All right fellas!
Villa fan in peace and all that.
Well it looks as though Barry will end up at your place. A good deal for all parties I feel. Even better that it has been sorted nice and early.
What kind of player will you be getting? Looking at some of your threads it seems to me you need a little more info. Obviously he's a very good player. Great in possession, a very good passer, too. Ace at penalties. He'll be a very good addition, no doubt about it.
What he isn't, however, is a leader. (Sounds daft saying that considering our Boss made him skipper, but I feel O'Neill was using a little man-management there.) I'd even go so far as to say he is liable to go missing when the pressure is on. (Check out Villa's awful tailing off this year and look at Barry's performances against Chelsea, Middlesborough, ManUtd, Stoke, Liverpool...he just vanished, out-fought and out-muscled.) A box to box, all-action midfielder he isn't either. He's consistent, steady and purrs along like a Rolls-Royce when things are going well. Not the fastest and not vocal.
Certainly he is a man to get you in a position to challenge for the top four- but a man to take you to the level beyond? No.
As I say, I'm delighted this deal is seemingly nearly done and just hope O'Neill has someone better lined up as a replace ment. Do I wish he was staying at Villa? Genuinely no. Time for a change all round and a freshen up of things. Not only that, but it makes sense to sell him now. As I say, a good deal for all parties. It'll be interesting to see what unfolds over the summer.
He'll do well for you, though, I have no doubt.
Best wishes.
