When it comes down to it it will depend on what has been going on behind the scenes in training, etc, that we know nothing about. Whilst he is a worker on the pitch he has certainly had a go at others behind the scenes. Whilst they probably deserved it, it could be that part of the problem has been Barton and the way he goes about things "backstage". We really don't know and have to trust CR and LF to make the decision.
Great post, I was beginning to wonder the same thing of the underlined part. Any splits in the dressing room could be due to Barton's probable lack of diplomacy in dishing out criticism to under performing squad members. Who knows I could be wrong, just speculating.
Out of all the players out of contract Barton would be the first I would be trying to get him to stay. He was the only player who shows passion til the bitter end. I know that some people on here are so anti-Barton it wont matter what he did, even scoring 50 goals in a season they would still dislike him but for good objective footballing reasons I hope we see him as captain again next year.
We'll need a leader next year & someone who consistently puts in a shift & of the current squad there's only Barton who really fits the bill so unless there's a suitable alternative we can bring in I'd offer a new contract but on reduced wages with incentives for promotion etc.
I hope we've got a replacement lined up. We need someone who will sit in midfield, create some stuff, put in a box-to-box shift, and make sure we don't leave our defenders totally exposed. I don't think we have that person now.
Sorry but each prem team and many championship teams have 25-27 year old better versions of Barton. Grant Leadbitter, Wes Hoolihan, Pritchard, Be Watson(!) would improve our side. Have Swindon not got a new Matt Ritchie we can poach?
Say what you want but Joey was top three player in almost all of our matches. Now he is gone and hope we find a player who is as good or even better in his role. Its not going to be easy.....
This, this and this. But I trust CR to have made the right decision, knowing, unlike most of us, how he got on with the other players, and the respect or lack of, he commanded.
Does this mean we won't ever see our Joey surrender the ball and then charge after it at the expense of maintaining his position? I kind of like and loathe him simultaneously.
