Regardless of the rights and wrongs of the incident yesterday - lets be honest this was an accident waiting to happen.....how quickly we forget Barton's two shocking tackles at Swansea and Arsenal, both of which could easily have been a straight red. The red mist does descend at least once in most games so im really not buying the reformed character bit. As others have said, on balance I think he has been a negative influence on the club due primarily to what appears to be his detrimental effect on team spirit and morale, especially someone like AT. He is an average premier league player at best so he's probably found his level with us and he was better than most of what we had, but if he was as good as he thinks he is he would have been able to bring out the best in others rather than intimidate them into shadows of their former selves
Personally I reckon you're grossly unsderstating his ability, but to be honest I think everyone on this board would take us being an 'average premier league side' if you think he's found his level....
I don't remember any tackles at Swansea or Arsenal that could have been given a red card. He played well in both those games and was doing so for the first half an hour yesterday.
This. I was sat about 20 yards away from his booking tackle at Arsenal, and he knew what he had done instantly and had his head in his hands. No excuse for a rash tackle in a safe part of the pitch, but frankly I think they were both mistimed rather than malicious. Yesterday it looked like Norwich were going out of their way to target him - silly of him to fall for it, but the ref gave no protection, the result, however unjust, sadly inevitable....
He was booked in both games I believe, which means having just returned from suspension he was 40% on his way to another one so a red at some point seemed inevitable - ill accept they were maybe mistimed rather than malicious but both were as ill advised as his squaring up yesterday regardless of how justified he felt in doing so. WLW - I would also take average right now!!!
From the offish: http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2565098,00.html It's very similar to Hill's dismissal against Swansea at home last season. We appealed that time and got it rescinded. Here's to some common sence from the FA.
Ok,it was a bit harsh,but I still think hes a complete and utter twat!. Do we always have to play Barton?. Just a thought.
If your going to have a go at Barton, then please have a look at the stats first, he has scored 2 goals already this season and has 4 assits (more than any other player), the tackled he made have been mistimed and with vigour but don't you prefer that he is putting his body on the line and commiting himself to challenges rather than go in half heartedly on challenges, I loved it when he does a tackle like those, it's that what makes joey Barton and even though sometimes they are stupid challenges at least he's committed to the cause, and up to the sending off yesterday I though he was quality, great finish for the goal and worked hard down the wing
