Article: Joey Barton to have another immense season at Newcastle? | Football, Newcastle

With all the fuss regarding Joey Barton's contract extension over the summer, I would not be surprised if our no.7 goes on to have another fantastic season at St.James' Park, forcing the powers that be to rethink their stance on his position within the club.

Barton has said that he wants to stay at Newcastle and this season will provide him with the perfect platform to show, once again, that he is vital to the team's progression. You know that with Barton you are always going to get 100% commitment on the pitch and he may well feel that he has something to prove to Mike Ashley, showing him that he is worth the contract terms that he desires.

With the additions to the midfield of Cabaye, Marveaux, and Abeid, and with the return to fitness of Ben Arfa and Dan Gosling, not to mention our improving youngsters Vuckic, Richardson and Ferguson, Barton will face stiff competion for his place in the starting line up. However, his battling qualities, never say die attitude and ability to thread through inch perfect passes, combined with his Premiership experience should convince Alan Pardew of Barton's importance to the team.

He appears to have managed to put his discipline problems behind him and is conquering his personal demons, and another superb trouble-free season for us certainly wouldn't do him any harm in the eyes of potential suiters. So in a strange way Joey Barton's situation could actually turn out to be of great benefit to the team in the short term and we could be about to see his best season ever. Maybe all this is wishful thinking on my part, but I firmly believe that JB will shine this year.

 

I'm not sure he'll be in the first team this year if I'm honest, unless he's shifted out again to the right of midfield, even then if you are a playing a 4231 IMO you need to have 3 fast attackers behind the striker.. say for example...

Guti Ben Arfa Marveux
Ba

Tiote is a must of course in the team & Cabaye looks like he has the quality to be a first-team regular alongside Tiote, so Barton will have to fight for his place IMO.

 

It's Barton's spot to lose. Cabaye hasn't proven he's better than Barton, and there's no reason we can't play them both.

Barton isn't going to be dropped for anyone, because he's probably still one of our best players -

------Cabaye------Tiote--------

Barton-----Ben Arfa------Jonas/Marveaux.

Barton's crossing ability isn't matched by anyone else, and his deliveries are excellent. Losing his creativity in the team isn't really an option. I would never drop Barton to play Jonas.

 

It's a nice dilema to have.

 

I think 4411 will be used quite regularly this season with Barton on the right of midfield. In my opinion, he is our most important player at the moment, although Ben Arfa could prove to be more crucial to the way we play.

 

i much prefer the look of 4-2-3-1. much nicer to think you have a proven striker up front with Ben Arfa, Barton and Guti/Marveaux behind them. talk about striker support!! this summer break is killing me. only so much FIFA 11 i can take!

 

4-1-3-1-1...lol that looks stupid written out...but basically drop Tiote in front of the defense to mop everythin up, then Cabaye can be CM (further forward) with Barton to his right meaning their combined incisive passing can benefit our strikers alot more efficiently.
I mean I honestly feel that formation will change game to game depending on form/injuries/opposition so this is all just speculation and what we would basically play on Fifa 12 haha

 

this. barton is IMO better than Jonas or what i've seen of Marveaux (although i havent seen much) so Barton would be in my 1st team every time he's availible

 

This is the formation that I hope we play as it allows the front 4 to attack with the knowledge that we have 2 central midfielders covering the break. It would also allow cabaye, in certain situations, to push forward in support arriving late in the danger areas.

 

only problem is Barton doesn't tend to stay very wide. Thats why really I'd prefer 4-3-3 with the same players

 

That's a fair point, but who would you play wide on the right?

 

It depends. I'd imagine Jonas and Ben Arfa can play on either wings, especially Ben Arfa as he has a hell of a shot on him when he cuts in. From what I hear Marveaux specifically a Left winger though

 

That would be a lush formation - especially if Marveaux becomes an unexpected big success.

Am I the only person who thinks that looks much stronger than anything Sunderland can put out? Please put me right here if I'm just clouding my own judgement, but it really looks like it is.

 

I would rather have HBA playing in the middle just behind the striker. It would be nice if Simpson pushed forward more to overlap barton.

 

True, if Simpson got forward a lot then that would solve it. It's good to have so many options

 

Agreed.

If this lot stay fit and gel together, we could see some great football this year.

 

Butt-hat? I can see how you'd confuse head with your arse mind...

 

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We'll have a stronger midfield than them, but they'll have the better striker in Gyan, but seeing as we've already pwned Gyan and Bent, i don't see it as much of a problem. Colo and Taylor can easily own Gyan.

Defense wise, if we keep Enrique, i'd say we have a stronger defense aswell. Taylor and Colo are miles better than Bramble and Wes Brown. Enrique is better than any of their defenders, i would probably say that from what i;ve seen, Oshea is better than Simmo, but he doesn't have the CL quality team around him anymore.

I'm not going to get too cocky and confident like they were last season, because i don't to be as humiliated as they were if we lose, after they were saying that they'd beat us comfortably 4-1 at home, and 1-2 at SJP.

I personally am predicting 3 pts each for the derbies, but anything can happen. I think we can get a result in both derbies, with or without Ben Arfa.

 

Fresh* from BamBam's wardrobe**







*Stinking of piss.

**Damp cardboard box.