Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Friday August 15 2008
Time: 12:11PM
UK time is: 07:03:50
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Is The Gareth Barry Saga Over?
Not surprisingly I guess, Gareth Barry is once again the talk of the town having effectively cup tied himself in last nights goal scoring appearance in the Uefa Cup game v FH Hafnarfjordur.
Barry now, as I understand it, could not play in the Champions League for Liverpool if he was transferred until the February stages. Some of the press are claiming that Liverpool will now come in with a reduced bid for the former Villa captain (I assume 'former' is correct, the decision lies with Martin O'Neill obviously and lets face it, there isn't a man alive who could second guess the Villa boss!) but that is just pants, we've made it clear all summer what his price is, nothing less will be accepted.
Curtis Davies, who made a welcome return from injury, said after the game:
'We love Gareth, we want him to stay and hopefully he does. We just try to get on with it. If Gareth's there I'm happy. If he's not there one day, I will be disappointed but good luck to him.'
Stiliyan Petrov agrees telling the official site: 'It was great to have Gareth in the side. With all that has been going on, his attitude has been great. You could see that last night. He was working hard as part of the team and he didn't let anyone down. It's good to have Gareth on the team and my point of view is that he's a great player. If he stays here we will welcome him big-time. If he goes away we will miss him big-time because he's a big player and when you have a player like that you try to keep him as long as you can. He's a very good professional and he showed that. It doesn't matter what people write about him - is he going to go or stay - he is motivated. After all these years at Aston Villa he still loves the club and that's good news.'
So what do you think, is this summer long saga now over?
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Your Comments
Be lovely to see him being tempted with a new contract now, he was top quality last night and I'm sure if he helps fire us into the top 4-5 even the major Barry doubters will forgive - if not forget?
The Fear
I think that bottom picture makes him look like he has tiny legs
Villa4Europe
Sick of reading about it, sort it out ffs
marron
If MON were to buy maybe Downing/Milner and RSC we'd look like a really strong unit, that would be the time to offer Baz a new contract and if he were to accept give him back the captaincy. we could really challenge the top 4 then.
johnmurphy3112
Its been over for nearly a month, Liverpool signed Keane, and havent been back in touch with the club. I think Barry realises that, hence him cup-tieing himself.
young_jonah
I think he'll stay til January at least now, but really he needs to sign a new contract to win over the villa faithful, even if the contract has some kind of Champions League release clause.
Still, Barry might decide to run down his contract for a cut price move next summer.
keithlees1978
If Liverpool even want him next summer.......
young_jonah
If his price is lower he may tempt Arsenal, or even teams in Spainn or Italy with hs recognised technical ability, especially if he impresses in the World Cup qualifiers this season.
keithlees1978
I'm sick of saying it, when will you lot just believe me when I say Barry Is Going Nowhere!
GCR_villlan
GCR, I wish I could share your belief, but Barry's refusal to speak after the match last night suggesthe still wants to leave, or he'd have come out and said "I'm stayind", and n the long term we won't be able to keep a player that wants to leave. Thats how we signed Shorey and Cueller.
keithlees1978
As Barry can leave on a free next summer is it not the better long term option to take the large chunk of cash on offer?
Phartman87
Barry has 2 years left on his contract, he can give us 12 months notice that he intends to buy out the remainder of his contract, (for about £1.6million), but he can't leave on a free. Also, he has to buy out the contract himself, as he isn't allowed to negotiate with other parties until his contract is finished or the last 6 months of his existing deal. That makes it risky for Barry, as there is no guarantee he'll get what he wants in twelve months.
keithlees1978
I can't imagine this will affect MON's demands a whole lot. To him, it's his advantage that barry played and can only hope it will encourage him to stay, as that's clearly what he wants.... But it's obvious l'pool will probably use this to their advantage too and suggest he's worth less to them, but then is he worth any less to villa cos he's played? Probably more so now... so I can't see this being resolved in the remotest by a lower offer. If anything, they'll have to wait till summer and then come in with a lower offer.
johnnyuk
Absolutely, Johnny, although we can hold out hope that Barry realises that we are a better club than Liverpool, though not yet a better side, and sign an Extension.
keithlees1978
I'll say it again as no one apparently listens. A player can only buy out his contract if he is moving to a foriegn league so he can't do this and then move to redscum.
Villan Of The North
Phartman87 I think that's the point, there isn't a large chunk of cash on offer. Liverpool are about to implode and as good as Barry is on the pitch, i'm sick to death of him ****ing us all around. Say you're going and p**s off or say you're staying and apologise. What doesn't he get???!? I think he's loving the attention, and it's making his over-inflated ego worse. Let's stop talking about it.
Villan-in-Cyprus
Honestly don't think we'll sell anyone in January, so he'd have to stay all season.
