The Blues midfielder wants his team-mates to hit the kind of ruthless form which they have shown in games against the top teams, most recently in the 4-2 win at then leaders Chelsea.
That result completed a league double over Carlo Ancelotti's men and meant that City have only lost one of their six clashes with members of the so-called Big Four this season.
But that all counts for nothing, warns Barry, unless City can start despatching the lesser lights of the Premier League with similar efficiency.
That has been the defining quality of the usual top- four suspects in recent seasons.
They have all taken points off each other but, apart from the odd glaring slip-up, they have reaped in swathes of points from games against the strugglers.
"If you assess our performances against the top four we would be up there in a mini league table but any team that finishes in the top four has to perform against the teams in the bottom half as well," said Barry. We at M.E.N. Sport did exactly what Barry suggested, and have analysed City's performances against the top four - and City sit proudly in second spot, just a point behind Chelsea.
But, on the other side of the coin, an analysis of the Blues' record against the BOTTOM four shows where the problem lies.
Top three clubs United, Chelsea and Arsenal have all - apart from United's early-season defeat at Burnley - blitzed lowly opponents, while City have dropped seven points from a possible 21.
Disastrous
The Blues get the chance to start setting their record straight on Sunday, with a trip to Sunderland, whose disastrous run of form has taken them from Europa Cup place contender to just three points above the drop zone.
Steve Bruce's side has won just once in 18 league games, although a warning for City is that the sole victory came against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.
There are also signs that the Mackems are galvanising themselves for the fight, drawing four of the last five.
But with 11 games to go, the Blues cannot afford to dwell on such statistics - they simply need to get their foot on the collective windpipes of their rivals for fourth place, and keep it there.
"Three points are massive in the Premier League and we need to keep collecting them," said Barry.
"I'm not sure why we haven't done it against lesser teams.
"Earlier in the season, we had a slump where we failed to win four or five games in a row which we should have won.
"Hopefully, we can put that right before the end of the season, which is the vital part."
There is still some uncertainty hovering around Eastlands, which is remarkable given that City are now just six points away from equalling their highest points total in a 20-team Premier League.
But Barry and Co know that positive results from the two upcoming away trips to Sunderland and Fulham would leave the Blues almost literally on a home straight - with six of the last nine games of the season at Eastlands.
And Barry, back from England duty, believes that the stunning 4-2 win at Chelsea will be a true corner-turning moment, rather than just another City roundabout.
"We will only have ourselves to blame if we can't come off the back of a result like that and go into the next few games with confidence," he said. "It's set up nicely for us to finish the season strongly.
"It would be a definite disappointment not to get that fourth place.
"We were in a position to get a trophy and failed in those but the main aim was always to get into the Champions League. That's why I joined the club.
"But it's easy to talk about that after a great win at Chelsea.
Tough
"There is still a lot of hard work and some tough games, and a lot of teams vying for that fourth spot.
"We have to make it hard for them.
"There was a lot of talk before the Chelsea game about how a game can suddenly change your season and we saw it as just such an opportunity.
"Everyone was expecting us to fail again but we managed to turn it around and get a bonus three points, which not many people expected. Now, hopefully, we can go on and finish the season strongly."
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Portsmouth Blue (09/03/2010 at 12:18)
Trueblue Dublin, dublin (09/03/2010 at 12:21)
The crafty goat, Manchester (09/03/2010 at 12:34)
Let's hope he continues his recent good form which matches that of early season.
Onwards and upwards
jackblue, Prescot (09/03/2010 at 12:41)
mark jones (09/03/2010 at 12:56)
cityboy71, london (09/03/2010 at 13:00)
Alf (09/03/2010 at 13:23)
mcfc fallowfield, manchester (09/03/2010 at 13:26)
Bill, Carlisle, ex-Manchester (09/03/2010 at 13:56)
If we are to progress to the level of the Big 3 (I now discount Liverpool) then we need to pick up points in every one of these games. Sunderland, Burnley and West Ham are all winnable, whilst I would take a point at both Fulham and Arsenal, both of which are tough opponents on their own patch.
Tottenham and Villa will drop points between now and May, as will Liverpool. We need to convert our in-hand games into points and be in the position that we can afford to draw with both Tottenham and Villa at Eastlands in order to still keep them both below us. The way I see it that's eminently achievable, but only if we play to our optimum. Away performances like those at Everton and Stoke will simply not be good enough.
