Gareth Barry On The James Milner Situation

Damn, I so wanted to be angry and upset at Gareth Barry for his comments about James Milner but having full read them, I just can't be! lol I got a few texts whilst away saying that Barry had stirred things up but to be fair, I'm not sure he has really?

I do think his policy would have been to say nothing at all but there isn't that much wrong with what he said.

Talking with the Daily Mail the former Villa star said that Milner is in the same position as he was before he left and that it isn't easy.

He says that James needs to thrash things out with the manager. Ok, not rocket science that, I'm sure the player and his agent realise this!

'My advice to him would be to try to get the situation sorted as quickly as possible. Mentally, it is tough to deal with and it does mess with your brain. As soon as I had made my mind up that it was not going to happen, and committed to playing for Villa again, my mind stopped wandering elsewhere.'

However the bit that saved Barry from being totally wrong in my ever so humble opinion was the fact he admits that Villa aren't in the wrong.

'It's exactly the same situation as the one I was in. It is hard to say that Martin O'Neill or Villa are doing anything wrong. They have put a valuation on James and if it is not being met they are within their rights to turn offers down. But it is tough for the player.'

I must admit, I don't feel sorry for the player at all, think of the money they are on each week? Not bad compensation for an awkward situation is it?

I think Milner leaving would be far worse than when Barry went. Barry, no matter what anyone says, I think gave 12 years great service, earnt us around £12million on his departure (despite only having a year left on his contract) and did give his all in the final season even though he had wanted to move on the summer before.

Fans do forget that players are staff and us fans are the .... well, fans basically.

But with Milner (and it does still appear he wants out) he has had his head turned by money and isn't showing any 'loyalty' to Villa who were the ones that got him to the World Cup. Think that is fair, he was at Newcastle United and with their struggles I can't see that the player would have been on the plane? It was MON bringing him back to Villa Park and utilising him correctly that pushed him upward in contention?

Hey ho, if we get £25m ish for him including a player or two, it will still have been a good signing and a decent sale. Arsenal were past masters of buying at the right price and more importantly selling at the right price. We've not boxed quite so clever over the years but this one would be a good deal. Shame he'll have to spend so much time sitting on the Manchester City bench but I guess that is his £ecision.

So there you go, I had expected to do an angry, 'oh shut up Barry' type of article, but to be fair, he talks much sense there!

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