Absolutely first class,good to see some strong management at last.Perhaps supporters are also beginning to realise that collectively that have real power to make footballers face up to their responsibilities.
I wonder what Barry is thinking of right now?

Bob Greenaway, Tamarin, Mauritius

I'm really tired of this Barry thing! We have Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard, Babel, Benayoun, Pennant, Leiva. We should be investing in a couple of good attacking goal scorers. I believe Barry is overvalued, and overrated.

Colin Jackson, Halifax, Canada

If Martin O'Neil believes that sticking Barry in the reserves will get him more money. Then Barry should threaten to score own goals, that'll bring his transfer value down.

Martin Lloyd, Macclesfield,

It's amusing to see how partisan football fans are. Benitez and O'Neill need their heads banging together. As for the "Oh Villa have dropped in my estimation" brigade, it's clear that you're Liverpool fans, but as Everton fans often point out, you're not from the city of Liverpool.

Big Phil, Squamish,

To Max, London...

So MON turned Barry against you did he? Strange, I don't remember MON giving an interview to a tabloid slating Barry.

Fans like you are one reason the players have become such arrogant primadonnas.

J.Wilkes, Gloucester,

I'm a Man Utd fan and I can understand the antipathy of the Villa fans towards Barry. Barry wanted to go so Villa started talking. All they want is a good deal. Why then did Barry have to start talking trash in the papers? Trying to manipulate clubs via the press is wrong, the fans' anger is just.

Myles Bailey, London, UK

Martin O’Neill's apparent vindictiveness towards Gareth Barry is unacceptable and is among the summer's most unpleasant sports stories.

Stephen Downer, Mexico City, Mexico

MON may have let him self down slightly here, but good on him for standing up to a big 4 club. Liverpool and the like cannot just come in and cherry pick CONTRACTED players with out paying the appropriate amount for them. It's time someone made a stand.

Grace, London,

If I were Barry, I'd just sit out the remaining two years of my contract and go on a free. Barry is worth 15m at the most. Villa could use that cash could replace him with 2 or 3 good players. MON is just acting like a child. I always used to like MON but now I think he is just a petulant man.

Simon, Gosport, Hants,

The board employ a manager to run the team. The players do not call the shots. If I went to my boss and started making demands and speaking to people about the way he does business, I'd be hauled over the coals.

This is no different.

Darren, Norwich, UK

Roger, how was rafa's approach illegal?

Nick, isn't signing so called "best players" the objective of transfers? You wouldn't target a team's worst player would you?

I'd like to know what MON thinks he is going to achieve by persecuting his best player and then refuse to let him leave

DR, London,

Ken of "Birmingham"... I would say that Villa are CURRENTLY not quite at L'pool's level. Villa can get well above L'pool's level, however, as has been the case for the majority of the history of English football. Don't forget Liverpool's birthright is Second Tier football - a bit like BCFC!

Mick, Cork, Ireland

football supporters have indeed selective and short memory-barry was by far villa's most consistent player for the last few seasons, a worthy captain to bits. i'm no great fan of the player myself, but he clearly deserves better than this. and for cryin out loud MON, give the lad a break

geek, kuala lumpur, malaysia

It is completely missing the point to blame MON for the situation - Barry is contracted to the club - however, in recognition of his services,he was told that he could leave if a club were prepared to pay for him. The fact is that Liverpool simply do not want him enough to pay what he's worth!

Nikki, birmingham,

Nice of Moaning O'Neill to have scrapped Barry's testimonial, wasn't it? When he was still a contracted Villa player - and BEFORE his NOTW interview. Just what 'moral' stand is O'Neill (a man who broke contracts at Wycombe and Leicester, lest we forget) trying to make here?

Monty W, reading, UK

Barry has given Villa, what, 10 years of service? I do not like the way O'Neill has handled the situation at all - he's doing no body any favours. If the rumoured £16million + Finnan offer from Liverpool is true then I would call O'Neill a fool for not accepting it and behaving the way he has.

