Barry aims to keep place

Villa midfielder happy with England displays

By Mark Buckingham   Last updated: 13th September 2007

Barry aims to keep place

Barry: Looking forward

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Gareth Barry is hoping he will retain his England place for next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia.

In the absence of injured duo Owen Hargreaves and Frank Lampard, Barry was given the nod to partner Steven Gerrard in the 3-0 wins over Israel and Russia.

The Aston Villa captain impressed in both matches and he feels he has presented England coach Steve McClaren with a dilemma ahead of October's double-header.

"I have given the manager another option and that's what international teams need," Barry told Sky Sports News.

"I look forward to meeting up again, hopefully."

More confident

It was the first time Barry had completed consecutive competitive matches for England and he was happy with his burgeoning partnership with Gerrard.

He added: "It goes to show that I did not stop giving up. It's been a long time and I had never played back-to-back qualifiers for 90 minutes.

"It's been a different week for me. I enjoyed playing in there with Steve, it's gone very well."

England are now in second spot in Group E and Barry feels the team will head to Russia next month full of confidence.

Barry continued: "The league was a bit upside down for us, but it's looking a lot prettier now.

"There are tough games to go, but we will go into those games more confident."

Comments (28)

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Matt Wilson (Crystal Palace fan) says...

Well played England. And a pat on the back for Mcclaren. his selections were brave. Ive been waiting for this for a long time. The old boys network of pre-madonna's has been broken up. All we need is Woodgate or Ledley King to come in for the erratic Ferdinand (who may be good on the ball but hes error prone and not the bravest) and this side will be something. The likes of Rooney, Hargreaves, Crouch should be made to wait for suspension or injury before coming in. I am not convinced by Heskey at all. He is a good foil for owen, but goals? Crouch long term. Barry lacks pace at international football for me and i would expect Hargreaves to come in later also. Rooney is a real dilemma. He may slot in on the problem left and allow joe Cole to move to the right. W. phillips is improving and provides pace but his final ball is appalling. use him as an impact player for now..

Posted 10:21 14th September 2007

Chris Wooden (Portsmouth fan) says...

Awesome performance again (haven't said that for a long time!). The injuries couldn't have been a greater blessing as we're finally seeing how we can play when its a team, rather than 11 stars. Surely no one can argue for the lampard-gerrard partnership any more. How many times do the pundits say the quality of a team can be measured by the quality of the bench - so lets see a few brave decisions Steve and a very dangerous bench and first team.

Posted 14:13 13th September 2007

Adam Haden (Norwich City fan) says...

The next 2 games for England are crucial for Steve Mclaren, does his bow to the big names players and drop Barry? He is likely to have either Hargreaves/Lampard or both available and has to decide whether to bring them back in or not. Barry was outstanding in both games and did everything that you could ask of him, its his place to lose. Although there has been alot of positive talk of Heskey, Im still unconvinced, he had a couple of decent games but was not really a goal threat, if Rooney is fit I expect him to get the nod.

Posted 13:43 13th September 2007

Alan Goodfellow (Wycombe Wanderers fan) says...

Barry, Owen and Heskey were excellent in both games and should keep their respective places. It was fantastic watching a committed England side playing as a unit at long last. Macca needs to look back at the past few days and see the big difference when you have a team of players that are proud of playing for their country! In the recent past there have just been too many egos in the team, and it's killed us at international level.

Posted 13:12 13th September 2007

Liam Mayman (Blackburn Rovers fan) says...

Great to see England playing decent attacking football rather than the laboured sideways and backwards passing. Gareth Barry was quality, I always had him pencilled in for the left-wing and was pleasantly suprised but you need dribblers like Joey Cole to create space. Heskey as well as 442 is a must. Bye bye both Nevilles and Beckham. Lampard and Rooney on the bench (amazing). All we need now is a 'keeper who doesn't get regularily beaten from range. Bring on the Ruskies! Well done Scotland although it will still take a huge effort to qualify looking at the games left to play.

