Barton

I think folk need to remember why Barton slagged them offand context in what it was said. I was at the talk in with Barton at the Hilton. He slagged him off because they were playing silly beggars with him. The paycut they wanted him to take was significant. He said he wasn't an idiot (debateable) and wanted either the terms he was on or somewhere close to it. In my opinion he was correct. To be honest this whole slagging them off thing is getting blown out of all proportion, half it was tongue in cheek like most things that night. He slagged off Enrique for his vainity etc. We can't keep judging him on past incidents. I hold my hands up and say I was in that camp but I now accept he has managed to reform. We have to judge on his performances on the pitch last year. People will say what about the other 3 years? Well unfortunately we need to get in the real world of PL football and how it works.

He felt the club had made a decision a long time ago that he was going. But he still held out hope of staying and thought his agent would sort it with the board. There is no point dressing things up to throw a veil over Ashley, he wants Barton out and has done for some time. The majority disagree and recognise what he brings to the table, and what he brings to the unity of the squad (the reason we're still PL). The suggestion that Barton may have deliberately manufactured this situation, is beyond stupid to be honest.

I think he'll go. i know he says he'll stay and Pardew says he'll play him but unfortunately that isn't going to happen. Pardew does not have that kind of power and will do what he's told by Mike. They'll make it clear to him he won't be allowed to play and he'll have to move for the sake of his career. He's upset at the moment, but he won't be that stubborn when he sitsand thinks about the future. The worry is the noises Nolan has made about how crucial Barton is.

 

I would say his range of passing is the biggest asset to his game, TMG

 

Where is all this talk of him going to Liverpool coming from?

He has said he wants to stay about 2500 times , what more can he do?

 

This and his persistance and passion.

 

I think Ashley is going too far though, you have to sometimes accept a loss on investment in football. He wont leave, and literally forcing him and Nolan out by making Pardew put them in the reserves will crush team spirit and if I'm honest, put us in serious relegation trouble. Also while Cabaye sounds like a very good player, if you read his bio it might as well be describing Barton.

 

His passing is decent in my opinion, but nothing special. His passing ability can easily be replaced, dressing room influence not so much.

 

Someone new always steps up. It gives the younger guys a chance to speak out.

 

Not always, that's how dressing rooms fall apart, but I see what you're seeing and mostly agree with it.

 

I think we're lucky. Barton leaving could be the new Leyton Orient.

 

I cant understand your logic at all, Leyton Orient got rid of the overpaid deadwood and brought the dressing room together, Barton leaving makes a small squad smaller and we lose another big player and big dressing room influence.

 

The key word is 'could'. You can't 100% say it will have a negative effect. You say the squad will be smaller, yet it's quite clear the club are actively recruiting. As for a the dressing room influence, do you not think that him shouting his mouth off and slagging the clubs owners would have a negative effect on players? They could be thinking to themselves 'just shut the **** up, Joey' but instead he's choosing to shoot himself in the foot.

You can only have so much sympathy for a person before you start to see it's there own doing that caused it.

 

Very different situation to Leyton Orient. Not really relevant. That was good because the non triers and moaners like Martins/Bassong went. That allowed the players who wanted to be there to get on with what was required. This is a player who wants to stay, has been vital to the team, and who's departure could upset others (as Nolan has already hinted)

 

What? Like going to prison? Ashley kept Barton under contract while he did his spell inside when I'm certain other chairmen would have binned him. Barton owes the club, the fans and the Chairman a debt of gratitude for standing by him.

 

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Barton is a stubborn person and no fool. he knowes h can stay at the club whatever Ashley does, earn a good wage and then pick up a large signing on fee as a free agent. Ashley wiull certainly try to sell him, ubt unless a really good offer comes in I don't think Barton will go.

Assuming he's here in August when the window shuts, what happens then ?

I don't hink Pardew ill let him rot in the reserves - - he has a mind of his own as well. Barton is going to continue to put in performances, to make sure he gets good offers at the end of the season and because I think he likes playing football.

What does Ashley do then ? Let Barton's contract run down, let him leave on a free and spend £4 -10 miilion on a replacement ? Offer Barton a new contract ? Neither option will appeal.

Barton may have talked his way out of Neewcastle or he may not. For one, I kind of like the fact that there is still someone in football who doesn't just spout what his PR man tells him.

 

If he stays for next season i can see him getting another contract

 

Already done. Cabaye.

 

I'd be surprised if Pardew has much say Fredd. Ashley will dictate things to him. As I've said earlier, barton said at a talk in I was at that he felt the club wanted rid. So this is long before the big hullabaloo over his contract and them not offering one. Barton may get the odd sub appearance or start when there's injuries but Ashley won't allow him to be picked. I reckon they'll just make this clear to him, and if he has any sense he'll move. No point in being so pig headed you ruin your career. At his age he can't afford to waste a year, not after missing so much football already. He'll move for me, or he'll rot. If he did stay, I think you'd see Pardew put his not being picked purely down to football reasons. I don't like it and thinks it's pathetic and short sighted on the clubs part. But it is MA's club and what he says goes.

 

I think he may well refuse to leave...

 

Wasn't it because of something that happened when he was at Man City? You can't sack someone when you knew full well they still had a court case hanging over them. But i agree with everything you're saying.

 

barton will stay for another year regardless, he has one year left on his contract an is on about 80k a week he wouldnt get half of that anywhere else plus he may struggle for a first team place initially. he will definatly be here come september and i think we will offer him a new deal this is awfully familliar to the steven taylor situation and imagine bartons agent like taylors was just making a statement to try and lure in offers from other clubs and create intrest so we will hurry uup and sort a decent deal out.