Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock says Joey Barton and Alejandro Faurlin are the best in the league Neil Warnock has never been afraid to express an opinion that invites a challenge, and his assertion that Joey Barton and Alejandro Faurlin are the best central midfield pairing in the Premier League is contentious, to say the least. It is fair to say that they are both excellent players, who showed again on Saturday that when they are together in midfield,Queens Park Rangers ook like a side that can thrive rather than just survive at this level. It is a combination of silk and steel that catches the eye and works well for the team. But are they a better pair than Scott Parker and Luka Modric at Tottenham Hotspur, or Yaya Touré and David Silva at Manchester City? It is a bold statement from Warnock, but he rates his players highly, despite the public dressing down he gave Faurlin at the final whistle, after the Argentineâs half-hearted challenge allowed James Morrison to run unchallenged in the build-up to Shane Longâs late equaliser for West Bromwich Albion It gave Roy Hodgsonâs side a point that looked unlikely after Heidar Helgusonâs first-half goal. But he was as guilty as his team-mates of wasting a succession of good chances to put the game out of reach before Longâs fifth strike of the season. Warnock admonished Faurlin on the pitch, but was full of praise an hour later. âI think Ally is a top player, and I canât fault him other than for the goal,â said the manager. âI thought he and Barton ran the show. I donât think there is a better midfield pair in the league. I certainly wouldnât swap anyone for those two.â This month will present a steep learning curve for Faurlin and his team-mates, with trips to Liverpool, Swansea and Arsenal as well as the visit of Manchester United. Warnock, now 63 and a year younger than West Brom manager Hodgson, is undaunted, especially as his side have achieved three of their four victories away from home. âPerhaps we are more relaxed away,â he said. âToday felt like we lost the game, after the chances we missed. We are not ruthless enough but weâve only been in this league five minutes.â Hodgson was delighted with a point and praised Long: âWeâre really lucky to have him and heâs doing well.â iReader http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...andro-Faurlin-are-the-best-in-the-league.html
Barton is playing much better in the centre of midfield and it looks a good partnership. However, Warnock surely can not be serious by saying that it is the best midfield pairing in the Premiership.
If Scotty Parker had come to us as was muted in the summer, then maybe, just maybe, we would have had one of the top midfields in the league, and I do stress "one of".
I would take it one stage further and say that I think we have not only the best team in the league, but also the strongest squad and if anyone suggests otherwise, you're clearly off your rocker.
Depending on your politics, We're neither in the relegation zone nor the mid-table safety crew; we're kinda somewhere in between, a league of our own. So they are definitely the best team in the league; our league. QED.
There's no doubt that playing alongside Barton has brought the best out of young Faurlin. Dezza has been great but top players thrive around top players.
