Barry joins West Brom

Tuesday, 15 August, 2017 90comments  |  Jump to most recent
Gareth Barry's four-year spell at Everton is over after he agreed a move to West Bromwich Albion today.

The 36-year-old midfielder underwent a successful medical at the Baggies' training ground this afternoon before putting pen to paper on a contract that takes him back to Birmingham where he spent a large chunk of his career with Aston Villa.

Barry was a regular England international in his prime and won the Premier League during his time at Manchester City before making the move to Goodison Park in 2013, first as a loan acquisition by Roberto Martinez and then a permanent signing.

He made over 130 appearances for the Toffees to pull within four of passing Ryan GIggs as the player to have played more games in the Premier League era than any other.

With Everton well-stocked for central midfielders and Tony Pulis having recently sanctioned the transfer of Darren Fletcher to Stoke City, Barry felt he had more chance of getting regular game time at The Hawthorns than at Goodison Park.

"I've had four great years at Everton," he told evertonfc.com. "The fans have been brilliant with me from the day I signed until the day I left. I'm proud that the Club will always be a big part of my career.

"There are too many people to thank but I'd like to mention a few of them - the Chairman, Bill Kenwright, Roberto Martinez who brought me to Goodison, Ronald Koeman whom I've enjoyed working with, the staff at the Club and some great teammates. And of course the fans.

"Look forward to seeing you all again."

 

Reader Comments (90)

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Geoff Williams
1 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:19:45
What a shame
Paul Kossoff
2 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:20:07

Breaking transfer news away from this game and Liverpool's rivals Everton have agreed a deal to sign Swansea's Gylfi Sigurdsson for a fee believed to be around £45m.
Trevor Lynes
3 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:22:11
I am sure he will be missed and I hope his move extends his Premier League career. Always a consummate professional who I am sure helped those young players around him.We can certainly move players out far quicker than we can bring them in.Sigurdsson is becoming a saga.
Julian Wait
4 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:24:45
Good player. Gave everything he had. Always acted with integrity and respect toward the club. I hope he comes back in a coaching role, maybe even a future manager?
Gordon White
5 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:30:52
Thanks for everything Gareth. Best wishes for the future. We will miss you.
Steve Cotton
6 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:41:29
Gaz Baz deal agreed and sorted including medical in 24 hours.. GS deal entering final section after 3 months... lol
David Pearl
7 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:42:28
Best midfielder at the club let go. Intelligence of the rest of them combined. Leaves us with a few headless chickens. Disappointed.
Boo and hoo. Would of been nice for him to be a blue while breaking the appearance record. I hope Koeman knows what's he's doing.
Ray Robinson
8 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:42:54
Has my total respect. A true professional. If only other players were cast from your die. Best wishes!
Jeff Armstrong
9 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:44:41
Wow them 4 years went quick! To think Gylfi Sigurdssen will be 32 with hardly any resale value in the same amount of time as Barry has been with us is a bit scary, considering the £45 million spent on him, what was Barry £1/2 a million?
Tim Greeley
10 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:46:20
Good luck to ya, Gaz Baz. Was terrific - nay - outstanding his first season with us. Couldn't believe how good he was myself. Then his second year he went down, got slower - we all thought he was done. The Live Forum was not kind.

But to his credit he came back these past two seasons stronger and found ways to keep contributing. Very smart player too. Plus look at that great head of hair, chiseled good looks. What are they gonna think in West Brom!?
Ray Robinson
11 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:53:13
Jeff, I take your point about the passage of time but how much was Barry worth when he was 28? Adjusted for spiralling transfer inflation, possibly the equivalent of £45m?
Leon Drake
12 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:55:52
Been a great signing one of the few that the clown Martinez made,shame he's going but he deserves to break the appearance record.
Neil Roberts
13 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:55:52
4 years that's flew – remember his debut against Chelsea? One of the best midfield performances I had seen in a blue shirt for a long time and blocking Eto's shot on the line... class; wish him the best .
Kunal Desai
14 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:56:46
Best of luck Gaz. I'm surprised we've let him go, players like him and Jagielka, although they may not get much game time, they can be a huge influence in the dressing room. Bearing in mind we have had an influx of players brought to the club in the last 12 months, it would have been good to have wiser heads nurturing some of the new players into the Everton way. He would have been good to have around for this season but it's his decision.
John Audsley
15 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:59:43
Thanks Baz

You have been a superb pro for us and we will miss you.

