Barry saga leaving a sour taste

afrocentricity · 6th July 2008, 13:48

Couldn't find a relevant dipper thread...

Quote:

* Phil McNulty
* 4 Jul 08, 12:34 PM

It would not be summer without a transfer saga - and with Cristiano Ronaldo taking a few days off from telling people what they want to hear depending whether they are Spanish or English - Gareth Barry has kindly stepped into the breach.

Barry will leave Villa and end up at Liverpool. Liverpool know that. Aston Villa know that.

But what is taking place in between is an undignified mess that has done no favours for Liverpool, their manager Rafael Benitez and Barry.

Benitez is not flavour of the month at Villa Park, and to understand why we might go back to words that came from his own mouth in early May when one of his players was attracting a little attention.

He said: "A £15m price tag for Crouch would not be unreasonable."

A price of £15m is apparently not unreasonable for a player he studiously ignored for much of last season and who is not a regular in the England side - according to Benitez logic.

The logic, however, looks twisted when set against his opening offer for a player who is now a fixture in Fabio Capello's England side and who was a regular for Villa last season, delivering a string of outstanding performances.

O'Neill said Benitez can "come up and talk about a £10m offer which includes some money and some unnamed players which would make Gareth worth about £2m."

Villa's manager was not only furious that the bid became public. He was furious with the bid itself.

And since then relations between the clubs have gone downhill fast. Offers increased and rejected. Barry criticising O'Neill in print. O'Neill responding by banning Barry from Villa's premises. Villa firing off invective in Liverpool's direction.

I reckon Villa's price tag is ridiculous, but so was Benitez's arithmetic - especially when he reportedly wants £16m for Xabi Alonso, the man he intends to replace with Barry.

O'Neill has seen Manchester United pay around £17m and £18m for Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick - an England duo ousted by Barry at international level - and wants a piece of that action himself.

Throw in the acrimony between the clubs and you can see why O'Neill is digging his heels in the face of Benitez's original tactics.

Liverpool will simply edge closer to the £18m price tag and hope Villa blink first - but pride is involved now and when that comes through the door common sense goes out of the window.

The Anfield hierarchy has hurdles to negotiate before Barry is standing underneath the "This Is Anfield" sign - and O'Neill's hostility towards Benitez has made the obstacles even more difficult to negotiate.

Liverpool's board, perfectly understandably, do not want to end up with both Alonso and Barry, especially as plenty of their fans do not actually regard one as massively better than the other.

They will be within their rights to tell Benitez he can have one but not both. And will want to use money from Alonso's sale to buy Barry.

I must confess I have never shared in the adoration of Alonso, indeed I've even been heard to whisper the words "vastly over-rated" when I thought no-one was listening.

Gareth Barry

And in Villa owner Randy Lerner, Liverpool are dealing with a man who would like an extra £18m in his club's bank account but is not actually desperate for it - making it much easier to back his manager's stance and make a very public point of principle.

Barry will make a point, with some justification, that he has given Villa 10 years of very solid service and should be allowed to leave and fulfil his wish to play Champions League football.

Sadly, even he will know that sentiment is an out of date currency in football.

Liverpool will get Barry, but they may have to end up a lot closer to Villa's asking price than they would like thanks to a few bold words from their manager and his unusual grasp of how players might be valued.

Benitez will then hope Barry is worth the trouble he has put his board through to get his main summer transfer target - he certainly needs him to forge a partnership with Steven Gerrard and push Liverpool a lot closer to the title than they were last season.

And once that is done, we will move on to the next saga. Maybe even back to Ronaldo.

Still, where would we be without a spot of handbags between clubs and managers before a deal reaches its inevitable conclusion?

We may shake our heads and question the sanity of football - but let's be honest we love it really.

I'm keen to get your views on this so get in touch.

Do you think Benitez has used the right tactics in doing this deal? Is Barry over-priced? Are Villa being too hard-nosed?

afrocentricity · 6th July 2008, 13:50

H..- Judas, now this... Benitez is an idiot, can he not conduct his business with a little bit more class?

charleysurf · 6th July 2008, 13:54

The quotes from the dippers under the article are class.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnul...ry_affair.html

kikks · 6th July 2008, 13:55

Hypocrite twat isn't he? His valuations of Alonso and Crouch vs. the Barry stance really is

He must understand that a good way to get in the selling managers bad books is to put in a ridiculously low bid, whine about it not being accepted in the press and then boldly state that Crouch is valued at £15 mill? Strange negotiating tactics there.

kristinson · 6th July 2008, 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by charleysurf

The quotes from the dippers under the article are class.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnul...ry_affair.html

oxymoron alert!

