Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Murph 
Date:Sunday June 29 2008
Time: 7:45PM
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Villa Boss Speaks on the Barry Saga
Martin O`Neill has admitted that both he and chairman Randy Lerner were 'surprised` by the comments reportedly given to the News of the World by Gareth Barry this weekend.
As previously reported on Vital Villa, Barry has made a number of comments in the National Newspaper suggesting that he has been completely without contact, incentives or reasoning to stay on at Villa Park, and that any further attempt to stay on in Birmingham would be "pointless."
The story from the other side somewhat paints an alternative story.
Avfc.co.uk have conviently run an article just as Martin O`Neill seemingly dithered live on BBC television (think he was struggling to find words) and fires back a somewhat strong response, without resorting to the Patrik Berger style "he`s not playing for Aston Villa again" promise. A number of Vital Villa members suggested that the midfielders original comments, were somewhat timed to coincide with his managers' punditry for BBC One.
Speaking to avfc.co.uk O`Neill said:
"My chairman and I were surprised with the comments attributed to Gareth Barry in his exclusive interview with a national newspaper today.
"Contrary to what was reported, we desperately wanted to keep Gareth at Villa Park and he knows that.
"We asked both Gareth and his agent to consider what had been discussed at our meeting which included a variety of options to incentivise the player."
He added yet another subtle hint to the Liverpool manager, that offering the right sort of cash will see them acquire what seems to be their #1 target of the summer, the poor souls!
"We have made our position clear in respect of Liverpool's interest in the captain of our club but if Liverpool meet our valuation then Gareth Barry will get his express wish to leave Villa Park."
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Your Comments
On the 30th August `when` Barry returns to VP we should all go to Aston park and burn our GB shirts on 1 big bonfire!
I hope he pi$$es off up the M6, sits on Liverpools bench for 24months and miss out on a world cup squad place. In the mean time Villa march on and take 4th place!
Also the tw*t that is Rafa Benitez will be out once DIC takeover. Will the new manager fancy GB? Could Rafa get the Spain job if their 70year old manager packs in?
AVFC_WSM
Not bitter then?
pentonpompey
not much!!!
I would not like to be him coming to VP for the rest of his carear.
He had the chance to join paul mcgrath as a villa legend. No he joins Dwight Yorke as a former player who is not welcome at VP.
AVFC_WSM
I hardly call that bit at the end 'subtle'. It seems the end of this increasingly boring story should be approaching at last. Instead of being bitter though, try and put it in a positive light - If he goes, you'll be up to 20mill richer, and surely Mr Lerner will shunt this right back into your transfer kitty? That'll get you a couple of quality players if MON can uncover a couple of his gems. And before you yell at me, yes I am a Liverpool fan and all I can say is this is the attitude I tried hard to take when it looked like Gerrard was joining Chavski - 35mill would have been a dream. As it is I'm glad he's stayed, but it's not like we were (or you are) getting robbed.
Naoise
The trouble is my friend Liverpool do not have any cash, they are struggling to borrow the money for the new stadium, and they even want the Crouch offer from Portsmouth as cash up front. If you can find 15-20 million then fine otherwise I feel Gareth will be staying but will find increased compettiion for his place. Unlike Liverpool we don't need to sell anyone to buy players and we have plenty of money.
daveldvilla
Has he handed in a transfer request yet or is he still clutching at his 'loyalty' bonus? Surely his comments count as a request. If he isn't prepared to sacrifice his bonus and hand in a proper request then he can't expect the club to bend over for him regarding the transfer fee. t*sser
UTV
I don't see why Barry's getting so worked up. Nobody's had a bid accepted for him and he's not handed in a transfer request. Therefore, he's running his mouth of in the press for no apparant reason.
Why should MO'N speak to him about his future, he's got a contract. He may as well speak to all of the other players about their future too if this is the case, Barry's in essentially the same boat as the whole squad.
lorenzo
The long and short of this saga is that we're not desperate to sell and the Anfield transfer kitty ain't that impressive. If Gillette and Hicks cough up 18million and Pool they can have him. If they can't, tough: Gareth will return to VP and have to fight for his place against the likes of Sidwell and maybe even Bentley. No chance of him wearing the captain's armband. He might even find himself sulking on the bench for the next two years...hardly the best situation for a player aiming for the England world cup squad.
pongogidman
Fairly obvious then. We have made a valuation of an asset and it's up to the people who want to buy that asset as to whether they can afford it or think he is worth it.
