry over the next few years. And as for the money and his age, well I can't say I wouldn't do the same. So after careful consideration, I've decided I'm going to do what I do with any returning ex-player that hasn't done anything particularly to annoy me (other than go to play for any club that isn't Aston Villa) and that is politely applaud for his long service. I might jeer a little when a pass goes astray or he slices in an own goal to win it (but nothing to do with Barry, I'd do that with anyone in the opposition). I know my applause will be drowned out with boos, but still, I will do what I gotta do, others should do what they feel they have to do. Moving to Man City isn't yet proven to have been the best or a good move. I just like to think that a good reception will remind him what he left behind, may trigger those slight doubts he must have/had and in turn he plays a shocker!!  (and isn't inspired by the boos to get one over on his previous club) |
Michael panizza
said:
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... He's doing alright at Man City though isn't he? Why don't we worry about the pedestrian players we're left with in our central midfield area instead of questioning why Barry left? Yes we gave him international recognition and made him a millionaire. And he played 10 years at the Villa waiting for something to happen...and he'd still be waiting if he was here: or is there anyone still in denial enough to deny Man City's going to 'get there' before us, the way things are looking right now? Come on folks, get real. |
Keith
said:
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... Damian I apologise, I thought that it would be censored. I will rephrase it, Barry is a penis. |
Andi
said:
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... Slowley -- it is not the value that we got for him nor that he went to man city, i thought barry was excellent and met him once as well i really liked the bloke thought he was the best pro footballer in terms of attitude both on and off the pitch. He was a great player for us as well and it is a shame that he left and made me feel like he had stuck 2 fingers up at us and our manager, who got him his england place, and for what ?? money and promises that was all after 12years of being backed by the fans who mostly loved the guy promises and money turned his head and he went, he got of his perfect chair and did an interview to news of the world, not needed, sent a letter to the mail, not needed and you want me to say thanks gareth all is forgotton ?? promises and money that is why he left would you support the blues if i paid you 40k a year and promised you a car a year ? |
John Clark
said:
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... Ah, Gareth. All of his reasoning is understandable. His way of going about it is what leaves a sour taste. It is just a job to them, he was offered a lot more money, and most of us would take it. But he didn't need to burn bridges to get what he wanted. So...Depends on how generous a person is feeling. I appreciate what he did do for the club, while I also hate that he made a mess of leaving and that the opportunity for him to leave came at such a critical moment in Villa's revival. I think a bit of applause would show some class on Villa supporters' behalf, just like you shake hands with someone you don't really like when everyone's watching and you know it will make you look good. Might also send a good message to the current squad. As others have pointed out, we've taken other teams' players, etc., and it's all just one big game of musical chairs. |
hammo
said:
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... Pathetic, printing fake £50 notes and waving them at Barry. What do you think that will do to him? He is a pro footballer who's performance will not be affected by booing or any provocation. You need to be more woried about Tevez, Bellamy and hopefully Adebayor giving your weak defence a good going over. However Dunny used to defend well against top strikers but as you now know he is prone to the odd gaff here and there. |
Keith
said:
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... Slowey "Rafael Benítez laid bare his anger at the disruption to Liverpool's transfer strategy yesterday when he accused Gareth Barry of joining Manchester City 100% for money". Asked whether he thought Liverpool took it for granted that Barry was going to move to Anfield, O'Neill replied: "They may well have done." |
Martin Grayfield
said:
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... Ok so i am a city fan but i live in Brum & had a season ticket in the Holte the Doug Ellis and that funny little corner bit in the Trinity Rd but classed as the Holte. I remember him coming to Villa and his development etc. 10 years is a long time i have been in 3 jobs in that time. I didn't necessarily move for money but i woudl have done. I thought he would go to Liverpool but look at the way they pratted everyone around last year. I think they have no class. They buy Keane - ???? Then sell him back at a loss a transfer window later. I think that would give any player pause for thought. Then City step in - yes with big money - but with a concrete in full offer and a contract on the table. No pissing around - even MON congratulated City on the way they had conducted themselves. Boo if you must. The fake £50 is a good idea ! I was at the Filbert Street game when Leicester did something similar to Brian Little. So it's not totally unique !! |
Andi
said:
