Quite why the sale of Barry Douglas has pulled at my heartstrings to the levels I’m still suffering is a mystery to me.
Make no mistake though, I’m smarting. I look at Barry in catalogue pose inside Elland Road, hair coiffed to perfection and shimmering in lilywhite, when he should be here in old gold.
I know that sentiment is a nominal concept under Fosun’s exhilarating rule and I’m glad of the fact. Having pleaded with fans to see sense over the near-useless capabilities of David Edwards for years, I was usually told to pipe down and show respect to the ultimate clubman. (Ironically, one or two of those Edwards-lovers are lambasting fellow fans for not letting go in respect to Barry Douglas. You’ve gorra loff!).
Irrespective of sentiment though, am I allowed to blog that this sale makes absolutely no sense on footballing reasons alone? I’m prepared to stick my head above the parapet and give it a go, while also expressing a smidgeon of concern ahead of the new season, if I could be so bold?
I just felt that on any evidence presented over the past year, Barry Douglas never showed any obvious signs of defensive frailty, with or without a jet-heeled turn of pace which some might point towards. (Denis Irwin didn’t have that in his pomp, who was another former-full back I admired). And just one look at the World Cup told us that however progressive a team plays, percentages from set plays are equally significant. In this regard, I’ve seen no better dead-ball deliverer in all the years I’ve watched Wolves. If our philosophy is to again attack at pace with devilment, a succession of corners and free kicks would surely follow?
I’d suggest that Barry Douglas was way more effective in his role in the side than an unmistakably leaden-footed Leo Bonatini was in his, yet the latter was retained? Maybe I am not comparing eggs with eggs here, but it just seems hard to fathom. Is dressing room harmony a legitimate concern too, with selfless Championship conquerors like Barry seemingly discarded at a whim? Was the process befitting of a guy who deserved a bit more transparency? Without actually knowing what the process was, it is wrong to speculate.
In any case, questioning the sale of Barry and implicitly supporting the work of Fosun are not mutually exclusive notions, are they?
As we prepare for the new season – and our annual pre-season curtain raiser which my little family has attended each year since 2008 (an intoxicating 4-2 triumph over Blackburn and an eight-week-old boy) – I couldn’t be more excited. Everything that Fosun is currently working on, be it new players or close-season improvements around Molineux, tells us that the fabric of our club is at the front and centre of their minds. A far cry from Compton Park and land acquisition by our previous owner, I’d say.
And regarding summer incomings, isn’t it nice to be linked to so many players, however dubious some of the ‘sources’ might be? I can only think back to our meeting with sporting director Kevin Thelwell and his reassurance that Fosun are not at Molineux to mess around. Joao Moutinho would bear testament to this.
So would Barry Douglas, I must conclude.
It won’t stop me missing him, that’s all.
Good post mate.
You make a sound point about the importance of set plays and I’m not sure we have another left-footer to emulate those dangerous in-swingers. Moutinho and Neves not too bad from the right though heh?
There is a concern somewhere deep down within me that Nuno has disappeared up his own arse a bit about the ‘idea’ he likes to talk about and has forgotten about BD’s 14 assists and 5 goals. We didn’t cut teams open for fun all season.
But is it telling that no other PL club came in for BD despite it being well publicised he was on the scrap heap for a week before he completed his move to Leeds?
Equally, while I share your thought about his pace not being paramount to defending, I must admit I’ve looked at this 343 system and wondered just how effective it could be with two electric wingbacks. Looking forward to seeing what Jonny has to offer.
Your pain is our gain 🙂 Seriously though, always good to see quality reflections on the game and its players, and this definitely ranks as such. Given the amount of absolute crap we’ve signed over the past few years, all the indications are that he’ll be amongst the standout championship signings of the season, and so am still pinching myself as is probably most of Elland Rd! Good luck for the season – a Leeds Fan!
Good luck for the season Fred! I think you have a gem, as you can obviously tell! Maybe Barry was told that he will strictly be a squad player and he didn’t like the sound of it? Who knows. He’s gone now, that’s for sure. But he worked his nuts off, took a bit of a chance on us, as we did him, and it was a spectacular sight last season. Check out his goal at home to Brentford – with his right foot!
I do feel that his deliveries alone will be potent for you, on the evidence of last season. For all of our swashbucking attacking play last season, we did get a heck of a lot of goals from set-plays. That mix was lovely. In fact, did he set up two for us at Elland Rd last season? I stand corrected there.
