15-08-2017, 16:09
(This post was last modified: 15-08-2017, 16:14 by Beefy 1965.)
From the Liverpool Echo.
Gareth Barry to leave Everton armed with the admiration of everyone
And why Ronald Koeman may need to find a replacement
BY PHIL KIRKBRIDE
11:25, 15 AUG 2017UPDATED11:26, 15 AUG 2017
Ronald Koeman has reluctantly agreed to sell one of the best players he has ever managed.
That’s not speculation or conjecture, it’s what the Everton boss said.
It was in the hours after the Blues’ 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion in August last year when Barry was the surprise match-winner, popping up at the back post to head home the winning goal, and put the icing on a typically pristine display.
“...he’s still one of the best players that I have managed in my teams because of the cleverness of him in football is really a high quality,” Koeman said.
The manager’s admiration for the 36-year-old has not slipped, even if Barry has fallen down the pecking order at Goodison since that afternoon at the Hawthorns, and it’s exactly he was at first reticent, but ultimately agreed, to let him go.
Barry, to his eternal credit, does not want to spend the final years of his career as a bit-part player and so wanted to take up an opportunity to be first-choice under Tony Pulis at West Brom.
JS41343071-1.jpg
Gareth Barry shakes hands with Roberto Martinez after agreeing a three-year permanent deal with Everton in 2014
Evertonians will be disappointed to see him go but no-one will begrudge him the move; they may even applaud his desire.
They know he’ll be superb for the Baggies, just like he has been for Everton over four seasons and 155 games.
READ MORE
This is the strongest Everton squad I've known says Gareth Barry
A quiet but classy operator, Barry instantly commanded the respect of his team-mates and steadily won over sceptical elements of the Blues’ support.
Roberto Martinez didn’t always get it right in the transfer market but landing Barry, first on loan and then permanently for a nominal fee, was one the club’s shrewdest pieces of business in recent times.
Gareth Barry celebrates scoring his side's winning goal against West Brom at The Hawthorns on August 20, 2016
The former Manchester City man isn’t flashy, he’s not quick, he doesn’t score many goals or skip past the opposition but his range of passing is extensive, his understanding of the game is total and his speed of thought is what ties it all together.
He’s also got bottle, highlighted by the fact that during Martinez’s final season, which unravelled at speed, he emerged with credit, being named the club’s Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year awards.
READ MORE
This is the truth about those Gareth Barry exit rumours
All wrapped up in an immaculate sense of professionalism, the veteran midfielder will be missed at Everton, so much so that when his move to West Brom is complete, possibly today, they are left without a natural back-up to Morgan Schneiderlin – it may force Koeman into a revision of his remaining transfer plans.
Wayne Rooney and Gareth Barry before the pre-season friendly against FC Twente(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
His wish-list should now read: ‘Gylfi Sigurdsson, a striker, a left-sided defender....and a replacement for Barry’.
On Saturday afternoon, Koeman spoke about being “happy” to keep him, there has even been talks about the offer of a new deal, but hinted that he would allow this “great professional” to leave in search for regular game-time if he so wished.
He does. And today Barry is edging closer to a move to West Brom, the place where Koeman delivered the fullest of praise possibly available to him.
Barry’s Everton team-mates would all concur with their manager and so let’s leave it to Leighton Baines to provide a fitting final word on a player they call Gaz Baz.
“He is the biggest example of a standard setter in that respect,” he said, last season. “I have got so, so much respect for him.
"He is one of the best players I have ever played with because he’s unbelievable.”
Not Injury prone either ................
Matt WilsonVerified account
@mattwilson_star
Barry has played 30+ Prem games in 18 of the last 19 seasons. He's finished in the top half in 14 of those, and in the top 6 in 10 of them.
peter james needham @pjneedham40 17h17 hours ago
More
"Any WBA fans thinking Gareth Barry would be a bad signing, I made the same mistake when Everton signed him. Never been more wrong.Pure class"
Gareth Barry to leave Everton armed with the admiration of everyone
And why Ronald Koeman may need to find a replacement
BY PHIL KIRKBRIDE
11:25, 15 AUG 2017UPDATED11:26, 15 AUG 2017
Ronald Koeman has reluctantly agreed to sell one of the best players he has ever managed.
