Barry still linked with Arsenal move

I wouldn't be fussed if he left for Arsenal - He's done a great job for us this season and played consistently well but for Everton to shell out big bucks for him is probably too much of a gamble. He could do with a rest and he probably doesn't fancy playing 90 minutes week in and week out.

He is not worth 100k per week. Madness. Not fussed if he moves on personally there are better options out there

Agreed. He is 33 so best case scenario we might get two good years out if him. Given the cost I'd rather go for someone younger.

Totally disagree that Barry would be a negative, and why would his salary be a problem, we've just had him on loan probably paying the same kind of money, his experience is essential to our young midfield having payed attention to the way he distributes the ball reads the game like no other Everton midfielder has done for a few years breaks up play, all in all still an excellent MF worth every penny for me sign him up.

Barry had a howler Saturday but a very very rare howler to be fair. He has three good years ahead of him in my opinion for what its worth. Can we do without him? Of course, and Bobby in whom I trust will take care of the situation. But Barry is established with us and (1) I believe he would take a pay dip to stay with us (2) he seems level-headed and knows he's closer to 35 than 30 and has a clear place in Bobby's plans and, crucially, (3) where on earth in that there down-sarf-Lahnddon will Mrs Barry put all her horses and ponies and I aint speaking rhyming-knock-kneed-slang there.

Barry will most likely be with us next season and that's lovely or he might not be and Bobby will take care of it.

I'd be surprised if this is true, along with the other rumour about him going for MLS.

Barry's one of the lowest profile players away from the pitch. Happily married, he said the fact that his young family was settled in the NW was a factor in him choosing Everton, and he said at the outset he hoped to earn a permanent deal here. I'd venture that money isn't his primary motivator, as he's not someone to piss it away on fast cars and loose women (the idiot!)

If it is true, then like Patrick above, I'll be grateful for what he's done for us and I'm sure RM will move on. I'm pretty sure that even though he's not allowed to sign a deal with us, or even negotiate one, till his contract expires, he'll have indicated his preferences to RM.

Can't see Wenger being interested in someone without pace.

Judging by his lethargic lacklustre performance versus Southampton, our problem with Barry would be one of motivation. He has medals. He has international caps. Now fully aware that he is no longer in the reckoning for England, what will be the driving force to keep him giving absolutely everything in every match? Going for the title or going for the FA Cup would certainly bring out the extra effort but he won't find it easy. Veterans like Terry, Cole, Lampard, Ya Ya Toure, Zabaleta and Gerrard have plenty to play for. It makes a difference.

Would he be worth the money. I really wouldn't know. He has been one of the main reasons we have reached 69 points and it would be difficult to find an adequate replacement. City and Chelsea have brought young, skilful, strong tacklers into the role. Maybe that's the way to go. Highly disciplined, intelligent individuals who win fights and don't give the ball away.

I thought his £100,000 a week wages were subsidised by Shitteh! according to various newspaper sources.

If Arsenal want to pay £80,000+ a week more fool them.

My heart willl bleed for any 32year old player having to scrape by on only 50 grand a week.

Sometimes, players need to consider enjoyment of their situation to sheer pounds sterling ... ask all the bench warmers at the megabuck clubs eg Rodwell etc.

Ahh. Makes sense - there were rumours going round that Robbie Jackson was making a comeback in Eastenders - hence needing to be in London next season.

We would definitely miss the real Gaz Baz if he doesn't stay with us. He's been a key player for us and instrumental in McCarthy's tutelage. That said, I wouldn't want to see us bust open the wage structure for him. I trust Martinez to fix it one way or another.

We do still have Darren Gibson if he can stay injury free. I thought he did very well for us last year. I hope Barry does stay but at a salary the club can afford.

Right now I think the biggest worries we have are hang onto Martinez and Coleman. I would expect we will get some excellent offer for Coleman this summer. If he does move on would it be Oviedo to move out there or does Stones have the skills for the position?

Rarely disagree with you, Harold, but I say Barry has never shown anything resembling a lack of motivation -- he just ran low on fuel as the season wound down after barely missing a minute at 33. He has shown consummate professionalism and total commitment, and I think he deserves partial credit for McCarthy's development through the season. I'm convinced that given some occasional time off he has good years ahead, and I hope he spends them with us.

Spot on, Mike, I think we are going to really miss him this week against Man City. Something doesn’t look right with Barkley at the moment. Against Palace and Man Utd, he was missing in action, he wasn’t closing down. I think I noticed at least three times a player with the ball no more than a couple of yards away and he never went near them... that seemed a bit odd to me.