But to win a corner (to chants of ‘Leeds, Leeds,Leeds’ from the Kop) and just knowing that the delivery will be wicked – rather than the scabby front post crap you usually have to endure – is something to get excited about. Last season, corners actually got me on the edge of my seat, which has never been the case before. With the height in your side, you could score a ruck.
Good luck in any case Fred. I might be in a minority here, but I have nothing but respect for Leeds. The generation before me will always hate you I’m sure (We all hate Leeds, they sang!), but your fans are incredible.
All the best!
And Fred’s gain is also Vinagre’s gain. Let’s tap into Vinagre’s potential and develop him as the world class left sided wing back we know he can become. In Vinagre we trust – right now he’s into the first team line up.
Congratulations to Leeds, they’ve now got one of the best fullbacks/wing backs in Championship. I’m pretty sure they’ll qualify for the playoffs.
Cheers Ben and Karlir. A very strong start from Barry in Leeds colours yesterday – the only one of our new signings to be trusted with a start by Bielsa in what was probably the most high octane, bewitching and complete home team at Elland Road in several years, playing championship favourites Stoke off the park – and as you predicted Barry duly delivered with a peach of a corner for an assist. Was part at fault their penalty, but otherwise a strong debut indeed in which he looked very much at ease with the brand of football on display. I know that our chairman was making jealous, accusatory yet ultimately admiring noises about Wolves last season, and it’s very clear that he wants to emulate your success in bringing in Bielsa. Almost certainly jumping the gun with another 45 games to, but based on what I’ve seen, it just might be that Wolves v Leeds will be a Premiership fixture that gets the football purists drooling in anticipation next year!
Thank you mate. I just have a feeling of sadness when I should be feeling unbridled excitement ahead of the new season. And I can’t help but worry a tad about what might just be a lack of firepower up top, with Raul and Bonatini not filling me with confidence. I can only conclude that Costa will rediscover that electric form of old with a full pre-season under his belt and Jota will be back at the levels we saw in the first half of last season in particular (we forget quite how unplayable he was in those first few months of the season. I’ve never seen a player like him, tailing off a tad when getting assaulted every week!). If this is the case, then we really could cause one or two surprises, particularly early doors.
So I am probably missing the point with a ‘number 9’ type striker as we don’t necessarily need one the way we play. On this theme, the Traore (Boro) signing does make sense, owing to the way we play – he could be a pretty scary proposition up and down that wing, dovetailing with one of our creative front-men – Cavaleiro included.
I also feel that the beef of N’Diye will be missed, but again, Nuno will know his squad better than anyone. I have a hunch that Morgan Gibbs-White might be utilised more here, who will present a new dimension that we might not necessarily be expecting?
Jonny is an interesting one too…I am guessing that if we sign Traore, Nuno will be looking at him and Jonny as wingbacks, with Jonny on the right, and Doherty dropping out?
For all these reasons, I am looking forward to the Villareal line-up to see what the starting line-up. Surely the starting XI will give the best insight ahead of the opener.
Think this sale of Barry is the first mistake by Nuno, 14 assists and 5 goals is just too good to let go for the quoted £3 – £5 mill figure. If he was not happy with him then retain him give him a chance as a squad player, we have plenty of so called “squad” players who will never get a game and are not fit to lace Barry’s boots. Rumours of a bust up after late turning up for Germany trip but if that was the case then a fine would have been more apt.
I think the bust-up rumours come up when you’ve exhausted the reasons why he might have been sold…When it doesn’t make sense, we arrive at a conspiracy! Saying that, it might well be true. I am sure it will come out in the wash eventually. And as Thomas said, you could point to other PL clubs not coming in for him as a sign he isn’t the player I am missing?!
Ben you’ve said exactly what I’ve been thinking. I just cannot understand this sale, especially at that price. I feel he did enough last season for a shot at the prem.
I’m hoping we don’t regret this but I’m sure Douglas will do Leeds proud.
Thank you mate. I am expecting a few comments, telling me to let it go, but the feelings are still too raw! He certainly did enough for a shot at the PL! I can only conclude we are looking at upgrades generally, with Thelwell telling us some time ago that Fosun are here to ‘win things.’ With this in mind, there may well be a few more tears between now and the window closing. Eg, Ruddy off to Bristol City for the season? Pure speculation that one, but if we are not holding back in an attempt to gatecrash the big boys, then I should dry my eyes and enjoy the ride!!
