Barton was ok today which means just that! Any player can work tirelessly and put in a shift! Even Sunday league players can do that! In my opinion Barton is yet to step up to the mark and the season is getting shorter for him to do so. Taraabt showed us things we have seen very rarely which were tracking back, chasing and closing down but on top of that he showed pure CLASS when running at players and taking people on to shoot. if you told a neutral that it was Joey on 80k and not Adel they would be shocked! In my opinion players like Barton are ten a penny and players like Taraabt are one in a million!
For me, Barton had a poor game, but I'm not criticising him generally. He just wasn't one of the better players today. If you have to go down to 10 men, it's surely better when you're a settled side that can more easily rearrange. The headless chicken episodes in our defending in the 2nd half are at least partly down to the fact that the players are adjusting to understand each other. No point in getting at Cisse -but Sparky needs to get on top of discipline in the side - we have to win at Blackburn. I think we can. Hope Helguson or DJ are back because I find Hulse ineffective. This was the hardest result to take all season. No plusses except that we got the real Adel back. Barton was wondering what all the fuss over him was about earlier this season. He'll know now. And Wolves must think they have a fairy godmother.
I feel with Barton that hes trying to cover the whole of midfield which is impossible.This is a problem area for the club and one that I fear cannot be sorted this season.After todays result and performance I fear the worst.
