Hughes: I'll axe Barton from QPR team if performances aren't good enough By IAN GIBB Mark Hughes has warned Joey Barton he is not afraid to drop his club captain - or any other player - at Queens Park Rangers. Hughes, who axed star winger Shaun Wright-Phillips from the team that beat Liverpool on Wednesday, is tempted to start at Sunderland with Jamie Mackie, who came on for Barton and scored the winning goal against Kenny Dalglish's side. That would mean putting Barton on the bench for the first time since Hughes took over from Neil Warnock, but the manager said: '(It is) not really (difficult to drop a club captain). I pick teams I feel will win Premier League matches. 'I have to make sure the balance of the team is right, plus energy levels and the ability to go to a difficult place away from home. 'There was some criticism of Joey, maybe a little frustration, and Joey bore the brunt of it. He's big enough to take that. Joey wasn't having the best of evenings. 'Irrespective of your standing in the squad, you still have to perform. I reserve the right to make a judgment on what I see at any given time.'
Perhaps that 62nd minute substitution was the pivotal moment of our season. I do hope Joey can make a telling contribution in the 9 remaining games but the message is now crystal clear...
The bits in the brackets are part of the question he was asked, the rest is what he said. Journos (particularly in papers like the Guardian) think it's clever, (they're just up themselves) but don't quote me!...
So he said "not really" and they filled in the blanks? I doubt Hughes would drop Barton but he's doing the groundwork in case it becomes overwhelmingly necessary.
My interpretation; 'I am the manager; I decide who plays and when. Don't for a moment think that I will be bullied or harassed into doing something I don't believe is the best thing for this team. Booing our own players is negative and damaging and bad for morale. If you love QPR don't do it' I will admit I'm not only reading between the lines, also above below beyond and around them.
Sometimes a warning shot is all that's needed. I'll stick my neck out and predict that our illustrious leader will start and will put in a MOTM performance.
I agree with Matt, I think Barton knows he has to raise his game and I've a sneaking feeling we'll see a big performance and a goal, especially against the Mackems who will be giving him some real abuse today!...
I don’t think that Hughes has many decisions to make. Is Derry ready for another 90 minutes? Should he bring Wright-Phillips back into the starting line up? If fit should Hill play? Does Mackie warrant a starting berth? And the big one, should Barton start? For me the selection process starts with the fitness of Shaun Derry, the rest then fall into place depending on whether he starts or not. I doubt if Hughes sees it the same way, I’m sure his thoughts started with Barton. Having pushed him out wide last match is he brave enough to push him out of the team all together? From what I’ve read on here today I don’t think that any of us really believe he will drop Barton, Hughes’ quote in the papers is surely just a threat to fire him up. Let’s hope it works.
