Independent thinks Harry is after Barry

[buttons]

why? :shrug:

As back up for BAE mainly. I want Bale to stay but think he is more suited to LM or LWB role....

 

[gibbs131]

I am a little surprised at some saying this is pie in the sky.

We have signed BIGGER world class players like Klin etc etc. Barry was never sold because he is not seen as a fashionable signing my most chairmen.

Also, he should play on the left of midfield:


Barry Modric Palacious Lennon

This will handle ANY midfield in the Prem.

 

[thfc1989]

If we sign him when Modric drifts in to the centre Barry could cover for him on the left, would produce some nice link up play

 

[tony_parkes]

I really hope we go in for him.

I don't see this transfer as impossible. If Liverpool and Arsenal are committed to getting him then we've got problems, but I don't think it's as definite that Liverpool will be in for him.

If I were Rafa there's no way that I'd be looking to sell Alonso and if they are really in for Tevez then they may not have the transfer funds to go for Barry until they have sold a few fringe players. Liverpool probably need geniune wingers and a striker more urgently. Hyppia leaving and question marks over the full backs may mean looking to strengthen in defence.

Will Arsene go for Barry? They could probably do with him, the biggest threat may come from them or City if they decide to offer him £100k a week.

Let's act quickly and decisively and get him snared.

 

[robin09]

But knowing how close he was to joining Liverpool, would he settle for anything less than a CL team now?

 

[tRiKS]

oh god ... Barry is a myth in a 442. totally one paced and suited only to a 3 man midfield. Garbage when MON inexplicably changed to a 442 system.

I wouldn't want him instead of Jenas or Modric in a 442.

 

[gibbs131]

oh god ... Barry is a myth in a 442. totally one paced and suited only to a 3 man midfield. Garbage when MON inexplicably changed to a 442 system.

I wouldn't want him instead of Jenas or Modric in a 442.

That is why he should be a defensive LM. That way he can allow Bale or BAE to bomb forward, and cover for Modrics lack of power in the middle.

He is also very clever on the ball and a positive thinker as well as the obvious benefit from him helping defend set pieces.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Why Barry won't be joining us...

http://blogs.notw.co.uk/sport/2008/06/gareth-barry-bl.html

make special note of how he says he is "desperate to play champions league football" and that if Villa were in the CL he wouldn't leave. I know this is a few months old but I doubt he would even join a team not in europe, it could be a bad move at 28 considering that we might not even make top 6 again for a few seasons due to the increased competition from teams like villa, man city, everton, fulham, west ham etc..

 

[fozzi44]

yeah we need to get real here. If they guy is going to leave Liverpool it will be for Champs League. If anything i can see the gooners signing him.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

oh god ... Barry is a myth in a 442. totally one paced and suited only to a 3 man midfield. Garbage when MON inexplicably changed to a 442 system.

I wouldn't want him instead of Jenas or Modric in a 442.

Luckily we've been playing a 3 man midfield for the past 4 months then.

I don't understand why people insist that what we play is a 442. It really is not. It's not a 433 either. Its a fluid system which incorporates a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder and an attacking midfielder who covers the flank that lacks a winger. Then the winger in the side plays on the other side, but in between the midfield and attack. In the meanwhile, the attacking midfielder who has been starting out wide ends up al over the shop because he has a free role.

Many teams employ this kind of a formation these days.

...........Palacios
........Jenas Modric
Lennon

that is our midfielder effectively. Instead of a winger on the left, and only one forward, we have been playing with two forwards, with Keane very often drifting out wide when Modric cuts in.

WE DO NOT PLAY 442!

You lot exhaust me

 

[3Dnata]

The broadsheets are as full of crap as the tabloids.

A massive likewise.
Admirable lack of quotes in the independent article.
I'd like it if we were to sign Barry but I can't see it happening.
I think the papers are going through this site to pick up rumours and I also believe this might be an attempt at an apology for their "racist chants" headline last friday.

 

[Kendall]

yeah we need to get real here. If they guy is going to leave Liverpool it will be for Champs League. If anything i can see the gooners signing him.

That was then, this is now.

I feel we still have more of a chance of qualifying for the CL next year than Villa especially if Barry joins us. So if Liverpool are now content to keep Alonso after an excellent season Barry is going to have to make a choice - stay at a bottling Villa side or come to Spurs, a team he will know in and out and are now set to go places - with his help.

 

[tony_parkes]

That was then, this is now.

I feel we still have more of a chance of qualifying for the CL next year than Villa especially if Barry joins us. So if Liverpool are now content to keep Alonso after an excellent season Barry is going to have to make a choice - stay at a bottling Villa side or come to Spurs, a team he will know in and out and are now set to go places - with his help.

