I agree that Wenger will have to change his philosophy in order to completely go for Barry. But it's not out of the question.

As of yesterday, there were a few players that you wouldn't expect that are on Arsenal's radar. GK Robert Green, MF Gareth Barry and MF Michael Johnson. 3 players you wouldn't really think Wenger would sign. (beyond the 'he wouldn't sign an English player' mubo jumbo crap) However; going another year without a trophy, Wenger realises he needs to venture out a bit to complete the squad. What helps Barry is that he's very versatile and able to play multiple positions when called upon which is exactly what Wenger likes. But of course, if a bidding war was to ensue with Liverpool and/or Chelsea, Wenger will definitely back away.

Translated into money, yes. But Villa are not in need of a striker. That's probably the last thing on their minds right now. They've scored 69 goals this season which puts them 3rd behind United and Arsenal.

hmmm no not convinced even by your evidence of these supposed players on Arsenals 'radar' of the complete change of direction by this very stubborn man.

Wenger will not sing Barry, or Green and i dont know enough about Johnson to say him too but im willing to wager all three wont get close to an Arsenal shirt next season.

Stubborn or not, he won't overpay for any player regardless if the player is English, French, Spanish or an alien from some far out galaxy.

It's not his fault that English players are severely overpriced, especially when one can find someone elsewhere with equal quality for half the price.

He's not going to make a complete 180 degree turn on his philosophies, that would be total suicide considering his success with what he does. But this doesn't mean he won't stray away from it to sign a player here or there to complete the squad. He's already stated he's going to sign 1 or 2 established players. That alone is him straying a little to the right or left of his philosophy.

Im not saying anything about Barry being English as a reason, thats your baggage in this discussion mate, all ive said is he is exactly the type of player Wenger will not sign IMO, but we'll see.

Wenger has asked Villa to keep him in the loop with any developments with Barry and a possible move. That to me tells me that he's got an eye on Barry. And will sign him if the opportunity and the right price is there. Obviously, whether it happens or not is still to be determined. And the key factor is still Flamini. If Flamini does happen to resign (as slight as it is currently), you can throw all this Barry talk into the trash bin.

As for your reasons as to why Wenger would never sign Barry. I don't really see the argument.

He wants players that fit into his style, which is why he prefers not to buy established players.
Your right, Wenger has a specific style he wants to play, and brings in players that can play that way. But why would Barry not fit into his style? Villa play a similar attacking style, granted not as smooth, but they play attacking football. As for the established players part, as previously stated, Wenger said he's going to buy 1 or 2 established players (who they will be, no one knows).

He wants kids or talented professionals that he can teach the push and run style too from day one so everyone in the squad can slot into the team seamlessly.
You're right, he likes to bring in kids so he can mold them into the player that he wants. For the talented professional part, do you not think that Barry is a talented professional? Barry still has room to grow in his game to become a better player, so there's still room for Wenger to teach him a thing or two to incorporate into the Arsenal squad.

In my opinion, Barry could fit in easily in the role that Flamini played. As a holding midfielder protecting Fabregas. Barry has the quality and vision in passing to succeed in Wenger's style (as he's already proved it with Villa this year).

How is gareth barry setting your sights low if signed he will be a great squad player and only make the team stronger

I think the point Jono is making is that if Liverpool want to realistically challenge for the EPL title next season then they need world class players to enable them to compete with the likes of Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal. Gareth Barry is definitely not in that category.

To be honest, thinking about it, i seriously doubt Crouch will have been offered to Villa. Rafa is still angling for him to sign a new contract, and i don't think he'd be let go so easily.

My thinking is that Riise (£4m) and Carson (£6m) could be the proposed players to head in Villa's direction.

Your missing my point Gareth Barry is a good player and signing him will only strengthen the squad will it not

Gareth Barry would be a very good player for us - not on par with Mascherano, Torres, Gerrard, but every signing we make won't be. I doubt Mr Barry will be our transfer heights.

Yes if he replaces some of the less talented squad members, but again, the point being made or the question being posed - is Gareth Barry the level of player Rafa needs to sign in order to compete for top position in the league? Or does he need players at the level of Messi, Kaka or Ronaldhino in order to realistically be a contender for number one spot?