That’s not speculation or conjecture, it’s what the Everton boss said.
It was in the hours after the Blues’ 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion in August last year when Barry was the surprise match-winner, popping up at the back post to head home the winning goal, and put the icing on a typically pristine display.
“...he’s still one of the best players that I have managed in my teams because of the cleverness of him in football is really a high quality,” Koeman said.
The manager’s admiration for the 36-year-old has not slipped, even if Barry has fallen down the pecking order at Goodison since that afternoon at the Hawthorns, and it’s exactly he was at first reticent, but ultimately agreed, to let him go.
Barry, to his eternal credit, does not want to spend the final years of his career as a bit-part player and so wanted to take up an opportunity to be first-choice under Tony Pulis at West Brom.
JS41343071-1.jpg
Gareth Barry shakes hands with Roberto Martinez after agreeing a three-year permanent deal with Everton in 2014
Evertonians will be disappointed to see him go but no-one will begrudge him the move; they may even applaud his desire.
They know he’ll be superb for the Baggies, just like he has been for Everton over four seasons and 155 games.
READ MORE
This is the strongest Everton squad I've known says Gareth Barry
A quiet but classy operator, Barry instantly commanded the respect of his team-mates and steadily won over sceptical elements of the Blues’ support.
Roberto Martinez didn’t always get it right in the transfer market but landing Barry, first on loan and then permanently for a nominal fee, was one the club’s shrewdest pieces of business in recent times.
Gareth Barry celebrates scoring his side's winning goal against West Brom at The Hawthorns on August 20, 2016
The former Manchester City man isn’t flashy, he’s not quick, he doesn’t score many goals or skip past the opposition but his range of passing is extensive, his understanding of the game is total and his speed of thought is what ties it all together.
He’s also got bottle, highlighted by the fact that during Martinez’s final season, which unravelled at speed, he emerged with credit, being named the club’s Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year awards.
READ MORE
This is the truth about those Gareth Barry exit rumours
All wrapped up in an immaculate sense of professionalism, the veteran midfielder will be missed at Everton, so much so that when his move to West Brom is complete, possibly today, they are left without a natural back-up to Morgan Schneiderlin – it may force Koeman into a revision of his remaining transfer plans.
Wayne Rooney and Gareth Barry before the pre-season friendly against FC Twente(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
His wish-list should now read: ‘Gylfi Sigurdsson, a striker, a left-sided defender....and a replacement for Barry’.
On Saturday afternoon, Koeman spoke about being “happy” to keep him, there has even been talks about the offer of a new deal, but hinted that he would allow this “great professional” to leave in search for regular game-time if he so wished.
He does. And today Barry is edging closer to a move to West Brom, the place where Koeman delivered the fullest of praise possibly available to him.
Barry’s Everton team-mates would all concur with their manager and so let’s leave it to Leighton Baines to provide a fitting final word on a player they call Gaz Baz.
“He is the biggest example of a standard setter in that respect,” he said, last season. “I have got so, so much respect for him.
"He is one of the best players I have ever played with because he’s unbelievable.”
Not Injury prone either ................
Matt WilsonVerified account
@mattwilson_star
Barry has played 30+ Prem games in 18 of the last 19 seasons. He's finished in the top half in 14 of those, and in the top 6 in 10 of them.
peter james needham @pjneedham40 17h17 hours ago
More
"Any WBA fans thinking Gareth Barry would be a bad signing, I made the same mistake when Everton signed him. Never been more wrong.Pure class"
2x Premier League Champ 1x Championship Winner and World cup Winner