Villa kop it from Berger's parting shot

May 6 2008 by Pat Murphy

When you're the manager desperately hoping you're not going to lose your best player, you don't need one of his teammates telling him to go as soon as possible.

Patrik Berger's advice to Aston Villa colleague Gareth Barry not to resist the siren song of Liverpool is the last thing Martin O'Neill needs. "I would go there tomorrow," Berger says, adding that he had already discussed it with the Villa captain.

He says it's 'the opportunity of a lifetime' for Barry, which suggests that Berger hasn't exactly kept a clinical eye on events at Anfield this season.

They haven't won a trophy, the manager might be forced out this summer as the interminable boardroom wrangles continue and a new owner may well be in charge with a blank sheet of paper. Many under-achieving players are due to be shipped out from Anfield and their famous supporters are restive.

If Rafael Benitez stays, and buys Barry, will he keep him in his favoured central midfield role or subject him to the rotation policy that has frustrated so many Liverpool players?

Money matters apart, I believe Arsenal would have suited Barry more, if Arsene Wenger could overcome his suspicion of English players. With Matthieu Flamini on his way out and both Alexander Hleb and Gilberto tempted to move, Arsenal's midfield would be crying out for someone like Barry.

That's if he goes and the smart money is on that. Hopefully Villa's fans will view that with the same respectful tolerance they have afforded Olof Mellberg.

Which is more than Berger deserves when he's shown the door soon. Sometimes a player needs to keep quiet when reporters ask him for a comment. Berger should have done that on Saturday, out of respect to a manager who had faith in him last year and the club which pays his wages.

Wait for him to say he was misquoted. Or taken out of context. It's usually the fault of the press.