Nobody needs the likes of Messi, Kaka or Ronaldinho to realistically be a contender. Those are, have been or will be the very best players in the world, and are extremely few and far between.

United will win the league with the likes of Wes Brown and Michael Carrick as regular feature's to their first side, and none of which are 'amazing'. But they're more than competent, as they are effective. They ain't individual stars but they fit in very well.

What we do need is another match-winner, in my opinion - which would come on the left-wing (given that i'd move Babel to the right). Also we need Babel to come on next season and become more of a match-winner in himself - we've seen his capacity to do it but he's still some way off his full potential. Then we need to strengthen our defence at either full-back and replace any squad players who want to leave (Crouch specifically).

If Barry was our big signing this summer i'd probably have an issue, but i doubt he will be (even if we don't spend more on another play i'd expect us to find a bigger player perhaps in the cheap, such as Mancini or Rodriguez).

What you have to remember is Rafa can't sign his players in order of best to worst - he has to do what he can when he can. Barry may not be the 'gap-bridger', but why does he have to be?

This is the level of player that Chelsea are considering and if Liverpool are to be considered as realistic contenders to win the EPL then surely they will also need world class players in their squad.

Sure. But i was just mentioning that the ones you noted were, especially Messi and Kaka, individuals that are pretty unique (ability-wise), hence unattainable - they are the best players in the world. We don't need the best, even if we need world class players.

I think one more world class player would see us run the eventual leaders close, maybe a la Arsenal (as in points, rather than leading the league for months). I don't think we'll win the league next year but adequate additions should see us move much closer to the other three - i don't think we're that far off anyway, and we should be more stable next year.

Anyway, the ultimate point is that Barry is yes not good enough if he's to be one of our best first-team players, but he's good enough to be in our first-team definitely.

Personally i think we need a world class winger and two very good full-backs before we can challenge. If Barry was bought as that winger, we'd have a problem, but if he isn't, then we don't.

exactly barry will add good depth and is certainly better than are current options...of course thats if we sign him

I think someone like Hleb or similar would compliment Torres very well.

I don't really want Barry. I certainly don't want him to be part of a swap for Crouch + money, because Crouch should be worth more than him.

I don't want him, because he's too expensive, i can't see him wanting/doing amazingly well at left back, and i don't want him replacing Alonso in midfied. At left back we could sign someone twice as good, for half the price; namely Abidal.

We have 3 good left backs, and the very talented young Insua, so it's not like we need him for cover there. We also have 5 good midfielders who are capable of playing in the centre of midfield. Add to that Bentley or Silva if we sign them. We don't need Barry for the first team, or for cover.

Waste of money if you ask me.

Agree Sticky, he'll be sh!t at leftback. Like people see good goals and attacking play from Matt Taylor and think wow he would be a good leftback because he can attack like that too but it is retarded cos it never works like that. Even on the left his game is severely limited, to get the best out of him you need to play him in the center of midfield but Liverpool wont do that because they have so much real quality there and theyll play him in positions like leftback and leftwing, and then we'll get back to my original point of he will fail to impress in those positions and will move to West Ham in a season or two.



You can reword it all you like, Wenger will not sign Gareth Barry and i very much doubt hes even thinking about it. What youve read is media bullsh!t IMVHO ofcourse.



Cos he seems to be your number one target, Villa knowing the situation seeing as they dont need to sell him and your club has lots of money will hold out for over the odds money like 12mill and that will be a lot of your transfer budget spunked in one go. You think with the uncertainty and strife at ownership level at the moment anyones gonna give Benitez oodles of cash to spend?

The fact that Liverpool are already trying to get this sorted now says to me this is the del they want done most of all, their main target for the summer....

if gareth barry is Liverpool's main transfer target then i am their second target....



i guarntee Liverpool stregthen with bigger names than barry

PLEASSSSSSSSE RAFA SIGN QUARESMA

If their iwnership gets sorted any time soon then maybe, but whos gonna authorise 20mill on a player when they dont even know who will be in charge at the start of the season?

i know what your saying but i am confident that a solution will be reached at Liverpool in order to aide rafa in trying to catch the "big three"....

An ideal summer would be....hicks selling up and rafa siging barry/ emanuelson/ silva /QUARESMA....

If carlsberg did posts , this would probaly be the best post in the world