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... after refelection i will give him a small applause but ever mistake he makes will be jeered, maybe booing isnt the way but while he doesnt deserve the abuse and booing he doesnt deserve open arms so yeah applause well done gareth you greedy knob and then jeer when he makes mistakes.  |
John Samuels
said:
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... I always wondered what was holding us back.. Surely having watched us play this season and seen the amount of money that’s been spent on players, infrastructure, facilities, our website etc then you will see that City are going to be challenging for the title in a couple of years. We should spend £200m on our bloody website. (we all know avfc leaves something to be desired). Personally I'm not in the mood for City fans unless they're not gonna come on here and bang on about how great they are and offer some decent conversation. |
John Samuels
said:
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... Chiefy if he hadn't written that letter you'd be banging on about how he never even came out and said anyhting. You are all bitter. That's it. Show me the picture of him sticking two fingers up at the club. What exactly was the lie he told?? Man City will more than likely be playing CL next year and they may even win the bloody title so you're wrong. Man City have a better chance of winnning the title this year than Liverpool do imo. |
John Clark
said:
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... I should have also said, as many have, that Barry's CL ambitions and joining City are not mutually exclusive. It's clear they'll have the money to challenge. So, he gets a better role at City than Liverpool, more money, and just as much opportunity to win things. And for a player, while the money is nice, I think it's just the experience, the memories of playing a big semifinal under the lights against Real and Ronaldo and Kaka, etc. that really make a true player's career. He was likely not going to get that, within his time frame, had he stayed with us. |
Mike Carter
said:
 |
... Some of you guys are taking this waaaaaay too seriously. Yes, Barry didn't exactly leave Villa in the most civilised manner. He upset a few people and made a few enemies. But guess what? That's football. If you expect loyalty these days you're only kidding yourself. Nobody is loyal to a football club apart from the fans. Players come and go as part of their career. Look at it this way - you're thinking of leaving your own job after being there for 10 years. Would you see that as a lack of loyalty? Of course you wouldn't, you'd see it as a chance to progress your career or earn a bit of extra money, just as football players do with their jobs. Ok you might not be a millionaire, but the principles are the same. Being a footballer is just a job. Barry wasn't born in Birmingham, he's not a Villa fan, and he was under no obligation, contractually or morally, to stay at the club. He doesn't owe us anything. |
John Cityfan
said:
|
... Juan Pablo Angel The point I was trying to get across is that a lot of money is being spent at city on all aspects of the football club, on and off the pitch, and unfortunately that is exactly what is needed to not only break into the top four but to stay there. As you boys found out last season. My point was City are far better equipped now to do this than Villa. I wasn't bragging, we have been very blessed with an owner with a ridiculous amount of money, but all this relates to Barry's decision making. And that his decision wasn't just about money, that some of your fans like to think. |
Alex
said:
 |
... What a silly article. Aston Villa may have made him a millionaire but it wasn't generosity; Aston Villa were buying his services at a market rate. He played a key part in Villa's success for years. He was a great player and we cheered him. The mature view is that we thank him for his contribution on Saturday. Does he have a better chance of getting into the Champions League this year? - I think so. Would this article have been written if he had been a failure at Villa Park? - I don't think so. Simply accept that he was a great player who worked at Villa Park for years and took a job which gave him a pay increase. I've taken a job for a pay increase before and fortunately my former colleagues didn't vent their anger at me for being a mercenary. |
Keith
said:
|
... JPA Can you tell me where you will be sitting Monday? I want to see you stand up and applaud him and watch the dogs abuse you get. I think you should read the letter again and then you will see the lies he told. |
Freelancelot
said:
 |
... Instead of leaving everyone to bring their own £50 note, why doesn't GB leave one on every fans seat as a thank you for our support ...? Actually I like the idea of singing his name all game long. He'd have to go off when the tears of regret got too much. All in all though, I'm only interested in what our lads do on the night. I won't be booing. |
John Clark
said:
|
... John Cityfan: You make sense. It's just going to be difficult for Villa fans, whose team were always bigger than Chelsea or City before the money came pouring in, to be unanimously gracious about it. But, in City's defense, there's never been terribly much to cheer about, so if someone's going to win the lottery, might as well be a team whose supporters will appreciate it. |
John Clark
said:
|
...Freelancelot said: This gets to the nut of it. Our players have a chance to say something on the pitch Monday night, and I hope they take the opportunity well. |
Andi
said:
|
