Gareth Barry

[bluestevon]

I just think hes still a good signing for most teams over here, even for us, surely that would mean he would be a great signing for the MLS?

Maybe some USMTNTMTNT people could let us know, @johnnydawg68, @Garrick, @SerenityNigh ?

He'd be a fantastic signing for any team outside of about 10 in the world mate with what he brings, just thing the MLS is still more fixated on bringing in excitement and showbiz/entertainment more than it is a great quality of player

 

[steken1]

I suspect he probably made up his mind round about March.

Hopefully im wrong and he signs, hes been superb for us.

Another year would suit us perfectly. I think that's what he's got left at the level he played this season too. Shame if we can't keep him.

 

[steken1]

Dunno why everyone is actually panicking for, he cannot actually sign for an English club until he is out of contract, which isn't till July i think.

he can sign for a foreign team prior to that though, but theirs been no inclination that is what he's gonna do anyways

I'm not panicking lid! I think if he was staying it'd be sorted or we'd hear good noises from the club. That we haven't is what makes me think it's finished. Hopefully Gibson comes back and finds a way to stay fit.

 

[SerenityNigh]

I disagree, Gareth Barry would be a marquee signing for any team over there.

Mate I'm going mainly off what the American lads on the forum have said about it, the players they get in on a big salary that he would be on are either massive rep players or attacking players. Barry has been chronically undervalued for years in his own country, I doubt he would be a known name over in the US which is really needed to draw in the high wages he'd be asking for

He also isn't exactly Mr Charisma as well

No doubt Barry is an exceptional player that would walk into and lead almost every MLS team. The catch is the MLS salary cap and exceptions (the Designated Player rule). [See comments here on salary distribution.] There may be money available for Barry-types, but few teams are wiling to spend the money and--more importantly--the DP spots, on guys who are not attacking players. I can see Lampard or Kaka moving over to play MLS, but not Barry, unless he moves to NYCFC. It's not that he wouldn't do well, but that I can't see how a team would use their DP spaces for him.

 

[Goat]

I see, fair enough.

 

[bluestevon]

No doubt Barry is an exceptional player that would walk into and lead almost every MLS team. The catch is the MLS salary cap and exceptions (the Designated Player rule). [See comments here on salary distribution.] There may be money available for Barry-types, but few teams are wiling to spend the money and--more importantly--the DP spots, on guys who are not attacking players. I can see Lampard or Kaka moving over to play MLS, but not Barry, unless he moves to NYCFC. It's not that he wouldn't do well, but that I can't see how a team would use their DP spaces for him.

Cheers for shedding some light mate, honestly my knowledge came via the Everton blues on here like, just seemed to remember a few of you had mentioned why it was unlikely to happen

 

[SerenityNigh]

Someone with more knowledge than me (@Garrick) needs to comment on the MLS salary cap and roster structure, but basically there is $3,100,000 that a team can spend on roster spots 1-20. That's roughly £2,000/wk per player (if I did the math right). But each team has 3 Designated Player spots (there are some weird rules that change this, and there are other exceptions that allow higher salaries) and the 3 DPs can earn any value, so long as the contract is approved by the league. So in theory LA Galaxy could make a move for Messi and pay him more than Barca. Realistically you get Defoe moving to TFC.

The newer trend, however, is young(er) US Nationals picking MLS. Donovan is well documented; Dempsey's situation was a mix of weirdness in Tottenham and huge salary offered by Seattle; Bradley simply wants to play every game and lead his team (plus big money). There are many reasons for this trend (probably not all good), but most Americans read this as validating the league and its progress. We'll see where it goes, but most are optimistic.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Cheers for shedding some light mate, honestly my knowledge came via the Everton blues on here like, just seemed to remember a few of you had mentioned why it was unlikely to happen

No doubt it can happen, but the average Yank has no idea who Barry is (not unlike the average Toffee asking why Martinez picked him up on loan, like). I can easily see something with NYCFC, but honestly don't think Barry would move from his family. I see him taking a pay cut and choosing the best team (in his mind) over running after money.

 

[bluestevon]

I'm not panicking lid! I think if he was staying it'd be sorted or we'd hear good noises from the club. That we haven't is what makes me think it's finished. Hopefully Gibson comes back and finds a way to stay fit.

