On further reflection, why was Barton left out last night? Him, Oneil, and Dunne mysteriously vanished from the squad. It's well documented that the latter two have missed most of preseason, so are a few weeks behind the rest of the squad in fitness. Two games in 4 days probably wouldn't be clever yet, for the sake of injuries. But Barton? Either: 1) The club now knows he's going to stay, so don't want to injure our most crucial player. 2) The club now know he's likely to leave, so don't want to injure him, thus reducing the fee we'd get from PL sides. They wanted to give a couple other CM's a run-out now there's a CM slot in the first team available?
3) Harry wanted to give Faurlin and Jenas a start (Henry was on the bench), and to try out Diakite and Shariff? I wouldn't try to read too much into Barton's absence.
Why on earth we would sell him? Theres no clauses in his contract to do so? We are not desperate for money even if Bartons is bit overpaid. It would be hard to find as good player as Barton to replace him if sell him. Now when we succeded to get rid of all the bad apples lets stick with the one who is going to lead us for promotion.
True, but even if the aim of last night was to showcase fringe players, it wouldn't have done any harm to have Barton on the bench. From the increase in tempo at half time, it looks like the management definitely wanted to win that match- and Barton's more of a match winner than Henry. Ehmer was an unused sub, so there was room there for Barton if we'd wanted him. It does seem a bit coincidental that his first non-inclusion this season was 6 days before the transfer deadline. I just get the feeling Barton would've been included to some degree were the window to have shut a week ago. Point taken though, i'm probably reading into it a bit too much! Impossible to speculate until Monday really.
Remember that Barton has experience of what it takes to get promoted from the Championship. I don't think that there was anything sinister in him not featuring last night, I think that Harry saw the League Cup as a distraction from the league and wanted to rest a few players for the greater battles still to come.
If you watch the pre-match tunnel cam on the official site, Barton was there last night (as was Dunn), and appeared to have his wash bag with him. So it was probably a last minute decision not to play him.
There's usually at least one player in reserve in each position in case someone gets injured in the warm up. I would think that was the case here, he would only be on the bench in an emergency.
Based on what I've seen and heard, I'd be disappointed if he left. This is a complete about turn from what I said after the Man City debacle but I think he gives us something in the Championship that does not exist in the rest of our current squad. Sure, he's overpaid for the Championship but we've already wasted a whole lot more than Joseph's on-going wages.
Your No 2 was my immediate thought as soon as I saw the team and bench last night did not include him. That or he has an injury.
We know he doesn't want to play in the Championship. I'm sure he'll be gone by the end of the window.
I thought the same, Col and I'm guilty as anyone for bagging Barton for his attitude and what he has done to the club but at present, I'll take as much 'good footballing' from Barton as he can offer and for however long. If he has his head switched on, probably fair to say that he's the backbone of the team. Just hope he realises how much we are depending on him and how responsible we need him to be. We can only hope.
For the sake of balance, I'll be delighted if he goes. Won't open up the old argument again, except to say, every thing else aside, he's not a very good player. Which doesn't mean he can't do a job, but its not a particularly specialised one. DT, I know you are relaxing in France and probably won't pick this up, but convince me that Ligue One is any good. If OM finished second with Barton replacing Mbia as a regular, I have my doubts.
Dead-ball kicks are a specialised area and Barton's have been excellent this season - something we were particularly lacking last year.
That was one of the things that really p!ssed me off in the last couple of years. Barton, Taarabt, Granero, Faulin et al ... all seemed to have penchant for sending the ball way over the top or not clearing the first defender. There was always the odd cracker that went straight into the net, but on the whole we have been p!ss poor in that department for some time.
