Aston Villa entered the season with high expectations after last year’s sixth-place finish, but their early form has left much to be desired.
They secured only their first league win of the campaign against Fulham last weekend, a result that at least lifted them away from the bottom three.
Currently sat 16th in the Premier League with a goal difference of -2, Villa’s league form has been a stark contrast to their performances in Europe.
In the Europa League, they look far more assured, sitting third in their league phase after victories over Bologna and Feyenoord.
The European stage seems to suit Unai Emery’s side, who benefit from his tactical nous in knockout football.
Yet domestically, inconsistency has plagued them. It is in moments like these that clubs look back on players who define stability, leadership and consistency.
These are the traits Villa fans fondly remember in one of their greatest-ever servants, Gareth Barry.
The need for a player like Gareth Barry
For over a decade, Barry embodied everything Aston Villa aspired to be: steady, disciplined, and adaptable.
After joining Villa’s youth system from Brighton, he went on to make 439 appearances, scoring 52 goals and providing 47 assists.
His versatility made him indispensable – capable of anchoring midfield, dictating play from deep, or even filling in at left-back when required.
Barry’s crowning trait was composure.
Rarely one for spectacular moments, his intelligence and positional discipline allowed his sides to control games.
He was central to Villa’s push for Europe in the mid-2000s and started in their 2000 FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea.
His consistency also earned him 53 England caps, including a place in the 2010 World Cup squad.
Liverpool made multiple attempts to sign him in pursuit of Champions League experience, but he eventually joined Manchester City in 2009 for £12m, where he became part of the early foundations of their modern dominance.
Barry’s style was defined by calmness under pressure.
He was not the quickest, but his stamina, strength in duels, and tactical intelligence allowed him to excel against more naturally gifted players.
By keeping things simple – short passes, smart diagonals, and constant recycling of possession – he gave Villa stability and ensured that more adventurous teammates could thrive.
Villa’s current side, struggling for rhythm in the league, need someone of that profile: a midfielder who combines defensive resilience with technical composure, someone who dictates tempo while protecting the back line.
That responsibility now falls to Boubacar Kamara.
Aston Villa's new Gareth Barry
Signed on a free transfer from Marseille in 2022, Kamara has quickly grown into one of Villa’s most important players.
The 25-year-old French international, valued at around £35m, operates primarily as a defensive midfielder but can also cover at centre-back when needed.
His arrival was seen as a coup at the time, with former manager Steven Gerrard instrumental in convincing him to join.
Since then, this “jewel” of a footballer, as hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has made 104 appearances, scoring twice and providing four assists.
While those numbers may not leap off the page, his influence lies elsewhere.
Matches Played
26
Minutes
1,726
Goals
1
Progressive Carries
19
Progressive Passes
85
Villa are undeniably a different side when he plays, providing structure, control, and balance.
His absence last season was felt keenly whenever injuries sidelined him, underlining just how integral he has become.
The statistics reinforce his importance.
Kamara ranks in the 80th percentile for pass completion (88.2%), showing his reliability in possession.
Defensively, he is in the 86th percentile for clearances (2.34 per 90) and 83rd percentile for aerial duels won (1.6 per 90).
On his return to the starting XI against Feyenoord, Kamara marked the occasion with an assist, further proof of his ability to influence both phases of play.
Like Barry before him, he is not a headline-grabber like the goalscoring John McGinn, but rather the glue that holds the team together. For Emery, keeping Kamara fit will be vital.
He provides the shield in front of the defence, allowing creative players like Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendía – as well as McGinn – to flourish higher up the pitch.
Without him, Villa lack both the balance and the resilience required to compete on both domestic and European fronts.
Just as Barry once quietly dictated Villa’s tempo, Kamara represents the modern equivalent: disciplined, technical, and reliable.
If Aston Villa are to climb the league table and turn their European promise into genuine success, their fortunes may rest on whether Kamara can stay fit and continue to step up as their present-day answer to a club legend.