Barton backs Stephen Ireland

I personally think this would be a really great signing for us.

From what i've heard from the players and his interviews, he's already happy here and is mates with all the lads, and he feels loved again.

We reformed Barton and Nolan into great players, i think we can help recover Stephen Ireland, and he's obviously not wanted at Villa and doesn't like it there. In my opinion, he's worth 10-15 million in form, but i think we can snatch him from Villa for about 4/5 million, and it will be money well spent.

Barton, Nolan and Ireland sound like they'll be great mates, and they'll link up quite well.

Barton Ireland Tiote Jonas
----------Ben Arfa-------

Technically you'd say Nolan wouldn't get in this midfield over these players, even though Jonas is incosistant, he's our best LM option. Nolan gets goals, but like Jonas delivering a good ball in, you never know when they're going to come. I'd keep him and play him regularly, and i feel bad for dropping him. If Jonas doesn't keep the quality of deliveries up, i'd put Ben Arfa LM, and stick Nolan behind the striker.

Ireland could bring some extra creativity, and i will trust Barton's judgement on him.

 

If Ireland does come good and Nolan maintains his goalscoring form, then I've often wondered about Ben Arfa as an out and out striker, doesnt seem like it would work, but our best 6 midfielders are all better than our best striker(s).

 

lol true

 

why is this 1 starred... i dont see whats wrong with this????

 

Ireland does seem the type that needs to feel wanted, and based on his Man City form I'd say sign him. But I wouldn't pay more than £6/7 million and I'd refuse to pay the £70k p/w he's allegadly on.

What's the deal with him at the moment anyway? Is he out until Mid March? If so then he'll have missed about 9 league games since he was signed at the end of Jan. All I can say is that I hope we're not picking up 100% of his salary as part of the loan deal as he'll only play 6/7 games, probably from the bench before the end of the season.

 

He says he'll be fit to play in around 2 weeks

 

I assume its the same sort of person that was on 606

 

I assumed it was because it was a Tash article. Harsh though.

Actually a decent article.

But anyway, we cant keep Nolan out of the team, we need him in there somewhere.

--------------Tiote
Barton---------------------Ben Arfa
--------Nolan-----Ireland
-------------Best

But if Jonas plays like he did last week then we have a real dilemma. A good one, but still

 

I seem to remember a preseason (or possibly early Intertoto stage) where we were short on out and out strikers and had to go Milner off Luque, which didn't work too well. The problem is that we're so conditioned to whipping a ball in that we do better with a head to aim for. Six 'midfielders', with Nolan off Ben Arfa, could be stunning if we can get our passing working as well as we did against second half Arsenal, or Villa first game of the season, though a quicker option that Barton right wing would probably work better.

Truth be told its a pipe dream, but could be fun for a bit, seems to work for Arsenal...