Posted 13:00 13th September 2007

Stanley Davies (Aston Villa fan) says...

Barry has performed excellently for England over the last two games. He deserves his place in the starting 11, England havent played that well for a long time. Mclaren thought he was making a bold statement by dropping Beckham. I think he should now be brave enough to put Lampard on the bench and keep the Barry Gerrard partnership going, it can only get better. Well done Bazza you have deserved it.

Posted 12:59 13th September 2007

Justin Smith (Grimsby Town fan) says...

Frank Who? I don't think Barry misplaced a pass all game, and let Stevie G do what he's best at..attacking. Heskey was fantastic, and again gave the lads at the back someone to aim at. My only concern was the back four, they seemed a bit all at sea at times...but apart from that McClaren should stick with what works and not just pick players with big reputations. COME ON ENGLAND!!!

Posted 12:38 13th September 2007

Benjamin Tei wemegah (Arsenal fan) says...

England are playing the most attractive football in recent times. It was about time the england manager started fielding other players rather than concentrating on the usual big names like lampard and hargreaves. heskey forms the natural partneship with owen as he has proven over the years, and certainly in the last two matches. Barry deserves a place in the first team, what a player he is.i just hope he wont be a substitute when lampard returns, it is clear to see that he is by far a better player than lampard is.

Posted 12:37 13th September 2007

Tony Gooding (Manchester United fan) says...

I totally agree, with the comments above about Barry being the man of the match in both games. England need an anchor man who is going to do all the selfless acts for the team and allow England's best player Steve Gerrard pull the strings! How strong a unit do we look with Gerrard driving forward, not worried about being out of position because Mr Chelsea is playing just behind the strikers and trying to shoot from 50 yards? I'm sorry but however good Lampard plays for Chelsea, he is not as good as Gerrard, it's time to be brave McLaren and drop Lampard for Barry or Hargreaves.

Posted 12:31 13th September 2007

Chris Woulds (Leeds United fan) says...

At last! a performance we can all be proud of and a team picked by a manager on its team merit, not individual superstar status. What a refreshing change it was to see true partnerships developing in a side with plenty left to prove. Stevie G and Barry, Heskey and Owen, Wright-Phillips and Richards, all showing on the night that if you pick a side that compliments each other it works far better than a team full of individual superstars. I just hope that Mclarren keeps his head and realises that he's just accomplished what fans have been asking for years: A starting 11 that is picked because of how well they work together, not how big each player's reputation is. The only changes i would make to the side would be minor. Out with Ashely Cole (i dont rate him at all as a defender) in with Bridge. If woodgate was fit i'd contemplate switching him with Rio but he's actually starting to play to a decent regular standard now so no worries there. As for the bench? Rooney, Lamps, Lennon, Neville, Hargreaves. Richards will be key for us now. If Rio or Terry get injured you can just slap him inside and put neville on to cover and still have a great back 4. Anyway, congratulations for Barry, Heskey, Gerrard, Owen and again Richards. Amazing games all round and a delight to watch for once! Something is very wrong if we dont see all these players in the next starting 11! Come on Mclarren, you've just earned some respect from the fans for doing the right thing, dont try to fix what doesnt need fixing!

Posted 12:30 13th September 2007

Ollie Lacey says...

Gerrard gives the ball away so many times!How can no one see that..plus he shoots fom way out and blasts it over the bar!Lampard and Barry would be interesting as although Lamps has been off fom for England-he played well against Germany and has been scoring for fun.

Posted 12:27 13th September 2007

Ben W (Birmingham City fan) says...

Blues fan here who as much as it pains me to say, Barry is class in midfield, and as much of a donkey he could be at times with Birmingham, Heskey is the right man to play up front with Owen, play the right team McClaren not the best individual players!

Posted 11:05 13th September 2007

The black Hand (Arsenal fan) says...

