Is Joey Barton really injured?

I personally don't think he is. I think he's refusing to play until his contract is sorted out. In ways i'm sad it's come to this, but in ways i'm with him. He's our best and most vital player, which is shown by the fact that we've failed to win a single game without him. We still have the vision without Barton, but no one, apart from Jonas on a good day and Enrique once in a while, can execute the long and through balls as good as him.

I wish Ashley would learn **** about football, then he'd understand how important he is. He's not asking for more money, all he wants is a long contract. Atleast we atlast have a player that wants to ****ing stay!!

What would be wrong with a 5 year contract? He's 28, and he'd be 33 when he leaves and most likely retires. In that time i'm sure he can give his moneys worth, and be a massive influence to anyone that is brough into the club. He'll be nothing short of a legend around here.

I personally don't think there's anything wrong with him, he's just showing the club how **** we are without him

 

Dont think he would let the rest of the team down like that and think its all lazy journalist made up bullshit because they havent got any decent stories.

 

Hes injured.

 

There is no rush over his contract as he has time on his side and it will be dealt with in the summer. Same with Jose.

Jose want to ensure survival before he signs and rightly so.

If Barton is being obstinate about his contract then sell him.

 

I'm not basing my beliefs on the papers mate, it's what i really think.

 

This. I think he is really injured. I doubt he'll be that much of a dickhead to let the team down when it matters most, just can't see it unfortunately. Plus I think he will sign the contract but we'll have to probably wait until the late of summer when we make signings!

 

Sell him? Our best player? We'd be relegated already without him mate.

 

If he's holding the club to ransom over contractual squabbles then yes. Sell him.

 

if injured -end of
if holding club to ransom - sell him and anyone else that does it and regardless if he's our best player no one is bigger than the club

but my personal opinion is he is injured he owes the club to much (and has stated this) to play silly buggers

 

We can always buy someone potentially better and younger in Charlie Adam.. I would actually sell him if he was doing what OT said!

 

All he wants is to stay at the club. We already know he's going to give more than his moneys worth and is a dedicated player. Atleast he's not asking for increased wages.
In return for the pay cut, he's a few extra years on his contract, what's wrong with that?

 

I don't believe for a second that he isn't injured. As for the length of the contract i'm sure Barton and the club will come to some sort of agreement in the summer.

Lazy **** stirring journalism again i'm afraid.

 

I'm not basing my opinion on journalism mate, it's what i personally believe he's doing.

 

How about he renegotiates his contract in a few years time for an extension if he loves the club so much and wants to stay.

If this rumour is correct then he's being an obstinate pillock who's attitude and behaviour is detrimental to the clubs season and the club should sell him when the window is open

I personally think he's injured and this rumour has been blown out of proportion and his contract will be sorted in the summer so the club can focus on the run in.

 

Sorry I thought that all talk of this had sprung from the media. Ok then I think you are wrong then Tash. I know Barton has anger issues but I just don't see this. Footage of him sat with the players showed him laughing and at ease.

He obviously has issues relating to his new contract to discuss but to leap to this sort of conclusion, just because he is injured and without any evidence or concrete foundation is slanderous. Is this one more instance of Barton not being given equal treatment because of his past?

 

This.
The simple fact he was with the players and having a laugh would simply suggest that he's injured, just like how Taylor was in the dugout when he was injured, if it was about his contract he wouldn't of been in the dugout, he would have been in the stands away from the players.

 

I think he is injured and the dispute has nothing to do with the length of his deal, we would have offered at least a 2 year extension which is in effect a 3 year contract and he said he had agreed terms at one point.

I think the Carroll sale threw him and he isnt signing until he sees the 35mil spent.


Besides he wouldnt be on to the match day programme about how he's dying to play Everton if he was refusing to play, he wouldnt talk to press at all if the rumour was true. Also while he is a good player, I think Tiote does more than him (when did he last set up a goal for someone other than Carroll?) and if he is the sort of player who would refuse to play over one extra year on his contract, then yes, sell him.

 

course he's injured