Barry signs back up at the Villa

[Greg N'Ash]

too old by then. Never go back.

I'm hapy both Andy Gray and Gordon Cowans, especially did.

Cowans i'll give you but Gray?! Embarassing 2nd time round.

[Chico Hamilton III]

too old by then. Never go back.

I'm hapy both Andy Gray and Gordon Cowans, especially did.

EH?

Andy Gray???

[Chico Hamilton III]

too old by then. Never go back.

Next summer he'll be 29 ?  Hardly too old.

Blues can have him for £40m...........

[Mazrim]

Kevin McCarra must have had a bang on the head if he thinks Barry was man of the match..

or like many others who have commented similarly he knows his football and isn't tainted by any bias concerning Barry.

Look here Mrs Overall. When Barry pulls on an England shirt in competitive football, I'll support him. He didn't play well. That's based on my opinion that he didnt play well and nothing to do with Villa matters.
Beckham came on because the midfield were struggling after all.

[holteman83]

can we all stop obsessing about this man city midfielder now please....

have our own team to concentrate on

[RussellC]

I've got to be honest, I thought Barry was easily MOM on wednesday. He was the only player on the pitch trying to play incisive forward balls, 2 of which lead to 2 of our goals. Potato-Head giving Beckham MOM was embarassing, you could tell that even the ITV commentators thought so too, and they were joking about it on SSN the following day.

[richardkmajor]

There are a lot of comments I agree with, though I'm against any thoughts of GB returning. Also I'm sorry to say that the comebacks of Andy Gray and Gordon Cowans were not a success. I don't think he'll be too old but as gregnash says "never go back".
I have to say I agree with most of what cb says in that hopefully we'll have a very strong midfield of our own soon making GB surplus to requirements and Man City's entry into the CL is far from a formality.

[Chico Hamilton III]

There are a lot of comments I agree with, though I'm against any thoughts of GB returning. Also I'm sorry to say that the comebacks of Andy Gray and Gordon Cowans were not a success. I don't think he'll be too old but as gregnash says "never go back".
I have to say I agree with most of what cb says in that hopefully we'll have a very strong midfield of our own soon making GB surplus to requirements and Man City's entry into the CL is far from a formality.

Cowans comeback was fantastic

[Olneythelonely]

There are a lot of comments I agree with, though I'm against any thoughts of GB returning. Also I'm sorry to say that the comebacks of Andy Gray and Gordon Cowans were not a success. I don't think he'll be too old but as gregnash says "never go back".
I have to say I agree with most of what cb says in that hopefully we'll have a very strong midfield of our own soon making GB surplus to requirements and Man City's entry into the CL is far from a formality.

How can you say that Cowans' comeback wasn't a success?

[badluckeric(gates)]

*expresses hmmph of surprise at thread not being locked yet*

[Mazrim]

Anybody who thinks Andy Gray's second spell at Villa was a success has been huffing some mighty chemicals.

[Monty]

If we're in a position to need him I'd take him back. His style of play isn't the type that exactly requires youthful vigour, is it? And if we need that type of player and he's available, what else could we do? He'll still be good at 34, in my opinion.

However if, as I'd hope, Delph matures and we sign someone else as the higher-up-the-field playmaker that we never had, then obviously we shouldn't sign him back. I don't agree with bollocks cliches like "never go back" - it's all about the interests of the team, and nothing else.

[Mazrim]

I reckon we'll have had the best from Barry. I wouldn't go back, I'd just get somebody better.
And Delph may well be in the future.

[Monty]

I reckon we'll have had the best from Barry. I wouldn't go back, I'd just get somebody better.
And Delph may well be in the future.

That's my belief: that Delph is Barry's replacement in that holding/pivot role in the future. I reckon he could be better at it than Barry ever was, he's got more energy, more talent, and more bite in the tackle. All he needs to do is bulk up, yes a significant amount, but we have the staff to do that I'd say: just look at Gabby! I can envisage a future midfield three of Delph (playing where Petrov plays now), Milner (playing where Sidwell is now when Downing's fit) and a more attacking playmaker type, who we obviously haven't signed yet. In that scenario, there is no room or need for Barry.

[TheSandman]

I'd say it was between Barry and Crouch.