Everton agreed to sell Gareth Barry to West Brom this summer – and he is enjoying a decent start to life at The Hawthorns.
It says a lot about Gareth Barry’s performance for West Brom on Saturday that manager Tony Pulis described him as the best player on the pitch – despite The Baggies going down to a 3-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Pascal Gross, scorer of Brighton first two goals in the Premier League, might have something to say about Pulis’ conclusion to a game in which West Brom struggled throughout.
Yet, while question marks can be asked of a Baggies defence who had conceded just one goal in their three top flight fixtures prior to Saturday’s trip to The Amex, Barry still found the time to put in an impressive individual performance.
Breaking up play and distributing it with typical class, the 36-year-old was arguably West Brom’s most dangerous attacking threat in the first-half – though that may say more about the club’s underperforming forwards.
‘Outstanding’
“I thought Barry was outstanding today, by far the best player on the pitch,” Pulis told the Birmingham Mail of the veteran, who equalled Ryan Giggs’ record by playing against his 45th different Premier League opponent on the South Coast.
“By a country mile I thought he was superb – and we’ve got other players out there who are international players.”
And you wonder how Barry’s old Everton manager Ronald Koeman would have reacted to Pulis’ praise after a 3-0 home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur that lacked any of the organisation and game management that the former England international has made his forte.
Time will tell if Everton end up regretting that decision.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
