Source: Team_Talk
Davies expecting jeers for Barry
Davies is a close friend of Barry, who made the £12million move from Villa to Eastlands during the summer.
He made more than 400 appearances during his 12-year association with the club after signing as a 17-year-old from Brighton.
But Davies, currently recovering from shoulder surgery, admits "football is very fickle" and he expects the Villa fans to give Barry a hard time.
Davies said: "I'd like to think the fans would clap Gareth but I've got a feeling it will be jeers.
"He did this club a good service over the 10 years or more that he was here. But obviously football is very fickle and I think people see the short-term picture.
"I know Gareth has gone from saying he wanted to play Champions League football, when he nearly moved to Liverpool last summer, to moving to Manchester City.
"But maybe he's looked at his options and thought that long-term maybe Manchester City might have the structure to become a Champions League team more so than us.
"If he sees there's an opportunity to do that, then obviously that's Gareth's choice but we'll beg to differ."
Davies also believes Barry will be unfazed if he receives a hostile reception from the Villa fans.
He said: "Sometimes people will wilt under pressure. I think Gareth is one of those who might step up. We need to be aware of that and so do our fans.
"You see big players like Ronaldo who like getting booed because, when that happens, it makes him kick up a gear and he ends up scoring crazy goals against teams.
"I'm not saying Gareth is the Ronaldo type but he's a top quality player and we need to beware of him regardless of whether the fans boo him or not.
"He's top class and if you give him any more of a boost it's going to mean danger."
Craig Gardner echoed Davies' sentiments and said: "Gareth was absolutely unbelievable for Aston Villa for the 10 years or so he was here.
"He didn't put a foot wrong. He was a role model. I looked up to him and I think a lot of people looked up to him.
"I spoke to him when I was up, I spoke to him when I was down and he was just a top class pro.
"It was a shame to lose Gareth but he's moved on. He's a brilliant player. He's fantastic for England, he was fantastic for Villa, so 'yes' he should get a good reception.
"Hopefully for Gareth's sake, he does get a brilliant reception because I think he deserves it for what he's done here."
