Tony Cascarino's Fiver

1 Like a ball and chain?
Thought I would check out the word “slavery” in the dictionary. One of the definitions is: “Working in harsh conditions with low pay.” So, Mr Ronaldo, is that what life is really like at Old Trafford? 

2 Positive performance
With doping again clouding the Tour de France and the build-up to the Olympic Games, it appears to have gone unnoticed that no player tested positive during Euro 2008. Football deserves a rare pat on the back. 

3 It’s a funny old game
At the end of last season, could you have imagined Emmanuel Adebayor, Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard and Cristiano Ronaldo leaving their clubs this summer? It could happen and would be an amazing quadruple whammy. 

4 Scolari settles nicely
The unveiling of Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge passed off smoothly, apart from his strange pronunciation of “Chelsea”. He was assured and witty – it was as if he had been in charge there for years. 

5 O’Neill plays it right
Fair play to Martin O’Neill, the Aston Villa manager, for sending want-away Gareth Barry into exile. The team is always more important than any player. Barry will get his move to Liverpool, but can stew for a while. 

Comments

[Hunter]

Who isolated who? Barry isolated himself with his News of the World interview. MON is giving him what he wants (a transfer), but doesn't have to put up with him poisoning the rest of his squad in the meantime. And if Liverpool aren't willing to pay what he's worth, then it's Barry who has to mend fences, not MON. The great thing about a billionaire owner (who's not out of money and bickering with his partner) is that Villa can pay Barry's wages and leave him out of the squad. UP THE VILLA!

[David Cooper]

Liverpool should call Villa's bluff. £17m for Barry is beyond a joke, it's a fully fledged sitcom.

[BOB JACKSON]

Tony,you say in No 3 of Tony's fiver 14 July,"its a funny old game' but it's not for Luton Town or anyone who truly cares about football.Its truly ironic that Lampard and Ronaldo seek another few grand a week when Malwhinney asks Luton to pay £50,000 and take a 30 point deduction to start the 2008/09 season.Both Lampard and Ronaldo can afford 50k Luton cannot and Malwhinney may as well ask for 50 million.What planet is that man on and why is is that football attracts men like him to 'govern ' football.He has consigned Luton to the knackers yard.Those who totally mismanaged and robbed the club,promised a new stadium but did little else are no longer around except they are and should be pursued.Talk about kicking a man whilst he is down.Punishment fitting the crime? Who can possibly agree that this draconian sentence is anything other than complete stupidity?.

[Victor]

What Liverpool fans don't seem to understand is, Villa don't actually need the money. Having a billonaire chairman helps that. Otherwise, Barry would be a Liverpool player by now. If the sale doesn't go through this summer, Barry will come back and play for Villa. A small matter of keeping his England place would make him keen not to be a outcast.

Liverpool should just pay the fee set or withdraw their offer.

I hope Rafa just leaves MON hanging on now and reiterates that Barry is only valued at £10 / £12 million tops.
I'd love to hear the phone conversation between MON and Barry when he realises he's priced Barry out of the move.

[max]

I think it will be MON stewing for a while. After all, will Liverpool pay £18 million for an ordinary midfield player such as Gareth Barry and if they don't what's MON going to do after isolating him? sell him on the cheap i guess.