... safest way is let the majority decide and i will not get involved infact i might even go for a wee when he comes out, his mistakes i will laugh and jeer like i do with any footballer if he scores and runs to the holte kissing his badge i will go for another wee. I can now see both points of view reading back through the post so i am split part of me hates the guy and part of me thinks oh well, we will move on from Barry and we have done so reacting now would be pointless maybe ? it might spur him and city on al a adeybyour ( cant spell it) |
Keith
said:
|
... Alex - would he have an even better chance playing champions league football at Liverpool? Anyway, I have a massive fear of going stale and falling into a comfort zone, so I will be leaving now. |
Darragh McGeown
said:
 |
... Hold on a second, he doesn't deserve a god reception. Mellberg left after a long time at the club and would be welcomed back any day of the week because he left in good circumstances. Barry on the other hand did everything he could to push through the Liverpool deal, then lied to us saying he wanted champs football and then jumped ship city. He's like school in july - NO CLASS! |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... If we're booing Barry for being a money grabbing dick we may as well boo most of the Man City team for being money grabbing dicks. Adebayor, Tevez, Lescott... where do we stop? |
Andi
said:
|
... we should vent our frustration into support for our team, what we would be a better way of us showing him than us getting the result ? then the booing, names, gestures wouldnt matter we would have got one over on him |
Slowey
said:
|
... Chiefy, that's the point, I'm a supporter, he's doing his everyday job. The question should be, would you change your job, if someone offered to double your wages? |
sazavfc
said:
 |
... look. everyone is going on about how much stick they are gonna give Barry, but i bet u my house that everyone is gonna give him a standing ovation at villa park on Monday. |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... sazavfc I'll take you up on that bet. I won't offer my house in return mind, but you're obviously so confident you won't mind that |
Damian
said:
|
... i think, given that most of us here are not multi millionaires, given the chance to earn double your salary, yes we would all take it the point is, gaz baz was made a multi millionaire by aston villa and he showed little loyalty by engineering the move away from aston villa in the way he did it if he was honest about the thing in the first place it would be easier to accept but he wasn't there is a big difference between us doing it and someone that need never work another day in his life and still die a multi millionaire |
Slowey
said:
|
... Oh VivaVilla, such a holier than thou attitude. You tell me now you wouldn't sell up, move out and forget your current employers if another company offered you a job for twice the money? Careful your halo doesn't slip! |
mcfc
said:
 |
... barry played for you along time and has moved on just like richard dunne has, dunney will have a great reception from the city fans and his name will be chanted no doubt. |
Andi
said:
|
... it doesnt matter about Barry no one is bigger than the club ok he disrespected us and the manager but by beating Man City would that not be more painful than booing him. His new employer gets shafted by his old employer which some would say is smaller and less well off, ok he might earn more but football is about results and points not how mcuh you earn ?? |
McGrath's Dodgy Knees
said:
 |
... I do wonder about the loyalty thing. As far as I'm aware every time a club came in for him he was interested. He only turned down Portsmouth because O'Neill and Lerner came in. Then when MON turned him into a full international he was off. No transfer request of course - can't lose the"loyalty bonus". Instead he chose to slate his manager in the press to force a move to Liverpool. Then when he signed for MC the millionaire player blethers on about looking after the security of his family. Maybe he is more honourable than that in private, but he certainly hasn't shown any reason to be treated with respect by Villa fans. |
Slowey
said:
|
... JPA If I'm honest, I can't say I've met a cocky City fan since they landed the lottery, they're all pretty pleased with themselves yes (who wouldn't be?) but, I've yet to hear one bragging that they'll win this, that or the other. They've all been pretty down to earth and realistic or, the one's I've spoken to anyway. Just all have a big daft grin on their faces, thinking about all that money I suppose. |
Keith
said:
|
... Slowey The question should be, you change your job because someone offered to double your wages, would you then tell everyone it was because you had "a massive fear of going stale and falling into a comfort zone"? Or would you be honest? |
Damian
said:
|
... mcfc the way in which barry left and the way in which dunne left are two different things, which is the point |
Shepster
said:
 |
... I really amazed at some of the comments here. No loyalty? He was at Villa for 11 years for Gods sake! During that time we've never looked like winning anything (and we still don't). In any case, why should we expect loyalty from the players, they are just employees. Only the fans are loyal and the sooner we realise that, the sooner you can just get on with it He's no more greedy than any of the other players, including Curtis Davies who seems upset that he's only on £25k a week. |
Steve
said:
 |
