Barry the hatchet: A true Villain is born ...
by Jorge Moran, FoxSoccer.com
Updated: July 31, 2008, 3:52 PM
"Judas! Judas! Judas!" were the vicious jeers that a number of Aston Villa supporters directed at Gareth Barry, a man who not three months ago had been their beloved club captain.
Of course, not all Villa fans in attendance at last week's reserves friendly against Walsall shared that sentiment. When interviewed by Sky Sports' cameras, one such supporter pointed out that the England international had every right to seek better pay and employment elsewhere, as did any of the people booing.
It's a fair point. Although, it is hardly customary for an employee in any non-sporting profession to publicly and unabashedly inform his current employer of his desire to join a direct competitor. What employer would allow that?
Villa certainly didn't. The team rightfully fined Barry two weeks' wages when, in an unauthorized interview, he declared that the club had not "offered [him] anything to try to persuade" him to fulfill the two years left on his contract. His "mind was made up" about joining Liverpool.
The latest developments in the Premier League's second most tedious transfer saga came Wednesday and Thursday.
Reports Wednesday suggested that the clubs were close to a $34.6 million (plus defender Steve Finnan) deal that would take Barry to Liverpool. Hours later, Aston Villa announced that negotiations with the Anfield club had ended. Gareth Barry will remain at Villa Park. Or will he?
Thursday it was reported that a transfer request from Barry could revive the move. It could force the side from the West Midlands to reopen negotiations with the Reds, who are sure to get a warm reception at Villa Park come their Premier League tilt on August 31st, transfer deadline day.
Whether or not he remains a Villa player, the disheartening fact is that Gareth Barry's actions during his pursuit of a summer move to Liverpool constitute an act of betrayal.
Barry betrayed Aston Villa Football Club. He betrayed the Villa faithful. And above all, he betrayed manager Martin O'Neill.
Widely regarded as one of the finest managers in Britain, and even linked with the Manchester United post when Sir Alex Ferguson contemplated retirement in 2002, Martin O'Neill has brought great progress to the Villa Park club and its players. Gareth Barry's career has undoubtedly blossomed since the arrival of the Northern Irishman.
Barry flourished under manager Martin O'Neill, but apparently it's not enough to keep him at Villa Park. (David Rogers / Getty Images)
Eight years of suspect tutelage from the likes of John Gregory, David O'Leary, and Graham "Do I Not Like That" Taylor, saw Barry deployed at various positions in defense and midfield.
But in the course of his two seasons at the helm, O'Neill found Barry a home in the center of the park, without compromising the Englishman's long-admired versatility. Solid, if not formidable displays on the left and center of midfield earned the 27-year-old a new contract in 2007, the Villa captaincy, and a return to the England national team after nearly a 4-year absence.
Twelve of Gareth Barry's twenty England caps have come while playing under O'Neill. Eleven of those came in the 2007-2008 term alone.
The irony here is that the impact of O'Neill's influence helped Barry win a starting spot in the center of England's midfield alongside Reds skipper Steven Gerrard. That is where, many agree, the lure of Liverpool was born.
While it's not a crime for a footballer to grow ambitious and seek greener pastures following a prolific campaign, the public manner in which Barry carried out his quest for Champions League football was unprofessional to say the least. His behavior is made more distressing, more gut-wrenchingly treacherous, by the fact that it comes from a man who for ten years served Aston Villa with utmost loyalty.
Gareth Barry was the consummate professional, modest and level-headed. Unlike many of his England teammates, his name was never a mainstay of the tabloids. He was never associated with the type of lurid, off-the-field scandals that are often synonymous with Premier League players.
With Barry, there were no training pitch bust-ups. No reality TV shows to host. No brawls outside fast food restaurants. No extravagant televised weddings. No shameful accusations of impropriety at a team holiday party. He simply played his football, worked hard, and led by example.
For a decade, Barry gave Aston Villa his all. One could be forgiven to think that the man bled claret and blue.
It's very easy to romanticize loyalty in an era of football when it's becoming increasingly uncommon. But the fact remains that until this summer, Barry was one of the few anachronisms of his generation of footballers.
Gareth Barry stood out among the many that have been lured by the thirty silver coins of Champions League football and an exorbitant salary with the one "big four." Now he is merely a sad confirmation that even those who appear honorable, loyal, and incorruptible can become villains.
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This article leaves me with mixed feelings...... A part of me wants to give the article my mighty middle finger but...
The big question is: When can a player put his personal career advancement ahead of Club needs for his continuous stay without being tagged a betrayer?!
What if... Torres asked to move to Chelsea in order to earn 220,000.00 pounds/week?
What if.... Gerrard asked to move to a top two club in order to increase his chances of the Premiership gold?
Would it be looked upon as a betrayal of the LFC's trust and commitment?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
« Last Edit: Aug 01, 2008 06:42:49 pm by solodee »
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