Why Gareth Barry Should Stay at Villa

It`s the most eagerly anticipated clash of next season. Martin O`Neill v Rafa Benitez. The Vital Bolton prediction is that O`Neill will win with a sixth round stoppage. There are, after all, doubts about Rafa`s physical condition.

The cause of the spat is Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry who is a transfer target for Liverpool. Benitez claimed that the ‘idea` of a move had been discussed. O`Neill disagreed,

‘It was not a prolonged conversation, ‘No’ doesn’t take too long to say,’ fumed the Villa boss.

While this is all highly amusing for outsiders, Barry would be well advised to stay where he is. There has been a trend recently, for the big four to mop up the best players from the lower placed clubs and then under utilise them. It serves no one well.

Yossi Benayoun had fifteen league starts last season, and the same number of substitute appearances. Not bad, but nowhere near the playing time he would have got at his previous club, West Ham. Israeli team mate, Tal Ben Haim could play anywhere across the back four at Bolton. He`s lucky to get on the team bus since signing for Chelsea. More tellingly, Nicolas Anelka, an international player of proven quality, who followed Ben Haim to Stamford Bridge, has been limited to a few late appearances off the subs bench. Steve Sidwell, has similarly played only a handful of games since joining the Blues from Reading.

All the players above have been missed by the clubs they left behind, yet have had relatively little influence since joining the big boys. It`s a bit like a large company buying a smaller firm and then closing it down. As an exercise in nobbling the opposition it`s effective, but in the long term, the consumer suffers.

Gareth Barry has played over 300 games since graduating from Villa`s youth academy. He is the club captain and looks a better partner for Steven Gerrard in England`s midfield than Frank Lampard. That progress will surely be impeded if he becomes a bit part player at Anfield. A switch will no doubt swell Barry`s bank balance, but it will do nothing for Aston Villa, fans of that club, or followers of football in general who are getting increasingly tired of the lack of competition in the English game.