Ray Robinson
16 Posted 15/08/2017 at 21:01:47
Agree Kunal but it's a mark of the man that he wants to carry on playing. Hope he comes back on the coaching staff some time soon.
Ed Fitzgerald
17 Posted 15/08/2017 at 21:04:38
An excellent professional who did a good job for us. I am sure all Blues fans wish him every success.
Ian Bennett
18 Posted 15/08/2017 at 21:06:11
Hope he comes back as a coach. A top professional.
Brent Stephens
19 Posted 15/08/2017 at 21:15:52
Ian, I posted just a few days ago that I thought Barry would make a good addition to the coaching staff. You never know what the future might hold.
Colin Glassar
20 Posted 15/08/2017 at 21:19:56
All the best Gareth. A noble servant to our club.
Simon Smith
21 Posted 15/08/2017 at 21:20:24
Wish him all the best in his new venture but think it is a shame he couldn't have been with us when he broke Giggs premiereship record
Keith Monaghan
22 Posted 15/08/2017 at 21:25:51
Truly sad & sorry to see him go - he's been easily our best midfield player in the 4 seasons he's spent with us.
I understand why we're letting him go, but think he would have been a great asset if he'd stayed with us
An outstanding professional who's a credit to the game and sets a great example to young players - just wish we had more players of his attitude and dedication.
All the very best for a happy & successful future - hope you very soon pass that record - shame you didn't do it at Goodison.
John Roberts
23 Posted 15/08/2017 at 21:26:16
Good luck Gaz. Calm as mustard , made the game look easy!
Thanks for everything.
Chris Keher
24 Posted 15/08/2017 at 21:30:00
Hope Mr Barry himself and a few West Brom supporters/players are reading this and appreciate how highly we rate him. Every year we thought "surely he can't be that good again this year" and every year he was.

Belongs in the 'Ultimate Pro' bracket.

Great signing for West Brom and hope he comes back in some capacity in the future.

Gary Willock
25 Posted 15/08/2017 at 21:35:42
One of the best Pro's we have ever, and will ever see. Thanks Gareth Barry. Once a blue, always a blue x
Jay Wood
26 Posted 15/08/2017 at 21:51:40
Even given his age and the recruitment of new players this summer, I'm sorry to see him go.

A great pro for others to learn from and a good option from the bench or even to start in what (hopefully!) will be a congested fixture list.

It would also have been nice to see him surpass Giggs' record PL appearances whilst wearing the Blue of Everton.

Kevin Gillen
27 Posted 15/08/2017 at 21:52:23
Gutted to see him go. If we have a European campaign he would have had plenty of game time. Top guy and a top professional.
Phil (Kelsall) Roberts
28 Posted 15/08/2017 at 22:20:54
Just a pity he didn't leave 2 months ago.

No, I'm sorry to see him go but the decision Wayne would have to made. Do I ask for the no10 shirt that I wore all the time at MU or do I ask for my old no18 shirt back.

Sorry, but that would have been wonderful, Rooney 18. But I am sure a few unburnt ones would have been brought back out to save a few bob from fans.

Martin Mason
29 Posted 15/08/2017 at 22:22:06
An exceptionally cultured player who did a good job for us. Good luck for the future.
Teddy Bertin
30 Posted 15/08/2017 at 22:23:00
I wanted him to stay and thought he'd break Giggs' record whilst being an excellent influence on our younger players but he'll probably play 20-25 games for West Brom this season and maybe a few more year, setting a truly unbeatable appearance record.
Ray Robinson
31 Posted 15/08/2017 at 22:25:00
Martin #29, cultured and yet could be agricultural when it mattered!
Ian Linn
32 Posted 15/08/2017 at 22:39:00
Good player, I guess he had to go as we have a load of midfielders, difficult to see when he would get a game, good luck to you man.
Anto Byrne
33 Posted 15/08/2017 at 22:42:57
Good move to get the games record and add to his yellow card tally. Going to be a record that's going to be hard to break. Over a century of cards but never sent off for a direct red? Giggs was what, 39, so Barry doing it at 36 means he can possibly add another 30 plus games.

Anyway, good look to him – a class player we will miss. I just hope Besic can stand up.

Andrew James
34 Posted 15/08/2017 at 22:43:14
Model professional, involved in one good season, probably was perplexed by two and saw game time dwindle in the last.