Aye i vary depending on my mood that day between feeling pretty convinced he will be back to thinking theirs no chance and he will be off Spurs or Arsenal etc

Guess we have to wait and see, only positive about the silence is it's not like he's dropping hints about another team and going their, so it's silent but complete silence, which makes me think the decision is already done, but now all parties are respecting the contract situation winding down before announcing

 

[SteveSC]

Mate I'm going mainly off what the American lads on the forum have said about it, the players they get in on a big salary that he would be on are either massive rep players or attacking players. Barry has been chronically undervalued for years in his own country, I doubt he would be a known name over in the US which is really needed to draw in the high wages he'd be asking for

He also isn't exactly Mr Charisma as well

That's not entirely true. Although MLS teams look for the Beckham's and such they would always take a well known European experienced player from Prem or Spain etc... Most MLS teams would snap at the chance to take Barry... The Marquee players or Designated players rule is simply a rule for clubs to give more wages above the MLS cap that is in place. They keep increasing the amount of players you are allowed also.

Seen as most European well known players will only consider it once they reach 30 plus years and see it as a great well paid semi retired role the MLS teams tend to go after South American talent now younger players.

Just look at the designated players list from last year. Most of those players the majority of avid football fans would not have a clue who they are.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-every-club-has-dp-first-time-league-history#

You will notice Kenny Miller is the Marquee player for Vancouver not exactly a world beater.

 

[DanB90]

I've got a feeling something is already in place, either with us or elsewhere. If it weren't I have a feeling his agent would be trying to flog him via the tabloids which doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[SerenityNigh]

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-every-club-has-dp-first-time-league-history#

Attacking players, almost every single one of them.

 

[johnnydawg68]

I just think hes still a good signing for most teams over here, even for us, surely that would mean he would be a great signing for the MLS?

Maybe some USMTNTMTNT people could let us know, @johnnydawg68, @Garrick, @SerenityNigh ?

I'm not an MLS expert like the other lids. Barry wouldn't qualify as "name" signing, but I don't think the teams are as focused on "branding" anymore. They've matured, and if they are looking to win a title and they can afford him, he'd be a great signing. I think the days of signing overpaid, over the hill "names" is largely gone.

I really want him to stay with us though.

 

[bluestevon]

That's not entirely true. Although MLS teams look for the Beckham's and such they would always take a well known European experienced player from Prem or Spain etc... Most MLS teams would snap at the chance to take Barry... The Marquee players or Designated players rule is simply a rule for clubs to give more wages above the MLS cap that is in place. They keep increasing the amount of players you are allowed also.

Seen as most European well known players will only consider it once they reach 30 plus years and see it as a great well paid semi retired role the MLS teams tend to go after South American talent now younger players.

Just look at the designated players list from last year. Most of those players the majority of avid football fans would not have a clue who they are.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-every-club-has-dp-first-time-league-history#

You will notice Kenny Miller is the Marquee player for Vancouver not exactly a world beater.

Fair enough mate, just checking through that list though, all the American, European, Canadian players are strikers, only midfielder outside of south america on the list is Cahill known as a goalscorer and with a great media persona to boot.

I'm guessing the unknown south American lads or Kleberson won't be on very much money at all, and whilst it may not be Barry's driving force he isn't a idiot to sign somewhere for 10-15k per week when he can still earn 60-70k easily for a couple of years more, and he doesn't fit the profile of the players earning the higher wages close to what would be needed i guess

 

[Garrick]

I just think hes still a good signing for most teams over here, even for us, surely that would mean he would be a great signing for the MLS?

Maybe some USMTNTMTNT people could let us know, @johnnydawg68, @Garrick, @SerenityNigh ?

Here's the issue with a defensive-minded non-American such as Barry and MLS:

1. To prevent overspending in a new league where many clubs aren't profitable yet, there's a per player salary cap of USD $387,500 per year (so what, 4,500 GBP a week?)

2. The exception to this rule, the Designated Player Rule (AKA the Beckham Rule) allows up to three players per club to be paid more than that amount.

3. Because there's such a limited number of paydays available, a designated player signing must not just only be a great player, but also a great marketable player. Unfortunately, to casual fans goals are sexier than snide tackles.

Therefore, virtually all DP's are goalscorers (Defoe, Henry, Keane, Cahill, etc.). The only more defensive players that pick up DP slots are normally USMNT regulars who can bring the reputation of having a Yank international in your lineup (Omar Gonzalez, Maurice Edu).

So, even though Barry would be an upgrade on pretty much every midfielder in the entire league minus maybe one (Bradley), I find it unlikely that any club would be willing to pay what he would want.