Pádraig, Donegal, Ireland

To be honest, i've lost all respect for MON. I held him in really high regard before; but the way he has handled the Barry situation, no other top manager will treat his player this way. Lets see how many players will want to sign to play for this bitter and twisted man. LFC 4ever

P. Dordoe, London, UK

In fact all MON has done is prove that Villa is really a small club, in size, resources and mind.

P. Dordoe, London, UK

Martin Oh Kneel
Has behaved
Cruelly and
Despicably
Toward a great
Servant to Aston Villa.

I used to respect him,
Even at one point
Wishing he were
Manager of Liverpool.
No Longer.

Arrogant,
Small minded and
Spiteful he is.
Like the kid
Who owned the football
All respect
Gone!

Al Stubbino, Liverpool, UK

Very poor by MON. £16m plus Steve Finan is a fair deal. Not sure what he is trying to achieve. No pressure on Lpool now as they still have Alonso. The way he is behaving, O'Neill is creating a lose, lose. Always thought he was overrated and is not showing the maturity of a highly experienced mgr

john, Reading, uk

- MON is putting himself and his employers first. Barry his looking after number 1. Nobody should have a problem with that.
- MON is playing a game and taking a risk himself. Barry has a shattered leg. Villa lose millions and pay the rest of his contract.
- Booing is for kids and the Panto

David, Dunfermline, Scotland

good man MON thats the way this fella signed a contract make hin see it out if l/pool don't want to cough up the cash even if its in the stiffs. yey it must be asked why do liverpool want this guy he will hardley improve the team will he

seamus, dublin, ireland

I have no issue with players leaving for larger clubs, but I do not think Barry will join Liverpool. They made a big play that he was the missing piece but won't pay the additional money. Barry is an intelligent player and whilst he has made PR mistakes I think he knows Arsenal would be a better fit

Alex , Newcastle,

Nick has it right.

Nonsense to say nothing wrong with Benitez's approaches: they were/are illegal.

MON got it right yet again. He's taken his stand from the off, and asking a guy to play one more game of football is not exactly torturing him. AVFC are still paying Barry (a lot of money).

Roger , Bertrange, Luxembourg

Most of us admire Martin O'Neill, a fine manager, It's a pity to see him stamping his foot and behaving in a such a petty way. How are the mighty fallen! On occasion even Arsene Wenger has done something of the sort. We'll try to forget all this as the season gets going.

Polly Cheung, Deptford London,

Martin O 'Neill is not suitable to be the manager for a solid football club as Villa. His actions are clearly the moral standar he keeps. The Board of Directors of Villa should look more closely at this matter.

habes, oslo, Norway

What;s the problem?
BArry is a player still contracted to Villa, so his manager has asked him to do so, presumably to get him fit if come the start of the season he is still a Villa player.
Barry could hand in a transfer req but wont cos he'll lose money. That's hardly selfless is it?!

Graeme, Bath,

Barry has thus far refused to submit a transfer request as he’d automatically lose 10% of any fee Villa. Liverpool have offered £16m but Villa want £18m if Barry submitted a transfer request Villa would ineffect be receiving £1.6m more which might entice them to sell

Barry Davises, London,

Rubbish,

Aston Villa pay Barry's wages to do a job. So Aston Villa can choose him to represent them whenever they like. That's the way football works.

Also Gareth Barry is a professional footballer - he risks injury every time he trains or plays football. What's the problem?

Jon, Birmingham, UK

Barry will be allowed to leave. When Liverpool meet Villa's asking price. MON is totally correct playing Barry in the reserves. Villa still pay his wages and his behaviour means MON does not want him distrupting his first team plans.

Liverpool, if you want the player, pay the asking price!

Novo, Newcastle, UK

No sympathy for Barry whatsoever, he shouldn't have given that newspaper interview.

Players are getting far too arrogant these days, Barry gets a few games in the England squad and his ego goes through the roof. Well done to MoN for taking a stand.

