Source: SKY_Sports
O'Neill unfazed by Barry talk
Martin O'Neill is unfazed by continuing speculation concerning Gareth Barry's future at Aston Villa.[LNB] O'Neill is relaxed with the situation, adding the midfielder himself is "very happy" to wait until the end of the season to decide on his future.[LNB]His comments come after the protracted "will-he, won't-he" saga over Barry's proposed move to Liverpool last summer which collapsed when the Reds failed to meet Villa's £18million asking price.[LNB]But there is now growing speculation that Barry - who has just over one year left on his current deal - will leave Villa this summer should they fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.[LNB]O'Neill said: "The speculation regarding Gareth is inevitable. It will happen, it's not a problem. I have discussed it numerous times with the player.[LNB]"He is very happy to wait until the end of the season to see how things develop. That's the way we have left it.[LNB]Not issue"But this is not like last year. This is a situation which I realised would come around and that's the way it is. It's not an issue.[LNB]"I'm not bothered (by last summer). From the experience of last year I don't think that will materialise.[LNB]"I really have not got an issue with any of this here come the end of the season."[LNB]O'Neill has been delighted with the way Barry has responded after the disappointment of failing to secure a move to Liverpool.[LNB]He said: "Gareth has played very, very well indeed. He gets a freedom to play that might not be afforded in other places.[LNB]"But at the end of it all I'm delighted with him and Stiliyan Petrov in the heart of the midfield, I've been delighted with the other boys as well.[LNB]Different systems"We can play different systems which we have proved during the course of the season. It's great to have learnt these things because next season they will probably have to come into play."[LNB]Barry himself is concentrating on events on the pitch and believes Villa are playing well, despite failing to win in 11 games.[LNB]He told the club's official website: "If we look at it in terms of the performances, we are coming off the pitch having not done too much wrong.[LNB]"We could have been scoring a lot of goals, but we're just missing a few chances.[LNB]"The bit that needs tidying up is our defending at the moment because we are conceding quite a lot of goals. But it's not just the defence, we've got to work at that as a whole team from the front two.[LNB]"We are pretty happy and the confidence hasn't been knocked because we know we have been playing well."[LNB]
