[OldburyWBA]

Unlikely that they are acquainted.
SB left EFC in 1999. GB arrived in 2013.

Yeah, smethdan pointed it out, didn't realise there was such a gap between the times and to be honest couldn't be bothered to look 

[TheJacko2000]

Let Barry cut his coaching teeth at Bodymoor Heath. Don't want him at the club.

[Wigmore]

Let Barry cut his coaching teeth at Bodymoor Heath. Don't want him at the club.

Why? Taxigate?
I would love to know the backstory for that fiasco.
Apart from that episode he would seem to be a model professional.

[AlbionFan]

Why? Taxigate?
I would love to know the backstory for that fiasco.
Apart from that episode he would seem to be a model professional.

I think its because he poses to much of a threat to.......well, you know who 

[TheJacko2000]

Why? Taxigate?
I would love to know the backstory for that fiasco.
Apart from that episode he would seem to be a model professional.

Purely based on his age.

[Wigmore]

Purely based on his age.

Is he too young to be a coach?

[OldburyWBA]

I think its because he poses to much of a threat to.......well, you know who 

Nailed it in 1

[TheJacko2000]

Is he too young to be a coach?

Would only sign as a player. He's not retired yet.

[SmethDan]

Heard an interview with Gareth Barry on the radio either last season or the one before. I think it was on Talksh!te. When asked if he was doing his coaching badges or whether he'd considered staying in the game he said he'd never really thought that far ahead.

Unless he was trying to be cool while playing things down then given his age at the time and now I'd actually be quite surprised to hear he was overly arsed about it either way or the other. Being short of money would be one way of focusing the mind. But unless he's a secret addict of one sort or another or heading for a costly divorce I think some sort of lower level supporting role in the media may be on his horizon.

[don1thedon]

GB is will be back 
https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2019/august/barry-to-re-join-albion-ranks/

[Baggies]

Was ALWAYS going to happen. It's no shock at all. Feels unnecessary but he was decent last season.

[Topman]

Was ALWAYS going to happen. It's no shock at all. Feels unnecessary but he was decent last season.

Sensible to me and staggered people see it as a negative. He was many times excellent last season and I maintain had he been available for the play offs we may have seen off villa at villa park in the first leg

[Fritzl Palace]

Shrewd business having such an experienced head amongst the ranks on a deal that suits us. People forget that for a good couple of months last season he was absolutely superb.

At 38, I would still have him in the midfield ahead of Livermore and Brunt.

[baggies_24]

Sensible to me and staggered people see it as a negative. He was many times excellent last season and I maintain had he been available for the play offs we may have seen off villa at villa park in the first leg

Absolutely people forgetting his form going into Christmas he was probably the best player at the club for a good 2 months ran the away game against Sheffield United. Be a good back up for Sawyers and i’d argue a better option than Livermore for when we play the teams that will turn up and put 10 men behind the ball and take a point.

[Fritzl Palace]

Absolutely people forgetting his form going into Christmas he was probably the best player at the club for a good 2 months ran the away game against Sheffield United. Be a good back up for Sawyers and i’d argue a better option than Livermore for when we play the teams that will turn up and put 10 men behind the ball and take a point.

With a proper manager and system, with some actual organisation at last, I feel he would excel for us.

Imagine his range of passing in there next to Sawyers with our pacey wingers making runs.

[alwaysbilly]

With a proper manager and system, with some actual organisation at last, I feel he would excel for us.

Imagine his range of passing in there next to Sawyers with our pacey wingers making runs.

Great news - be great for the younger players to have around - he will also be a perfect squad player, play in the games that suit him.

Pleased with this

[KYA]

With a proper manager and system, with some actual organisation at last, I feel he would excel for us.

Imagine his range of passing in there next to Sawyers with our pacey wingers making runs.

As you say it would be far easier for Barry with these players around him than he found last season he can let the young uns do his running for him.

[Albionic]

Barry is a one game a week max player, he will be used as a squad player or to use his nous to see games out IMO.

[TheJacko2000]

38 ffs. Poor end to the dealings. Agent Barry.

[KYA]

Barry is a one game a week max player, he will be used as a squad player or to use his nous to see games out IMO.

Spot on the perfect player to bring on for the last 20 minutes where we are under the cosh such as  how the game at Forest finished.

[Fritzl Palace]

38 ffs. Poor end to the dealings. Agent Barry.

When the alternative is wedging your mate Chris into the centre of midfield, I will take it all day long.

[gazberg]

Barry over Livermore and Brunt all year long. Easiest decision yet.

[seteefeet]

The fact that so many people still have Livermore starting is a real concern.
For me a holding mid has to have 3 main qualities:

Be able to tackle
Receive and hold the ball
Pick a pass

Livermore is 0/3, for me,  so fully understand the return of Barry. Will hopefully be good for Sawyers also.

[Oldbury24]

Barry over Livermore and Brunt all year long. Easiest decision yet.

Love Brunteh, but please please please no more centre mid appearances.   If Barry's legs still work (must be bionic at his age) then he has to be around first team or on the bench.   Partic if we have pace around him, just need to make sure they don't knock his zimmer.

[tommcneill]

Im sure not everyone will be happy by this but I am

Think his experience will help, alongside all the new guys.

He was brilliant last year for us

I think Slav knows what he is doing