I Love Joey Barton. Funnily enough, i was just a few days from getting the new Home shirt with his name on before the events of this week unfolded. I will miss having his character and persona at NUFC. I used to thoroughly enjoy hearing friends of different sides slating him, only to watch him carve their respective teams apart both literally and metaphorically. However, with or without Barton our side is still going to be much more enjoyable to watch than last year. With the additions we have made, I see a much younger, more attacking and refined team as opposed to a squad of big characters. I really think Cabaye is going to be an important player for us this year. He is arguably a younger, better Joey Barton. I also think that a lot of Barton's performances last season were down to him needing to prove a point, particularly when playing the bigger teams, which i just dont believe will be there this season. Another signing which I've been secretly excited about is Demba Ba. This guy has the ability to fill Carroll's boots for us. He may not be quite on the same level in some areas, but if he can find the form he has had in the past along with the ammunition i am confident our midfield of Tiote, Cabaye, Marvaux, Jonas & HBA can give him he can replace Carroll's goals. Not to mention the ever improving players coming through the ranks. Seeing Barton go in this fashion is so typically NUFC. But i for one am not worried. This may get ridiculed but i have always liked Pardew's style of play, and i am more excited about finally seeing our starting XI play than i have for along while.
Joey is that bloke from Friends who works at a coffee shop occasionally and then calls Gunter all the names under the sun and wonders why Gunter doesn't like him and cuts down on his muffin allowance.
As I said in another article, if we sign a striker, winger and LB I'll be happy. Dont think I'll be happy at this rate...
Went through lineups with my cousin 4-5-1 Defence picks itself and Ba up top Guti, Tiote, Arfa, Gosling, Marv Guti, Tiote, Vuckic, Gosling, Marv Guti, Tiote, Arfa, Cabaye, Marv Gosling, Tiote, Arfa, Cabaye, Guti Guti, Cabaye, Arfa, Gosling, Marv (ACN) Marv, Cabaye, Arfa, Gosling, Guti Marv, Cabaye, Vuckic, Tiote, Arfa Thats without Arfa on the wing, No Guthrie either
Worst case scenario: We have to use a versatile CM - which we have a sack load of. It's not like we haven't done it before. My Midfield with HBA out: LM: Marvaux CM: Tiote, Cabaye RM: Jonas
Thats why I prefer ..Tiote, Cabaye Guti, Vuckic, Marv The flexibility of that and when Arfa comes back makes marking difficult
Vuckic is interesting, I honestly believe that if he gets games he could replace Nolan's goals. He seems to share that knack of being in the right place at the right time. Add to that he is far fitter and faster than Nolan, and can score from outside the box.
Cabaye - Tiote Marv - Vuckic - Jonas Ba is really good at linking up, him and Vuckic could replace the Nolan - Carroll partnership upfront over time if they gain an understanding.
Is Vuckic any good in the air? I know he's tall, but don't think I've seen him challenging for headers in the box. If he is could bring a little bit extra to that behind the striker role by being able to get onto crosses as well.
I hope all the players chip in with goals this time around. Everyone points to Carroll and Nolan gettingt loads of ours, but that meant if both were injured we had next to no goal threat.
My point precisely. With Abeid, Vuckic and Gosling excelling like they have pre-season, i think if they get PL time Nolan and Barton could well be a distant memory by May next year. I reckon Barton and Cabaye not getting over to the US is ac. a blessing in disguise as it's given these lads the time to show what they can do.
I was about to give up on not606 for a few days until the incessant bitching slowed down, so I appreciate a more uplifting article, thanks!