He needed runners round him and due to injuries they were not always forthcoming, but the occasional move back to play as a centre half, to shore up a game from the bench and a killer pass here and there made him a reliable player.

I will always watch out for whoever he plays for and hope he beats Giggs - I suspect Gareth's minutes on pitch already are higher.

Barry Jones
35 Posted 15/08/2017 at 22:47:16
Great player who did a fabulous job even at his ripe old age. Sad to see him leave. I am unsure as to whether his admirable tally of yellow cards was due to him getting slower and slower or his wisdom in maturity of knowing when to sacrifice himself for the team. Either way, a clever boy as well as a good pro.

I just read that Koeman is interested in Danny Wellbeck and that Wellbeck is very interested in Everton. Could be a total garbage rumour but I am quite excited about the prospect if there is a hint of truth in it. I think he would be a wonderful player for us, and probably, just what we need.

Bob Parrington
36 Posted 15/08/2017 at 22:47:40
Made some great performances for us. Good for him to move on now for his own opportunity to have more game time.

We might have a chance to get close to the top of the fair play with the reduction in yellow cards :)

Good Luck for the future Gareth and thanks for time you spent with us

Barry Jones
37 Posted 15/08/2017 at 23:03:39
http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/rooney-reunion-arsenal-striker-welbeck-keen-to-hear-from-everton-4194765

The Wellbeck "rumour"

Mike Rees
38 Posted 15/08/2017 at 23:06:27
A good professional and sorry to see him go; but he needs regular first team football at his age. Good luck at WBA and thanks for the contribution made - apart from the yellow cards- in your time at Everton!
Andrew James
39 Posted 15/08/2017 at 23:07:13
Ha Bob!

I don't know if you recall, but weren't we like right at the top of the Fair Play table under Moyes and then immediately plummeted under Martinez. True there was a lot of ill-discipline under him but Barry's became almost tactical. It was like the officials had a list of items to tick off when we played...blow the first whistle, make notes of players being booked, give one additional minute, blow for half time, blow for the second half, make notes of players being booked, book Gareth Barry, give three additional minutes, blow up for full time.

Peter Lee
40 Posted 15/08/2017 at 23:41:50
Sooner see the manager (clueless) go than Barry.

He was the only genuine holding midfield player we had.

Schneiderlin and Gueye don't do the job. Gueye could, but hasn't been asked to, Schneiderlin can't and doesn't want to.

The Siggurdson signing gives us plenty of cover in midfield, (where is he going to play, permanently?), unfortunately we have nobody who will encourage the back four to push out as they see the MF disappearing over the horizon.

When you know months ago that your main striker is going, and for big bucks, to get to were we are without buying strikers, plural, is madness.

Darren Hind
41 Posted 16/08/2017 at 00:47:06
A consummate professional.

I thought he was finished when he got here. Four years later premiership clubs still want him.

Incredible

John G Davies
42 Posted 16/08/2017 at 00:53:26
Hear, hear Darren.
At 36 years of age it is indeed incredible.
Drew Shortis
43 Posted 16/08/2017 at 01:06:47
Sad to see Barry leave. I get the impression Koeman would have liked to have kept him but could not guarantee regular games and Gareth has made his choice to play. I've been reading Twitter today and there is a lot of love for Gaz Baz, not only from Toffees but also from Man City and of course Villa fans (though there's a fair few unhappy about his destination!). Some baggies griping about his age being politely informed what a gem they're getting. I was guilty of underrating him when he arrived four years ago. I have learned a lot the finer points of the beautiful game and my perspective has been changed. It's not all about pace and flair. Great positioning and decision making are the trademarks of Gareth's game and I hope Schneiderlin will step into his shoes now. Great professional. I wish him the best of luck at West Brom!
Kristian Boyce
44 Posted 16/08/2017 at 01:24:23
With all the fuss of the 25 years of the Premier League the last few days, Barry was probably the most underrated but most consistent player during the era. I wish we had him when he was a bit younger.

I'm a little gutted for him as I know the club would have made a huge deal of his upcoming appearance record. But I can honestly see him playing for 2-3 more years at the top level. The move will be good for him as I know WBA will give him the game time that he needs.

