There you are... I'm going to throw this out there. Joey Barton demonstrated excellent distribution in both the Sheffield and Ipswich match. I remember only two wasted passes over the two matches. Compared to 6-10 delicious 40-60 yard perfectly weighted balls, often switching play. He sat well today in front of the back four in the centre. And corner after corner were well flighted and created chances. I cannot recall either Shefield or Ipswich keeper plucking the ball at a corner. Today he took a couple of spicy challenges and got up and on with it. Forever encouraging the team - especially so after the Shefield goal a fortnight back. Encouraging his team mates to dig deep. Lets get to 3rd September - hopefully no bids - then make him captain.
He was class at huddersfield too I'm happy for him to be at the club if his on field performances continue to help us towards promotion. Surely that is the only basis to judge him on this time around
Taarabt gave Fulham 90 minutes without a pre season in their away win at Sunderland. And he has given me an infinite amount more entertainment than Barton can even dream of.
I don't disagree and I forgive Taarabt in exchange for the sheer talent he has delivered in a hooped jersey. But that's in the past. And sadly I doubt we will see him again in a hooped jersey. By contrast Joey Barton has got his head down and based on his recent on-field displays is offering us more than Taarabt desired.
I'm happy to do that, but the OP invited a direct comparison. Would I rather have Barton or Adel in the team. Happy for others to disagree, but its a no brainer for me.
He is scum & will prove it again & again. Investing any hope or admiration in him is naive & shortsighted!
I think we'd all love to see Adel back in a hooped shirt every time over Barton but right here right now barton is doing the business on the park for us and Adel is with one of our local rivals I'd love Adel back and if barton helps us get back to the prem and facilitates adels return i'm 100% in favour
On sheer talent alone I agree - a no brainer. But the desire to harness that talent in the Championship with QPR is absent in Taarabt.
I'm judging his performances on the field. Thus far first rate. Almost faultless. No doubt there might be a blemish in the future. On the field. Or off the field. But let's have a little belief for now and judge each performance on its merit.
I really want to comment on every post so far in this thread. Sku I totally disagree, some of his passing today was appalling, but I will be the first to admit that I only see the worst in him. Yes, he takes a foul and gets on with the game, but he also makes a lot of very badly thought out "challenges". Captain, God I hope not, he is a loose cannon. Wubba: No he is a thug. Always has been, always will be. Stan: Absolutely rrrrrs: Absolutely Some events transcend football and current form. Anyone who thinks that Barton has changed his spots is fooling themselves. I will never be happy until he has left my club.
You may be right but, love him or loathe him, he has put some steel into the team that was missing last season. Mind you, that was just one of the many things that was missing last season!
I'm not looking any deeper than the on-field displays that I have witnessed at first hand. We all watched overpaid mercenaries last season and openly found a total lack of desire. The likes of Remy and Taarabt came to a similar conclusion to that which Joey Barton tweeted in May - that they lacked the desire to play for QPR in the Championship. I cannot tell whether Joey Barton still holds that view, but from what I have seen, I suspect the opposite. Whereas Remy and Taarabt - for all their talents - have chosen not to lower their standards and play beneath themselves. Shame. As I'd love to be cheering on all three tearing up teams in the Championship.
Roller I said nothing about being a thug or otherwise but the facts are hes still here for whatever reason and so far hes put 3 decent shifts in, nothing more nothing less For my money hes been no worse an influence than bosingwa has
He didnt need to, his prolonged banishment for refusing to sit on the bench was as bad as bartons ban
