Gaz Baz

[JohnDoe]

Barry, yes.

Downing, only if we're selling Riera. And even then, meh.

[Roboklopp]

Would take Barry, be very disappointed with Downing as our new attacker.

[PTP]

I'd be happy with Barry - certainly if we can get him for a good price - whenever I have seen him this season he has been excellent to be fair and i think he would step up to the plate. - I'd be more than happy to have Alonso/Mascher/Barry fighting out for the centre mid spots with cover from gerrard if needed and then rafa makes a decision between either keeping lucas or bringing through jay spearing and selling lucas as the extra centre mid back up.

My major major concern this summer, and i get sick when this time of the season comes is all the ****ing rumours that are going to be doing the rounds again! we are close, very ****ing close! and we need to keep certain players! - Reina, Carra, Agger, Skrtel, Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard, Torres for me are all top players - Arbeloa, Aurelio, Kuyt and Benayoun are very good/solid players i'd also like to see stay. We have a few prospects with Ngog and Insua - after that anyone else can go.

If we kept the above squad and added a good right back to challenge/cover arbeloa, barry, silva, and a this all elusive striker who could come and either partner gerrard or torres if one or the other is out. Then We will be set.

With regards downing - i'd rather have the younger Johnson lad from borough who plays down the left

[Imy]

Barry is a good player and IF Alonso/Lucas leaves would be a great addition to the squad, but as it stands i rather keep Alonso and then sign Barry.

[Exiled_red]

I think that Barry is a decent player but isn't an improvement on what we have in the first team at the moment, he's an improvement in what we have as back up and from that point of view could be worth signing, but isn't a priority. We need to deal with areas of the first 11 that need sorting out first, then if there's money left in the budget sign Barry by all means, but I'll be dissapointed if he's our main signing of the summer.

[Kenneth]

I think that Barry is a decent player but isn't an improvement on what we have in the first team at the moment, he's an improvement in what we have as back up and from that point of view could be worth signing, but isn't a priority. We need to deal with areas of the first 11 that need sorting out first, then if there's money left in the budget sign Barry by all means, but I'll be dissapointed if he's our main signing of the summer.

Now I'm no Barry fan, but he is a much better player than Lucas. Lucas should not be getting numerous games for our first team at the moment and bringing Barry in would be welcome if that was the trade off. We don't have a backup in CM, all of them seemn to get lots of games.

[Craig_H]

Has Babel played enough to require a one for one replacement?
In terms of Downing I think he could given time become a productive Kuyt like player. I don't think that is what we need right now (so I would spend the money elsewhere) but I do think he could offer something in the future.



Benayoun had too but he took a season and a half to really understand what was needed at a top PL team.

I'd say Babel would need a replacement because, other than Riera, who else do we have even as an attacking option down the left? Not Aurelio or Dossena, for me.

Downing is the opposite of a quality impact player and we can accommodate ONE hard working, non-flair player on the wings in Kuyt, but not two.

[Roboklopp]

I'd say Babel would need a replacement because, other than Riera, who else do we have even as an attacking option down the left? Not Aurelio or Dossena, for me.

Downing is the opposite of a quality impact player and we can accommodate ONE hard working, non-flair player on the wings in Kuyt, but not two.

Aye, which is why I think we need a LW rather than a right one- kuyt offers more the Riera (who we should keep as a squaddie).

[dww]

I'd say Babel would need a replacement because, other than Riera, who else do we have even as an attacking option down the left? Not Aurelio or Dossena, for me.

Downing is the opposite of a quality impact player and we can accommodate ONE hard working, non-flair player on the wings in Kuyt, but not two.

I think Benayoun/Kuyt/Dossena/Aurelio give a viable option on the left.

I agree that we need a pacy impact player but I don't think they necessarily have to be a left sided one.

I also think that Rafa is likely to look to have an alternative tactic that is to have two wide player and stretch teams - a formation in which Downing is more suited than most and probably the area in which he would differ from Kuyt. I don't think that you necessarily need what people tend to think of as flair players in those positions. The keys to making that work would be having either a target man and a more dynamic CM option (although if we are chasing a game Gerrard could do that role).

[Craig_H]

Problem with Aurelio and Dossena is that neither is attack minded. Aurelio isnt reliable on a fitness level whilst the jury's still out on Dossena, ability-wise.

Yossi's good but i'm not entirely convinced with regards to the left hand side.

[Scratch]

as for downing.......don't make me laugh. he is terrible. one trick pony as he can cross the ball THAT IS ALL.

Beckham made a career out of this ability...

[frank the tank]

basically, if we were to sign barry, he gives rafa so many more options. We could play with 3 centre backs and with barry as a left wingback, with barry in the holding role, barry could deputise for either mascher or xabi and also barry could even play in the stevie role if required. Lets be 100% honest, imagine we are playing manU away next season and mascher is suspended whereas xabi is injured, we would all prefer garry barry in place of spearing or lucas.

One point i would make though is this: Barry would need to be 100% aware that he won't have the same starting slot in the centre of the park as he has at villa. I think that was the main problem with keane, he expected to play up top with el nino all the time but when he was asked to play in the main striker role, or the attacking midfielder role, he got the hump!!!!

Also, people seem to go on and on about the need for a right winger (and to an extent i agree - personally i'd like to see lennon here) but i get the feeling that rafa might push for width to come from the full backs next year......if we had a team of:

-----------------------------REINA---------------------------

ARBELOA--------CARRA---------------AGGER------------INSUA

-------------------------MASCHERANO------------------------

-----------ALONSO----------------------BARRY---------------

-------------------------GERRARD----------------------------

---KUYT------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------TORRES-------------------


then this could offer arbeloa and insua the option to bomb forward.........and have the game intelligence and protection of barry, mascherano and alonso..............



Overall though, i agree with an earlier poster in that we dont need to make loads of changes this summer - one or two only!!!!

[the rev leeroy brown]

Beckham made a career out of this ability...

beckham had heart as well. he gave everything when on the pitch. he covered alot of ground and even though wasn't great at it he tackled too. downing does nothing.

[Exiled_red]

Now I'm no Barry fan, but he is a much better player than Lucas. Lucas should not be getting numerous games for our first team at the moment and bringing Barry in would be welcome if that was the trade off. We don't have a backup in CM, all of them seemn to get lots of games.

I would just prefer us to spend money on a top class player who is in the team 90% of the time, rather than spending less on such a player to accomodate the signing of Barry.

Barry in my opinion is at best equal with Alonso but better than Lucas, and we have a strong central midfield so would in all likelihood rotate if we had Barry/Alonso/Mascherano meaning none would play 90% of games. Which is why I would prioratise other areas of the team.

If we had for arguements sake £25m to spend I'd rather spend £25m on a creative winger/wide player than £17m on such a player and ~£8m on Barry, as I think that would improve the team more

[Kenneth]

I would just prefer us to spend money on a top class player who is in the team 90% of the time, rather than spending less on such a player to accomodate the signing of Barry.

Barry in my opinion is at best equal with Alonso but better than Lucas, and we have a strong central midfield so would in all likelihood rotate if we had Barry/Alonso/Mascherano meaning none would play 90% of games. Which is why I would prioratise other areas of the team.

If we had for arguements sake £25m to spend I'd rather spend £25m on a creative winger/wide player than £17m on such a player and ~£8m on Barry, as I think that would improve the team more

I agree. I'm definitely in favour of focusing on a small number of top top buys.