With Barry going, and the possibility of McCarthy and Barkley also leaving this window. Even with Sigurdsson coming in, our once bloated midfield will look pretty light. We've been linked with Leander Dendoncker from Anderlecht again today so I wouldn't be surprised if we see another central midfielder come in before the deadline.

Colin Grierson
45 Posted 16/08/2017 at 02:35:34
Absolute quality player. Loved watching his calm, measured play and his no nonsense interceptions. I hope he sets all the records for outfield player longevity. Good luck to him.
David Ellis
46 Posted 16/08/2017 at 02:54:20
Was a great player for us and I am sure will give one good season to the Baggies. I wish he'd stay with us for one more year, but totally understand the rationale for more game time. He wants to set the highest possible PL appearance record I am sure. Will be perfect for WBA and much better than Darren Fletcher who he replaces.
Eric Myles
47 Posted 16/08/2017 at 03:15:08
I was very sceptical about his signing due to his age but he has proven myself and other doubters wrong with consistently good (mostly) performances.

Good luck to him and hope he continues to prove doubters wrong.

Rick Tarleton
48 Posted 16/08/2017 at 05:23:26
He's been a good player for every club and a great reader of a game. I hope his career continues at West Brom and that he gets to play regularly. Thank-you Gareth.
James Watts
49 Posted 16/08/2017 at 05:31:10
Pulis "“We’ve checked out all the data and Gareth was in the top five of midfielders in the Premier League in terms of distance covered."

Unless hes talking about his commute it proves stats can be pretty misleading. Or perhaps they are confusing him with Gana? Gareth/Gana. Same same so can understand it.

Keith Conchie
50 Posted 16/08/2017 at 06:36:40
I wasn't impressed when we signed him, and continued to be unimpressed with him during the 4 years.
We've got better holding midfielders now in Gana and Schneiderlin, so it's right for him to move on.

Aside from that, good luck to him for the future. He could still do a job for WBA

Phil Head
51 Posted 16/08/2017 at 06:55:56
Although I agree with the outpouring of admiration for a superb player, I'm extremely worried about the decision making at the club.

It's obviously clear to anyone who's been watching us through the summer, that we're desperately short in many positions. I'd say CF, RW, LW, LB, LCB, RB, yet the clubs decided to waste the Lukaku money on three No 10's (Klaassen, Rooney and Sigurdsson), all of which are incapable of playing in any other position, including in Koeman's favoured 4-3-2-1 formation.

Now the clubs decided that it's not enough to have 6 positions to fill, lets add another one. No-one else in the squad can cover that deep lying playmaker position that Schneiderlin and Barry were covering, and judging by Schneiderlin's start to the season, I would have personally replaced him with Barry for next Monday.

The most worrying aspect of this transfer, is the fact that Tony Pulis has enlightened our fans to the fact that Barry turned down a 2-year deal to stay at Everton, to sign a 1-year deal as a starter at WBA. This is particularly worrying, as it suggests that the club were aware of Barry's remaining importance to the club and yet, it's inability to keep squad players feeling part of the first team set-up.

This unfortunately is becoming a worrying trend. Koeman has so far, managed to isolate a number of players who haven't been first team regulars i.e. Deulofeu, Barkley, Jagielka, Barry, players who I believe should still be contributing to our team. For me, this is really poor management. One of the key attributes of a good Manager, is to make every important player in the squad, feel like part of the first team.

Some managers will rotate their squad to install unity, others will use the powers of Manipulation. Unfortunately, Koeman has used the cold shoulder, scapegoated these players and basically hung them out to dry.

Hate to use the example of Alex Ferguson, as I can't stand the bloke, but it's very clear how he would've dealt with the Barry situation. He would've given him a run in the team (easier home games), bigged him up in the media, got him to sign the 2 year deal, then no sooner as the transfer window shuts, discard him to the bench.

Instead, we now find ourselves in a situation, where we need to find a replacement, probably at £20-40m, which would have been better served spent elsewhere in the squad. Poor man management, again!

John Audsley
52 Posted 16/08/2017 at 07:02:41
Thanks Baz

You have been a superb pro for us and we will miss you.

Geoff Evans
53 Posted 16/08/2017 at 08:19:32
Top pro, will do a good job for Tony Pulis. All the very best to him.
Chris James
54 Posted 16/08/2017 at 08:21:41
Has been a great servant for the club and could still have been a decent squad member to come on and calm things down, but it was only a matter of time and I'm sure the player asked for a move that guaranteed more game time than Koeman could offer.