Good post.
To me it’s not just about sentiment or set plays. It’s about a proven and effective part of a team. I know the club is bringing in potentially higher caliber players, on paper, but therein lies my concern: potential vs. proven. My issue with Barry’s sale is not so much about the sale in itself but about the timing. I would have waited to ensure the new signings actually bedded in and worked with the team before I sold. Especially for just $3M; surely chomp change for Fosun. This may yet prove to be premature. We’ll see.
Regardless, though, we have an exciting team to be competing with and I’m looking forward to pre-season. Far cry from Lambert’s “look at me” approach.
Looking forward to the new revolution and new generation of players.
Go Wolves!
We’ll see indeed GW! When Jonny is marauding down the wing on Saturday, I’m sure the blow will be softened. And as someone else somewhere has said, if we’re winning regularly and making a fist of the PL, Barry will be as good as forgotten, such is the way of the footballing world. I wish him well.
Yep, agree with this wholeheartedly. Douglas was proven in every sense and I feel it’s a disgrace that he’s been let go. On top of that, the last few pre-season games have seen us struggling and my own optimism has taken a knock after some lacklustre displays with nothing like enough creativity and very little goal threat.
The set pieces taken by Barry may well be missed I fear and it was really stupid to let him go before seeing how the new boys have acclimatised to English football and the PL.
Really disappointing.
Sad fro see Barry Douglas go, he more than contributed to the successful campaign.
Good team player as well. Thought he lost the drive or the confidence to make convincing overlaps, but thought his deadball contribution & defending were crucial to us.
No sentiment in the Prem though, so I hope we get a few more in in the next week. I agree with Tim Spiers in the E&S that we’re short in the wing back department, midfield & maybe centre half.
Goalscorer s also worry me. But in the wing back department could Nuno be brave or reckless enough to go with Giles or Rasmussen? Upfront what’s happened to the promise of Donovan Wilson & Neil Ennis? If we’re strong elsewhere, maybe a young blood or two could work & give those multi millionaires in the Prem a shock or two.
We’ll know more when we face Villarreal Saturday. That’ll give us a good feeler for how we’re going to fare at the highest level. Excited but not resting on my laurels
Agree that Villareal will answer some questions. I will be intrigued to see if MGW figures prominently. I have a hunch he could play a part.
Neves and Moutinho will be key men in the middle, and Nuno will want a lot of pace up top. Hopefully Helder will be like his 2016/17 vintage. If that’s the case, then I’d be thrilled.
After watching the match against Villareal I’d definitely say we’re weakened on our left side. Otto played showed glimpses of his potential and made some good runs. He’s not the accomplished player Douglas is, and on one occasion he could have taken the shot .
Maybe we need to be looking forward not back. Douglas has gone, so many thanks Barry and goodbye.
We don’t know what might have gone on – which is how it should be. What happens in the dressing room stays in the dressing room.
We have an exciting season ahead so let’s look forward to that and stop second guessing Nuno. He rarely gets it wrong.
Happy to go with Nuno HW. I’ll just miss the Scotsman. In Nuno we Trust!
I said this last season, but it bears repeating.
We should not be looking for an out and out goalscorer, who can be easily identified and marked out of the game, but should be focusing on everyone being a potential goal threat.
We have nippy, skillful players, who can weave in and out of tight defenses, and all of whom can score.
Crisp, accurate passing from the back and midfield, and not the lottery of yesteryear, thumping the ball upfield with hail Mary passes.
As for Barry Douglas, the old expression applies: The King is dead, long live the King.
Thank you very much for the past twelve months, you did well.
However, it was only one year, not ten or fifteen, which is what you need, in my opinion, to be a legend.
And, he came from relative obscurity, and is now a reasonably well known and marketable Championship player, so as we thank him, so he should thank the club.
It has happened we move on. But thanks for all the thrills Bazza.Next time you walk upon the hallowed turf you will be assured of a warm welcome. All the best at Leeds.
I am in total agreement with you Ben over Barry Douglas.
Leeds have got a complete bargain and we’re the weaker for his leaving.
