Eurosport - Tue, 13 Oct 07:28:00 2009
Gareth Barry fears Manchester City are becoming the Premier League's most despised club after using their vast wealth to muscle into the top four.
Barry, currently on England duty for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Belarus at Wembley, was one of several big-money arrivals at City during the close-season as boss Mark Hughes - backed by the club's Arab owners - splashed out over £120 million on new players.
Hughes's spending spree has paid immediate dividends as Barry, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure and Carlos Tevez have helped City to fourth in the Premier League.
But Barry knows that the downside of buying success is the inevitable jealousy from rival clubs and fans who do not have City's financial power.
"A lot of money has been ploughed into the club and people on the outside may enjoy seeing us fail rather than go on and achieve something this season," Barry said.
"I'm sure that's where the views are coming from but as a unit I'm sure that can help us and make us stronger.
"There was a year or so it happened with Chelsea and then it blows over. The whole club at City expected it.
"The manager has made the point to us. We've tried to use it to help us, to bring us together and to work harder on the pitch. We've made a good start and hopefully we can keep that going."
Barry has more immediate concerns than any criticism of City as he waits to discover if he has regained his England place for the team's final qualifier.
The former Aston Villa midfielder lost his holding position to Manchester United's Michael Carrickin Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Ukraine after being a regular throughout the qualifying campaign.
Barry is refusing to panic over his omission because he believes he is playing well for club and country.
"You're always on your toes and you never expect to be in the starting line-up," he said. "I didn't drop my head. Maybe if I was a few years younger or a bit less experienced I might have done. But it was something I wasn't too worried about.
"In terms of England the whole team has been playing well and we've qualified. In terms of my Man City form we've started the season well too. So I'm not too worried about my own form.
"I didn't get an explanation from the manager, but I wouldn't expect one. As a player you always respect the manager.
"The World Cup is still a long way away and it is down to me to make sure I stay in the squad and the World Cup team. So I am not reading too much into one game.
"There is rivalry (for places) everywhere, but there is still a long way to go."
Comment 79 - 98 of 98
Which team is better?
M.City(thumbs up)
M.United(thumbs down)
Who is Michael Carrickin?Did MANU have this player,I never heard of him.
Whereas Chelsea are the plaything of a man who suddenly became the 'owner' of vast resources that used to belong to the state while United and Liverpool are being treated as cash-cows by people who know nothing about football or clubs or supporters except how to play them for suckers. Beware the moral high ground, Gerry, it can be a bit slippery.
City fans know what being jealous is like, they have been jealous for 30 years.
City fans really believe that other fans loved them or they were everyone's second favourite team. The fact is that other fans felt sorry for them, it was pity.
If you look at other sites on Yahoo you will see normal fans having normal discussions, not the psycho thinking about being hated by others!!
People do not hate city fcnk, they simply have no respect for them. A club, as a city fan said, who lifted its skirt to the first £5 that was offered. They took Thaksin's blood money. They will never ever live that down. No dignity
No matter what they say, no matter how much they attempt to deny the truth, no matter how much they slag off people for stating the truth, they gladly took his money. " A human rights abuser of the worse kind" . Something to be real proud of. Did you dance in the streets?? You will be able to tell your grandchildren.
only mistake is use of the term "will"City ARE allready hated, just like Chelski their new name wil be......
Manchestamadinijad City
daz,not to bad i'm giving the skiprats aggro,running battle on two blogs,the scouse blog,and chelsea blog..come join the party...everyones invited AND BRING THE BEER..
David W, you just can't help being abusive, can you? That's always the sign of a weak argument. So the City chairman releases a statement saying that we want to challenge for everything and want to win everything? Do you honestly have a problem with that? Personally I'd have a bigger problem if he'd said we don't want to win anything, but suit yourself. And then he "boasted" that we have the resources to do it? That isn't a boast at all, if only you stopped to think about it. It's the plain and simple truth. Surely even a United fan can understand something plain and simple? But none of that is saying that it is going to happen: no such claims have been made by the club at all. If you're going to get wound up by some fans on these boards whose only object is to wind up the opposition then you need to grow up a bit.