Chorley1974 · 6th July 2008, 13:57

£15m Crouch but not willing to beat that for Barry.

afrocentricity · 6th July 2008, 14:07

Quote:

I back MON and Villa 100%. If Barry were to actually put in a transfer request, and thus kiss goodbye to reported cool �3m, he might get his move to Liverpool on their terms.

But the way that Liverpool have gone about their business from day one, including the repeated silly low bids, just makes a once great club look like a laughing stock.

Thankfully Villa, with the ever classy Randy Lerner and O'Neill in charge, continue to grow in reputation.

Barry's once golden reputation, though, is gone for good in the blink of a red top headline. Silly man, thanks for the good memories but shame you had to sour them in such an unseemly way.

Interesting...

FlawlessThaw · 6th July 2008, 14:09

All this over a player who is average and goes missing against a decent midfield.

Chorley1974 · 6th July 2008, 14:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by charleysurf

The quotes from the dippers under the article are class.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnul...ry_affair.html

Just read some of thi shit, there is even a 'LFC have so little money to spend' shout. ' lol:

charleysurf · 6th July 2008, 14:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by afrocentricity

Interesting...

That's a fair comment. Carrick showed way more class when United were trying to buy him (of course we could mention Ronaldo but let's not go there...).

LWAR · 6th July 2008, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by kikks

Hypocrite twat isn't he? His valuations of Alonso and Crouch vs. the Barry stance really is

He must understand that a good way to get in the selling managers bad books is to put in a ridiculously low bid, whine about it not being accepted in the press and then boldly state that Crouch is valued at £15 mill? Strange negotiating tactics there.

The difference being Benitez has been willing to negotiate on both Crouch and Alonso. He started at £15m for Crouch but has reportedly accepted an offer closer to £10m. O'Neill has been a stubborn arse and wont budge from £18m which is clearly a vast over-estimation for a player of Barry's skill (or lack of).

If I were Rafa I'd walk away from the deal, keep Alonso and leave Villa with an unhappy captain sitting on the bench.

afrocentricity · 6th July 2008, 14:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWAR

The difference being Benitez has been willing to negotiate on both Crouch and Alonso. He started at £15m for Crouch but has reportedly accepted an offer closer to £10m. O'Neill has been a stubborn arse and wont budge from £18m which is clearly a vast over-estimation for a player of Barry's skill (or lack of).

If I were Rafa I'd walk away from the deal, keep Alonso and leave Villa with an unhappy captain sitting on the bench.

O'Neill doesn't want to sell ... that's the difference.

LWAR · 6th July 2008, 14:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by afrocentricity

O'Neill doesn't want to sell ... that's the difference.

Yes but Barry is desperate to leave, O'Neill doesn't really have a choice. If he doesn't sell he'll be left with either Barry sat on the bench earning £45k a week or Barry in the team not performing because he's unhappy.

I think £15m for Barry is more than enough, he's just being silly asking for £18m.

Frosty · 6th July 2008, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWAR

The difference being Benitez has been willing to negotiate on both Crouch and Alonso. He started at £15m for Crouch but has reportedly accepted an offer closer to £10m. O'Neill has been a stubborn arse and wont budge from £18m which is clearly a vast over-estimation for a player of Barry's skill (or lack of).

If I were Rafa I'd walk away from the deal, keep Alonso and leave Villa with an unhappy captain sitting on the bench.

£10m for Crouch shows how inflated English players price tags are. With that in mind, I don't see £18m for Barry as being too unreasonable, especially if you get £10m for a player who could leave for nothing next summer.

I agree with your final point though, I really do not understand why Liverpool are interested in Barry when they have Alonso.

SmashedHombre · 6th July 2008, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWAR

Yes but Barry is desperate to leave, O'Neill doesn't really have a choice. If he doesn't sell he'll be left with either Barry sat on the bench earning £45k a week or Barry in the team not performing because he's unhappy.

I think £15m for Barry is more than enough, he's just being silly asking for £18m.

I would be interested to see if your attitude remained the same if Torres was involved in a similar situation with say, Barcelona.

SmashedHombre · 6th July 2008, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

£10m for Crouch shows how inflated English players price tags are. With that in mind, I don't see £18m for Barry as being too unreasonable, especially if you get £10m for a player who could leave for nothing next summer.

I agree with your final point though, I really do not understand why Liverpool are interested in Barry when they have Alonso.

Agreed. Alonso is a better player, which is why I hope they sell him and buy Barry.

LWAR · 6th July 2008, 15:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmashedHombre

I would be interested to see if your attitude remained the same if Torres was involved in a similar situation with say, Barcelona.