I think if he had a bit more pace to go with his obvious attributes he would still be here or, if there was a falling out with Nuno, sold for nearly ten times what we got for him. He WAS caught out a few times last season by really quick wingers.
But what do I know?
If Nuno tried to tell me how to write a piece of selling copy or formulate a new corporate identity, I would tell him to go away and make a football team that will hold its own in the Premier League.
Let’s hope he’s up to the task.
Great post Ben and in short…. r still dow gerrit.
I can’t think of another sale of a player which has been like this one. It makes the Benik Afobe transfer look amazingly normal.
Having thought much about it, I can only conclude the “you’ll be a great squad player” was the only reason for the move.
I know it’s a silly thing the mention, but he even features highly in all the advertising/PR/graphics/ticket imagery….
A big fan favourite gone in a flash.
I have to say I was surprised at his sale, but presumably Nuno already had Johnny Castro lined up. However, for all of his wonderful assists from set plays his first move was always backwards and safety first. How many times did he actually take a player on and assist from open play??
I’d say Nuno knows best, gifted set piece taker, a steady defender, but a limited player attacking wise and probably not Premier class.
I posted this on the E & S web site while my dinner went down, in an attempt to rationalise what’s going on lately. See what you think.
As for the sentiment question? I would humbly suggest that without such an emotion we’d all be Manchester City fans.
………………………………………….
I’ve been having a bit of a mull over Molineux actions lately and I’ve come to the conclusion that this (apparent) panic stems primarily from the cheap sale of Barry Douglas and the almost stubborn refusal of the manager to purchase this elusive ’20 goal striker’.
Now, we all heard that the players had been issued fitness meters, for want of a better phrase…maybe Baz (god love him) didn’t pass muster? I seriously can’t imagine Nuno ditching such a central figure unless he thought Barry would be found out in the ultra athletic Premier League. It’s my only rational conclusion.
As for the striker; well, we ain’t getting one. I’m reminded of an old film I saw once called The Glenn Miller Story where the band leader, played by James Stewart if memory serves, lost his lead Trumpeter and was forced to (successfully) employ his saxophonists to cover. This is Nuno’s thinking. We now have 3/4 speedy attackers who feed not just off each other but from the whole damn team, all of whom can thread a pass through the eye of the proverbial needle into their speedy feet.
In other words, the panic is over, and all Wolves fans can now sleep easy in their beds…unless we get any fog on the way to Leicester, I suppose.
Sorry I do not buy this in Nuno we trust without being willing to criticise mistakes when it is patently obvious to me that the sale of Douglas was a blunder born of some degree of arrogance .
Jonny is not the same type of player .I saw him at Derby and he has no left foot for a start and will certainly not be delivering set pieces like Douglas .It was plain from Douglas’s parting message that he was kicked out .So we keep Ba’ath and Bonatini neither of whom are PL players and sell Douglas for peanuts .There are still significant gaps in the team and not enough back up which we will pay for with any significant injuries .We still do not have a genuine goal scorer as Jimenez is not that man .
Like a Thomas I am not that confident about the new season .Naturally I hope I am wrong .
Well for my tuppence worth,
Douglas was an entertaining player who thrilled me and the stadium when he was on form, I hardly saw him off form, but he Is gone and sorry Nick.
In Nuno I trust 100%.
Rumour control is rife tonight,” T” internet is on fire with it all.
Jordan Graham is off to Ipswich
Hause is off to Reading
Traore signed by Early next week
A signing that will make Traore’s alleged £18m look pale,
(Rumour is Guedes)
Hope it hapens early, as I’m in the Air flying to Florida at 11-15am on the final transfer window day. I hope the upgrade I paid for provides WiFi.
If all this comes off, it wil be a case of ! what was that Jock’s name we sold to Leeds?
Bugger me, almost forgot.
Cav to Fulham.
Rumour not hard fact, but very different from the M&M days.
Now that really would fox me Stu.
Me too Steve,
This has been a reliable rumour since the season finished, but then a couple of weeks ago there was what seemed to be a statement from the club that, “ Cav was going nowhere and he was in the plans”. Being a suspicious sort of chap, I think it may have been a smokescreen for the Traore injury and Boro trying to hold on to him, but we will have to wait and see.
I like him, I really do, but his end product frustrates me like Bright.
