Gareth Barry and the Importance of Context

I still believe he has a big role to play this season, even if he is unlikely to play three consecutive games when they are grouped together, his contribution to the team, and perhaps more importantly to the younger player's around him simply can't be underestimated.

Hope he stays on the staff when the legs finally go.

I might not go quite as far as you, in saying that Barry would have graced those great Everton teams, but doubtless he would have helped Moyes's teams to achieve a little more than they managed, and as someone elsewhere on ToffeeWeb mentioned he would have been a better option than Phil Neville. He's a fine player who still upholds the best standards.

Unfortunately we got him in the twilight of his career rather than at his peak. He will, one day, given a fair break, become a manager – if not at Everton, then elsewhere... that is of course if he wants to remain involved in the game when he hangs up his boots.

Gueye's energy further up the field, chasing down, putting defenders under pressure. You might say (and I agree) that's Lukaku's job, but he doesn't do it. So play to his strengths. Davies provides energy; Barkley with movement in front of him will deliver.

Past his best now, obviously, but can still play his part in helping the team to improve and maybe give us something to cheer about before he eventually retires or moves on.

I do hope he stays on when his playing days finish. He was a breath of fresh air when he arrived at the Club and is, I believe, still an excellent influence. I would have loved to have got Milner as well, as he has a very similar attitude to the game.

Incidentally, I agree with the 4-3-3 idea. I had previously thought that only the likes of Barcelona had the players capable of using it. In actual fact, to my surprise, I found last season that it gave the team I coach a degree of flexibility and opened up a whole raft of options not previously available.

The next couple of seasons, he naturally felt the pace of the Premier League a lot more with Macca's injuries and the disjointed make up of Roberto's sides. I don't think he can contribute too much on the pitch anymore, but that contract must have been designed with a coaching role in mind.

I hope so, as he has been a model professional since signing, and I reckon he has a lot to offer the younger lads starting their careers with his advice and by example.

All of the other players in front of the defence have seemed so lightweight – he's often been the only one putting his foot in. Time's catching up with him, but he's done well for us...

I like Barry but think he isn't/wasn't as good as another master of the dark arts, Don Hutchinson, a vastly underrated player who was similar to Barry in many ways but, in my opinion, possessed more in the way of guile and goal threat than Gareth.

Everton should decide on picking the best defensive midfielder, just one, and concentrate more on our attacking threat which has been neglected for years. The defenders take responsibility for defending and, if they're not up to it, replace them.

Having a defensive minded team who can't defend is killing us.

Don H was a very underated player and a bastard with it. We need someone with his attitude in the midfield now.

He is one of those players who you don't notice too much, but when sat at Goodison you can notice the fact that he's always in space, always available for his team mates, and the amount of running he does to achieve this. He's not the worst passer in the team either.

He's canny and intelligent. I bet if you asked other players about him they would be universal in his praise.

For me they are at best bit-part players to use against lower league opposition in cup games or in slow-paced matches; any speed to a game and they look badly vulnerable.

Just look at what has happened to John Terry at Chelsea, frankly football is a results business and there's no room for sentiment.

He is a class act and used sparingly can still contribute and it would not surprise me to see him given an hour tonight before making way again for Tom.

Any young player on the staff should suck every bit of information and advice from him whilst he is around and certainly a place on the coaching staff should be considered.

He has been an outstanding professional and presumably looks after his body to still be performing at this level. However, like Jagielka, he must be eased out of the first eleven to allow us to become more combative.

I have no idea if he is good coaching material, he plays with intelligence, and when interviewed, is articulate, so perhaps he is the type. I would imagine he is just enjoying still playing at this level, as he will know that his career can't go on for ever.

Finished at this level and has been for some time. Too slow and a weakness that sides will target.

The fact that he has been there so long merely adds weight to the fact that, in my opinion, he is the problem, not the solution. Stats show he so many touches he has, how many kms he covers etc. and yet opposition midfields stroll past him, draw fouls in dangerous positions and he contributes little in forward positions. So yes he can be seen to be influential, but in what way?

The past few weeks have illustrated it starkly even within a 90 minutes when he has come on or been withdrawn. Good pro obviously who should be kept on to imbue his professionalism on the coaching staff, playing squads etc. but beyond that he has nothing left to offer first team football at the level to which we are at, never mind aspire to.

My opinion is that he regretfully needs replacing ASAP. I've been hugely impressed by him for the majority of his time at Everton, but if we are to progress as a team, we shouldn't look to build a strategy around an obsolete component.

The fact that some players make it to mid-late 30s while still playing top level football is beyond me. I'm 37 and have felt like an old useless fart for 3 or 4 years playing in a very poor league!!!

What's the old saying about statistics and damn lies?

To me, Gareth Barrystill has a part to play but I agree in a deeper Busquets role. Which perhaps goes against the style that Koeman is going for. But with two full backs so willing to bomb on and go forward, Barry is the type of player that is suited to such a dropping deeper DCM-sweeper type role.

However, we then lose his ability to put forward a pass to a team-mate, something which is noticeable amongst our midfield in that very few players actually seem to be able to do this.

Interesting reading though, thank you.

Jags looks like he's going the same way as Distin who went very quickly at the end and who has never really been replaced. Williams is Jags' replacement by the look of it and Barry can no longer play as many minutes as before, but to play them all together I think was a gamble based on the fact that there was a need to rotate at a busy time and Hull was the easiest fixture on paper.

If Calvert-Lewin had scoredn the gamble could have paid off. However, it will be interesting to see the lineup against Southampton this afternoon.

Sweet baby Judas, I wish we'd signed Gareth a decade back.

Utter class. Reminds me of the impact that Reid & Gray had on "The Class of 84". Yes he lacks pace, but Peter Reid never had any. I still worship Reid. And so do all of you.

He isn't mobile, but always in the right space. Dozy Barkley can still learn from "Old Father Time", I just don't think he pays attention in c!ass.

I wish he bloody well would, but I've given up. Prove me wrong, Ross. Tom Davies, is my new "True Blue" hope for our future.

Excellent comment. So much content in so few words.