Siggy in is great news, now we just need one or two striking options and leftback cover. The transfer train is back on the rails! Toot-toot!

Paul Windrum
55 Posted 16/08/2017 at 08:30:32
Good luck Gareth.
The most cultured midfield player to grace a blue shirt in decades.
True ability to read the game and to make it seem effortless.
As good as Dobson in his pomp.
Liam Reilly
56 Posted 16/08/2017 at 08:30:39
Darn that Father Time.

Great player always looking to get the ball on the ground and move it forward and for those mentioning his booking count; I recall he took many of them for the team.

We'll miss his experience.

Best of luck Gareth. Brom's gain.

Dale Rose
57 Posted 16/08/2017 at 08:39:42
Great player very sorry to see him go. Wish him all the very best for the future.
Geoff Williams
58 Posted 16/08/2017 at 08:56:46
James 49, Barry was never the fastest of players but he was continually on the move. He anticipated potential problems and restricted the options open to opponents. I suspect those few voices of criticism of Barry didn't witness his performances live. He was an excellent player for Everton
Andy White
59 Posted 16/08/2017 at 09:05:21
I'm actually more sad about losing Barry than I am excited about getting Sigurdsson! Great player, excellent example to the younger players - look after yourself, train hard and you can get an extra 5 years out of your career!
Kim Vivian
60 Posted 16/08/2017 at 09:20:25
Must say - he looked the business in that retro shirt.
Lee Brownlie
61 Posted 16/08/2017 at 09:35:24
Pity. But the lad wants to play and be more than a sub which he would be more and more, the amount of CMs we've now got! Best of luck to him anyway.. cheers for the solid job you've done in a Blues shirt.. and hope it all works out for you!! So back to the Brum area.. I'm sure the Baggies fans'll soon forgive him his Villa days, once he gets his first yellow card for them!!!
Phil Smith
62 Posted 16/08/2017 at 09:54:21
Every game at The Old Lady I used to see, Barry was always the stand-out performer. He made the game look easy in terms of his positioning, (rather slow, I know) movement and decision making. True class and will be missed. I now think it's a good time to move on as we've got real quality in midfield at the moment, with plenty of good young players coming through. Hopefully the senior pros we have in those positions will guide them as much as he would of, but I doubt it. Good luck Gaz, la.
Matthew Williams
63 Posted 16/08/2017 at 11:46:04
Finally gone... more good news.
Colin Malone
64 Posted 16/08/2017 at 12:26:29
Look forward to see you back, 20th January. That's if you're not Villa manager by then.
David Booth
66 Posted 16/08/2017 at 12:53:53
Everything everyone said above...

A most underrated, intelligent, versatile, physically and mentally tough player.

Like many, I was quite underwhelmed when he joined us, but nothing but respect for him now.

An absolute professional who never once let us down, gave less than 100 per cent, or under-performed.

If only we had signed him five years earlier.

Good luck Gareth. A warm welcome awaits you whenever you return to Goodison.

Ray Griffin
67 Posted 16/08/2017 at 13:28:09
Great football intelligence, real team player & never afraid to take a yellow card when the situation arose.

Good luck Gareth & thanks, loved watching you play for us.

Kristian Boyce
68 Posted 16/08/2017 at 13:28:16
With the loss of Barry, the de-Martinez-ation of the squad is almost complete. With McCarthy, Niasse, and Lennon supposedly on the way out, Besic being a fringe player and Funes Mori a long term crock. It only really leaves Holgate as the only active player brought in his reign, and really he was purchased for the U23's.

It seems the Spaniard's legacy and footprint has all but been removed from the club.

Des Farren
69 Posted 16/08/2017 at 13:57:39
The "Spaniards Legacy" if I may be so bold,is £100mill. towards the funding of this transfer window to date.
Paul Kossoff
70 Posted 16/08/2017 at 14:00:12
Why did Barry turn down a two year deal at Everton for a one year at Wba? Surely not to work with Pulis.
John Smith
71 Posted 16/08/2017 at 14:04:44
Legendary player. Will be missed. I hope the West Brom fans appreciate him. It's a pity he didn't break the record here at Everton.
James Marshall
72 Posted 16/08/2017 at 14:06:54
He has the one thing so many players lack, intelligence and a football brain. Players like Barkley will never be fit to lace his boots.