Given FFP rules and hopefully sensible corporate governance, what do you think is a responsible amount to splash this transfer window? Don’t get me wrong I don’t think Fosun have been stingy, in fact I think they have been very shrewd with their business so far, but it is interesting to see Fulham spending like a drunken sailor.
Bazza had a great season for us in the Championship. Perhaps he could replicate that in the PL but not for us, and no one else in the top division fancied him either.
Yeah, I’m sorry to see him go, and yes, I feel he deserved the opportunity. But the first thing you need if you’re gonna get to the top is the ruthlessness to trample everyone else on the way up. Pro football is a hard taskmaster.
I felt initially that at £5mill, everyone was a winner. But £3mill is a pretty paltry sum for such a talent and no wonder Leeds fans are rubbing their hands with glee.
I don’t think any comparison with Dangerous ,Ben, is valid really. He’d given his all for the club for many years and scored many vital goals, but for some could still do nothing right. Most importantly, in those days, if he’d gone he’d have been replaced with, at best, more of the same. Now we have the will and the resources to replace Bazza with the best players out there. Hopefully we will.
I felt uneasy last year with the sales of Bodvarson, Edwards, Dicko & Price. Everything turned out rather well in the end.
This summer I’m scratching my head about the sales of Afobe, Douglas and the continued absence of Ronan from the team. Managers stand or fall on these decisions and so far Nuno has got things right.
Time will tell if this summers transfer dealings will be successful but we certainly have a better squad than our previous two promotion winning teams managed to assemble.
As has been seen many times before spending huge amounts of money on just about anyone and paying ridiculous wages does not guarantee success … ask Aston villa.
But having the best manager, coaching team and owners who are all singing from the same hymn sheet along with a superb set up and huge amounts of money to spend carefully on the right players will almost certainly get you somewhere …ask Wolverhampton wanderers .
Wolves ARE going somewhere this coming season have no doubt about that.
Everything is in place apart from the odd player or two.
Fosun are doing there utmost to keep the fans happy but in the ruthless world they operate in it will be impossible to keep all the fans all happy all of the time.
The sales of Benik Afobe and Barry Douglas do not sit well with some of us but we as a club have moved on light years from where we were only a short time ago and these sort of things will only become more common.
Its not ruthlessness it is simply business … ask don Corleone
Footballers at the level we are now operating at, as we know are very very well paid and those two players will have been hugely compensated for their moves even though it may have put their noses out a tad to think they were not in Nunos plans despite their efforts of last season.
Wolves are heading for the top and its dog eat dog , survival of the fittest and all that sort of stuff where we are going and us supporters need to hang on to Fosuns and Nunos coat tales.
SO CLEAR YOUR MIND OF THE PAST FELLOW WOLF AND DONT LOOK BACK OR YOU WILL MISS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL.
Whilst I freely admit to not being a big name in the cut throat world of big business, I’ve supported the wolves since Tim Steele was on the wings and have grown to love many of our boys over the last 30-odd years. Barry had and did everything you would want from a left back, and again, I’m not saying he was the best left back ever, but have we got an improvement that is definitely an upgrade? If not, I think, for football reasons alone, it would have been worth hanging on to him. For the squad and the connection with fans, I definitely would have wanted him to have a crack at the PL. Maybe Nuno knows best, and think his value would only have dropped in the top flight? Maybe Barry put sugar in Nuno’s tea and he didn’t fancy it? Who knows? My tuppence worth is that after a season like the last, Fosun are brave in risking a potential fan backlash for the sake of a few million quid, which is pocket money to them. All the best Barry, the rest of us have to hope Nuno and the overlords know what they’re doing.
I hope this helps to inoculate some of you because in the future, this kind of thing will happen more and more with even better players.
It may even happen in the next week.
I’ve built up a resistance to this a long time ago when Lanny McDonald and Darryl Sittler were traded.
Good to see the blog alive and kicking with all sorts of opinions. Brilliant. To those who quit I say come back on board. You were welcome then. You will be welcome now. We am Wolves ay we. Everyone. Cheers chaps and wenches. Love you all. Well apart from Clive!
Thanks, Cheesy, I love you too!!
Kiss kiss
Clive fuckin ace. Black Country ay it.
Dave Edwards couldn’t lase Bazza’s boots there in lys the irony. One man was average at best over too many years and the other had a Stella 12 months……..Bazza’s contribution will only be fully appriated by some not me in years to come.
I am convinced Barry would of held his own, no even thrived in the Premier with this team.
