Okay, I noticed this against Pool, Norwich and Bayern. Gareth Barry has become the new Xabi Alonso. I remember after the game against Norwich when he was given the MOM award, I thought to myself, nah! He was at best a distant 3rd behind Yaya, and Nasri.
Then I went back and watched the game. My God! Was I wrong. Barry is doing some things I haven't seen since Alonzo left the premiership. He is pinging balls on a tight rope to forwards at an alarming rate. The accuracy and vision has been impeccable. Just go back and watch either Norwich or Bayern, and watch his ALonzo styled long balls. That looping ball Alonzo plays a lot. Barry seems to have figured out how to do it. And he is going crazy with it.
His movement offensively too has been fantastic. on numerous occasions against Norwich and Bayern, teammates have failed to pick him out as he moves Nasri like into dangerous spots. And when we lose the ball, the speed at which he gets back on defense to block or clatter into someone. One has to wonder where the rumors of him being slow came from.
I think Gareth Barry has been City's most impressive players the last 2 weeks or so. And it is not even close.
And no! I am not talking about his consistency, which he always had. I am talking about his raised game. He is playing some lights out football at the moment. I implore anyone to go back an watch (focus on Barry) the last 2 games, and see what he is doing. He is everywhere, and his passes, on the ground, in the air are just a thing of beauty. And he makes it look easy and routine. But they are not. He seems to be the only one who can find a forward on a rope when the opposition crowds the field.
I know most would disagree, but he is doing it better than EL Mago of late. And that my friends, is almost untinkable.
I have ordered my Barry 18, this run of form should not go un-applauded!
Rant Over!
Then I went back and watched the game. My God! Was I wrong. Barry is doing some things I haven't seen since Alonzo left the premiership. He is pinging balls on a tight rope to forwards at an alarming rate. The accuracy and vision has been impeccable. Just go back and watch either Norwich or Bayern, and watch his ALonzo styled long balls. That looping ball Alonzo plays a lot. Barry seems to have figured out how to do it. And he is going crazy with it.
His movement offensively too has been fantastic. on numerous occasions against Norwich and Bayern, teammates have failed to pick him out as he moves Nasri like into dangerous spots. And when we lose the ball, the speed at which he gets back on defense to block or clatter into someone. One has to wonder where the rumors of him being slow came from.
I think Gareth Barry has been City's most impressive players the last 2 weeks or so. And it is not even close.
And no! I am not talking about his consistency, which he always had. I am talking about his raised game. He is playing some lights out football at the moment. I implore anyone to go back an watch (focus on Barry) the last 2 games, and see what he is doing. He is everywhere, and his passes, on the ground, in the air are just a thing of beauty. And he makes it look easy and routine. But they are not. He seems to be the only one who can find a forward on a rope when the opposition crowds the field.
I know most would disagree, but he is doing it better than EL Mago of late. And that my friends, is almost untinkable.
I have ordered my Barry 18, this run of form should not go un-applauded!
Rant Over!