Gareth Barry: Retired

[saunders_heroes]

I just wish that he hadn't tried to manufacture a move to Liverpool. I'll appreciate all that he did, and yes still consider him more Villa than anything but that wasn't a good episode in his time with us. Much like Benteke in that regard, brilliant for us but there is a stain that can't be removed.

There’s no stain as far as I’m concerned, just a disappointed he left, but of course he justified his move when he won the League and FA Cup. As for him engineering a move, well isn’t every single transfer “engineered” by someone or another along the line?
Basically he was at the club from his 16th birthday so when he left it hurt, so maybe that’s the real reason there’s still a bit of bad feeling with some Villa fans. Not from me though, because he was a class act in a Villa shirt and a perfect professional. A terrific player and a Villa man.

[Nev]

I wouldn't know him if he stood on Brighton beach with a seagull on his head, which, would probably be more fun than "playing" for Sandwell under Pullis.

[sirlordbaltimore]

One of the few latter day players I do actually consider a bit of a Villa legend

Wonderful player

[garyshawsknee]

Was lucky enough to have a season ticket when he came through as a lad. Looked class from the start, always had time on the ball. Was pissed me off most about his career was that he only got the recognition after he left us.

[somec]

Reading the above comments about the wednesday game and the chants of bozzie is a porn star reminded me that I actually went to that game but have no recollection of Barry coming on as a sub.

Joachim scored the only goal of the game IIRC.

[andyh]

One of the few latter day players I do actually consider a bit of a Villa legend

Wonderful player

Agreed.
We were chatting about him on Saturday, and he really is top quality.

How he could blot his copybook by turning out for the Stripeys though is really galling.

I suppose even Gaz Baz has his price.

[Duncan Shaw]

Hell of an achievement well done to him, a top Villa man in my opinion.

[manic-road]

If Gareth Barry plays tonight he will have broken Ryan Giggs record of most appearances as an outfield player in the Premier League, fair play to him for that achievement. I was at Sheffield Wednesday in 1998 when he came on as a sub in a game Villa cruised to victory to make his debut and looked a class player then.

I was at Hillsborough for that game too and i was immediately impressed. 

IIRC we won 1-0 so i didnt feel we cruised to victory. I do recall a great away following and chants of "Bozzie is a porn star" after some video shenanigans he had with Yorke and some lapdancers.

I was pretty sure we scored three that day.

[manic-road]

Just found this from Wikipedia: He played his first match for Villa on 2 May 1998, a 3–1 win at Sheffield Wednesday, as a 49th-minute substitute for Ian Taylor.

[Colhint]

only 13 clubs have played more Premier league games than GazBaz

He also has more premier league wins than Southampton

[cheltenhamlion]

Fair play to old custard pants. That is an impressive stat to break.

[Villa75]

Congratulations to him. I wish he'd played even more games for us.

[Ad@m]

One of the few latter day players I do actually consider a bit of a Villa legend

Wonderful player

Agreed.
We were chatting about him on Saturday, and he really is top quality.

How he could blot his copybook by turning out for the Stripeys though is really galling.

I suppose even Gaz Baz has his price.

This.

Never begrudged him leaving - he'd given us plenty of his career - and I'd even forgive him the Liverpool bleating the year before.  But signing for the Bitters.  Desperate.

[Damo70]

One of the few latter day players I do actually consider a bit of a Villa legend

Wonderful player

Agreed.
We were chatting about him on Saturday, and he really is top quality.

How he could blot his copybook by turning out for the Stripeys though is really galling.

I suppose even Gaz Baz has his price.

This.

Never begrudged him leaving - he'd given us plenty of his career - and I'd even forgive him the Liverpool bleating the year before.  But signing for the Bitters.  Desperate.

There is nothing wrong with him taking a step down and winding the tail end of his career down at Albion. There is a lot of history regarding Liverpool players doing the same at Tranmere, West Ham/Southend, Celtic/Clyde, Sunderland/Darlington etc.

[Olof's Beard]

Barry deserves his time in the limelight, his achievements have been ignored for too long and the image of him being left for dead by Ozil in 2012 overshadows his career to an extent.

It actually annoys me that all the recent press has concentrated on how 'functional' to the detriment of his talent. When he played with Petrov and had the license to get forward, he was a creative force and great all round midfielder. Like Milner, he had to adapt to a more specific role when he went to Man City, and did it well. In no way was he just a meat and potatoes player though, he's skillful and a good finisher (as evidenced by his penalty taking record).