Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , three time FA Cup runner-up Gareth Barry has offered his perspective ahead of this weekend's FA Cup quarterfinals , he's backed former club Man City to go all the way again this season, he warns Chelsea about getting shocked by Port Vale and discusses the rise of Wrexham and a potential Hollywood style signing that they could look to bring in this summer.
In a wide-ranging interview t he former Three Lions midfielder has also discussed the League 2 playoff picture, whether former teammate James McClean could turn to boxing when he retires and the impact for Dagenham & Redbridge of both KSI and Andy Carroll.
FA Cup
FA Cup Favourites
In the FA Cup , I can’t see past Man City winning this trophy; they’ve obviously gone out of the Champions League , which was disappointing. But if you could have a season like this with Pep and all of a sudden still win the League Cup and the FA Cup. It turns into a good season. My money would be on Man City to lift the FA Cup.
Prediction: Chelsea vs Port Vale
Port Vale at Chelsea ? If you're going to play Chelsea , now might be the right time, with some negative stuff coming out of the football club. In the FA Cup, who knows? Stranger things have happened, but that would be an incredible story if that was to happen. Even with the stuff going on at Chelsea at the minute, the negativity, I expect them to get over the line against Port Vale.
Wrexham
"It's Been Brilliant"
It's been brilliant to see from afar what Wrexham have done, and they've gone about it in the right way. Obviously, they've made a lot of noise, bringing that Hollywood feeling with the owners. But if you're a player, considering where they started down in non-league, and you're attracting that attention, it would be incredible to be going into training, playing the games. They already had a good fanbase, but to improve on their good fanbase as well, home and away, it would be a fantastic journey for those players that would have been part of it.
I get why players are asking their agent if Wrexham are interested in them. Because if you're playing in League One or in the Championship and you've got that extra sort of attention around you, a bit like you do in the Premier League , then why wouldn't you want to be part of it? Players at the end of their career, I'm sure they've had good careers, will definitely be asking their agent, ‘I'll have a bit of Wrexham if they want me’.
Grealish To The Racecourse?
The Hollywood link brings that extra attraction to the club; players will have extra interest in going and playing there. I certainly think it's an amazing story if they can get promotion, and that would change the players they are looking at, but it might be too soon for them.
Jack Grealish is definitely the Hollywood signing for Wrexham . If they can pull that off, it would be the perfect signing for them. Who knows what's going to happen with Jack ? His move to Everton was only a loan. I'm not too sure how long he has left on his contract. But yeah, who knows where Jack wants to play. If he wants that Wrexham level of attention, it's a conversation, maybe.
EFL
MK Dons
That extra promotion spot is massive in that league; it just opens it up a bit more for more teams, and MK Dons are no different. Bromley seem to be pulling away a little more at the moment. A couple of weeks ago, MK Dons looked like they were thinking the same, but a couple of defeats and all of a sudden, the confidence drops. This weekend, with the Friday and Monday games, is always a big one for me in the EFL . If you can somehow go on and get four points, and then maybe win two in a row, I just think it sets you up really nicely.
All those teams around the playoff positions, like Ian Holloway and Swindon , Barnet and Cambridge , will be thinking the same: 'Can we go and try and win both games? Then all of a sudden you can finish the season strongly, and, like I said before, try and get it done before the last game.
Misfits Boxing
Boxer McClean?
My memory of playing with James McClean at West Brom is that the lads would be in the gym doing their normal strength work, but he would always have the gloves on, punching the bag or sparring with the physios or masseurs. So, he's always had that in him.
He's got fast hands, if I remember rightly. KSI or Jake Paul ? Both fights would be well worth watching, and I wouldn't rule out James having a decent boxing career because he loved it and he worked hard at it, too.
KSI Working With Andy Carroll?
I think it's a good move. KSI has taken over the club. They seem to view it as the American market, the franchise, liking the attention brought to their football club . Andy Carroll is a big character. I read this morning that he still wants to play, having a couple of wins under his belt as a manager. He might get the bug.
He's also bringing some headlines to the club. It's a clever move by the football club, and who knows where they can go. They've seen other stories like Wrexham and the road they've gone down. Why can't they do it? It’s the inspiration.
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