Gareth Barry

[Rook]

He is a very clever player on the pitch, his passing is fantastic.

“If the team is compact and you don't need to run a lot in distance he can press and win tackles and he is aggressive and he was in the box today.

“That surprised me! Not that he was in the box, because at corners he took his position (that we wanted).

“But he's still one of the best players that I have managed in my teams because of the cleverness of him in football is really a high quality.”

Hope he can still still be as good as the Yak was at the age of 50.

 

[marsh]

The Barry haters seem to have dissappeared

 

[Groucho]

The Barry haters seem to have dissappeared

Good. I though when he was receiving stick he was getting the whole squad's share of it.

As I said earlier, I think we've got a job on our hands replacing him when retires.

I was there on his debut, and from the first moment he's been committed, even when initially on loan. That block on Eto'o 5 mins into his debut was superb. Carried on from there.

 

[Swartzy]

Yeah ive got to admit it does put a smile on my face, all these barry slaters have now vanished back to comfort of there bedrooms and fifa. the obsession with having to have a team full of kids these days just does my head in and obviously doesnt come from people with a proper understanding of the game. the way barry reads the game is second to none and he will be a bloody hard player to replace

 

[DownOnTheUpside]

Nah mate, he looks OK in amongst the B team dross. Koeman has seen through Grandad Barry.

Danger danger high vaultage

 

[DownOnTheUpside]

Loads of errors today but got the goal. Think we need someone to at least compete with him for the position other than davies.

Davies is going to be class

 

[thirdmantackle]

He will always look a lot better when the team is set up better and has a proper shape to it.

Last year he was running around trying to plug holes due to the crap defending instilled in the team

 

[Rudolf Hucker]

He carried us in that 1st half when nothing was working. Gerard looked like he wanted to go home (that rain was horrendous to be fair) & the big boys were picking on him.
Barry just keeps doing what he does. He's never outside our top 5 for MoM & rarely outside top 3.

 

[Stutheblue]

We all know he lacks pace and is a yellow card in waiting. And occassionally gets caught out in dangerous areas. But, he is a very good midfielder. Clever, calm in possession, reads it really well, plays it simple (most times), but can also pick a long range pass too. Played well yesterday. Like the look of him and Idrissa at the moment.

 

[DownOnTheUpside]

We all know he lacks pace and is a yellow card in waiting. And occassionally gets caught out in dangerous areas. But, he is a very good midfielder. Clever, calm in possession, reads it really well, plays it simple (most times), but can also pick a long range pass too. Played well yesterday. Like the look of him and Idrissa at the moment.

Those yellow cards are normally the ones someone has to take for the team
He's boss at being a snide

 

[when i score we riot]

He will always look a lot better when the team is set up better and has a proper shape to it.

Last year he was running around trying to plug holes due to the crap defending instilled in the team

And yet he was still our best player last season

 

[MartSlinger]

This will be the season he will start to get phased out, likewise Jagielka - but Barry still has a lot to offer this Season.

If we bring in the right players like we have done so far, we can become less dependent on him meaning he doesn't have to play every game.

 

[when i score we riot]

It's high praise coming from a guy like Koeman, but kin ell credit where credit's due. Excellent man, yesterday's game was boss as well. Carries the midfield like Atlas carries the earth.

 

[fandjango]

Looks like he is apologising for farting in the sitting room

 

[RFUS]

This will be the season he will start to get phased out, likewise Jagielka - but Barry still has a lot to offer this Season.

If we bring in the right players like we have done so far, we can become less dependent on him meaning he doesn't have to play every game.

Thing is though, if he can play every game then let him. Did that last year and was flawless throughout the season.

He's clearly not like most 35 year old players.