Quote from: Toronto Villa on September 25, 2017, 02:19:55 PMI 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.
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.
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).
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.
Quote from: Olof's Beard on September 25, 2017, 06:15:04 PMBarry 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).Had his best year with us as an attacking midfielder, the year we nearly made the breakthrough. Remember him dominating a home game v Ajax who had the likes of Suarez and Vermaelen at the time. Alas MON bought Heskey in Jan, went with Petrov and Barry as a two and predictably we ran out of legsA genuine quality player on some very poor Villa sides. Combined superbly with Ashley Young particularly. Outstanding at City and Everton. His professionalism puts so many in the shade. We should have moved heaven and earth to resigning him when he left City.
Well done to him. It was a sad day when he left. One of our best players realising he had to leave to win trophies. I also see it as the beginning of the end of the champions league ambitions. Remember us all wondering who we'd replace him with? I think the answer turned out to be nobody.
Quote from: manic-road on September 25, 2017, 04:19:03 PMJust 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.My bad. I thought we were all referring to the 1-0 at Wednesday's that August.