NipHolmes said:Neville Kneville said:NipHolmes said:Barry is a liability, just like Lescott. Both should be retained for another two years but neither should be starters.
Barry has been one of our most consistent performers & he, plus Lescott had fewer shit games than Silva, Yaya, Nasri, Aguero, Kompany, etc etc.
It seems to be ok for some players not to turn up for half a season, but one bad game in 15 for Barry or Lescott & they become liabilities.
See it this way.
Could Barry or Lescott improve?
Could Silva, Yaya, Nasri, Aguero and Kompany?
Imo no to the first and yes to the latter, great squad depth and 'easier' game starters but in important games and CL football its Nasty and Fernandinho who start ahead.
lost_n_spaced said:Barry & Garcia get passed around like a pair of traffic cones (which isn't helped by Yaya's lack of enthusiasm or drive to get back when the ball is lost in the opponents half) when the opposition is a footballing side & have the ball.
This was seen in all of our CL games last season (and before you mention BVB & Real getting far, just think of both Ajax games, especially the away one), and whilst - yes, Barry was essential the season before - he is getting on.
Still easily good enough to be part of the squad and play against most teams in the PL if he starts occasionally & intelligently, but I can't see how we can align our desire to advance past the group stages in the CL with a starting spot for Barry.
I have watched him and studied him and I have found him to be waning.BringBackSwales said:Barry is a liability? Garbage, get to a few games and watch what he does - a lot of messy stuff that does not show on the telly, one of our top 5 players again last season. One own goal against Southampton and suddenly he becomes shit in many people's eyes. Players like Barry, Lescott, NDJ were just as instrumental in us winning the league as the more flamboyant players - every team needs grafters as well as flair players, and the rules dictate that we need a few English players
Neville Kneville said:lost_n_spaced said:Barry & Garcia get passed around like a pair of traffic cones (which isn't helped by Yaya's lack of enthusiasm or drive to get back when the ball is lost in the opponents half) when the opposition is a footballing side & have the ball.
This was seen in all of our CL games last season (and before you mention BVB & Real getting far, just think of both Ajax games, especially the away one), and whilst - yes, Barry was essential the season before - he is getting on.
Still easily good enough to be part of the squad and play against most teams in the PL if he starts occasionally & intelligently, but I can't see how we can align our desire to advance past the group stages in the CL with a starting spot for Barry.
Yet the worst display of 'traffic cones' was v Dortmund, & Barry wasn't playing.
Strange.
But it does happen. Kolo was only 22 when he started 37 games for Arsenal's "invincibles." Not 21, admittedly, but not much different. But yeah, I'd keep Lescott for at least another year to compete with Nastasic. I wouldn't buy a world class defender though, because that'll just ruin Nasty's development when he's currently coming along nicely.Neville Kneville said:21 year old kids rarely last full seasons at CB in title winning teams, especially not in the Premier League.
Liable for a mistake. Liability.leewill31 said:barry has never been a liabilty such a strong word for a player that has done nothing but good for the club over his time here...
agreed he is older and slower now and to be taken as a compliment that city had to find a younger fitter player to take his place in Fernandinho.