Boro (h) Post match thread

[dww]

dww - Barry was moved from wide left because he was too slow there and didn't play well. He was so poor that Villa agreed a fee with Pompey of £7m last summer but O'Neill kept him promising him a midfield role. So I am not sure Barry would be the answer on the left for a club with our ambitions.

Read my post - I said he would help with width from a central starting position. See Villa vs Man City for what I mean. I'm pretty sure that a/ Barry has played in the centre and was having Barry for England calls for the last two years at least and b/ that fee is pure speculation with sod all to back it up.

[dww]

But....if thats the case why didnt Rafa stick to his plan of using that system and getting a Barry replacement instead of spunking millions on an out and out left winger? (and a largely unproven one at that)

Well, from the Parry statement the obvious answer is that he wasn't allowed to buy Barry for whatever reason.

[Rashid]

Barry himself said he was about to go to Pompey but O'Neill stopped him.

[Rashid]

Just say things went to plan. We sell Alonso, we buy Barry, we buy Keane, - where was the width supposed to come from? You can't say the full backs because Rafa buying Riera sort of proves he was after a wide midfielder or else he would buy another CM to replace Alonso right?

[Darth Marty]

Well, from the Parry statement the obvious answer is that he wasn't allowed to buy Barry for whatever reason.

What I meant dww was that say Rafa had made up his mind that he was playing a particular style and formation and that in order to do that well he wanted Barry as the left sided player. Thats fine, typically though our owners and ceo **** it up. Surely then Rafa should go looking (or have plan b targets) for a Barry clone if you will, someone similar in style and substance to Gareth Barry in order to keep his plans going. But what he has seemingly done is go for a completely different style of player which surely means he cant keep the same system he would have used had Barry come in.

Isnt it easier to replace a player than change a system?


Thats just to continue the earlier chat we had, however i dont want to go on, Rafas plans have been ****ed this season by the Barry saga so I just hope he gets the best out of who ever he decides to buy. Good start with 6 from 6 so lets build on that eh.

[dww]

I can't think of anyone who fits the Barry clone idea though - certainly not of the required quality.

Any way - what was this thread supposed to be about?

[Rich]

Rashid does have a point that Rafa wanted Barry to provide width down the left which is a little worrying, still we're 6 points out of 6 points. Reasons to be cheerful

[El Jefecito]

Rashid does have a point that Rafa wanted Barry to provide width down the left which is a little worrying, still we're 6 points out of 6 points. Reasons to be cheerful

Did Rafa really say that? That he was bringing in Barry to play (first choice) as a LW?

[Rashid]

Did Rafa really say that? That he was bringing in Barry to play (first choice) as a LW?

Yes. He said Barry can play 3 positions but we really need someone for the left. I think the plan according was to play a midfield of:

Kuyt Gerrard Mascherano Barry

[slimbimjim]

dww - Barry was moved from wide left because he was too slow there and didn't play well. He was so poor that Villa agreed a fee with Pompey of £7m last summer but O'Neill kept him promising him a midfield role. So I am not sure Barry would be the answer on the left for a club with our ambitions.

Exile Red: I disagree that Rafa hasn't had money - he has had big money - but just say he didn't for the sake of debate, then you have to prioritise. Last summer we needed a top class wide player just like we have done every summer - if so then why did he sign these players?

Babel - who wants to play centrally and said so in his first interview. £11.5m
Benayoun - who wants to play centrally £5m
Lucas - A central player we didn't need given that we had Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano and a number of young midfielders. £6m
Leto - a wide player but not top quality. £2m

That's £25m on several players - we could have bought two quality wide platers or a world class one with that. No?

It depends on certain things -

That the player is injury proof
Can score as many goals as them lot put together
Is as adaptable as them put together
Is guaranteed to play brilliantly and doesn't need to be substituted

I don't know many wingers like that right now. Only Ronaldo right now and look how **** Man U are without his goals and creativity.

[Exiled_red]

Yes. He said Barry can play 3 positions but we really need someone for the left. I think the plan according was to play a midfield of:

Kuyt Gerrard Mascherano Barry

I still think he was planning on playing the 4-2-3-1 with Barry and Mascherano in the deeper roles, but Barry would have been more likely to push forward than Alonso does at present, I can't see us sticking 4-4-2 when everyone is back

[El Jefecito]

Yes. He said Barry can play 3 positions but we really need someone for the left. I think the plan according was to play a midfield of:

Kuyt Gerrard Mascherano Barry

So he didn't say he was bringning him in to play as his first choice on the left. He said something about possibilities and that's been interperted as playing him as a winger so he (Rafa) can be lynched.

Nothing new here then.

[Rashid]

So he didn't say he was bringning him in to play as his first choice on the left. He said something about possibilities and that's been interperted as playing him as a winger so he (Rafa) can be lynched.

Nothing new here then.

Let me say it again - Rafa was talking about Barry for the left:

The situation is not a question of money," said Benitez after Liverpool beat Lazio 1-0 in a friendly on Friday.

"He is English and can play three different positions, but I am talking about someone who can play on the left."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/7550766.stm

[El Jefecito]

Let me say it again - Rafa was talking about Barry for the left:



http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...la/7550766.stm

So let me say it again.

So he didn't say he was bringning him in to play as his first choice on the left. He said something about possibilities

[Rashid]

He said in English and my interpretation "Gareth Barry can play in 3 different positions but I am thinking of him playing on the left".....

Or else why mention playing on the left?