The Fear
i dont see why we have to cut the price no he is cup tied.. yes he is worth less to the pool now but not to us... its not like he played for liverpool in the cup while owned by us and now he cant play for us in europe...
aussie_villan
Why would Barry be worth less? He would sign a contract for 3-4 years not 6 months!
gappy65
Rafa has just taken a swipe at Parry over the Barry saga. He say's it's not his fault everyone should blame the board at LFC. Now there a harmonious club if ever there was one! Barry must be nuts if he still wants to go there after the manager is taking swipes at the hierarchy.
gappy65
Nothing is "for-ever"n football. Barry is still a Villa player and for that we are forunate. I am sure that as long as he wears a Villa shirt he will always do his best and that's all we can ask. Don't read anything into his reluctance to speak to the press - his actions in asking to play last night speak volumes for me - imo he's turned his back on Liverpool. I'll be surprised if he doesn't sign a new contract when all the dust has settled so he will then be paid gis true value.
villacross
Villan-in-Cyprus - what the **** has he got to apologise for? The guy wants to play in Europe- why should he be denied that. True, he said a few harsh things about his boss which was wrong and this cost him two weeks wages and "semi-exile" from the club - end of problem! I wish we had a few more like him.
villacross
When will the "penny drop" foe all you concerned whether he's going or staying? HE ASKED TO PLAY LAST NIGHT, REPEAT ..."HE ASKED TO PLAY". In doing this he has effectivelu committed himself to Villa for at least one more season. There is no way that he will be sold in January, but if he maintains his form and Villa are not in contention for Euro football in 2009/10, I suspect he'll be gone to a club where his ambitions can be realised - and who can blame him?
villacross
Has anyone else heard that Barry has now set a deadline for the red****es to come in for him, 3pm on Sunday apparently.
Heard it on the O/S Press Conference with Carew and Sky Sports News
Looks like he's lost patience with them and wants an end to it all.
Given the comments from Liverpool this week I can't see anything happening now.
By the way Rafa's comments today just highlight what a pathetic club I've always thought them to be.
Hopefully Barry stays and realises what a lucky escape he's had
darkade
The rumour is that Barry will stay if Liverpool don't come in the with an accetable offer by premirership kick off [Sunday 3pm].
He will therefore be staying, me thinks!
Would love him to add a years extension to his contract as well [at least].
AVGD
Also, he was easily our best player last night - worrying really!
AVGD
'he said a few harsh things about his boss which was wrong' well there's the answer to your question then villacross. No one's denying him anything, quite the opposite - the club has actually gone out of it's way to let him leave. What's got to me more is how he never handed in a transfer request, so he obviously wasn't THAT desperate to play European football. A bit of honesty wouldn't go a miss. Anyhow, he's playing European football now so everyone's happy.
Villan-in-Cyprus
darkade - I feel I must correct you. Liverpool were definitely one of the Tip4 Clubs, not only in the UK but arguably one on the Top4 Clubs in Europe alongside ManU, Barcelona and Real Madrid. It is sad what has happened these in the last few years but hopefully something will happen there similare to what has happened to our beloved Villa. I just hate to see the "Best in Britain" being "raped" as we are now seeing there. Barry, keep away!
villacross
Villan-in-Cyprus - you must be a saint if you've never criticised your immediate manager. Not to be able to do so is not the way we live in the UK. He broke the Club rules and paid the penalty
villacross
Villacross; Your quite correct about Barry being our best player and just wanting to play in Europe. But Barry doesn't appear to be a stupid boy. So why allow yourself to be illadviced? If indeed your not trying to engineer a move away from the club at all costs. The comments that was made were not only disrespectful to his current employer but also wrong. Yes he paid the penalty, But an apology is nessersary imo. Also to go back on an agreement shows he is so desperate to leave He is quite prepared to stoop to ethical lows to do so. One more thing villacross if you publicly slated your boss, you would be reprimanded maybe even sacked. Maybe that's what Barry wanted... I just think Barry has behaved very badly in this sorry saga, and he cant expect to come out of this with a squeaky clean reputation. He tarnished it himself.
gappy65
I criticise my senior officer at work all the time, but what's said in the office stays in the office. If i'd been stupid enough to slag him off in a national newspaper then I would have no choice but to apologise (aswell as being reprimanded). Not to mention the fact that Martin O' Neill has given Barry EVERYTHING, he had some truly shocking seasons in those 10 years and if it wasn't for MON then another club wouldn't even be interested because he'd still be an average left back. He wanted his England career back, when O' Neill arrived he told Gareth he would he would have his England place back.... and he got it. Now arguably an England captain. So tell me what warranted his slanderous comments. I disagree with the point that Barry is an intelligent person. Regardless of whether he was advised or not, it doesn't take much brain power to work out that it was a bad idea. Secondly, he still wants to move to a club still on the brink of disaster and possibly won't even qualify for Europe. Clever boy.
Villan-in-Cyprus
And according to public opinion (referring to the poll) Ashley Young was by far our best player, not Gareth Barry. Young is a more important player to us anyway, i'd keep him over Barry any day of the week.
Villan-in-Cyprus
I would have been concerned had the players not expressed a desire to see Barry remain at Villa Park, but its still pleasing that they seem to speak as one in their desire to see him stay at the club. No doubt though he's been pretty much aware of their feelings throughout this protracred saga, and it seems to have made little difference.
glensider
Why though should it be suggested that his fee should now be reduced due to his ineligibility for the Champions League until the new year? Surely the fee represents our value of the player, and what he's worth to us, and shouldn't in any way be adjusted to fit or suit the circumstances of Liverpool Football Club?
glensider
I agree glensider. The suggestion that the fee should be reduced because he's cup-tied is by far the most ridiculous thing that's been said throughout this Liverpool farce. When you by someone who plays in the CL or for their country, the fee goes up. Therefore i'd add another £2M on now he's playing UEFA Cup.
Villan-in-Cyprus
It's time for Barry to make a statement, if as suggested he has given redscum his own deadline then we should be hearing something in the next few days
steff_the_villan
Yes it's time to hear it from the horses mouth.
Villan-in-Cyprus
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