... Here's a thought. Instead of booing barry and probably inspiring him to play bloody well against us, how about we just ignore him and SUPPORT our own team and players. He gave us 11 yrs which is a lifetime in football, so just leave it alone. Whats more important is that we win and get 3 points |
William Boland
said:
 |
... Villa were offering him £80,000 a week, he is on £90,000 at city. That is an extra £5,000 a week after tax. Maybe it had to do with a bit more than just money. |
James Clift
said:
 |
... It pains me to say it but I can see why he left. He's got ambition and wants to play Champions League football, we can't give him that. We had our chance last year but unfortunatly this year we're a bit to far down the pecking order. Man City on the other hand could break that top 4 now. It must have also had a lot to do with money but the blokes only human. |
Mike Carter
said:
|
...Oh VivaVilla, such a holier than thou attitude. You might want to actually read all my posts before you make a tit out of yourself like that. Specifically comment 69. |
Damian
said:
|
... William Boland Sorry to question you, but can you provide a link or a copy of his wage slip just so we can clarify that. |
Andi
said:
|
... just something i picked up damian The Daily Mail says Barry's £6.7million a year Manchester City payday puts the 28-year-old among the Premier League's big earners. The midfielder will earn £130,000-a-week following his £12m move from Aston Villa - just £14,000 less than the average house price in the north-west. Barry's new pay packet will be nearly six times that of the average top flight footballer, who earns £23,000 a week (£1.2m a year) before tax not about money it was about ambition OK then !!! |
John Samuels
said:
|
... JohnCityFan, Just thought i'd apologise for my mood before my lunch break. got a little hungry and cranky. I think Barry should get a round of applause and then we should cheer our team to a huge 4-3 win including a Barry own goal and a Gabby injury time winner. Plus MoN should grapple Hughes to the ground on the touchline while NRC shouts encouragement at him. |
John Samuels
said:
|
... If you sign for the richest club in the world, odds are they'll pay you a ridiculous amount. It happens at Chelsea too but it's been going on there for so long when they sign a player no one gives a flying f**k. |
William Boland
said:
|
... Well take a look at soccernet (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/n...30&cc=5739) who say that Barry is on £80,000 a week at city, while the telegraph say it is £92,000 a week (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/spo...-City.html). I do believe that they are a bit more reputable than the daily mail. But it was Sky Sports who at the time were reporting that Villa were offering 80 and he agreed 90 with city. |
f****elot
said:
|
... Chiefy... Do you really belive that artical if you do you've got to laugh, every paper has guessed what wages he's on its gone from 80-90k local papers and 130k to that joke of a paper daily mail. It's well known he's on 90k here you offered 80k for him to stay so you really think he left for 5k a week more? Get a grip lad. |
Tranterme
said:
 |
... To be honest Im quite glad hes gone. Last year I dont think his heart was at Villa park at all, he was just bideing his time until the transfer window opened and hoped Liverpool would come calling again. I think we got a reasonable price for him. Dont get me wrong I think he made a mistake leaving as looking at the younger English talent weve got he stood a good chance of leading them to towards national trophies and eventually becoming the fulltime England captain. At city tho he is just another superstar. In his defence, most of us are employed and ask yourself if a rival company comes and headhunts you to do the same job but for twice or three times the money, I suspect the majority of us would take the money. Just my thoughts |
phil h
said:
 |
... Anyone who boo's barry is an idiot. We should show bit of class as supporters, not like the thugs at the west ham millwall game recently. Applaud or ignore are the only two options. Back your team. |
Damian
said:
|
... William Boland Thanks for the links but my point is, none of us actually know and we will likely never know. But from an Aston Villa fans view, it appears, when you read everything he said and the way he acted, that he went for money. We can throw links at each other all day, but that is how it looks. |
Smyth
said:
 |
... Barry is a good player, not a great player and thats one reason why he'll never be a Villa legend. Barry always seemed to be looking for a move away from Villa and thats why he should never be consider a Villa legend. Barry got a sniff of money so he left and that why he'll be booed monday night. Barry smells like rotten onions and thats why i wont be within 50ft of him... that and the restraining order. |
whitey09
said:
 |
... why oh why are we giving a shit bout barry????????? he dont play 4 us he didnt want 2 play 4 us & he wont b playing 4 us so wtf are we babbling over him 4? just 4 the record i thought he was a perfect player 4 the villa he's game suited us & we suited him,he gave us 11/12 yrs of his career without really coming close 2 matching he's or our ambitions so if thats not loyal i dont know wat is!!! yes he lied but wat footballer dosent at some point??? and b4 people say mellberg fair enuf but he's no different apart from that he told us he was leaving, i bet he's on more money than he was at villa & he's playing champions league football again but that was he's choice as it was fat gaz's choice.the problem i feel is that theres 2 many villa fans jealous of citehs new found money pot and cant bear the thought of another team overtaking us again. i 4 1 will welcome bk gb monday nite but wont make a sing song bout it,lets just hope that our boys can concentrate on winning 3 points after that horrible display @ blackburn then i think gb wont b mentioned by any 1 4 a long time.UTV s.o.t.c villa till i die then a holte ender in the sky |
