Gareth Barry, dropping trousers and Gerrard's groin

3. After turning down a £18 million bid from Liverpool, Martin O'Neill has suggested that keeping Gareth Barry around for another season is worth it, even if it means he can leave for free on a Bosman in June 2010. "I don't think Mr. Lerner [Villa's owner] is overly concerned about losing the money if it means retaining the services of a really top-class player for that extra year," he said.

In other words, he'd rather take his chances that Barry will sign a new contract and risk losing him for nothing in 18 months' time than cash in now and collect some £15m. Does it makes sense as a strategy?

Well, it shows just how much confidence O'Neill has in his own ability to persuade Barry to stay (and, given Villa's run at the top four, he's certainly giving him plenty of footballing reasons to stick around). O'Neill is the best judge of that. But if he walks, or forces a move, things could blow up badly in Villa's face. Personally, while I think Barry is a fine player, I think O'Neill would be better off with another £18m to spend than with another 18 months of Barry. If you have faith in O'Neill's ability to bring in the right players at the right price, I don't see how you can feel any differently.

2. Remember a few years ago when Sam Allardyce would stick a couple guys in front of the goalkeeper on free kicks and claim they weren't interfering with play? Walter Zenga, the Catania manager, has taken things a step further. He sticks four guys behind the wall on free kicks and, during the run up, sends them scampering in all directions in an effort to distract the goalkeeper. And, last Sunday, he went even further. One of his players, midfielder Gianvito Plasmati, dropped his shorts in an effort to distract the goalkeeper. It worked, Catania scored and went on to win. Is he being creative or is he violating the spirit of the law? You be the judge. You can check it out here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gUg_6fXztOM

Either way, it's fair to say that, at least on this front, Big Sam and the former goalkeeping great are kindred spirits.

1. So Fabio Capello has incensed Steven Gerrard by "forcing" him to travel some 200 miles to London so that England's medical staff could check out his groin injury. There's a few things to remember here. Firstly, Gerrard underwent groing surgery two months ago (funnily enough, he did it during an international break). If now he's suffering from ANOTHER groin injury, it makes sense to try to figure out exactly what went wrong (assuming he doesn't have more than one groin). And, as any professional athlete will tell you, getting more than one medical opinion can only be a good thing.

Secondly, people have made this seem like it was some kind of odyssey. Well, I don't want to reveal where Gerrard lives, but, according to mapquest, it's 39 minutes from the club's training ground to Manchester Airport. And, according to BA's website, it's 60 minutes from Manchester to Heathrow. Allow twenty minutes for check-in and forty minutes to get to the doctors' offices and we're talking about a two-hour forty minute trip, with only half of it spent sitting down in a car. Not quite the brutal 200 mile odyssey on the M6 that some would have us believe.

Thirdly, it's important to remember that Capello was a club manager for many years. For all that time, the shoe was on the other foot: he'd watch his players travel halfway around the world for meaningless friendlies. He knows what it's like. Were he Liverpool's manager, he'd behave exactly like Rafa Benitez on this issue. And, were Benitez the England manager, he'd act just like Capello.

PLAY MY GAME: Things are slightly easier this week, as we look at Middlesbrough. Your mission - should you choose to accept it - is this: how many of Middlesbrough's foreign players would get into a 23-man England squad? Here's my (brief) take:

Afonso Alves - Not exactly a scoring machine since coming to the Premier League. I might take a look at him, but I'm not sure he'd get into the squad.
Tuncay Sanli - I like him a lot and would try to find a spot for him. A very technical player, could give a boost off the bench.
Mido - Not everybody's cup of tea. But, hey, he's big, he's strong, he's a target man... surely. given the dearth of options, you'd give him an auditionl wouldn't you?

Beyond that, it's slim pickings. Not because Boro are bad, but because - guess what? - Gareth Southgate has a lot of English talent. Anyone want to make an argument for Emanuel Pogatetz? No?

