What if Barry signs and Xabi stays?

[billy_mac]

Well how are we fixed if this not so unlikely scenario happens? Barry has pretty much no option of staying at Villa after press statements from both himself and MON. Seems that a bid has been accepted with Finnan as make weight. Talk of Juve pulling the plug on Xabi over price. Does Rafa still sell at a cut price? Due to lack of finances? Might need to change the tune to the 'oh oh oh oh oh.... we have the most congested midfield in the world... '

SG
Macher
Xabi
Barry
Lucas
Plessis
with other young lads available

I'm thinking that we might be set up something like this next season, back to the Roy Evans set up.

--------------------Reina----------------------

----------Skrtle-----Carra-----Agger-----------

--Arbeloa/Degen---------------------Dossena---


---------SG------Mascher/Alonso-----Barry-----


-------Babel/2nd striker---------Torres---------

[keniget]

It'll just be like when Momo ended up staying last summer. There will be an obvious odd man out who will end up going sooner rather than later.

[PTP]

sell masher

[rage]

gerrard will play on the right of a 4231 and i even think barry may also play on the left. if this was to come to pass i don't believe we'll have the money for a wide player hence gerrard on the right (as good as anyone really in a 4231 formation and better than what we have there now)

it'll leave masch and alonso as the two defensive midfielders.

The issue for me is will we have the money to bring in an attacking midfielder/striker to play behind torres and who this will be?

[Morph]

gerrard will play on the right of a 4231 and i even think barry may also play on the left. if this was to come to pass i don't believe we'll have the money for a wide player hence gerrard on the right (as good as anyone really in a 4231 formation and better than what we have there now)

it'll leave masch and alonso as the two defensive midfielders.

The issue for me is will we have the money to bring in an attacking midfielder/striker to play behind torres and who this will be?

If Rafa doesn't want Alonso now, why would he change his mind and come the start of the season decide to play him again. If Alonso did end up staying, he'd be warming the bench in favour of a middle 3 of Barry, Mascher and Gerrard. It would also make no sense whatsoever to mess round with the Torres Gerrard partnership, so Stevie will stay in the middle.

[The Birdman]

Won't happen, if Barry signs Alonso will leave.
Maybe not before the season starts as Mascher and Lucas are at the Olympics but he'll go in Jan

[Reece]

We'll have the best midfield in the world

[Gaz]

We'll have the best midfield in the world

Exactly my thoughts when i read the title

[frank the tank]

Exactly my thoughts when i read the title

me 2

i wouldn't mind a team of:

-------------------------reina----------------------------

carragher-------skrtel-------------agger-----------dossena


-----------mascherano-----------alonso-------------------

kuyt-------------------gerrard------------------------barry


------------------------torres------------------------------


to be perfectly honest... it would be tough as **** to beat and against the likes of manU and chelsea away, then it might make sense....

added to the fact that there will be injuries, suspensions, resting of players and olympics, then maybe it would make sense...

a lot of people on here compare us to manUtd in that they spent similar sums on carrick and hargreaves as we are on barry.. well carrick and hargreaves dont play every simgle game by any means - perhaps it would benifit us to have this much strenght in depth in the middle - especially when you consider lucas and plessis are also knocking on the door and my team didn't include babel, bennayoun either.....

[saveferris]

We would have a better squad, which is what we should be looking to do, we have a good spine to the team, we need better players in our squad to have an effective rotation system, and win the games we drew last year.

[Sarb]

I'd sell Lucas

[El Jefecito]

I'd sell Lucas

You'd live to regret that decision.

[El Jefecito]

I'm against this scenario for a whole host of reasons. Among which,

1/ You don't move away from 4231/4411. We finally have a formation that gets the best out of our best players.
2/ Two up front is a waste these days, a single striker can keep the centerbacks busy, so the extra body is best deployed between the lines or at least coming from a deeper position. Avoids isolation of the strikers.
3/ This would put a halt on Lucas' development. He needs to be getting more games this year not less.
4/ 3 at the back when most teams are playing with one up front is a waste of a player, especially when you have El Jefecito in front of the CHs. You almost end up with a sweeper behind AND in front of the two main CHs.

[Parm]

We'll have the best midfield in the world

efo, can only strentghen us if he stays