Mike Carter
said:
|
...Vivavilla, It's called sarcasm. It was based on the culmination of feelings in this thread and my attempted to rationalise it. Obviously over your head. |
f****elot
said:
|
... Damian.. It was on sky sports news Martin O'Neil said on live tv ' We tried our hardest to keep him and offered to double his wages to make him the highest paid player in the history of the club. Only Robinho,Adebayor and Tevez are on over 100k @ 130-140k players like Lescott,Barry,Given and Toure are in the 80-90k bracket. |
whitey09
said:
|
... damian- ive attempted 2 post a few comments on this site since uve changed ur server or sumat but none av shown can u explain y that is mate? |
Andi
said:
|
... standing ovation on match day with a mutter of greeby fat B"£"£"££ then a right good hammering for City will upset him more than our words could ever get to him ! |
VillaNick
said:
 |
... Mellberg is a good comparision. He told us he was going around the January before he left, told us why, we all accepted it. He left like a hero. Barry left, like Damien says, sticking 2 fingers up. Southgate, Ugo and Boetang left under the same black cloud - They left for the money and for supposed "better prospects" at Boro'. Result: they all get booed and jeered. Simples |
Andi
said:
|
... all that could be said has been said the arguements for booing and for clapping have been heard BUT it doesnt change anything he left and we are where we are now lets focus on beating them and showing him that he may be richer and may be surrounded by a team of excellent players but we still are the villa and he didnt make us a team and he certainly aint missed (he might be a little but he doesnt need to know) |
Michael panizza
said:
|
... I don't think he went only for the money, the prospects had something to do with it too - not that any of you if given the choice would opt to play with Heskey and Gardner rather than Robinho and Tevez, of course - after all we're all examples of moral, oustanding values on here no doubt. Right? I just hope that Monday Villa Park simply ignores Barry, we should be worrying about the fact that our central midfield looks as classy as a Northfield single mom staggering around Broad Street at 3am rather than bitch about old players - with apologies to Northfield single moms for the comparison with Sidwell. |
Paris Rob
said:
 |
... Barry is just a S**t stick delph on him for 60 mins and kick lumps out of him far better than booing |
Michael
said:
 |
... I think Barry should get a round of applause and then we should cheer our team to a huge 4-3 win including a Barry own goal and a Gabby injury time winner. Plus MoN should grapple Hughes to the ground on the touchline while NRC shouts encouragement at him. Very well said JPA. The way Barry left was hard to swallow! But I also think that Downing and Delph will be big players soon enough. So hopefully in half a seasons time or so we will have left this whole Barry thing behind us, he choose to leave for "Champions league football" But lets hope thats where Villa will be in 2 or 3 seasons! Anyway lets talk about something more interesting... Any suggestions what the score will be Monday night? I think 3-2 to Villa and that it will be one of the best games of the season. |
Steve Clayton
said:
 |
... I won't be booing Barry. I think we have really missed him this season and it shows with our midfield and lack of creativity. You can slag me off but the negativity is because he left, not because he's a crap player. As for why he left, I echo sentiments by others, football is now a big business and if a company offered me more money with better prospects (let's be honest Citeh have far more chance of winning trophies) I would go, so the argument as to whether it is for money or not is irrelevant. When I fill in application forms for jobs I don't enter "for more money" under the why do you want the position, I make up a load of rubbish, but we all know it's for the money! I also think you are being unfair Damian, if somebody doesn't like your opinion you seem to ask them to prove it - when they can you dismiss it as "anyone can throw links at each other." Don't ask a question, get an answer you don't like and then dismiss it, it needs to be more balanced. |
rocky marciano
said:
 |
... phil h... so booing makes you a thug does it? booing is part and parcel of football always will be, most ex players of any club get the bird on their return its expected.i`m going to the game,i`m paying my money and i`m gonna boo that bitch...ok |
greg1982
said:
 |
... I tend to feel badly about any player who leaves the mighty lions. However historically we have been very poor at developing our top players. Dwight, for instance, wasn’t a first team player for years following his debut (I think it was Oldham because I was there). He often came on as sub and was rarely first team choice until into his twenties. Similarly, it’s easy to forget that Barry has only come to the fore in the last 5 years. His early career was pretty mixed. And I’m sure had we kept Cahill he would have languished in the background for a few years. So just like the day I wouldn’t wave the £ sign for Gregory to buy new players (he went on to buy Angel for 9milion – money that could have gone to a deserving charity instead), similarly I won’t be having a go at Barry. He has certainly delayed his entry into Europe but Liverpool messed him about and the other big 4 clubs didn’t want/need/afford him. But he will be in the champions league soon enough. We haven’t replaced him and are suffering because of it. He was right of course. MON said ‘give me a year’ Barry did just that but MON failed him. He surely went for both money and Europe. Man City are the only team heading for the top 4 unless Spurs beat them to it. One thing for sure, unless we revamp our centre midfield, it won’t be the mighty lions. |
