BARRY OUT TO BAGG A RECORD
Gareth guns for Giggs
GARETH BARRY is set to smash the Premier League appearance record after joining West Brom.
Everton’s former England midfielder has signed a one-year deal at The Hawthorns with the option for a further 12 months. That’s great news for the 36-yearold, who is five games away from overhauling Ryan Giggs’ milestone. The Manchester United legend managed to play all of his games for just one club, but Barry has had to move around. His top-flight career has taken him to Aston Villa, Manchester City and Everton and he picked up 53 caps for the Three Lions. Barry has clocked up 628 Premier League appearances since making his debut at 17. Baggies boss Tony Pulis has been hunting for a replacement for Darren Fletcher, who became a free agent in the summer and opted to join Stoke. And he jumped at the chance to land Barry, a man with a cast-iron reputation for being one of the best pros in the business. Pulis said: “There was a big void when we lost Fletcher and Gareth will fill that. “He’s a fantastic player and I think his attitude towards playing is really gauged by the fact that Everton had offered him a two-year ® contract to stay there. He really wants to play and I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
Barry, who could make his debut for the Baggies against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, said: “I want to come and help the team. That’s always been the same for me wherever I have played.
“I want to help the team improve and hopefully add quality.”
Everton boss Ronald Koeman had wanted to keep Barry but the club’s summer spending has made competition for places fierce at Goodison Park.
Gylfi Sigurdsson’s arrival would have seen him drop further down the pecking order.
Barry began his career at Brighton before joining Villa, where he made his debut against Sheffield Wednesday in 1998. He has always baulked at any suggestion of bringing the curtain down on his playing career.
Barry said recently: “I have spoken to a lot of friends who have retired and the only thing they always say is you should play as long as you can.
“I’ve always given 100 per cent in training from being a 17-year-old. I’m not one for planning ahead. I want to keep playing as long as I can.”
Barry is West Brom’s fourth signing this summer, after Jay Rodriguez, Zhang Yuning and Ahmed Hegazi, and Pulis still wants two or three more new faces at the club. Thanks Birmingham for buying my husband a new striker. Back to normal in our house! Seen wayne rooney getting the milk of the step this morning he had man utd pyjamas on. The transfer window should close before the season starts. What a start for my Tottenham. We took Newcastle apart and it could quite easily have been 5-0. I told everyone before a ball was kicked. Maybe now you will all sit up and take notice. The Spurs are on the march. Its chelski next and its time for sweet revenge over them. They are in disarray right now and I can see us thumping them 5-0. COYS. If spurs get to fa cup semi final where will it be played as Wembley now there home? The wheels have come off pre-season hype vaporised NCFC RUBBISH AGAIN! I have just heard Richard Scudamore, Executive Chairman of the Premier League and the advocate of the ridiculous “39th game” use the word Quintessential when talking about football. Someone should tell him we don’t use that word when talking about our working class game. What a t**t. We were unlucky against real, we were the best team and we shud ave won, the ref was rubbish, but we’ll show them when we win the prem. Its our year. 2 Rowley Baggie – think u must hav dementia grandad! It’s still 49 years since u won a MAJOR trophy ! Ha ha don’t count championship as one u desperate plum ! Keep taking ya water tablets mucka ! Ha ha. To the whu fools. Last time CFC got relegated they spent 5m promoted 5m. Last time whu got relegated and promoted they spent 100 million each season. I dont think CFC will win prem losing Costa goals is huge but i do think whu mid table win nothing lots of empty seats toon will win nothing as well. Prem is manchester bound imo. Mcgregor is gonna shocj the world when he Kos old Floyd in the BOXING ring next. Mcgregor will be the first 2 sport king and put paulie back on the canvas as well. Ref clock end ken. typical arsenal happy 2 win pre season friendlies. Suppose all ur players taking selfies in changing room as if ud won league. Haha. Text again wen u win league. Enjoy ur pub league comp on Thurs nite.