Glad to have seen him play for us. I'm another one who had no idea just how good he was until I saw him in the flesh. Quality pro.

Geoff Trenner
73 Posted 16/08/2017 at 14:20:45
Paul @ 70. My guess is that he thinks he'll get more games & has his heart set on breaking Giggs's record for games played.
Terry Underwood
74 Posted 16/08/2017 at 14:26:36
I wonder how many people bemoaning the loss of Barry at 36 were moaning at the signing of Rooney at 31
Terry Underwood
75 Posted 16/08/2017 at 14:31:07
Paul at #2 Alright now?
Bet that was lost on most people under 50.
James Hughes
76 Posted 16/08/2017 at 14:42:52
Keith #50 if Barry has failed to impress you in the past four years, then would love to know who has.

There were games under Roberto that he was the only one who turned up.

Alan J Thompson
77 Posted 16/08/2017 at 16:17:00
Passed a transfer medical with an ankle injury that kept him out of consideration for our first league game of the season. Puts a new perspective on Barkley's hammy.

Barry though has behaved like a gentleman and true professional throughout his time at Everton. Good luck.

Gary Reeves
78 Posted 16/08/2017 at 18:38:12
Sorry,I haven't seen anything about Schneiderlin that tells me he's better than Gareth Barry!
Paul Kossoff
79 Posted 16/08/2017 at 18:59:44
Terry 75, I am alright now thanks, and it was number two, pop pickers 😋
Tahir Abdullah
80 Posted 16/08/2017 at 19:53:42
Gutted; a proper footballer is Barry. EFC is poorer for his departure...
Joe McMahon
81 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:01:04
One of the very few model pros left. A bit gutted he's gone really, hoped he would be here passing Giggs record, top bloke!
Lenny Kingman
82 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:18:06
To the posters who have labelled the journeyman Barry as a legend. That status remains only with men in blue who have a medal to prove the fact.
Andrew Keatley
83 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:27:18
Lenny (82) - Agree with you that Gaz Baz is not exactly an Everton legend, but there are plenty of others who have arguably reached legendary status without achieving silverware. Legends are not entirely built out of medals, as players like Tim Cahill and Tony Hibbert surely attest.
Dermot Byrne
84 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:28:53
So rules Lord Lenny ! We have had great players or club servants who won sod all surely.
Lenny Kingman
85 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:21:45
Dermot, great players and servants, minus winners medals, will not get into the Lords great blue castle in the sky. It is a fact of life in any field of endeavour that to be a legend, one must have achieved winning success. It is a hard concept to take in after decades of failure for the blues.

But maybe, just maybe, legends to be are poised to put their heads above the muddy hillock once more.

Martin Mason
86 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:28:33
Lenny@82

The definition of a journeyman is reliable but not outstanding. Barry has been an outstanding player throughout his career surely.

Jamie Crowley
88 Posted 17/08/2017 at 05:13:18
C L A S S

Kind of player everyone should be proud of in my humble opinion.

Jamie Crowley
89 Posted 17/08/2017 at 05:17:52
And to Liam back @56 I couldn't agree more.

I'd venture 95% of the yellows he took were of the "smart" variety, for the team as it were.

Nick Entwistle
90 Posted 17/08/2017 at 17:54:45
Reminded me of Lee Carsley. Completely underwhelmed by his signing but became a linchpin.
Jer Kiernan
91 Posted 18/08/2017 at 15:01:28
Sad to see him go , another example of Everton being a club of principles ,if we were ruthless we would have made him stay as a squad player ,he has after all signed a two year deal and we do need him with Europa etc,

I also believe he would have both stayed and honoured his contract as is his way ( a rarity in today's game to labour a point )

However I am glad that the club and RK respected his want to play regular football but feel in this cut throat world having principles can hurt. but its why I still follow this club after 35 years and am glad his wishes were respected

Best of luck lad

Drew O'Neall
92 Posted 24/08/2017 at 01:15:21
Could have done with him in the second half against City and closing up shop against Hajduk Split tomorrow night.

An excellent signing, one I supported from the moment it was announced and a great loss to Everton Football Club.

Man United wouldn't have let him go (see Giggs, Scholes etc) and Ian Wright criticised Arsenal for not going for him this time round. We should have kept him involved - he can also play left centre back and left back by the way.

Thank you, Mr. Barry and wishing you every success in the future.


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