Comments

[Gabriele Marcotti]

Tom Smith - I think you're missing the point here. Nobody in football has unlimited funds. It's obvious that if Villa lose Gareth Barry for nothing, then Villa won't go bust. So, in that sense, they don't NEED the £18m.
But the question is, if Barry leaves in 18 months, they'll get NOTHING. And the issue is would you rather have £18m now and NOT have Barry for 18 months or would you rather have Barry for 18 months and get nothing in June 2010?
Of course, if Barry extends his contract, the whole issue goes away. But the fact of the matter is that he has not done so. From here on out, it's a gamble because Villa's (arguably) best player is not locked into a long-term deal.
As for "why he would want to leave", you can ask him. He instructed his agent that he wanted a move, he had harsh words for MON when that move didn't happen... I think it's only reasonable to conclude that he would consider a move if he had the chance.
You say MON will decide Barry's future. Fine. But there will be repercussions one way or another. I think his ultimate goal is to show Barry the progress Villa have made this season and persuade him that way that it make sense to stay. Which is the right thing to do.
But, as ever, it's a gamble. And it could turn into a real headache.

[Phil]

So who is the £15-18m player than Martin O'Neill will replace Gareth Barry with then.

As a Villa fan I think Barry is irreplacable, Martin is an amazing manager but apart from Ashley Young who has Martin signed that proves he can replace a player like Barry?

[Tom Smith]

Why would Barry want to leave? Villa are a team on the up and, even with the tough finanacial age we live in, do not need the £18m as Randy Lerner has continously made it clear that if MON wants to spend £5/10/15/20 million on a player or players then he can.

Barry may have burned his bridges in the summer time, but so did Liverpool with Villa, if MON decides to sell Barry, and it will be MON who makes the decision no one else, i doubt he'll sell in the Jan. window and i especially doubt he'll give permission to GB joining any of Villas rivals.

[Phil Durrant]

...and another thing...you will want Alves when he finds his feet and averages 1.2 goals per game in the 2nd half of the season!!!

[Phil Durrant]

Huth could make a very decent CB pairing with Ferdie...much better than Terry (if you can repair his glass ankles)

[Paulc77]

The problem for Liverpool was probably more to do with the unbelievable double-standards. How many dozen United players has Ferguson pulled out of England squads only to play the next game for United?! As was previously pointed out, why wasn't the scan sent down, not Gerard? This was Capello trying to flex muscles. Shame he doesn't have the balls to do likewise with Ferguson (is there a person alive who believes Rooney and Ferdinand were physically unable to play against Germany, or indeed wont both be involved against Villa on Saturday?!).

No Club has suffered more from International football than Liverpool (Barnes, Redknapp, Jones, Cisse, Torres twice this season alone.....). If any club has a right to be cautious with one of THEIR players, who's wages THEY pay, then it's Liverpool.

The sooner International football moves from it's current moribund state to one of actual death, the better.

[Andrew]

Fair enough Tim, professional journalist seems to be reason enough to have a go at liverpool (except for Ollie Kay and Henry Winter who are both Liverpool fans).

Gabrielle Marcotti and Martin Samuel are the two best writers on football and both have come to the wrong conclusion in my opinion. This leads me to believe that on this occasion their writings were based not on facts but on feel. In Martin's case he supports a crap football teram and so to him England are the pinnacle - as a result his knee-jerk is to support the England manager whilst he is doing well. In Gab's case, I'm not sure why he wants to see England's finest player vilified on the altar of Ingurland's ignorance.

I will bet any of you a fiver that Steven Gerrard gets booed at the next England home game as a result of this. God I hope he retires.

[Davy Jones]

Wally Zenga a goalkeeping great? He played behind two of history's tightest defences, and the one time he had to do any real goalkeeping he spectacularly failed to cut Claudio Caniggia off at the pass.