Honestly there's not a lot that can be done when a player wants to leave. You have to accept the fairest offer, and I think £15m for Barry is fair. If Barca bid £30m for Torres and he came out and said he wanted to go there the best thing to do would be to accept it, not haggle for an extra £3m.

LWAR · 6th July 2008, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

I agree with your final point though, I really do not understand why Liverpool are interested in Barry when they have Alonso.

Me neither.

afrocentricity · 6th July 2008, 15:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWAR

Honestly there's not a lot that can be done when a player wants to leave. You have to accept the fairest offer, and I think £15m for Barry is fair. If Barca bid £30m for Torres and he came out and said he wanted to go there the best thing to do would be to accept it, not haggle for an extra £3m.

Fair enough... all very public though, your club is going through some changes that's for sure.

golden_blunder · 6th July 2008, 15:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWAR

I think £15m for Barry is more than enough, he's just being silly asking for £18m.

maybe, but if Liverpool would actually offer it in cash (instead of trying to offload his dross) they may get somewhere

Majestic16 · 6th July 2008, 15:48

Quote:

The fact he won't put in an official transfer request to try and therefore secure himself a �3m parting gift from villa also stinks. You'd have to draw the conclusion that this will be eventually resolved by Barry HAVING to put in an official transfer request and liverpool getting him for the �15m they are prepared to pay. Effetively Villa then get the �18m they want.

Whats that all about??

Majestic16 · 6th July 2008, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by charleysurf

That's a fair comment. Carrick showed way more class when United were trying to buy him (of course we could mention Ronaldo but let's not go there...).

You shouldn't forget that United handled Carrick's transfer with a lot more class too. Inquiry, negotiating starting price and add-ons,and the deal is done.

Theres no doubt that Benitez started this whole mess.

77 · 6th July 2008, 16:04

Manuel is a cunt when it comes to transfers... same with the Heinze thing

fatboy · 6th July 2008, 17:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Majestic16

You shouldn't forget that United handled Carrick's transfer with a lot more class too. Inquiry, negotiating starting price and add-ons,and the deal is done.

If anything, I thought Jol was rather pleased with himself for being able to fetch that kind of money for Carrick.

Anyway, with this whole Barry deal, Rafa seems pretty determined, and I'll be a little surprised if the deal fell through completely.

Raven_Blade · 6th July 2008, 17:36

Im bored of that transfer saga along with our Ronaldo one. I just want it all over ASAP.

redman5 · 6th July 2008, 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Majestic16

You shouldn't forget that United handled Carrick's transfer with a lot more class too. Inquiry, negotiating starting price and add-ons,and the deal is done.

Theres no doubt that Benitez started this whole mess.

Paying over the odds for a player does tend to speed things up pretty sharpish.

CnutOfAllCnuts · 6th July 2008, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by redman5

Paying over the odds for a player does tend to speed things up pretty sharpish.

Money well spent too.

Which USUALLY is the case with Sir Alex and his transfers.

Probably why he is the manager of the current English and European Champions.

redman5 · 6th July 2008, 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

6th July 2008, 13:50	#2 (permalink)
afrocentricity First Team Regular Join Date: May 2005 Location: Thinking up a new location... Posts: 7,248	H..- Judas, now this... Benitez is an idiot, can he not conduct his business with a little bit more class?

6th July 2008, 13:54	#3 (permalink)
charleysurf Talks sense Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3,576	The quotes from the dippers under the article are class. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnul...ry_affair.html

6th July 2008, 13:55	#4 (permalink)
kikks Reserve Team Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I do not know the answer. Posts: 1,308	Hypocrite twat isn't he? His valuations of Alonso and Crouch vs. the Barry stance really is He must understand that a good way to get in the selling managers bad books is to put in a ridiculously low bid, whine about it not being accepted in the press and then boldly state that Crouch is valued at £15 mill? Strange negotiating tactics there.

6th July 2008, 13:57	#6 (permalink)
Chorley1974 Lady Ole Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,207	£15m Crouch but not willing to beat that for Barry.

6th July 2008, 14:09	#8 (permalink)
FlawlessThaw most 'know it all' poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London Posts: 10,628	All this over a player who is average and goes missing against a decent midfield.

6th July 2008, 16:04	#23 (permalink)
77 First Team Regular Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: 'Part time reds full time twats'.... what RAWKers say about the Caf's Bindippers Posts: 11,606	Manuel is a cunt when it comes to transfers... same with the Heinze thing

6th July 2008, 17:36	#25 (permalink)
Raven_Blade Attention Whoring Common Crow Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: In Man Utd's Defence. Posts: 18,262	Im bored of that transfer saga along with our Ronaldo one. I just want it all over ASAP.