Louie Barry (on loan to Sheffield United)

[Risso]

I think the thing with Barry is that he had appeared to have the skill but lacked the physical attributes. If he's now bulked up a bit it could be a good sign. But you're probably right, the chances of him making it with us aren't great, but at least if he is tearing it up in a lower league then there's a conversation to be had at some point.

[Mister E]

I’m not saying he isn’t, I’ve not seen him play enough, but are special players often playing League 1 football at 21?
Obviously I hope he becomes a superstar, with us.

Ollie Watkins was a League 2 player at that age.

Of course there are exceptions, my question was whether it’s often the case.
Also Watkins is useless and can’t control or finish, so probably should still be in League 2.

Leaving aside the Watkins comment, Barry has had a couple of long-term injuries as well as loans to Swindon and Ipswich where he wasn't playing enough (probably because of his slight build). At 21 he now has the physique to compete much better.

[Olneythelonely]

I’m not saying he isn’t, I’ve not seen him play enough, but are special players often playing League 1 football at 21?
Obviously I hope he becomes a superstar, with us.

Ollie Watkins was a League 2 player at that age.

Of course there are exceptions, my question was whether it’s often the case.
Also Watkins is useless and can’t control or finish, so probably should still be in League 2.

iGNORING THE SNIDINESS OF THE wATKINS COMMNET,

I hope you understood that my comment was about other people’s views of Watkins, not mine. I’m a paid up member of his fan club.

[Olneythelonely]

I think the thing with Barry is that he had appeared to have the skill but lacked the physical attributes. If he's now bulked up a bit it could be a good sign. But you're probably right, the chances of him making it with us aren't great, but at least if he is tearing it up in a lower league then there's a conversation to be had at some point.

No, I completely agree. I just think that it’s far more likely that we sell him for £10-15m than it is him playing for us. However, it’s hard to imagine him having less of an impact than Philogene.

[Mister E]

I’m not saying he isn’t, I’ve not seen him play enough, but are special players often playing League 1 football at 21?
Obviously I hope he becomes a superstar, with us.

Ollie Watkins was a League 2 player at that age.

Of course there are exceptions, my question was whether it’s often the case.
Also Watkins is useless and can’t control or finish, so probably should still be in League 2.

iGNORING THE SNIDINESS OF THE wATKINS COMMNET,

I hope you understood that my comment was about other people’s views of Watkins, not mine. I’m a paid up member of his fan club.

I'm glad you are. I find myself defending Watkins amongst a few Villa supporters - I did correct my original post (clicked 'send' early as well!) - and didn't mean to come across as snidey myself!! Obviously that didn't work well, so apologies for my tone.
Back to Barry: I have a Stockport-supporting mate who has the highest praise for our Louie and it's intriguing to see what Villa will do with him. My view is that we are currently light on our left side (with JJ still struggling with injuries) and he might be worth trying as a breath of fresh air for the squad, but it is a big leap in standard.

[LeeB]

I’m not saying he isn’t, I’ve not seen him play enough, but are special players often playing League 1 football at 21?
Obviously I hope he becomes a superstar, with us.

Ollie Watkins was a League 2 player at that age.

Of course there are exceptions, my question was whether it’s often the case.
Also Watkins is useless and can’t control or finish, so probably should still be in League 2.

Leaving aside the Watkins comment, Barry has had a couple of long-term injuries as well as loans to Swindon and Ipswich where he wasn't playing enough (probably because of his slight build). At 21 he now has the physique to compete much better.

The injuries and his natural slight build have hampered him until now, but he has a higher ceiling technically than most and certainly anyone in the division he's currently playing in.

That's the thing with him, he's not just some young hopeful on a good run, he's an exceptional talent that is now proving he can cope physically. Given the lack of options and room to spend I'd be getting him back in January and getting him involved, there's nothing to lose in doing so, same goes for Kessler-Hayden, they both operate in areas where we're sorely lacking in options and it costs us fuck all.

[Somniloquism]

A plus point for Barry, the leading goalscorer in the division the last few years was Alfie May who hit

2021-22
23 goals and 4 assists in 46
2022-23
20 goals and 3 assists in 39
2023-24
23 goals and 1 assist in 43.