Sanantoniovillain
said:
 |
... Gareth barry was my favorite villa player to put on the shirt. He's my generation of a villa player. He left to pursue other challeneges. Why would I want to boo a player I looked up to for so long? I will always root for him when he's not facing villa. Although I'd like him to do well, I hope city implode. Up the villa |
Dave S
said:
 |
... Personally i don't much care. If it had suited MON or anyone else at the club to sell GB to raise funds to shore up the books or to spend elsewhere they would have done so. Have Villa never sold a player who was happy to stay? Booing him will do nothing, probably give him a bit of a push to perform better. Get over yourselves. I've as much time for this as I have for booing your own team. Support the Villa and focus on that. |
gareth horton
said:
 |
... barry gave us some good years of service but no1 was ever interested in taking him until the season mon arrived.i dont blame barry for leaving as he could see that we would not make any progress he shouldnt of stabbed mon in the back the way he did with the whole liverpool saga as he owes mon for making him the player he is and he should of been straight with the fans and said he wanted to try something else and on another note has any1 read the comments from mon sayin that we have got over the barry loss and are know thriving god he is starting to come out with some shite every week the simple fact is that we have to play a 5man midfield otherwise with a 4 we just cant compete against average sides |
f****elot
said:
|
... Let's not forget you'd be in the Championship had he not saved you when you was awfull under o'leary 4 or 5 years ago. Short memories chaps, we'll show you how to treat a player who has been with a club 10 years on Monday. Your going to look a right bitter lot you Villa fans. |
keith
said:
 |
... i always liked barry but i suppose the way villa fans look at it is your wife of ten years who looked after, washed and cooked for you said im off with your assistant at work because hes won the lottery in a strange way you could probably understand it, but to have her say im off with your assistant because hes more ambitious would be a right piss off |
Damian
said:
|
... Ficklelot Coming from a group of supporters that are well known for protesting against Chairmen, I think you should be careful what you say .. Richard Dunne didn't want to leave Manchester City. Gareth Barry engineered a move away. There is a big difference between the two players. You have to get your head around that, then you might understand. |
gareth horton
said:
|
... fickle lot like you have with dunne the amount abuse i read from your lot after he left and lets not forget you would be playin championship football had he not kept you up |
Mathew Dryhurst
said:
 |
... I bear no grudge against Barry. In 12 years he was Villa's most consistent player, and despite limitations to his game performed as an international class left back, centre half, holding AND attacking midfielder in some patchy teams. I'm a little awestruck by Man City's ambition and ascendancy, and think that Mark Hughes has bought wisely and they are showing the level of progress that we would all like to see at the Villa. I don't blame him, and think it would have worked out as good business if Downing performs as we know he is capable. No bitterness, and please no booing. We didn't lose a girlfriend, we lost a player whose only flaw was a lack of tact in his dealing with the protracted transfer speculation. Who knows, if he was less rash a character perhaps he would have been less a tenacious servant of our club for all those years. |
Car Frost
said:
 |
... Damian, love the idea. Lets not be fooled by the Kiss of Judas. I could understand it if we were stuck in mid-table but he left us just as we were becoming an exciting team again. Everytime I see him in the Englad shirt O'Neil put him in I hope he falls flat on his arse. Like Damian said how can you pull down O'Neil on a daily basis but be fine with this idiot. Kiss the badge kenneth as I'm sure Barry won't do no matter where he goes. For those who don't agree it's still a fun idea! |
Car Frost
said:
|
... Ficklelot - It's well known he's on 90k here you offered 80k for him to stay so you really think he left for 5k a week more? Get a grip lad. Guess you don't count goal bonus's, win bonus's and so on. Man City have so far forked out, in fact here read just a few of the perks for yourself .. ( love the fact they used Barrys pic too as the story is about money) http://www.newsoftheworld.co.u...clash.html |
Cian Donaghy
said:
 |
... he made himself a millionaire truth hard work in a false lifestyle. if it wasnt at villa it would have been somewhere else he was good and i liked him. hes gone. get over it. |
Andy Scarborough
said:
 |
