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4. Gareth Barry’s still got it
Tom Davies, Everton’s exciting young attacking midfielder, was born on the 30th of June, 1998. Gareth Barry, Davies’ slightly older midfield colleague, made his professional debut for Aston Villa on the 2nd of May, 1998.
It’s incredible just how long the 36-year-old from Hastings has managed to play in the top division for Aston Villa, Manchester City, and his current club, Everton. Despite the numerous brickbats he gets for being the unspectacular player that he is, today he showed just why he’s been around for so long. His presence in the heart of that Everton midfield was pivotal to both the rearguard that they mounted in the second half, and the attacking intent they displayed in the first.
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With a display of old school will-and-heart, he stopped wave after wave of United attacks with an array of blocks, tackles and smart interceptions. His reading of the game, as ever, was excellent, and his calmness on the ball, invaluable. If Koeman can find a way to eke a season more from the veteran (maybe by using him only for the truly crucial games), he could prove just the ingredient for Everton to finally break through into the top quarter of the league.
