Gareth Barry can play for Villa in European competition this weekend without it jeopardising his chances of Champions League football.
Manager Martin O’Neill is considering whether Barry’s controversial but impressive first 60 minutes of the season at Walsall last night warrants a first team call, in Saturday’s concluding leg of the Intertoto Cup clash against Odense.
The decision puts Barry on course for another hostile showdown with Villa fans who booed his every touch at the Banks’s Stadium last night.
Barry was taunted with chants of ‘Judas’ and ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’ during the first half. Walsall fans responded with “There’s only one Gareth Barry – sign him up!”
But with Villa tied at 2-2 and still with work to do to reach the UEFA Cup beyond, O’Neill has not ruled out the prospect of turning to his best midfield player at some stage of the match.
Players are allowed to represent one club in the Intertoto competition, without becoming ineligible to play in other European football for different clubs.
Liverpool have already seen four bids knocked back for the midfielder, with Villa boss Martin O’Neill insistent that his £18m price tag will be met.
8 Comments
Although there have been well documented issues between Aston Martin and Gareth Barry, it is quite clear that as long as Aston Villa are paying Gareths £45,000 a week wage, they are quite entitled to use him to the benefit of the club, and if that means playing him on Saturday, then the crown should get behind Gareth and every other team member, for the good of the club.
they chanted judus once and there was about 10 fans singing ur not fit to wear the shirt, and after the first 10 mins I’d say the was as many people cheering his every touch as booing and by the second half more cheering also when he went off there was large sections of the crowd giving him a standing ovation, I personally was sitting on the fence and neither cheered or booed but I did find myself clapping at some of barrys play as he was head and shoulders the best player out there apart from the obvious Clayton Ince SIGN HIM UP - please send representative to these games in future so ur facts are correct and print the whole story not just the controversial bits - cheers
We Need A Right Back ASAP thats our only real concern
i agree. we are paying for him so has got to be used. i know it’s well doccumented that he wants to join the scouse scum but i can see them not qualifying for cl in the coming years. they are ovbiously strap for cash as they need to sell before they buy. he is still a good player and one that make the movement in our team better. sorry to see him go but hey…..there are hopefully replacements lined up
It is never easy when player and club are in conflict, but for those of you out there who think Gareth Barry should be left out of the team, think about this, his big fat pay packet is being paid by you.
Gareth Barry has not become a bad player overnight, and he’s still a Villa player till the club decide to sell him, and should use him. Liverpool are in a sorry mess financially and may not have the funds to compete for new players while their stadium plans are going ahead.
Maybe, Gareth, you wont have to look too far to achieve your goals after all, and if you do decide to u-turn you wont be sorry. They can’t afford you, we love you really, and we can finish higher than them this season. Thanks for 10 great years whatever happens.
Any body who did not boo him is a disgrace. I hope that was the last time he ever pulls on a Villa shirt.
Pace & Flair….Call yourself a supporter, people like you should be barred from all grounds in the country, you are surplus to requirements and football does not need the likes of you.
In just a few short words, you demeaned yourself and shown us all just what you are…A LOW LIFE.
We do not want the likes of you at Villa Park and nor does any other decent supporters at other clubs.