Gareth Barry

[LinekersLegs]

He didn't shine at all, Bony rolled him time and time again.

Did he, thought he was a little shakey when he first switched but after that thought he settled down well.

I'm not fully objective on Barry though so may have been seeing what I wanted to see - feel that him moving to CB as his legs go would be a good way of keeping his experience and ability to read the game within the team.

 

[marekb]

But you can equally say the same of John Terry who the past two seasons has been superb for Chelsea. As long as the side is set up to accomodate it, for instance covering pace in the other CB/midfielder in front/fullback, then it shouldn't expose us too badly. IIRC McCarthy switched over to take Barry's left CM role to help in the Swansea game.

Not ideal but manageable given some of the benefits you highlighted.

Fair points, as emergency cover I certainly don't mind Martinez putting him in there to have a go, he knows how to manage his game and due to his experience plays the game better than most with his brain, which puts him 1 step ahead of most in the prem.

In conclusion, there are better and more dynamic centre halves out there, but I have no concerns on him doing the job if required.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Hope his injury isn't too serious, the Barry/McCarthy partnership is so important to how we play.

 

[Michaelcoyb]

I think it may have been precautionary.

 

[EverBlue86]

Hope his injury isn't too serious, the Barry/McCarthy partnership is so important to how we play.

Will no doubt be out for 8 weeks that's our luck

 

[neil999]

broken earlobe apparently, 6 years out

 

[4737carlin]

To be honest i thought he was stupid for going in for that ball, at 3 0 up even if they won the ball, it wasnt worth a potential injury, just hope he is ok

 

[Duncan Disordely]

Bad gash apparently.. Should get himself down the GUM clinic


Hopefully we'll see some roatary on of him and Gibson going forward. Barry where we need more solidity, Gibson against the harder to break down teams who'll be less threatening.

 

[xreyuk]

Gareth Bareth, engine room supreme. Somebody has already pointed it out on here, but I love how him and James protect each other/have a go at the ref if one of them gets crocked by a bad challenge. James was right over having a word against Swansea the other day.

McCarthy was like Thais after the 50/50 today, lad nearly got in a scrap and I loved it.

 

[banno]

What a signing Gareth Barry is. Reads the game beautifully, is very rarely sloppy in possession and just ticks along. Just like McCarthy in the sense of doing a very good job quietly and efficiently. We have a central midfield that is up there with the best in the PL

 

[weltonblue]

Quality player. Has time when others are rushed.
Hope he is fit for Sunday.

 

[streeky]

a

Have we just defined Gareth Barry using astronomy?

Christ.

so we have a gift from the god's and a gift from the heavens

 

[streeky]

There was a point in the Fulham game I think and he wasn't even paying attention when Oviedo (I think it was) lobbed the ball at him from a throw. He saw it at the last millisecond and calmly, without looking where he was putting it, flicked the ball, on the volley first time, over/through a bunch of players, straight to Lukaku.

He does that about 73 times a game as well, under pressure or free, our box or theirs.

He's not even remotely arsed. Ace player. By FAR the most important player in our side and is absolutely pissing POTY as it stands.

That's why he plays EVERY game.

 

[Saint Domingo]

Hope the injury is not too bad. Would like to see Gibson get more game time though agai st sides we struggle to break down if the Barry McCarthy axis isn't working. Unbelieavable that we got Barry and McCarthy for less than Joe Allen.

 

[Dymak]

I love players who are extremely proficient in 'reading' the game, both from a defensive perspective like Barry, or from an attacking perspective like Sherringham. Conversely, I find massive lumps who are totally wank at reading the game to be quite frustrating, especially when they are incorrectly lauded as being defensively proficient. Reading the game is a fundamental part of defensive play, and something that cant be documented by statistics.