Aug
22
2008
Wenger talks about Barry – isn’t that wrong?
Now that Wenger has commented twice on Gareth Barry (here and here), will you:
- accuse him of trying to unsettle the captain of a league rival?
- encourage Villa to file a complaint against Arsenal – especially since they have more evidence of Wenger breaking Premier League’s K8 rule than Spurs ever did against Ferguson?
- give us a lecture on how great the Arsenal are?
- criticise league rivals for lacking morals (again completely irrelevant)?
- abuse Soccerlens for asking questions you feel uncomfortable answering?
- deny that he ever said it?
I already know that he’s said in one interview that he’s not following up on Barry. But he IS interested in the player and he HAS talked about the player twice. I’m not saying he’s tapping him up – I’m asking if his talking about him is at a par with other managers mentioning players and getting stick for it?
What’s it going to be, Gooners?
This is in fact the same sort of thing that David O’Leary got fined for when talking about James Beattie.
However nothing will be done because of who the club is, the same as no action was taken with Benitez.
There is one rule for one set of clubs and another for the rest.
And to be honest it stinks.
What’s your point?
If a journo asks if we’re interested in Barry and Wenger says he’s a player he likes, follows etc, what’s the problem?
He also likes, follows etc Kaka, Ronaldo, Messi.
I’ve seen the interview on SKY that your links refer to and typical Wenger fashion , he gives absolutely nothing away. If some low life hack then wants to interperate that into anything that might sell a few papers, what can you do ?
the actual quote was (SkySports)
Many people are taking it out of context and assuming its Barry. May be it is, may be it isn’t but Wenger is not tapping up the player via the press.
Although Wenger is refusing to publicly state Barry is on his wanted list, but he has hinted he is looking to make one more signing before the transfer window closes.
“I can surprise you sometimes, as I got one in whom you did not expect, and there still might be one more player coming in,” he stated.
No names
“You know the position, but I cannot tell you much more. There is interest always (in players). I do not want to give you any names.
Wenger… stated in the first he was not after barry, fair enough. In the other he stated that of course he is a player that the rule has been run over, however; players of that age and price are not the type of value he looks for.
Twist it if you like… you might get a rise out of the odd GOONER, but… I think both comments are fair and I see nothing on a par with other managers trying to unsettle a player.
I will say that if anything he’s leaving the door open with his latter slightly ambiguous answer, more to let the Spannish scouser think there’s a chance of him snapping up Barry which might force Raffa to buy Barry… then Arsenal get Alonso because he may not wish to stay!
Keep it GOONERISH!
I’m a villa fan and I don’t have a problem with it. Just the good old British media making mountains out of mole hills as per usual.
actually, unless i’m very much mistaken, it was villa who first said that arsenal had shown any interest in the player when martin o’neill said pat rice had called his assistant manager as they were friends and asked what was happening the liverpool situation, then said that they may get back to them. hardly meeting a player behind his clubs back now is it?
As a Villa fan, I would rather see Barry in an Arsenal shirt than a Liverpool shirt. He may as well go to the team that will develop him into a better player.
Better still let him stay at Villa and fight to be club captain again.
Very simple way to understand this:
The rule is simple, you want to get a player to join your club while he is under contract, you contact his manager/club.
O’Neil has earlier confirmed Arsenal’s interest. Arsenal has already contacted Villa first before getting to Barry.
What Liverpool did was to get at Barry before contacting his club, or directly speaking with him against his clubs wishes. Hence O’Neil bristling.
With that in mind, it’s ever-so-slightly slightly amusing just to see the sarcasm in the original post.
To echo the comments above – this is an absurd article.
Barry has constantly expressed his desire to leave Villa over the summer (and thus cannot be further “unsettled”) and Villa have clearly taken part in negotiations to sell the player – certainly with Liverpool, and maybe with Arsenal.
Try again, Ahmed.
Does’nt matter anyway Arsenal can’t afford Barry,We all know you’ve got no money.
Nor can liverpoo Ha Ha
Great article. As a lifelong gooner, I for one am ashamed at Wenger’s thuggish tactics. I am probably more offended that he would be interested in a sh*t player like Barry in the first place, though.
Yes Jimmy have to agree after watching that mighty performance against west brom,Barry would struggle.
Jimmy, be quiet – ashamed is a bit much. This sort of thing is commonplace now, despite it being somewhat underhanded. Regular offenders include Harry Redknapp and Rafael Benitez.
Very, very poor article. Won’t be returning to this site if this is indicative of what you get.
As a Villa fan, I would be livid if another manager was openly professing his wish to try and sign one our players…
I saw the Wenger interview and to be honest didn’t see anything wrong with it. OK, I think AW is a class act anyway but for me he was just playing with the words in the question asked of him, amusing even. No issue… so no point trying to find one and generate ill feeling between groups of fans.
There is no offence in what AW has done,there is notting wrong in him expressing his intrest in a player.Oh come on He didn,t approach him.As an arsenal fan I need a player better than Barry in the club
Im glad wenger has given up on Alonso
its shocking nobody was willing to meet his 23million evaluation, Arsenal said 18million max so its obvious they have the money for Barry.
Anybody who has watched all the matches Alonso has played this season will think that 23million sounds cheap.