M Glaziers fan club (eastlands branch ) , manchester (09/03/2010 at 13:59)
Chris Chorlton, Chorlton (09/03/2010 at 14:03)
stevemac1, Dublin (09/03/2010 at 14:30)
The Insider, CTID. (09/03/2010 at 15:27)
Bill, Carlisle, ex-Manchester (09/03/2010 at 15:47)
9/03/2010 at 14:30
I agree with you about Viera. He's been a disappointment so far and a shadow of the player he once was. The swaying factor in him coming here was clearly in order to get enough games under his belt to get picked for the World Cup. Dominech left him out of the recent France squad so it's not looking too bright for him at the moment.
I just hope that Bobby Manc will continue to let his head rule his selection of the team. Against Chelsea we broke with speed, and a lot of that was down to Tevez being back, but it was also down to not having Viera alongside De Jong IMO. Viera is too similar a player as NDJ, but no longer as good. Keep him on the bench to close games out if necessary, but don't start him.
Pivo, Manchester (09/03/2010 at 16:11)
Alf (09/03/2010 at 16:11)
Shaun, At My Desk (09/03/2010 at 16:49)
Colin Bell's Boots, Wilmslow (09/03/2010 at 17:01)
The frustration of trying to get some " supporters " to post anything remotely positive had clearly got the better of me. I am very that I was so snappy and rude.
Colin Bell's Boots ( firmly stuck in mouth !!! )
trubluTaplow, Taplow Bucks (09/03/2010 at 17:25)
davy mac (09/03/2010 at 18:07)
Ed the Duck, Manchester (09/03/2010 at 18:16)
No hard feelings, and strangely up to that point I have tended to agree with most of your posts (especially about positivity). Ted's been posting on this site for a long time and while he can be a bit negative, he wants what we all want - the best for our Man City. I've been reading, and occasionally posting on, this site since the dark days of the Pearce era (when we did have something to moan about!) but we seem to be losing the humour that I associate with us and descending into sniping and backbiting. We're all missing some actual football to talk about - roll on Sunderland.
CTID
Our superman must be intelligent he wears his underpants inside his shorts., South Africa (09/03/2010 at 19:43)
Sunderland 1 - 3 City 3 pts
Fulham 1 - 2 City 3 pts
City 1 - 0 Everton 3 pts
City 2 - 1 Wigan 3 pts
Burnley 1 - 1 City 1 pt
City 2 - 0 Brummies 3 pts
City 1 - 1 Manure 1 pt
Arsenal 1 - 2 City 3 pts
City 1 - 0 Villa 3 pts
West ham 0 - 2 City 3 pts
Not sure when we play the spuds but I am going for a draw in that one. 1-1
These are only my predictions based on Barry's statement of us finding real form for the remainding 11 games. I truly believe these results are definately possible for us in doing so will give us forth spot and depending on other results, maybe 3rd. I know some will say I am biased given that I have gone for City to be undefeated for the remaining games, but! in truth can see us achieving these results. The main games have to be the Spurs, Villa, Everton, Arsenal and Manure. Going on our form against the top sides so far we should just drop points at Manure although a win is also possible being at home. It's getting to the business end and surely the Lads will not petre out and make a statement of intent after going out of the F.A cup and League cup the way they did. They know now that some of them may not be at City next season if they do not make that 4th birth and CL football. Very excited about the latter part of the season. be interested to see what others views on the predictions....
Well and truly believing!! Cape Town supporters Club!!
Red Army (09/03/2010 at 19:56)
Chris Chorlton, Chorlton
9/03/2010
hahahahahahaha Priceless
Batmanho, Robinhos big brother, Bat Cave, Brazil (09/03/2010 at 20:21)
Blue Duck, Bucks (09/03/2010 at 20:29)
I expect us to beat Sunderland and get a point at Fulham. If we can do that, it will set the stage for some crunch matches against very good opposition. The fact is that apart from the second half at Chelsea, we are going to have to produce far better than we have over the last three months if we are going to have any realistic hope of collecting enough points from our difficult looking run in.
Focusing on our remaining home games, if we don't significantly raise the energy levels and ambition shown compared to recent performances against Bolton and Portsmoth and Stoke, we will be lucky to get more than three or four points out of Spurs, Everton, Villa and the Rags.
That may sound unneccesarily pessimistic because there is no doubt that if our key players stay fit, and we get on a roll where confidence is high, we could slip the lease completely and cause absolute havoc.
It seems to me that we are going to need a more ambitious approach at home against better opposition. Thats why I would persist with Ireland in a five man midfield to provide the creative link between Tevez/Bellamy and the more defensive components of the side. I accept that did not work in the sterile draw against Liverpool, but something tells me that SI might just make the difference in breaking down better opposition. I hope Mancini sees it that way also, and if so that Ireland steps up to the plate and delivers.