... Remember Dwight Yorke? The young lad from Tobago. Some years ago Graham Taylor was touring the islands and noticed this lad. In those days the boys were contracted to the Trinidad & Tobago FA. Graham expressed an interest in taking the boy back to England when he was a bit older. A "gentleman's" agreement was reached with the T&TFA, just a handshake, mind, no contracts or signatures. A year or so later GT got in touch with the T&TFA, who said that they had honoured the "gentleman's" agreement in spite of the fact that other, larger clubs had come calling offering more than we had. We paid relative peanuts for the lad, the T&TFA lost out big time by being honourable. When we sold him to ManU for millions we gave sweet FA to the T&TFA. Why should we? Yhere's no honour in football is there? That is about the only time I have been ashamed to be a Villan. As for GB; Who? UTV - SOMC |
f****elot
said:
|
... frosty Newsoftheworld say no more! 99% of whats in the paper is made up. You should really already know that unless you are under 15 I excuse you. |
Car Frost
said:
|
... Must of been the 1% then. Didn't hear anyone stating that it wasn't true or any apologies from notw as is common practice when they get facts wrong and they were stating what they believed to be a fact. Anyway haven't you got a City blog somewhere that pays a fiver per post? |
f****elot
said:
|
... Don't b silly. It's only situation's where for Example they printed we offered barca 100m for Messi.... and offered Mourinho 10m a year. We had this discussion with Garry Cook at the fans meeting about all the B*ll*cks in the paper he said we'll just have to ignore all the shit they print otherwise it would just be a non stop war with them. You keep believing the paper, your a newspapers dream, I feel for you. |
f****elot
said:
|
... Enjoy the game Monday, I don't mind Villa I love the away days at your place one of the first fixtures I look for. Lets hope we can both break the top 4. All the best from the only club Manchester. |
Car Frost
said:
|
... Martin called when he got the word, And he said: "I suppose you've heard - About Barry". Well I rushed to the window, And I looked outside, And I could hardly believe my eyes - As a big limousine rolled up Into Barry's drive... Oh, I don't know why he's leaving, Maybe Mark Hughes will know, I guess he's got his reasons, But I just don't want to know, 'Cos for over 10 years I've been paying to watch Gareth Barry. Barry.. who the f*ck is Barry? Martin called back and asked how I felt, And he said: "I know how to help - Get over Barry". He said: "Now Barry is gone, But the Delph is here, And it will take time, But in the next 3 years..." You'll forget that Barry dissapeared... |
Andy Dale
said:
 |
... I persoanally and going to clap Gareth before the game starts and thank in for ten brilliant years service for the Villa. If the Villa had finished four last year I know that he would stillbe here, but he is no a City player so all that matters after kick-off is that he goes home pointless. Gareth Barry is Vila's player of the 21st Century so far and I am sure one day will be back in the claret and blue. Up the Villa. |
Sazavfc
said:
 |
... I hope that the squad will be focussed on winning the game rather than being focussed on our reaction to Barry.. |
astonvilla83
said:
 |
... i for one was disapointed the way barry left and felt he went for money full stop,if it was champions league football he would have gone to liverpool,but i wont waste my voice booing him ill cheer villa instead. yes i do feel man city will get champions league football in the next 2 or 3 years but not before that, people seem to forget how powerful the top 4 really are ,and how hard it is to break into the top 4 its maintaining wins all year round rain sleet or snow which i belive mancity will learn in time but not yet but i guess proof will be in the pudding. as for the game monday i hope he goes 451 /433 attack switching and we do have a chance at winning as man city will be attacking hard and we will be able to hit them on the counter hopfully. if we go 442 we will get bossed in the midfield. |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
 |
...Martin called when he got the word, I called up Martin and said what ya doin ? trying to leave my team in a ruin, Playin 4-4-2, and here's the choker, playin Delph & Petrov an leave out the Coker. It's a joke yeah? |
Forest Hill Villan
said:
 |
... The only important thing on Monday Night is to silence those noisy neighbours!! Why are we bothering ourselves with GB? He is past history. Surely our only interest should be ensuring that our players are totally focused on the job in hand and are completely determined and have the drive and ambition to win the game. Damian, I'm sorry, but you are beginning to lose me. Why bother starting a poll to judge the popularity or otherwise of our manager? What's that all about? Your own figures confirm that MON's position at this time is unassailable. Rightly so. What are you trying to start? If MON goes, he goes, and we shall have to start looking for a replacement. In all likelihood, our opinion won't carry too much weight. But until then, he is our manager and as such deserves our wholehearted support. At the beginning of the season it was like civil war on this site - so much negativity. I am grateful for those, possibly older, certainly wiser, heads, who successfully kept all our feet on the ground. As others have said, GB makes his own decisions. Its OUR players, and their performance that concern me. Monday night will go a long way to determining the success or otherwise of our season. Never mind GB - let beat those noisy neighbours!! |
Simeon
said:
 |