I just hope that if the valuation is not met and he stays with us we keep seeing some fine performances.
supermansfoot
The bin dippers won't pay more than 12m end of! In the words of Tom Jones, it's not their problem if our captain wants to leave!
tarzan
if liverpool dont stump up what are we going to do? let him rot in reserves or take £15m????????????????????
Stig
Liverpool would have advised him to do that yesterday,They will stump up the ransom money and discover they have got a one footed plodder who needs the whole team to revolve around him in order to perform well.Sooner the better ungrateful little ****.
british84
Good point british84. At the moment the whole scouse team revolves around Gerrard. Poor little Gareth will feel very unwanted, similarly to how he should be feeling at VP.
Villan444
wait till this time next year , the situation will arise again i feel but with ashley young
meakers
I have no problem with players leaving the cub they come and go that is football,Its the way they do it, ie-Olof mellberg=the right way,Gareth barry=the wrong way.
british84
Redscouse demand £15m for Crouch who has year left on his contract. We demand £18m for Barry who has 2 years. It is all a game of brinksmanship and he who blinks first. However Redscouse are holding a low pair whilst we are sat with a running flush. A lot of the whole transfer situation for many clubs revolves around the theoretically bankrupt red quarter of Merseyside (I say quarter because most Scousers support Bluescouse, Redscouse are just a tourist attraction). When the Barry, Crouch, Alonso situation is resolved, the transfer merry go round will really kick into action. As Redscouse have no money, they are effectively trying to play keep up with more financially stable and better run clubs, but do not have the financial clout to call the shots. I like Gareth, I hope he stays but am disappointed by his comments yesterday. However if he goes and we get £18m then it is a good deal for both clubs and I would then hope redscouse f*** up and get knocked out in their qualifying game for the Champions League. Oh how we would laugh.
voiceoftheholte
rather have silva then barry but not complaining too much its a plus to have some-one really want to play for your team so much he will alienate his fans from villa, so hopefully we will get good things from him, plus its another english player in our team which can always be good, and steven gerrard and barry playing together on a consistent basis especially at the beginning of the season when masch and lucas are off to beijing. Got to be a plus for the England squad
MightyRedBrigade
Well said Mightyredbrigade. A bit like when Owen said he would rather fight for a place at Real Madrid than player for Redscouse. Stones and glass houses spring to mind.
voiceoftheholte
Barry has made an error in judgement of monumental proportions. He has made 2 huge assumtions 1, Liverpool have the cash and prospects that meet his ambitions. 2, He thought that MON would roll over and let him go. Liverpool also have made huge assumtions, MON would accept players and cash in exchange. and if they put the pressure on MON would buckle. The very important point they have both missed, is MON was taught his trade by the great BRIAN CLOUGH. I think Barry should sack his advisors due to the fact they have put the pressure on there client by allowing him to make statements in the press when preseason starts thursday. I would love to be a fly on the wall at BMH that day. I'm affraid mr Barry your fool who has been miss advised.
gappy65
15 million + a player, let him go. this kind of reeks of his agent who most regard as a fool, so i agree totally with gappy65.
leftfoot
He's a very naughty boy.
Barry's agent needs to realise he's just the oily rag and the chubby spanaird is the organ grinder. And he needs to buy a very long ladder cause the hole he's digging is getting deeper.
Mister Mick
I honestly believe we have the next Brian Clough at Villa Park. Something tells me Cloughy would've dealt with this in exactly the same way as MON has. Although with more blood-shed involved! Well done Martin O' Neill, you've made me so proud:)
Villan-in-Cyprus
What happens if Liverpool don't stump up the cash? I would like to see some clear idication that we have the cash to take this club to the next level.
myleftfoot
MON has handled this whole sorry mess superbly. Agreed Villan-in-Cyprus, there is definitely a little piece of Brian Clough at work in our Martin.
glensider
This latest gaff from Barry and his agent is a slap in the face to everything and anything AVFC. No turning back now Barry. You've made your bed sunshine, now hit the road.
glensider
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