As always we are being linked with every name under the sun that appears to have fallen down the pecking order at their current clubs. Why is it that journalists feel the urge to link us with every second fiddle player, rather than first choice stars, is beyond me at times. The next person it appears that we are in pursuit of is Manchester City’s very own, Gareth Barry.
With imminent arrivals at the Etihad Stadium, Manuel Pellegrini will be looking to move on some of the deadwood that plagues the reserves and bench of an ever-growing City side of highly priced stars. One of those players happens to be Gareth Barry who hasn’t featured since the dominating performances of Yaya Toure increased and whilst the signings of Javi Garcia and Jack Rodwell didn’t help his situation either.
Manchester City have some talented midfield players, with the likes of Samir Nasri and David Silva already at the club. Whilst the signings of Jesus Navas and Fernandinho are only going to push Barry further towards the exit door.
There is no doubt Barry has had his fair share of criticism (some valid and some a little harsh) however, would he be capable of adding quality to our side, or just damage our wage bill and anger fans with lacklustre performances? I personally feel if Big Sam can help him develop a high level of fitness and if he wears the shirt with pride and determination, then he could offer us something. However, I cannot help but feel he is not what we need though. He is getting on in his career and it looks as though he just does not have the energy anymore and in this modern game, stamina and pace appear to be everything.
If we were to sign him, I could not see us getting more than a possible 2 good seasons out of him, until his body gives in to the pace of the game. Taking that into account, unless somehow he managed to help us on a cup run or finish in a Europa League spot, this to me is quite simply a no go and a huge step back.
The way I look at this rumour is, what can he offer us that Mark Noble, Kevin Nolan, Jack Collison, Joe Cole, Momo Diame and Co, cannot offer us? The answer is nothing apart from experience (I can imagine it being a high fee to pay for just experience).
There are many other targets we could be trying to snap up for cheaper fee’s, more potential/ability, as well as younger and more determined characters. Although, unless Big Sam fancies playing more of an attracting type of football, I believe our central midfield areas are covered with god quality and he should focus on weaker areas such as signing a player to play off Andy Carroll (other than Kevin Nolan), a talented right winger and some decent fullbacks. Gareth Barry however, should not be an avenue we go down.
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Barry is far too good to go to WHU. If you care to look at the stats, ie think before you pen Mr Hack, you will find that Barry has started just as many games for City as anyone else.
Is this writer for real? Barry is always one of the first names on the team sheet at city! And is probably one of the most consistent players at the club he rarely plays a bad game. He make the midfield tick not Yaya, it Barry doing the hard graft and cleaning up. I think this writer is clueless, it would be a loss for City if he left but he is starting to age now so they may sell on but I doubt he’d agree to go to WHU he’d want an established premier club.
Far too good for West Ham…… What absolute rubbish. Keep him at City, he is ordinary.
You complete plank. Forever writing crap.
he is no better than wot we already have.
Far to good for West Ham? Oh dear, it’s funny what a sheik’s black gold can do to the memory! Not so long ago nearly bankrupt both on and off the field! (Remember relegation after relegation? Stuart Pearce? Alan ball? Third division? Etc, etc). If you weren’t given the Olympic stadium then god knows what would have happened as you certainly coudnt afford to do up Maine rd! Not having a go here just pointing out some folk have very short memories and should count themselves lucky the oil came flowing your way! Personally I think Barry is a very underrated player and of a type that never gets the glory but just gets on with the work! Every successful team needs a grafter to make the glory boys look good and Barry is man city’s version. Don’t know whether city would let Barry go but as much as I would love him at the Boleyn I’m not sure we could afford his wages! It’s as simple as that! All this shite about not being a bigger enough club/or being to good for us is just that, shite! So let’s not let egos and a sense of self importance get in the way of level headedness and common sense. Thank your lucky stars they chose you and remember humility!
What a beautiful day it is outside. The weather is fantastic, the birds are singing in the trees and we have grown men knee jerking over rumours!!!
Rumour or fact he has to be a capable player holding a place down in a side packed with talent. James you’re making us hammers seem like we know NOTHING about the game of football.
There’s no point really having a go at the author, who actually presents quite a balanced piece, but as someone who watches Barry week in, week out, i can assure you that a club such as West Ham should be delighted at the prospect of him arriving. He’s one of City’s most consistant players. The wage thing doesn’t really ring true either. He’s said to be on around £95k a week at City (less than you’re paying Andy Carroll), isn’t a player particularly motivated by money, and would quite probably take a pay cut if and when he does leave City.
Great servant, great role model, very consistant player.
What a load of shit. Try researchig what you write about. You are an embarrassment to west ham
Barry should not be sold. His partnership with Yaya Toure is far too imporant.His contract should be extended by one year and then next year he should be transferred to New York City FC.This coming season may see him lose his place to Fernandinho but only time will tell.GB can’t go on forever but so far he has seen off the challenges of De Jong, Garcia and Rodwell and retained the DM shirt next to Yaya.He is Mr reliable in defence and rarely gives the ball away going forward.
Barry is a fantastic player and id be delighted but very surprised if he was to join us. Would be a great option to rotate with Diame, Noble and Nolan. however i do feel we should now be focusing on getting a consistent quality right winger to complete our starting 11 and then look at getting a decent striker as back up to Andy.
Oh yeah just what we want, another slow cart-horse in the team.
Thankfully this “rumour” has about as much chance of being fact as Karren Brady has of being the next Tory PM.
I’d love Barry to come to WHU, I think he’s a very talented player that works very hard for his team, to be honest I just can’t see it happening,
If Barry were to join noble would he on the bench imo. I’m happy for is to sign anyone who improves our 1st 11. Would rather have Milner but there is nothing in that rumour; doubt he’ll leave and we can’t afford him anyway
Would love to see a player of barrys quality at the club as he is clearly superior to any of the midfielders we have now, however very unlikely that either city would let him go or we could afford the crazy salary they are bound to be paying him (the tea lady is on £50k a week) oh and some of you city fans have very short memories, it wasn’t that long ago you were in the third tier of English football somewhere we have never been, so stay humble
I’m a Man City fan and I can tell you that Barry is still a very good player. He’s had plenty of great games for us. He’s not a flashy player and it’s easy to overlook the contribution that he makes (and plenty of fans do) but make one he does. It’s often been said that you don’t realise how much of a role he plays until he’s not playing.
I’ll be sorry to see him leave City, if he does go, but if he ends up at West Ham I’m sure your fans will appreciate what he can bring to your side.
Not for me he’s slow and cumbersome (just like Nolan)and not even being picked for a very average England squad.
Why is it we seem to be linked with every player that is most football lovers nightmare please please no barry , milner ,delap , crouch , what is Sam trying to do drive fans away !!!!!!
I guess Big Sam has a monopoly on rumours and he doesn’t seem to know much about football!!!
If you believe any of that then you can’t know much about football…..FACT!
I must be thick mate don’t understand your reply
you said it!
Mate, he’s saying that you’d be a fool to think that West Ham are the only club suffering from the transfer window rumour mill atm and, if you believe them all you’d have to think that Big Sam was a complete footballing moron, which he is not. And he’s quiet right btw!
Let’s judge Sam on the players who actually arrive – not on the rumours many of which seem to reflect conversations over a pint.
Barry always puts in a shift. He’s never spectacular, but gets the job done. Collison is carrying a career threatening injury and so won’t be fit for 38 league games. We need a bigger squad and more quality. Or we have no chance of improving on 10th place. I think Barry is our style of player. I’d take him providing we don’t break the bank.