Barry currently has 13 goals and 1 assist in 17 so could easily hit 30 goals on current form if he stays there for the season. So it does show he is just too good for that division. Whether it means he can do it in the prem still is the question.

[OCD]

A plus for Barry is that he scores penalties.

[SoccerHQ]

Worrying comment on the EFL highlights programme re us considering a £12 my bid for Louie in Jan. I hope not.

I think we have to be realistic.

The most important thing is he keeps on playing and developing rather than warming the bench.

Jaden was doing some of the stuff he's doing at a higher level last season and he's found the step up very difficult indeed so far.

And of course it would be a PSR sale so if someone is genuinely going to bid 10m + next month we will accept it I'm sure.

If he comes back here he's still got to get past Ramsey and Rogers in the set up.

[Risso]

Worrying comment on the EFL highlights programme re us considering a £12 my bid for Louie in Jan. I hope not.

I think we have to be realistic.

The most important thing is he keeps on playing and developing rather than warming the bench.

Jaden was doing some of the stuff he's doing at a higher level last season and he's found the step up very difficult indeed so far.

And of course it would be a PSR sale so if someone is genuinely going to bid 10m + next month we will accept it I'm sure.

If he comes back here he's still got to get past Ramsey and Rogers in the set up.

At the moment getting past Ramsey isn't going to be difficult. JJ is potentially a top drawer player, but unless he can stay fit he's absolutely no use to us. Same with Kamara.

[LeeB]

Worrying comment on the EFL highlights programme re us considering a £12 my bid for Louie in Jan. I hope not.

I think we have to be realistic.

The most important thing is he keeps on playing and developing rather than warming the bench.

Jaden was doing some of the stuff he's doing at a higher level last season and he's found the step up very difficult indeed so far.

And of course it would be a PSR sale so if someone is genuinely going to bid 10m + next month we will accept it I'm sure.

If he comes back here he's still got to get past Ramsey and Rogers in the set up.

At the moment getting past Ramsey isn't going to be difficult. JJ is potentially a top drawer player, but unless he can stay fit he's absolutely no use to us. Same with Kamara.

Like I said earlier he (and Kessler-Hayden) would get time because we're short in the roles they play through either fitness, form or suitability.

[SoccerHQ]

Worrying comment on the EFL highlights programme re us considering a £12 my bid for Louie in Jan. I hope not.

I think we have to be realistic.

The most important thing is he keeps on playing and developing rather than warming the bench.

Jaden was doing some of the stuff he's doing at a higher level last season and he's found the step up very difficult indeed so far.

And of course it would be a PSR sale so if someone is genuinely going to bid 10m + next month we will accept it I'm sure.

If he comes back here he's still got to get past Ramsey and Rogers in the set up.

At the moment getting past Ramsey isn't going to be difficult. JJ is potentially a top drawer player, but unless he can stay fit he's absolutely no use to us. Same with Kamara.

I thought Ramsey was great at Liverpool and also decent at Fulham so I do think he's getting back to his 22/23 level. The injuries are very frustrating however to stop any momentum he builds.

However he is proven at prem level whereas Barry isn't.

I wasn't actually aware there was a huge clamour to recall him and throw him straight back into the team as up to the last few months the only level he'd proven himself at was league 2.

I still think it's far more likely we sell him as we've seen SHA buy Stansfield in that league for 10m + and Louie is outperforming him at this point so will be a similar fee based on his age.

Maybe we'll put a buyback in case he rips it up in the championship in the near future.

[Risso]

I wouldn't be recalling him, I'd leave him to develop nicely there, with the added bonus he might stop SHA going up. Then send him to a decent sized Championship side next season, and see how he gets on at someone like Boro/Derby/Sheff U or similar.

[Drummond]

I wouldn't be recalling him, I'd leave him to develop nicely there, with the added bonus he might stop SHA going up. Then send him to a decent sized Championship side next season, and see how he gets on at someone like Boro/Derby/Sheff U or similar.

Yep, agree with this.

[eamonn]

Could we not save time by switching him from Stockport to a Ch'ship club in January for the second half of the season?