Gareth Barry

[Silver Fox]

Last summer Gareth Barry tried to engineer a move to Liverpool by kicking off in the media about being desperate to play in the Champions League. He's now signed for Man City who last time I looked weren't in Europe at all next season.

Does anyone know what has attracted hime to the oil rich excessive-wage-paying Eastlands club?

[SpaceCruiser]

I was surprised to see that he's moved there. I had no idea this was going to happen. My mouth actually dropped open when I saw this bit of news on Sky Sports News.

I suppose he sees the potential that Man City have in breaking into the top 4......

[Harry Carry]

and another thing.....£140,000 a week at City. He was on £40,000 a week at Villa and I assume Liverpool would have paid more than Villa in wages, but nowhere near what he's getting at City.

[handbags_harris]

If that figure is true then that is silly silly money for a not all that brilliant player, a bit like Michael Ballack at Chelsea. City could do so much better with their money.

[cmonurz]

Silly wages.

And Aston ViLOLOLa, who allegedly turned down a bid worth £17m from Liverpool this time last year.

Edit: Ah, one year less on his contract, I guess.

[TBM]

Taking the wages aside.....Barry probably saw an opportunity to play regular first team football at City, especially with the World Cup next year he'll want to shine. A move to Liverpool would be nice BUT would he play week in week out with the likes of Alonso, Gerrard, Mascherano etc also in the side??! - Look at the likes of Babel at Liverpool, very good player but hardly gets a start.....

I know he was getting regular football at Villa and they finished higher than City BUT if City use their power in the transfer market it wont be long before they are well above Villa.

[TheMaraudingDog]

If City use their power in the transfer market then Barry won't get a game.

[Thomas L'Heureux]

Taking the wages aside.....Barry probably saw an opportunity to play regular first team football at City, especially with the World Cup next year he'll want to shine. A move to Liverpool would be nice BUT would he play week in week out with the likes of Alonso, Gerrard, Mascherano etc also in the side??! - Look at the likes of Babel at Liverpool, very good player but hardly gets a start.....

I know he was getting regular football at Villa and they finished higher than City BUT if City use their power in the transfer market it wont be long before they are well above Villa.

Barry's 29.

[TBM]

Taking the wages aside.....Barry probably saw an opportunity to play regular first team football at City, especially with the World Cup next year he'll want to shine. A move to Liverpool would be nice BUT would he play week in week out with the likes of Alonso, Gerrard, Mascherano etc also in the side??! - Look at the likes of Babel at Liverpool, very good player but hardly gets a start.....

I know he was getting regular football at Villa and they finished higher than City BUT if City use their power in the transfer market it wont be long before they are well above Villa.

Barry's 29.

Then its for the money

[Stooper]

Supposedly, he was shown a list of players that City are hoping to sign for next season and that swayed him.

[soggy biscuit]

Never really thought of Barry as the money grabbing sort. Maybe he see's City as his best chance of getting in a top 4 side as the current top 4 don't want him, Villa ain't going to be there and he ain't getting no younger.

[papereyes]

Just the sort of signing I would have thought City needed to make - potentially good enough for a Top 4 side, currently out of it and in a contract due to end so cheaper than he could be. Decent player as well.

[Thomas L'Heureux]

Never really thought of Barry as the money grabbing sort. Maybe he see's City as his best chance of getting in a top 4 side as the current top 4 don't want him, Villa ain't going to be there and he ain't getting no younger.

If 'City can find themselves a reliable 20+ a season goalscorer and a decent centre back, they'll have a better team on paper than Villa by quite some distance.

[papereyes]

Never really thought of Barry as the money grabbing sort. Maybe he see's City as his best chance of getting in a top 4 side as the current top 4 don't want him, Villa ain't going to be there and he ain't getting no younger.

If 'City can find themselves a reliable 20+ a season goalscorer and a decent centre back, they'll have a better team on paper than Villa by quite some distance.

Villa will struggle to replace Laursen.

Their post-Xmas slump coincides exactly with his injury.

[Thomas L'Heureux]

Never really thought of Barry as the money grabbing sort. Maybe he see's City as his best chance of getting in a top 4 side as the current top 4 don't want him, Villa ain't going to be there and he ain't getting no younger.

If 'City can find themselves a reliable 20+ a season goalscorer and a decent centre back, they'll have a better team on paper than Villa by quite some distance.

Villa will struggle to replace Laursen.

Their post-Xmas slump coincides exactly with his injury.

I agree, but at the same time feel that O'Neill has bought pretty well and he needs to do the same again to replace Laursen. It's a shame he's had to call it a day because he was fantastic for the few seasons we got to see him play in England.

[Ginger Ninjas]

Never really thought of Barry as the money grabbing sort. Maybe he see's City as his best chance of getting in a top 4 side as the current top 4 don't want him, Villa ain't going to be there and he ain't getting no younger.

If 'City can find themselves a reliable 20+ a season goalscorer and a decent centre back, they'll have a better team on paper than Villa by quite some distance.

Agreed. The team below should be finishing in the top 6...

Given

Richards/Zabaleta
Dunne
New CB
Bridge

De Jong

Ireland
Barry

Robinho
Wright-Phillips

New Striker

I think that Hughes will be gone in December if they're not up there.