The English Pirlo. That man from Hastings

[southern muppet]

It's a thread about the enigma that is Gareth Barry. Why do so many people seem to not 'get' him and how can the opinion of what seems at times like a fairly healthy majority of football fans (including a lot of our own) be so out of sync with those of top international coaches like Capello, Mancini and Eriksson?

Do you have to have a more refined appreciation of football to appreciate Barry? His passing accuracy, his usually unflappable cool and his footballing brain? Is it simply because he doesn't usually do anything spectacular?

It's not like he's just picked because of a lack of options. We have rather a lot of money in case it'd escaped anyone's notice, and England while an overrated team (i.e as a unit) could hardly be called lacking in midfield quality. Capello continues to go against the usual script of ingrained pro-United bias in the English footballing establishment to pick him over Carrick, and Mancini when asked by a journalist about Sir Joseph Barton's comments on Gareth said ''Joey Barton is a good player...but Gareth Barry, Gareth Barry is a fantastic player''

I have a gut feeling, just a sneaking suspicion, that he will still be at this club as we start to talk about his possibly impending retirement in three or four seasons time. He's already showing himself to be bombproof at the richest club in the world.

So could it be...that's he's just a little bit better than the majority seem to give him credit for?

 

[Dom38]

When people call Barry shit, my head goes straight into my hands. The man is brilliant.

 

[foley87]

most underrated player in the prem

some dicks booed when his name was read out in city square on monday. absolute dicks

 

[Newman Noggs]

Of course it could. He's just not spectacular. Exactly the sort of player every club needs to support the superstars. I suspect most of those who don't appreciate him have never played the game.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

He reminds me of a slightly younger version of Didi Hamann. A cool head, solid use of the ball, good at winning free kicks and always there to pick up the pieces.

I'd just like to see him do a little more going forward. He showed in the USA that he can pick out a great pass and he does that for England as well but doesn't really do it enough for us in my opinion.

 

[Ntini77]

My opinion is blinkered by his astonishing lack of pace.

 

[LongsightM13]

Absolutely spot on.
I thought he was superb on Monday but there were still a few pissed up daytrippers in the hospitality seats behind me slagging him off. One even said 'Mancini should put Mario on for Barry'. This was after about 10 minutes.
Not sure about the Pirlo comparison, mind. They are very different players, though I did notice that his passing on Monday was a lot more positive and ambitious in an attacking sense so perhaps Mancini is encouraging him to take on the role of a deep lying playmaker in the Pirlo mould. He was also unlucky not to score.
He certainly has the chops for it. Remember, at Villa he was not a defensive midfielder. He was a central midfield general and playmaker, everything went through him and he was a real goal threat and set piece specialist too.
As for the list of managers who rate him, you can add another Champions League winner to the list. Rafa Benitez, who was prepared to replace Alonso with Barry and who, in the latest FourFourTwo magazine, suggests our man is the better player, certainly in the context of the Premier League.

 

[MCC]

The English Pirlo....... Gaz Baz!!!!!!

Fucking hells bells.

Someone give me a stiff double. Quick.

Mancio has just called an ambulance.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

He will be vital if we are going to progress in the Champions League. I bet he starts every away leg (unless we're three goals down from the home leg!)

 

[PowderBlue]

good post OP - yes it probably is the case taht he lacks outright pace but pace itself in football doesnt come from being able to run fast, it comes from pass and move in a forward direction. Rags (last year) generally were the paciest team in the prem, with perhaps the only other challenger being spuds, but it is more about their direct one touch game. Barry can run fast enough if the game is played right, and his game is all about knittiing it all together (which adds to our pace) and slowing down the opposition.