Owen, London, UK

I don't really see the issue here. Barry has returned to training having been reprimanded for his interview. To reach match fitness ahead of Saturday's game he has played in the reserves. Liverpool and Arsenal want him match fit too and any game carries a small risk of injury.

Alex , Newcastle,

Martin O' Neill has sunk to the unpleasant in this transfer dispute on many occasions, something Benitez has always had the class not to do.

Benitez wanted Barry and has bid for him..nothing wrong with that.

And if you wanted deluded Nick, see your bitter blues in about April time this year.

Tom Earnest, Westcliff-on-sea,

Hey Nick, from liverpool .. sorry dude, but every team does the same, yes the top 4 pick off the next level down .. the next level down pick off there next level down and so on .. players work hard to be seen and there career aim is to play at the top of there profession .. simple, but not wrong

reikirebel, chester,

MON played a contracted Villa player who for £18m can move clubs, though the destabiliser now prefers funds to go on Keane before Barry who would be better off signing for Arsenal. This summer, players like Barry, Keane, Berbatov and Adebayor have become smaller in fans' eyes.

Pete, London,

this is just so sick ! As a neutral watching the way MON has handled this I would have to say that whilst Liverpool are not covered in glory MONs behaviour towards a player who by all accounts has served Villa well is an utter disgrace! As a reserve player and no longer capt will his price now drop

Paula Moss, surrey,

MON is out of order, he might as well put barry in the stocks and let the fans throw vegatables at him! not a star manager thats for sure!

tim, london,

Nick,If the player no longer wants to play for the club what is the point of keeping hold of him.If a player wants to move then let him go. ie-ANDY JOHNSON

Jack, Warrington, Cheshire

As a football fan I can not understand why if a player wants to move from his place of work why they are not aloud to go to a club of their choice.In any other industry if you want to change your job you just get on with it.But no not with football There are to many people in the game with big egos.

Jack Alcock, Warrington, Cheshire

Like any business, if you critisize the management publiclly, then you must expect to be reprimanded. This is how MON reprimanded Barry.
Well done I say, players have been getting far to big for their boots, and even further away from reality. Lets hope this has brought Barry back to earth.

Pete, St Albans, England

To Geoff in South Korea - your opinion of a Football Manager has nose-dived because he had the audacity to name a football player in a football team? Oh noes!

Is he a disgrace for making the other 10 players in the team risk injury too?

What a very strange comment to make.

Tom, Aldridge, West Midlands

It is always said MON is a highly well-known for his good management skills, but this action clearly show he is not. To humiliate a player who has given everything during the past 10 years in front of the public is not a good example, what other players will think of? shame of you MON

henry, London,

This article is a disgrace.
At no point was Barry FORCED to play for the reserves. And the fact there was so many Villa fans there proves it wasnt a low key reserve friendly. Barry wants to leave, but at the moment, it doesn't look like he can. How is it a sin for MON trying to keep him fit?!

Tom, Solihull, UK

What a horrible and bitter man MON is. As a Villa fan i hate the way he's turned us fans against Barry who served us for 10 yrs. I'm worried other players won't want to come 2 us when they see how MON behaves. MON, take the 15 million + Barry and run.

Max, London,

If it is true that O'Neill was prepared to risk an injury to a professional player just to prove a point, then my opion of him as a manager has taken a massive nose-dive.

Geoff, Gyeongju, South Korea

Good players want to play for big teams, and Villa aren't on Liverpool's level, Villa's rivals are the likes of Portsmouth and Newcastle. Of course Barry or any other player with ambition is going to want to play for a massive club such as Liverpool. O'Neill is delaying the inevitable.

Ken, Birmingham,

Villa are not governed by money. You only have to look at the front of their shirts to see that.
They are taking a stand with Barry, as much with the player as with Benitez and his deluded club. Why should the likes of Liverpool be able to pick off their rivals' best players?

Nick , Liverpool,