da betobet： If English football had an archetypal nearly man, Gareth Barry would be that player. For years Aston Villa’s crown jewel Barry’s reluctance to move on, meant a career at the highest level did not really kick off until Liverpool nearly signed the then Villa captain in the summer of 2008 after a run of performances that had earned the former Brighton product a permanent berth in England’s midfield.
da aviator aposta： At the start of this season, in and amongst the post World Cup naval gazing, Barry’s role in the international set up is the one most at risk. After Fabio Capello’s assertion that Jack Wilshere would be deployed in that same midfield area that the Manchester City man currently occupies, Barry’s performances in that position for club and country have been heavily scrutinised.
The City man looked ponderous at best during the World Cup in South Africa, his poor control on the edge of the penalty box ultimately resulted in the concession of Germany’s crucial third goal in England’s last 16 defeat in Bloemfontein. The sight of his attempts to chase the rampaging German counter-attack summed up the tired performances of the team throughout the tournament.
In the wake of England’s failures last summer, it was Barry who became synonymous with the Capello regime. In a similar way to Micah Richards’ spell at right-back under Steve McClaren, Barry’s almost ‘untouchable’ status in the midfield has been one of the hallmarks of the Italian’s spell in charge.
It is a shame that regular international recognition has come when it has in Barry’s career, his best years in a Villa shirt fell during Eriksson and McClaren’s spells in charge and a virtual exile from the national team.
On paper, Barry’s club move has done wonders for his long stated ambition of playing Champions League football. However, as Manchester City continue look to strengthen all areas of their team, the England international cannot afford to be seen to be fading.
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For a man who contributes little from an attacking perspective, he has scored only two goals this season, Barry is likely to be a player whose place in any team will be scrutinised as he moves into his thirties. The adage goes that the older you grow to be, every bad game becomes a nail in your coffin and images such as the one of the player puffing along a Bloemfontein touchline last summer, will have done little to encourage City that he is a man for the future, even though at 29, he should be at his peak.
The transfer policy that has dominated the early years of Sheikh Mansour’s ownership of the club has been a little superficial. There is no doubt that the club have recruited some top players, however, some selections have felt to be more status symbols rather than efficient operators. The acquisitions of Barcelona’s Yaya Toure and Valencia’s David Silva examples of trendy purchases that may not have been conducted with purely football motivations behind them. The point is that whilst Barry staves off the threat to his England starting place from Jack Wilshere, his marketable, trendy profile at club level will remain intact.
I wrote yesterday that I was concerned about the lack of players at the City of Manchester Stadium who looked emotionally attached to the club’s cause. Gareth Barry is one man to hold the respect of many from across the Premier League and a player capable of cultivating a team culture at City.
Nevertheless, there have been a glut of individuals recruited by City over the last few years who, as the club have been more ambitious, have become surplus to requirements. Wayne Bridge, Craig Bellamy, Roque Santa Cruz and Emmanuel Abebayor are all players to have befallen such a fate. Should Capello elect to permanently dispense with Barry’s services at international level, the risk of exclusion at club level will multiply and the Champions League dream might just go with it.
To compare Gareth Barry’s jog along the Free State Stadium touchline with David Pleat’s run along the Maine Road equivelant in 1983, find me on Twitter.