[Punit]

The issue regarding Barry is interesting. Once Liverpool revert to type and their luck runs out, I guess the question will be whether Rafa can convince Barry that he is the missing link that will propel them to the title and him to new heights. Could Barry fall for that? Aside from Gerrard, Reina, Carragher and Torres, everyone else in the team is a bit-parter. Spending large sums doesn't mean the player will play most game or even in his best position - e.g. Keane.

I'm sure that the decision on whether to stay or go comes down to which is the bigger club in the end. I would prefer to see more English players move to Serie A and La Liga, though - if they're really serious about their careers and not just the money. Those leagues are hardly paupers after all.

[Tim B]

Andrew - I was largely in agreement with most of the things that Gab wrote, then I read your response and found myself unable to argue with many of the points you make. I was grudgingly coming round to your point of view right up untill that last line, "...you defend it because Fab is Italian." Give me a break, Gab's a journalist, not a 12 year old, you can't seriously think that can you?

[Dave N]

Why is everyone ignoring the most interesting piece of the article? What a brilliant move by Zenga. Legend
And Middlesborough, can' think of one, unless that funny Brazilian, Rochenbach is still there. And then just to see one of his shots form 50 yards take out Gerrards plane on the way home from the doctor.

[Andrew]

Respect for replying.

Capello is using England's best player for decades as a pawn in a schoolyard powerplay and it is pathetic. I am now part of the rapidly growing band of Englishmen who are contemptuous of international football and look forward to the day when Gerrard retires. This country doesn't deserve him in the team.

Ask any Liverpool fan and they will tell you that despite being the best midfielder in the world, Steven Gerrard's self-confidence is remarkably limited. He was always unable to play when Beckham was around and to a degree Lampard does it to him as well.

Unless he feels like everyone, and I mean everyone, in the team NEEDS him to take control and run the game, he won't. Call this a flaw if you like but that what happens to some people when they crawl out of their council estate to become local boy made good.

He needed Capello to continue to put his arm round him - as he did a few games ago (and look what happened) and tell him he IS the England team. Fullstop. Tell the dressing room to just give Gerrard the ball. McLaren tried, but unfortunately he looked too much like a prune to be taken seriously by anybody.

We saw what becoming Liverpool captain did to him at Anfield - he moved up to a level that few can maintain. That was Capello's first mistake. Rio and Terry won't play much better for being Captain, but Gerrard would have been a different matter.

I understand that advertising revenue came first so they picked the chap who lived closest to Soho square and sold more shirts, but it was a bad sporting decision, just like this farcical situation has been.

Cheers Gab.

[Ola]

On Middlesbrough

Tuncay - Versatile, creative, skilful, hardworking: I would certainly find a place for him in the squad

Mido- Certainly talented enough. Providing he was fit and focussed, he would compete.

Alves: Nothing particularly special about him- but then again, the same could be said about his competition. Might be an option.

How about Julio Arca? Providing he was fit, I would take him ahead of Wayne Bridge. Not only is he more accomplished technically, he is also able to play left midfield and central midfield with equal aplomb.

[Will]

You're off Gab. As pointed out we all have two groins, that is unless we have one leg.

Secondly Capello calling him to London is an "f-you" power move and not much else. As you point out Rafa and Capello are playing there roles. The result for Gerrard is him being called a faker who doesn't care about playing for his country. You can invent a conspiracy about getting surgery during an international break, but it doesn't hold up to the players record for club or country. He deserves the benefit of the doubt, but Capello felt the need to use him as an example. I would be incensed too.

The idea that this is medical in nature or about the distance travelled is hogwash. Second opinions? Get one in Merseyside if they really gave a stuff.

Gerrard making the trip had everything to do with Capello, he was called a bottler so of course he'll make the trip. Which incidentally confirmed the original diagnosis.

At least he'll win England the World Cup.

[Peter Pratt]

The stand out player from Middlesbrough is Tuncay, very technical but plays very much in the sort of role Rooney would fill....he may be worth a look. I would send my scouting team to have a little look at Digard, has made a steady start to his career at Boro and could be an versatile player in an England squad.