I agree with a lot of that plus don't underestimate the Harry effect.

Some on here have questioned Redknapp's ability to attract players from Europe as he will not have the same reputation as Ramos had with foreign players. I kind of know where people are coming from with that but would say back that he signed some good players whilst at West Ham and Pompey and we are a more attractive and high profile club than either of them.

When you are talking Premier League based British players Harry is in his element. Johnson, James, Campbell, Defoe and Crouch to Pompey were massive signings for a club of their stature.

Keane (ok Irish) and Defoe couldn't wait to get back to Spurs. I've a client who is a Liverpool ITK and he has remained friends with Crouch's dad (they used to chat every week in the players and family lounge at Anfield) and he tells me Crouch desperately wants Harry to come back in for him.

If Liverpool or Arsenal go in for him and are prepared to pay the fee Villa demand then he will go there but if they mess him and Villa about or don't go in for him with enough conviction then I believe we could get him. It seems Harry is thought of very highly by the British lads, he could pull it off in my opinion.

 

[yanno]

If Villa are offering £70k pw and our highest earners are on around £45k pw I can't see that we could possibly offer something comparable. Villa have European football next season and at least as good a chance as us to compete for 4th. I can't see that he would leave Villa for Spurs unless he had burnt all his bridges, which doesn't seem to be the case as he reconciled with the fans and has been a key players for them again this year. I do think he would be a great signng but I don't see it happening.

It would be good if a genuine ITK (I know...) could clarify the wages situation, but my understanding is that Liverpool almost doubled Keane's wages to near £80k per week, and that Spurs found a way of nearly matching that package when we resigned him. (Also that Defoe received, and retained, a hefty wage increase from his brief sojourn with Pompey.)

Personally, depending on which strikers are available in the summer, I'd be tempted to offer Martin O'Neill Keane in exchange for Barry (and perhaps cash). Defoe is probably ahead of Keane for the (loosely) "small striker" role on current form, and I really don't want a season of Redknapp sticking Robbie in a wide midfield position just to keep him in the team.

Fwiw the Indie headline -Redknapp looks for new leader in Barry - suggests both King & Keane's leadership qualities may be challenged next season. Of course, the Indie headline, and the article, may be entirely speculative.

 

[lishiyo]

Defoe's not going to stay fit all season though, and Keane would be great back-up if JD were off form or injured, provided Keane's willing to sit on our bench sometimes (hoping harry's heralded man management skills work here). If we want to get anywhere we need a deep squad, Everton and Villa were screwed by their injuries and small squad sizes. Plus MON loves Gabby and Carew's a great striker, Keane's not an automatic starter for them anyways.

The Crouch bit is interesting since I've read several ITKs (not sure how trustworthy) that say Crouch will be coming here - at the very least he is certainly heading out of Portsmouth this summer.

 

[yanno]

Defoe's not going to stay fit all season though, and Keane would be great back-up if JD were off form or injured, provided Keane's willing to sit on our bench sometimes (hoping harry's heralded man management skills work here).

Yes. But Keane is not going to want to sit on the bench.

When he re-signed for us, he muttered something about how much he hated even being substituted.

I would be delighted to keep Keane as a squad player who probably wouldn't be first choice if everyone was fit. I doubt Robbie would accept such a squad status.

 

[IamCelestial]

Why would he change Villa for us now?

 

[mjam]

don't think he would sadly, think he would be ideal for our midfield with Wilson.

 

[lishiyo]

Yes. But Keane is not going to want to sit on the bench.

When he re-signed for us, he muttered something about how much he hated even being substituted.

I would be delighted to keep Keane as a squad player who probably wouldn't be first choice if everyone was fit. I doubt Robbie would accept such a squad status.

it's up to Harry I suppose, he seems to be a better man manager than Benitez at least, and Harry has a good relationship with Defoe so perhaps JD would be more understanding.

or play him behind two strikers :wink:

 

[VancouverSpurs]

JD does like Harry, but I think that's based on the understanding that Harry likes JD as well, enough to make him a starter whenever he's fit. Neither he, nor Keane, will accept long-term substitute duty. I wish we had more of a 'club captains' approach to the captaincy, where Keane isn't the only person who's allowed to wear the armband. It would allow for more squad flexibility, ala Man U.

Regarding Barry, I'm with the majority here. There isn't a clear reason as to why he'd come here. Only if there's some behind the scenes trouble with O'Neill or he really wants to be in London/play for Spurs do I see this happening.