I SINCERELY and honestly hope that Joey gets his act together. I do. He is one of our players and I just hope somebody has a word with him and tells him to be more positive and put some love out there for all. But, from what I saw, he could've been so much better. Perhaps a few games out with the card made him rusty, and that's all well and good, but there he went and got himself another card and now he'll be out again - a blessing in disguise, perhaps, so that we can test a different midfield set-up. He just needs to be quiet and play.
I hate to disappoint your one man crusade against one of our better players but that, I believe, was his sixth booking of the season, only 3 of which were obtained while playing for us, so he won't be suspended again until he reaches 10. If I'm wrong I bow to your greater knowledge.
It's just wishful thinking, mate. OK so it may not be suspension, but here's the count: http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=34138
Chelsea wummer that's all. Hey Yappy you OK to hook up later on here if I do a FAO you regarding Chelsea? We'll just get together, you and I, and laugh at them. How's that sound? [video=youtube;s6ySW_qEc4g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6ySW_qEc4g&feature=fvwrel[/video] Just watched that back; Cashley and Lumplard priceless. Thank you Roman.
Ditto. My only concern is the extent to which he's able to re-energise and inspire the team when it's flagging e.g. when we were on the back foot after their goal yesterday.
YAPPY You must be watching the game with your eyes closed, i thought Joey had his best game since the wolves win, i've not made my mind up if your a wum or just misguided, but were all entitled to an opinion,
Sorry but I have to agree with Crappy Yappy on this one. Barton put in the kind of performance we have become used to since his first couple of games: a couple of good passes but many more poor ones; letting others do the chasing while 'strategically positioning' himself; fewer telling tackles than Buz or SWP (says it all); and the inevitable booking for a professional foul. He was the only one to emerge from yesterday's performance with a demerit IMO and yet he is captain and highest wage earner. Can't be right and I think Hughes will suss him sooner rather than later.
Lots of threads on Barton, so I find I'm repeating myself. I think Barton should be sacked - it seems apparent to me his a very negative influense at the Club, his back stabbing way of criticising Adel and Neil is very likely to be repeated with MH, or others, as soon as MH or someone does something he doesn't agree with. Out with him now! We don't need his cancer at QPR. We have 10 days now to replace him and should tajke the opportunity. Having said that he did OK on the pitch yesterday - 7 out of 10. He won a lot of ball, played box to box, a very solid performance. Some good defensive splitting passes too if Young and Hill had been quicker or more alert. We were more solid defensively yesterday and I think Barton was key to that.
If you're only looking for negatives you'll only see negatives. Many seem to have made their mind up about Joey, and therefor he can do no good. He had an average game yesterday, but his overhit passes was equaled with good ones. As I said, if you look for negatives then thats what you'll get.
Norway! Barton's latest twitterings about Neil have led me to believe that he is the cancer Col and Dave have said earlier, and I think the Club will be better off getting rid now. But I'm not critising his performance on the pitch, 7 from 10 yesterday, so I do see both postive and negatives with him. But now the Negative his behaviour, leads me to think he shoud go now when we can replace him, not in a month when can't. Waiting until the summer is too much of a risk for me - he did enough damage first part of the season it seems, can't afford another half season of his backstabbing.
Midfield was infinitely stronger with him than it was in any of the games he was missing. That was the real reason for our win - our defence was not really exposed beyond the first 10 minutes, the front guys had more support, and we were creating many more chances than we have been. Those calling for Barton's head would be well advised to bear this in mind, because it's likely on this evidence that were we to stop playing Barton, we'd be relegated. Our way of playing relies on not being dominated in the middle of the park, and we need players that can play box-to-box, who will put in a solid shift, and who have the desire and drive to get us up the table. Basically, players like Barton. I'm not his biggest fan, and I think he'd be accepted a little more if he could stop being such a twat on twitter. But he is who he is, and better to have him holding the middle of the park for us than playing through us for someone else.
Joey did ok yesterday, some good tackles but some heavy passes. What I liked most was when Wigan scored he was talking to the rest of the team telling them to calm down and not to panic, starting to look like a leader which is what we have not really had this season.
As much as we all love Derry and as much as many dislike Barton for what he does or has done off the pitch, it's no contest who is the better player on it. Sacking him is nonsensical and would cost the club the best part of £15m if he's on the wages he's alleged to be.
Two things Oslo. 1: We can't get rid, no takers. 2: Can't see us able to bring in equal quality to replace the PLAYER Joey Barton. We're stuck and we need to make the best of the hand we're dealt. What Willy said is as close to the truth as we'll get imo, well put Willy
Joey is clearly Mr Marmite, but whatever you may think of him he is a better player on his day than Derry will ever be. We have to see what the rest of the season brings before passing judgement on him. A few match-winning performances and he will be flavour of the month, a red card and he will be scapegoat No.1...
I think there are plenty of players of equal or better quaility to Barton Norway. He's a good player but not exceptional. There are also probably a few Clubs prepared to take a chance with him for his playing qualities to get them up or keep them up like we did. Not sure there in the PL though.
..... Or better positional awareness depending on your point of view, as for telling tackles wasn't it Joeys on the edge of our box that set us on the break for the third and crucial goal??! Quite telling in my opinion.
