We haven't won a single game without him. Coincidence? I think he's worth the 5 year contract myself. We aren't safe yet. Mr Ashley, please just give Barton what ever he wants, because he's a top bloke and i'm sure his demands won't be unreasonable. He'll take a pay cut, why can't we just give him the contract he deserves? He's by far our most creative player, and what we miss with Barton isn't necessarily vision, it's the execution. Barton's deliveries are 9/10 executed brilliant, no one else on the team can do it as good as him, not even Tiote.
Wow, very good fact there, shows how we lack creativity, had Ben Arfa not got injured we would have undoubtedly faired better, but yes, give him what he wants.
Most important player, and by quite some distance. Hopefully he'll be celebrating a new deal by smashing one past Stoke in a fortnight.
^ Agree with AG. Such a key player in our team, today we really missed his passing, work-rate and creativity. Hopefully he'll get his dream hat-trick and a long-term contract to boost!
I totally agree; I was about to post this observation myself - it's almost as though without Barton there's a slump in the team's grit / determination, confidence and cohesion or understanding. I realise the old saying that one man doesn't make the team but it's noticeable in this case!
No drive without Joey, he seems to be the heart of the team and the boiler house. Pathetic game and a very poor inept performance. Not helped by the ref of course who had a stinker and looked as if he was prepared to give everything the blues way!
We really should just give him whatever money he wants (he won't ask for something ridiculus) for as long as he wants. We can't afford to lose a player as good as him on and off the ball
Don't think Joey will sign a contract until we've brought two or three good players in in the summer. Can't blame the lad. He could sign a 5 year contract now and FCB could sell Tiote and Enrique in the summer. Hope I'm wrong like.....