I am so pleased for Heskey. People slagged him off but he was the carthorse that made Owen look like a thoroughbred. I hope the manager stops reading papers and starts thinking about the best TEAM. The performance of these late replacements must give him the authority over so called big name players. We have needed a wide right player for 4 years now although I would still have Beckham in the squad. Frank Lampard is a great player, he has not let England down even though his form has dipped. I cant think of any better player to have on the bench in case Gerrard gets injured!

Posted 10:56 13th September 2007

Simon Tipple (Manchester United fan) says...

Barry was a revelation! Has to become an England regular with Gerrard. The partnership was just brilliant, totally controlled midfield in both games. Never thought say this but Heskey, he was also excellent, won near every ball put up to him, and really gave the ball away. I think Steve McClaren has finally found the winning formula, I hope he has the strength to stick with the same team. If he does stick with same team, were going to have an awesome subs bench, with players like Rooney, Hargreaves, Lampard, Crouch, and Beckham.

Posted 10:52 13th September 2007

Tony F says...

I agree with Jimmy. It's about picking the best TEAM, not the best 11 players available. The pairings of Gareth Barry and Stevie G, and Owen and Heskey have shown that this week. Also, these two team performances have served to disprove the notion of Englands 'lack of strength in depth'. England DOES have players that can come in and do the biz if chances are given and the team is put together sensibly according to the opposition (there was no Rooney, Carrick, Young, Agbonlar, Lampard, Hargreaves). Let's hope that McLaren DOES have a selection headache, and puts TEAMS out on that pitch, and not just collections of "big names".

Posted 10:49 13th September 2007

Baz Wheeler (Aston Villa fan) says...

As far as i am concerned Barry should have been in the england squad for the last 5 yrs. He is emense for villa and has now got the consistency right and has progressed as a palyer. Everyone is talkin about Hargreeves but wat has he done since he is been at Man U? Early days i agree but why should he be mentioned as barry's succsesor when barry has been doing it for club and country! Wouldnt mind seeing somone ask Stevie G who he would prefer to play with! Congrats Barry u deserve it!

Posted 10:49 13th September 2007

James Dewhurst (Chelsea fan) says...

As long as Barry is fit he should start ahead of Lamps & Hargreaves. What is the point in playing well for England if you can't retain your place in doing so ? Surely Macca will get it right again !

Posted 10:38 13th September 2007

Phil Pritchard (Manchester United fan) says...

Its a pleasure to witness players who genuinely want to play for their country and go out there and show us their desire and determination (Barry, Richards, SWP to name a few) now they have finally been given the opportunity. Too many times we have watched players picked because of who they are and what they have acheived in the past. Many fans would have been pleasantly surprised by Barry's recent performances but it would not have surprised any Villa fans. They have been praising him for years whilst being adament that he could do a quality job for England. He may even offer Joe Cole some serious competition for that left wing. Bring on Estonia. A quick "well done Scotland" as well. I dont understand all this England / Scotland rivalry really. I for one was really pleased for them last night. Maybe it was down to them playing the French!!

Posted 09:58 13th September 2007

Andy Davies (Everton fan) says...

Another great performance from england. Barry was unlucky not to get man of the match, but you can see why Owen got it. Finally we have a midfield paring who can controll the game i hope McClaren see's some sense and drops that waste of space Lampard, it is clear he cannot cut it at international level. Gerrard is Englands best player be far and can be the most destructive and when a player complements him like Barry does, and put in a stunning performance as he did, it is time to build the team around those two. PS as an everton fan that was hard to say

Posted 09:43 13th September 2007

Redd Sebby (Manchester United fan) says...

For the first time in a long time i watched the English game without been scared of the outcome... I have always had it in mind that Lampard and Gerrard dont mix...they are the same players with gerrard possesing an edge in overall character... The positive result of both games (Israel and Russia) is purely defined in the middle of the pack where Gerrard and Barry played absolutely wonderful...Macca should have it in mind that his best middle combination lies in Gerrard - Barry or Haregeaves OR Lampard - Barry or Haregeaves... There should be a natural holding midfielder!!!

Posted 09:38 13th September 2007
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