Manchester City would not be a good move for Ross Barkley, says Gareth Barry

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/apr/24/manchester-city-transfer-ross-barkley-gareth-barry

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Gareth Barry has advised Ross Barkley to resist any overtures from Manchester City this summer and believes his former club’s problems do not rest solely with Manuel Pellegrini. “It’s the whole package who need to raise their game,” said the former England international of the faltering Premier League champions.

Barkley has been frequently linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium despite a difficult second season as an Everton regular that has included injury, loss of form and criticism from his own supporters. But Barry, who has struck up a close rapport with the 21-year-old since leaving Manchester for Goodison Park in 2013, believes the development of his fellow midfielder is better served at Everton than amid the wealth of options available to City.

“I think Ross is too young to make that move,” the 34-year-old said. “Everton is better for his development. He’s still learning the game. He’s got the right manager here to push him to the next level. As soon as he reaches that next level, then there’s another decision to be made.”

Barry and Barkley have had seasons that mirror Everton’s – failing to meet expectations before helping Roberto Martínez’s team pull clear of relegation trouble with a run of four wins in five matches before Sunday’s meeting with Manchester United. Experience has helped the former Aston Villa and City midfielder handle the contrast to last season, which he attributes to playing three games a week after injuries to James McCarthy and Darron Gibson denied him rest, but he has sympathy for Barkley.

Barry added: “I speak to Ross quite often, I sit next to him in the changing room, and you feel sorry for him sometimes because of the expectation that is getting thrown on to his shoulders. He’s dealt with the pressure very well because, like the team, his form hasn’t been the same as last season when he really hit the ground running.

“People are expecting goals and assists of him, week in, week out. That hasn’t happened but he’s still putting in good, mature performances. They haven’t ended in goals or assists but he’s improving as a player. He’s learning different things that will eventually make him a better player. It’s important for everyone around Ross to try to keep his feet on the ground. His ability and his strengths are there for everyone to see. He can go on and be a top, top player.”

Barry joined Everton initially on loan having been excluded from Pellegrini’s plans at City, although the club’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, and chief executive, Ferran Soriano, were also involved in freezing out the title winner. Having seen his former club fall from champions to a fight for Champions League qualification this season, and fail to improve, the veteran believes blame lies across the board at City.

“It’s a surprise what has happened,” Barry said. “Having been in the dressing room, and knowing the characters that are in there, it just seems they’ve slipped below the standards that they should be competing at week in, week out. It’s pretty much the same dressing room as when I was there. The manager’s taken a lot of blame. It’s not fair for him to take it all, the players have got to look at themselves as have the people upstairs who bring the players in. It’s not just the manager, it’s the whole package who need to raise their game.”