Southgate has to be applauded for his managerial style by introducing young players from the impressive academy early on. The lack of foreign pickings within a squad is pretty refreshing...

[Phil]

It is kind of strange though....

Gerrard played the full 90 minutes for Liverpool on Saturday and then happens to be injured in the week of an internationally friendly. I for one would not trust any managers words, Cappello is fully within his rights to get his own opinion on the state of the injury.

Phil

[Gabriele Marcotti]

1. David - Yes, I have been on that flight. And I will admit that 2 hours, 40 mins is optimistic. Very optimistic. Though, I guess, traffic on the M6 can be bad as well. Maybe a helicopter would have been more appropriate?
2. Neil - I don't think Liverpool's medical staff or the doctor is being duplicitous. I do think though that, if you've had a medical problem, it's best to get multiple opinions. Also, if this Dr. Waller is the Under 21 doctor, wouldn't he be off with the Under 21 side? Capello does what's best for his employers. I think when he was in charge of a club he would not have done this because it's not in the club's interest to send a player on a trip like that. Now that he's with a national team it IS in the national team's interest to do it, so he does it. Simple as that.
3. Andrew - I stand corrected on the groin. I know it's the hip adductor muscle and there's one on either side, I thought they were connected and worked together, so that you couldn't strain them independently of each other. Thanks for pointing this out.
And, yes, I appreciate it's a round-trip. But I don't see how this is relevant, he can rest in between can't he? If you check-in online, you can show up twenty minutes before take-off, can't you? The thing with the scan is a fair point, and I honestly don't know. Just as the issue with Liverpool's doctor being involved with the national team: if he's a part of the set-up, wouldn't the other doctors trust him and his opinion enough to take his advice that Gerrard shouldn't travel? That's what I don't understand. Could it be that, perhaps, Liverpool's doctor thinks the trip was not such a bad idea in spite of what the club think? Just asking...

[Adam]

I wonder if these people talking here are the same people who refer to players as pampered and "prima donnas"? So Gerrard had to go out of his way, for less than half a day, in no doubt, extreme comfort, to see his international manager, who wanted to check on his fitness and the extent of his injury. Big deal! He's not exactly short on time is he? Business men do more than this everyday and for significantly less pay and for some a great deal less comfort. There are no conspiracies here and also, no need for exposing the chips on Northern shoulders either. London is where the training camp is, where the FA is, where the national stadium is and where Capello is. It's the capital city! You don't like it? Tough. get over it.

[andrew]

Blimey Gab, you normally talk sense. First of all, every human has two groins. Even my six year old neice knows this. Second, when you go to a place, you have to come back at some stage. Even my four year old nephew knows this. 200 miles one way means another 200 miles back. The Babylonians taught us this. Third - twenty minute check-in? What planet are you on? Fourth, a second opinion on a scan proven muscle tear is irrelevant. If they wanted to verify the diagnosis they could and should have sent the scan, not the player. I am a doctor and I can tell you that this journey was the wrong thing to do for this sort of injury. Finally, liverpool's doctor is a doctor with the under-21s. Not like fergie who for decades has pulled out players without a word. The ubiquitous back injury is never questioned (and impossible to verify) but Stevie G gets carpeted and you defend it because Fab is Italian. You have gone down in my estimation Mr Marcotti.

[Neil Cameron]

I dont disagree with the idea that Capello has the right to check on Gerrard. But what I dont see, is why players from the North West should have to travel to London. Believe it or not Gab, there are doctors and medical facilities north of Watford. Add to that the doctor making the determination for Liverpool is Dr Mark Waller who is also involved with the National teams. You wouldnt expect someone with that much integrity to be duplicitous now would you?

Maybe that’s the problem. Capello might do that, but then again he hasnt signed the Hippocratic Oath now has he?

[david]

Mr Marcotti has clearly never been on the BA manchester to heathrow flight if he thinks that you can get there and back in 2 hours 40 minutes