So after nearly a year Barry has gone.

I remember his debut at Sheff Wed away and shortly afterwards his second game at Goodison. Anyone who was there will remember the impression he gave to us all. He seemed to have everything at only 17, poise, quality passing and an intelligent football brain.

Over the years at Villa his form never quite lived up to that promise, well until MON joined us. He played Left back, Left Midfielder, Left central defender but never seemed to settle into one position, in fact at the end of DOL it is well documented he was about to leave us for £4m to Pompey.

Then MON joined us, made Barry some promises and made him the key of our side that Barry really played up to it and up until last season played fantastic and played his way into the England Squad and now an almost permanent fixture of the England side.

things were different then

Then it went wrong.

Something happened and Barry for me gave the signal to Liverpool that he was interested in moving, we had a summer where we stuck to our guns and won but it was clear from what I saw this season that he was not interested in really playing for us. It does not take much for a pro footballer to lose the 5% extra that makes all the difference and he lost it. The lack of pace was suddenly shown up and he seemed to pull out of the physical side of the game. For me and others it looked over and we expected him to leave for one of the ‘Sky Four’, as it was it Manchester City and a huge wage that persuaded him to leave and let me remind you of the News of the World quotes.

Barry, 27, said: “My mind’s made up, I want to join Liverpool. There’s no going back, it’s time for me to move on. I’m desperate to play Champions League football and that’s why I have to leave Villa.
“I hope the Villa fans understand. I have given my all for the club for 10 years and I’m only leaving because now I need to test myself at the very highest level.
“And I can honestly say if Villa were in the Champions League I wouldn’t even consider leaving this great club.”

Manchester City hardly fulfil these criteria and Pat Murphy on Radio 5 today has also said that 6 months ago Barry re-iterated to him that the aim was Champions league, so it is amazing what a wad of notes waved in front of someone will do.

Motivation factor

In retrospect Barry was lost to us last summer, he has been a good servant but not at the legend status, he never ripped up trees but never really player poorly but the manner of his leaving leaves a very sour taste in his mouth and we can only help that Martin and Randy have some aces up their sleeves to wash this taste out of our mouths.