For me, Barry’s professionalism (big word that) and contribution will leave a big hole in the middle and with Man City having Troaré back, who’s going to be doing that job of winning the MF battle? I’m not a defeatist in any way but that’s going to a major headache. I just hope Barkley turns up with a big performance that he is capable of... or it’ll be backs to the wall stuff for 90 mins.

According to skysports, on their transfer news section, yesterday, 27/04/2014, Martinez has said that all loan players, including Barry, will leave at the end of the season, and Martinez will have to find an extra 5 or 6 players to replace them.

Barry has done well for us this season but he does lack pace and that money might be better spent elsewhere. John Stones would do just as well if not better in that position when Jags and Sylvain Distin are fit. Maybe we can tempt Jack Rodwell back if only on loan. He has played only four times for City this season and has missed his shot at playing for England in Brazil. He didn't even make the bench against Palace and his only purpose at the Etihad seems to be to make up the English quota. He has to leave to resurrect his career, so why not back at Goodison?

Peter Fearon. Good shout mate. Barry as done well for us this season but he is slow. Rodwell, coming back on loan would be fine by me. But there was talk earlier on in the season of him coming back for good. I think without a shadow of dought if he had stayed with us he would be going to Brazil.

Good to keep at the right price but I can't see him being cheap in which case go for someone younger - as Paul says leave this one with Roberto.All loan players have to return to their parent club at the end of the season as the agreement runs out and it is then a case of putting a new one in place or looking elsewhere.Barry was knackered on Saturday having played well all season - I tend towards looking for a younger option and with him gone I think James will really come on stronger again.

Yes Mike. I fully understand your points. He has been central to our improved performances and has certainly helped in the development of young McCarthy. The Saints performance, I agree, was the result of not being rested throughout a long hard season.

However, for me, the motivational issue still remains, especially with zero chance of an England call-up. Although he is self motivated I'm talking about dying for the shirt, a la Jags, McCarthy, Coleman, Ossie and Hibbert. These lads will sweat blood for Everton. There is a difference.

There were rumours in January that Barry had agreed to sign a contract if we could get another player (Mario Suarez?) in on loan. But as it fell through it was decided to get him on a free in the summer.

If he does decide to leave for bigger bucks there are other, younger, players out there e.g. Suarez, Colbeck etc... who could do more than a decent job in his position.

Barry is certainly not the quickest, but he makes up for that with great positional sense and also the way he uses his body so well to shield the ball and retain posession. He's a very clever player.

Although it would be hard to justify breaking our wage structure for a player of his age, I think that the things our younger midfielders could continue to learn from him would be a huge benefit to the club.

Also, due to the fact that his game doesn't rely on pace, he's probably got at least a few more years of consistent top level performances in him.

Plus he's not the sick-note type.

Personally I would be disappointed if he wasn't with us next year.

Decent squad player and started off like a train but I can't help feel that McCarthy carries him judging by the midfield performance against Palace. He's good in the home games if we are strolling around or if we are sitting deep and countering but in the away games at top sides I don't think he has the pace or the creativity to compliment McCarthy.

McCarthy has basically been doing the job Barry used to do which is retrieve the ball, cover the full backs, keep possession. Barry has then had compete freedom in some games to orchestrate play but just hasn't done it effectively enough in my eyes. As a back up to Gibson I'd keep him but for me we've sorely missed Gibson's passing range.

I wonder if there is any mileage in Bobby's earlier sound byte about Baines being in the Philip Lahm mould. Him and McCarthy in the engine room with Bryan bombing down the flank...has legs I think (excuse the pun).

100k per week is what he is being paid on his expiring contract. A contract given out five years ago by free spending City when he was in in his prime.

At 33 I don't see that he would expect anything near that amount.

He's been very solid for us this season, especially at the start and I think perhaps his legs are a little weary now as we have relied so heavily upon him and McCarthy in pretty much every single game since he arrived.

Hopefully a 3 year 40k contract with good bonuses if we make top 4 would make sense to both sides.

Either that or snap up Jack Colback for a similar amount.

I think Barry has been a good player for Everton this season but at his advanced age he’s only going to get worse from here on in. I wouldn’t worry too much if we didn’t sign him permanently.

I’d like to see Roberto find a younger player to fill the Barry role in the team. Oddly enough I think its something Jack Rodwell might be suited to.

This is certainly a tricky one. He's looked a bit leg weary in the last two games, which was not surprising given his workload this season. At City he would have rotated but we were short of a suitable replacement. A real good DM who is not getting any younger.

I'd probably go with Sam and offer him a shortish contract with a decent wage. He works well with McCarthy and understands his role with the centre backs. He also links well with those slightly further forward. A good player for the team but will require an equally good back-up. A Colback, Ki, Diame etc. Someone who spots danger and is quick to close down. Martinez successfully converted Swansea winger Britton to DM and there are reports that he may try it with Baines. We'll see.