Our best outfield player this season. See the Swindon and Notts Forest games when he didn't play as evidence in point. Can see someone down towards bottom of the PL like Palace coming in for him this month. Would be a huge loss.
Yeh, a big danger. He's been MOM or close to it every game I seen. Watched the 2nd half of the Watford game last night and he seemed to stop Watford attacks with his tackling every time they threatened. Distribution also very good most of the time I seen him. Our most valuable player by a mile for me so far this season.
As someone said earlier in the week (Eamon or QPAAAAAGH I think), we all see what backs up our arguments.
What i was thinking. Or it is this. Same old line I’ve used many times before, but this more evidence of it, QPR fans and in particular the 40/50+ year old blokes (that most of this forum is) have a predisposition for try hard limited talent players. A bloke who sits near is definitely in the Barton fan club. At half time I said to him just watch how often he gives the ball away. Second half there was a run of 4 times in a row that he received the ball and then was tackled or passed it straight to them. How some on here can talk about him having a great game is beyond me and as Roller said down to what they want to see. Effort I’d give him 9 out of 10. Distribution I’d give him a generous 5 out of 10.
Maybe you need to stop using it then because its an absolute load of bo**ocks Dont tar me with that brush and I can think of many of here who disagree. maybe you need to rethink your ideas mate The first 2 replies you've had disagree with you...what does that tell you? Your a clever bloke, you work it out.!
I definitely fall into Peter's category. A simple list of the players that I've admired in recent years clearly show this Clint Hill Shaun Derry Tommy Smith Ryan Nelsen Only countered by Adel Taarabt Ale Faurlin And just think back to the fuss when Mackie was sold, he must be the ultimate try hard but limited player.
I think the " prefer players who try hard" mentality goes deep into the British traditions of how to play the game.
You can try hard without running around like a headless chicken though Col. Id suggest that messi (extreme case) tries hard in every game but you dont see him playing like Barton (who thinks he's Messi).
Its not surprising that a lot of people will disagree because a lot of those people are going to fall into this category. It’s a biased audience and people brought up on good old fashioned kick and rush football aren’t necessarily going to acknowledge that this may cloud there opinions. Col- disagree’s but also says: Which is exactly my point. Barton had a bad game yesterday. He played in a the centre of a 5 man midfield in that first half which was dominated by a Doncaster side in the relegation zone. And as a centre midfielder he needs to retain possession but did the opposite. Despite his 5 maybe 6 out of 10 performance he gets a thread dedicated to praising him. Barton needs to improve big time. He can pass the ball and take a set piece but his last few performances with the ball have been very poor. He has been an important player for us this season and will continue to be but he needs to raise his standards.
Barton's been excellent all season. His detractors are basing their opinions of him purely on their distaste. Fair enough; but when people start to make idiotic comparisons between Barton and Messi (or whoever) or start claiming he's a headless chicken, it really suggests to me that these views aren't based on anything substantial other than the distaste mentioned earlier.
But in the second half we went to 4-4-2 and Barton excelled. You say he needs to riase his standards but he improved his performance over the course of the game when we he was played in what is arguably his natural position.
I actually think that most people are commenting on his ability and not his personality. I don't like Suarez, but I think he's a wonderful player and there are many more I could mention. In my opinion, Barton's biggest problem on the pitch is that he's not anywhere near as good as he thinks he is. He thought he was the best midfield player in England a while back when players like Gerrard and Lampard were in their prime! This leads to him trying passes that he simply isn't good enough to make on a regular basis (they may come off one in ten). Having said that, I believe he is very good at this level and we undoubtedly need him. He just needs to stick to what he's good at and keep it simple imo.
Comparing Messi with anyone is idiotic. Barton has said lots of times that he is not the most talented player but he can put on effort. IMO he didnt had good match yesterday but still he was in top-3 in a MOM category.
Pretty clear I don't like him personally, but he's a decent player at this level, and we look marginally better when he plays. I really do not think he is a good premiership player though, and his disciplinary record speaks for itself. This terrifies me - if you can be valued so highly simply through putting the effort in and 'caring', whatever that means, you get paid £70k a week. I just don't believe that there are no alternative players who will put in the effort and 'care' just as much without any of the baggage and at a fraction of the cost, and none of the embarrassment to my club.
If everyone actually did try hard as they should, Hill and his type would not be admired as much. Terrible indictment of the modern footballer.
If anything, I'd say your comment substantiates my point. You've taken exception to something Barton said a number of seasons ago and applying it to his current performances. Undoubtedly he's not in the same bracket as Gerrard and some of his passes go astray; however, more often than not these are the type of expansive passes which open teams up and their successful completion is finely balanced. Barton's not the messiah and he is a very naughty boy but I'm certain he's been integral to our success so far this season.
I think it's more a case of how British players have been coached since the 70s onwards. Complete emphasis on big, fast, strong players from grass roots up. Parents on touch lines urging 10 year olds to hoof it and get stuck in! I am seeing a gradual change to this but it's come too late for my lad and many others who were bombed out of academies in favour of the big lads. England's inability to win anything is directly linked to this way of thinking imo.
I think we're agreeing mate!! However, the point I was trying to make is that Barton's belief that he's better than he actually is leads to him losing the ball too often. I agree that we need him and he's good at this level.