walt jabasco if only you did look like maria whittaker in real life lol how you doing pal
darren m difference being owen wouldnt miss a barn door would he heskey would and plus owen as never played for us so were not going backwards but if you sign heskey does that mean he is now a better player than when you sold him.he is a donkey mate i will admit he can do a job but you would have to drop a midfielder to play him and torres together and if he is cover for torres if injured thats laughable as like i said he is hardly prolific is he pal
DALE A..agree with some of what you say,but untill roman came with he's loot,everyone
was struggling to compete with utd,both commerical and in the transfer market when they
spent in the region of 40 mill on two players(veron&van nistlerooy)that in itself is
throwing money around,and at the same time chelsea's ressurection began in the mid 90's
and roman just gave chelsea the abillity to compete with utd in the transfer market,
money doe's not always make success,ranieri proved that,the same as rafa at liverpool,
with the funds at his disposal,and real madrid have had that problem themselves ie the
galactico's mark1...
Man U, Arsenal and Liverpool have made the EPL a respectable league and the likes of Man City can only dream of the history these clubs have made
walt jabasco,..Yes Chelsea and Man City have a right to be successful, but when you talk about Arsenal, Man U and Liverpool, they actually steadily built their squads and did not throw around ridiculous amounts just to be in the top 3 or 4, when you try to force your way in, no one will respect you, that's why till today, no matter how well established Chelsea is in the op 4, respect is minimal. Respect is earned, not bought. . Now we don't care if Man City breaks in top 4 or not, just don't ruin the EPL, simple.
Don't worry city you'll get use to it....chelsea had to deal with the same thing,and we
still do,but then again F..K everyone else,the likes of arsenal,man utd,liverpool,seem
to think they have a divine right to have it all their own way and nobody should spoil
their 3some,as a chelsea fan to man city fans,if you get success enjoy the moment,and
to be honest man city fans are entitled to see a a little bit of joy after years of
dissapointment,but try not to be arrogant with it...FOREVER CHELSEA CHELSEA FOREVER...
David W...I feel offended with your remarks "and still not be as big as Man U, Lpool, Chelsea or even Arsenal." Arsenal should always come before Chelsea in terms of achievements..and the order should properly read..Liverpool, Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea. Thank you..a fair order that is.
steve c..you talk a good game, not your fault you actually should be thankful that Man U and Arsenal fans are even here to acknowledge your teams mini feat, that'll only last but so far. Thanks to Aston Villa, Man U, Arsenal (in a big way), Blackburn, West Ham, Everton for actually contributing to your squad, paying over the odds is only a fools dream to break into the top 4, Chelsea did it but with common sense, not just buying anything that is readily available. Asenal and Man U have made you relevant, now just be grateful and enjoy your teams 15 min of fame.
64.ha ha ha ha liverpool are reported to be keen to sign emile heskey but only for 1.5 million ha ha you couldnt make it up lmao the arabs better hurry up and buy gillet out if thats your limit to buy players for ha ha the guy is garbage this is so funny
From dazmanutd
Hi Daz try taking out the words Emile heskey for 1.5 million and replace with Micheal Owen for free sound familiar
Chelsea had this when Abramovich took over' and they rode the storm' and these people that say Chelsea were doing well before that, well remember, when Abramovich bought the club, Chelsea were ready to go Belly up, and that's a FACT.. Abramovich saved them in more than one way, and they still rode the storm' and insults of the jealous, Green eyed Fans from other clubs' that City are getting today. and we'll do the same, The Blue Moon is Rising... Live with It.
Exactly what SATAN will say... and his cowardly minions - what's his name??? Oh yeah, that's right, its Gareth Judas Barry.
a little humility will help a lot, especially from the cocky manager.
I think the problem here is the boasting of certain City officials about the club becoming the biggest in England and fulfilling that boast overnight. Players are being bought at over the odds prices and those with less scruples than others are cashing in on the gravy train and grabbing huge pay packets.
If City want to become the biggest and best in the UK and/or Europe, it's something that will only be achieved over a period of time. I certainly think that they are capable of breaking into the top four, and I welcome the league being given a bit of a shake up. It does make it more interesting. City have the financial clout to buy any player they want. However, what they lack is pedigree. I mean no disrespect by that, but the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have spent years winning trophies and building dynasties at their respective grounds. No amount of money can buy history, but there's no doubt in my mind that City are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.....and I don't hate them, even though I don't like the attitude of some of the players who are there purely for the money.
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