Let’s Hear It For Gareth Barry, One Of The Greatest English Players Of All Time

Chris Wright

7th, January 2016

3 Comments

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You can stick your Bobby Charlton up your arse

As he continues to chug his way toward his 600th Premier League appearance, it would appear that the time is right for a critical reappraisal of all things Gareth Barry.

Considered by many as a solid/mediocre defensive midfielder, Barry found himself being lauded as one of the greatest ever English players by Everton manager Roberto Martinez after last night’s 2-1 first leg win over Man City in the Capital One Cup semis.

Barry put in a firmly decent shift which was topped off by a the delivery of a lovely cross to lay on Romelu Lukaku’s winning goal, which all left the usually collected Martinez positively brimming with hyperbole while praising his 34-year-old captain.

Speaking to the press after the game, Martinez – in almost Keegan-esque fashion – let it all gush out all over the place:

I have never seen a player with such an incredible professionalism as Gareth Barry.

Gareth is one of those players who gets underrated.

The reason we have so many developing young players is there are leaders in the mould of Gareth Barry. It is no coincidence when we have Gareth Barry around them.

For me, he is one of the best English players ever.

Strong words.

To be fair, we understand what Bob is digging at. Barry is a very good English midfielder – the kind you’d only probably fully appreciate if you played alongside. It’s hard for fans to get overly excited about good positioning, tactical discipline, consistency, experienced nous, composure and the reading and nullifying of opponents.

He was also the second Premier League player to pass the 200-kilometre milestone in terms of distance covered this season, just behind Bournemouth’s Andrew Surman (who is five years Barry’s junior). Both players took 17 games to break the barrier, Barry took 18 minutes longer.

He has his flaws, sure, but the man is a thoroughly consummate footballer. Not flashy or dynamic (at least since his early days at Aston Villa), but very good at his job.

After all, you don’t make it to 600 Premier League appearances and win over 50 international caps by accident, now do you?

Posted in Everton, Managers, Newsnow, Opinion

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3 Comments

  1. Stevevans says:

    If your surname isn’t Neville you don’t..

  2. Holland 1945 says:

    People love to mock him because of one international incident and the fact that his name is “Gareth Barry” and not “Grazziano Barrinho”.

    I’m not judging. I thought the same before he signed for Everton. But when you actually watch him play week in, week out, you see why everyone who manages/plays with him loves him so much. Never have I seen a player make himself available for a pass so often. His reading of the game is 2nd to none and he turns defense into attack instantly, as he’s always got his head up and has the ability to play pinpoint passes. He’s quiet off the field but vocal on it, so he’s never in the news but for a young player playing next to him, he’s always there to help.

    He is a top bloke, a top player and an unsung great of the Premier League. The fact that Janujaz, Dele Alli or the next instant world-class player gets more hype in 12 minutes of football than he’s had in his career, says nothing about him and everything about the state of most, modern football fans.

  3. has_slippy_won_the_league_yet says:

    Hands down one of the greatest players to ever play in the EPL in terms of professionalism, longevity and dedication. Adapted his game many times, always kept trying to improve, always looked after himself and wanted to play, always wanted the ball in games, always did a great job in any role he was played in and always improved every team he played in without other players having to adapt to him or needing to be “mr hollywood look-at-me superstar”. Perhaps the single most underrated footballer to EVER play in the EPL – a true credit to his profession and the “millionaire teenagers” who think they’ve made it after playing 5 games for the reserves on £20k a week. One can only imagine the plaudits he’d get if he spent his enitre career playing for a “Sky big club” (or littlepool); then the middle aged journalists could gush over him every week instead of ignoring him for the best part of 15 years.

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