... People's reactions to Gareth Barry reveal alot about themselves. Gareth Barry is a big boy, and he doesn't need defending by me or anyone else. The simple fact is that he has, regretfully, but not regrettably, moved on to bigger (and in football, bigger is better) things. I would hope that, with the benefit of some water passing under the bridge, many of the fans who reacted like pre-menstrual women when a fantastic servant of Aston Villa football club, who had done as much as he possibly could for our club in the face of adversity as much from within as without, finally decided that the time had come to move on, will have gained some perspective on things. There are more important things to be concerned about than a former player, as good as Barry is - primarily the uninspiring nature of our team and our prospects. Having said that, it would be nice to see Gareth Barry afforded the respect and recognition he so richly deserves. Of course, that's unlikely to happen, because a mindless minority will boo, and that'll be enough to drown out the applause he will surely get from others. Lastly, isn't it ironic that the fans most upset by Barry's departure are those who don't rate him as a player. And Damian, you certainly fall into this category yourself, for all your protestations. The fact is that those who truly love football will admire Barry's talent, and respect the way he conducts himself both on and off the pitch. Any other response is borne out of juvenile emotion, untempered by any semblance of well-judged, rational thought. |
Jonathan Wood
said:
 |
... Know it's not relevant, but ESPN played the whole of the first game of last season earlier. Gabby's hatrick against City and that... It was an eye opener. There was passion and enjoyment when goals were scored. Big JC, Gabby and Ash seemed to have a real bond when celebrating. MON was bouncing around, kicking every ball etc. Is it just me or has he aged 10 years since those innocent days. Didn't we play good football too. 6 months of constant pickin' and complaining and girly bitchin' probably hasnt helped...? Villa fans realy dont know when they've got it good do they. I appreciate your personal mistrust of the marketing thing, which Randy introduced, Damian. It's easy to forget that some tit tried to write the glorious early 80's out of our history. Randy at least made us proud of that team again. The way they were forgotten is unforgivable. So... I think I'm a bit unsure about the following season. The innocence has been lost. We were found out, and big ML has retired. We're mortal without him. He never 'carried' any one. Curtis/Zat etc. and the rest of the team were in the presence of a driven, almost primal force. His absence is like deep... A soul thing. Barry... What exactly did he do last season? He was never Gordon Cowans was he? Is Hokey Cokey the new Des Bremner... Just a thought... Dum de dum.? |
Steve Taylor
said:
 |
... Thanks for the £50 I think it is legal tender in Manchester (either that or they would not know what one looked like) Something makes me feel a bit sorry for Barry, i think there is a fair chance that when or if Citeh get in the Champions league they would have replaced Barry for someone younger, faster and foreign. OK that sentiment has passed now, bring the rich boys on and show them how the game should be played with passion an team work |
rocky marciano
said:
|
... simeon, what utter drivel. respect the way barry conducts himself on and off the pitch? what like running to the news of the world slagging off the manager who kicked on his career and made him an england regular to engineer a move.if people boo their mindless are they.its banter.now jog on with the rest of the PC brigade! |
Paul_Villa82
said:
 |
... I couldnt give rats ass about Barry. All I want to do is beat City on Monday. There 70 million pound defence is dodgy and we can stick 3 or 4 past them with the right tactics. I expect us to concede, I can smell a 4-3 thrilla at the Villa! Ive never wanted to beat a team so bad for ages, and I still believe we will finish above them come the end of the season. Its not about Barry or Citys billions, its about the Villa and 3 points against a team we have finished above for the past 3 seasons, and will do again. UTV |
loadsa_dosh
said:
|
... Paul villa 82 70m defence? Lescott 22m, Toure 12m, Bridge 9m, Richards youth team 43m pal, you're nearly as bad as the papers making numbers up. |
Martin Grayfield
said:
|
... As i said i earlier i live in Brum and not seen many £50 notes there either ! I was at the game last season and most of them for the last few years. I thought we played well but were let down in our defensive attitude. One of the main players for you though was a certain Mr G Barry. I quote form the BBC report of the game "Agbonlahor met Gareth Barry's cross to make it 3-1 then ran on to a slide-rule Barry pass to complete his treble before Vedran Corluka's consolation" As for us not having passion i am sorry make all the criticism that is based on sense that you want but i think we play with passion. I really hoped last season you would break the top 4. I still hope we can both do it this season. I am sick of the so called "big 4" there is no god given right to be there otherwise Huddersfield would still be up there. It is sad it comes to money but that is this life. |
FatKevs
said:
 |
... Not £50 but for ambition. We play the same old shit that gets a few points but very litte in the way of excitement. We are out of europe already & could have gone out of the cup the other night down to our negative tactics |
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