For me Nuno’s got this one wrong and at the end of the day he is not perfect no one is he won’t be the first or the last manager to make a mistake, we may treat him like God but he is only human……….just..!
Here’s a question I have, and apologies in advance if this is not the appropriate place to ask it but, why is Andre Silva not getting attention from more teams.
He seems to be being forced out of AC Milan but it seems that only Wolves and Monaco are interested, at least I am not hearing that the other big teams are enquiring about him.
He is the striker for the Portuguese national team and strikers are supposed to be in high demand.
Watching and listening to Mick McCarthy on Gillete Soccer Saturday. Still prefers a draw to entertaining. Still a dinosaur then.
Agree Happy he is so far behind the modern game he should be in a museum. He still thinks his way of managing is relevant……….poor soul what he needs is a Barnsley cake and a cup of Yorkshire tea and retire do us all a favour, I say I say do us all favour……..wright..!
By the way. Not seen any comments on this Blog regarding the possible recruitment of Traore. Personally based on his play at The Molineux last season I would welcome him in the squad. Any other thoughts?
Well his pace is electric! Left Douglas and Boly for dead a couple of times last year, until they cottoned on how to nullify him.
In other words, stopped by a Championship level defender.
Take what you like from that.
Good point Larry
It’s not the finished article but have been today to the Villareal game today.
Have no worries (and Carmen) this team is going places … what a polished and dominant performance by all.. from Patricio to Jiménez… this was good..
And Jonny Otto …. he is one hell of a rugged, take no prisoners, play fair or dirty … they’re all in his locker…. sorry to see you go Bazza. BUT ..this guy has got a bit more than you mate … perhaps not from dead ball situations but certainly from open play….!
Btw .. does anyone want two tickets for West Ham away … let me know guys…or gals …
Yes.
Send ’em to me, along with airfare and hotel accommodation for two, and hire car reservation.
Thanks, mate.
Unfortunately because you didn’t like the comment ..you are ruled out on the grounds that you are not a liker of my wolves comments which you could have benefited from.
Tough shit…. no….
I hope you’ve seen the photo of Lilian and myself with Donchez Dacres.. that’s the bgt superstar… xx
Twix I’ll have them if you still have them……?
Send me an email Paul and I’ll explain it to you.. mike
oldfield23@btinternet.com
Nuno had a dream. So did I. Fuckin disturbing it was. Doug Mountjoy. 70’s snooker star was chasing a sheep round my fucking garden with a blow up picture of Tom Jones. Luckily I went to see the Doctor who said ‘I think you are getting really anxious by events at Molineux’.He also said you should chill out cos Sandwell Town lost to Bolton at um. Fuckin great really. How the tide has turned ay it…
It’s becoming clearer why all these Portugese players are coming to WV1 . . . . .
. . . . . . . . the climate!!!!
Have you seen the temperatures over there?
Wolves goals from the Villareal game. Enjoy.
https://mobile.twitter.com/wolves/status/1026011675248549888
“Que sera sera, we all miss Barry, it’s a shame he’s not Portuguese, que sera sera.”
Joking aside, Jonny looks solid defensively. He doesn’t appear to offer a great deal of attacking threat and (although I accept it’s early to judge) doesn’t appear to have a left foot. But with Costa, Moutinho and Neves sharing set-piece responsibilities against Villareal (and one goal scored from a Costa corner) it’s not exactly panic stations. I’m sure we all feel sympathy (and to some extent empathy) for BD because he played a massive part in getting us to the Premier League and, if that was me, I’d think I deserved a shot at being a Premier League player. It’s just not cricket… But it is football. And, even if this particular episode doesn’t rest easy, I still love it.
Ultimately we have to trust Nuno on the Barry Douglas transfer. Some comments are so bewildering that they are almost canonising Douglas. Saint Barry, broken on the back of the Fosun/Nuno juggernaut?
Whatever you may think about the alleged bust-up and also Douglas’s alleged deficiencies, nobody seems to have answered the big question: Why did another PL club not come in for Douglas at this apparently bargain price? For that matter, why was there not a bidding war between championship clubs? Other transfers seem to go on forever, with interest from all over the place. Barry presumably has a good agent . Why couldn’t the agent tout him around?
Until someone can answer this conundrum satisfactorily, I defer to Nuno’s judgement.