Villa optimistic of good showing with Barry and Davies

August 2, 2008

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has now got more than a reason to be happy, thanks to the end of transfer speculations of versatile midfielder Gareth Barry and a shockingly fast ( read pleasant ) comeback from injury by defender Curtis Davies, who played for about 60 minutes in the preseason friendly match at Bodymoor Heath against Notts County.

O’Neill, a former manager of Scottish powerhouse Celtic F.C., has said that the formal announcement by Aston Villa has finally ended all the rumors about Barry’s transfer.

None of the four bids by Liverpool this season could match the evaluation of Barry by O’Neill, and if some of English tabloids are to be believed, Villa had set up a Wednesday 5-pm deadline for Liverpool to make a final move. Since the Anfiled club could not/did not do so, Villa sealed the deal.

Liverpool manager Rafael Banitez had sparked all sorts of rumors in May this year revealing Barry as a transfer target at Anfield and in the process, starting a war-of-words with O’Neill for most of the summer.

Meanwhile, defender Curtis Davies, who injured his Achilles tendon in a match against Arsenal in the previous season, has made a surprise comeback in a preseason friendly against Notts County, where he played for 60 minutes.

He said later that he was really positive with his recovery and that he could now be competing with defenders Martin Laursen and Zat Knight for the first team!

They say that games are won and lost in the midfield and Villa seems to be a team to watch out for with Barry and their new signing, the enthusiastic center half, Steve Sidwell playing side-by-side.

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