Will Liverpool boss be looking on with baited breath?

Football
FanCast columnist Rob
Facey wonders whether Patrick Berger's latest comments regarding Gareth Barry’s future will be more of a hindrance than a help as the transfer clock continues to tick over.

Gareth Barry will be preparing for tonight’s friendly against the Czech Republic knowing that it is likely Fabio Capello will pair him with Steven Gerrard in the England midfield.
Rafa Benitez will be an interested onlooker as he will be envisaging a future Liverpool midfield partnership. He will be hoping that a good performance from Barry tonight will persuade the board to part with the £18m that O’Neill has been holding out for.

Former Villa and Liverpool midfielder Patrick Berger has sympathized with Barry’s desire to play Champions League football, but you can’t help but feel anyone other than the Liverpool and Villa management commenting on the situation just makes it harder for everyone.

“He’s a top player,” Berger said, as reported in the Daily Telegraph.

“He had a fantastic season last year and he just wants to make the big step in his career. Liverpool are offering him the chance and I can only understand why he wants to do it.

“He’s in a team which is trying to reach the Champions League and he could go to a team which actually won the Champions League a few years ago and they are in the Champions League every year.”
Berger added: “I’m sure he’s such a good professional that if the move isn’t going to happen he’ll give 100 per cent to Aston Villa.”

This is not the first time Patrick Berger has waded into the Gareth Barry saga with unhelpful comments. Earlier this year, the former Czech international was fined two weeks wages and suspended for suggesting that Barry should move to Anfield, a ground where Berger spent seven seasons himself.

It is likely that Barry will partner Steven Gerrard for at least a portion of tonight’s friendly against the Czech Republic which could give Liverpool fans a glimpse of the future.
Hopefully it will shed some light on the situation as former teammates and members of staff offering their opinion only makes things harder for Barry to make his mind up.
Berger’s final point, that Barry will commit to Villa should the transfer not materialise, is a good one but Villa fans may have a different take on things. How can a player simply switch back to being 100% at one club when he’s spent all summer with his bags packed and one foot out of the door?

Will a decent performance from Barry tonight convince the Liverpool board to part with their money?
With the Olympians on their way home next week the central midfield spots at Liverpool will quickly be back to normal; will Gareth Barry be added, or is this transfer never going to happen?