07 Oct 2016 09:33:34
Been saying it since his supspension and I've been down voted but Barton is the best player in the squad. Period. It's not debatable and its not even close (although to be fair to Kranjcar no one knows how fit he will get) . As usual people buy into media talk, we were starting to get fit as a team when his suspension started and now that the team is fit hopefully he will be able to come in at the same level of fitness and make a impact.
Barton isn't arrogant he is a million times better than Scottish football and we shouldn't pretend like he isn't because his confidence makes you insecure.
07 Oct 2016 10:08:18
what's so special about Barton? he's a good player granted but he's just an average player he doesn't score goals he doesn't create anything and at the celtic game he couldn't stop goals either. kranjcar is a special player maybe he is past his best but still a far better footballer than Barton.
07 Oct 2016 10:45:18
Pound for pound Barton would be playing at the highest level of all our squad if they chose to sign elsewhere and that simply points to him being the better player. None of our squad outwith Rossiter are that level (Maybe Dodoo but its till too early to tell with these players) . He ran the game in the championship last season, his ability to pick out a pass (long diagonal or short) is very good he rarely if at all misplaces a pass and his diagonals help us turn to defence from attack quickly (something that Haliday and Crooks don't offer from the position) If we had a player of Barton's quality up front it would be far more obvious since a lot of Barton's game is off the ball/ breaking down play. He's by a mile our best player and Kranjcar is the only one close but as I've said we don't know how fit he will get. Burnley slapped us about preseason and they wanted him back for next season. Just because you think he's a w*** doesn't mean he isn't the best player in the squad. Just because he doesn't shy away from saying he is the best player in the squad, doesn't mean he is either. You are the kind of person who would kiss Haliday's a*** if you could get away with it when Haliday is half the player.
07 Oct 2016 11:10:13
Barton isn't arrogant! Haha belter! you're actually serious aren't you? And he's a million times better than Scottish football! Yes, it looked that way in Parkhead a few weeks ago when he was chasing shadows!
Barton is a a total half wit who looks out for number 1 and puts the boot into anyone he feels like! Wait for him to put the boot into your club as soon as something happens again, and something will happen!
07 Oct 2016 11:15:41
Best player but worst attitude. You can't undermine your manager in front of other staff. that's not professional. The same way they shouldn't berate you in front of other staff. Barton is very outspoken and needs to curb his enthusiasm, realising he is still a player and not the manager. He's been employed for his football skills not his opinion or soundbites. I do however want him back in the team in a 3-5-2 formation playing two wingbacks (Wallace and Tavernier) .
07 Oct 2016 11:46:16
sorry but Barton is a run of the mill footballer who wins the ball back and gives it to the better players. he's never been at the level of kranjcar. Barton is 35 years old maybe he will never reach the heights of last season, I don't mind him but he's not the best player at our club never mind scottish football. he has a he'll of a lot of work to do to even make the bench for us.
07 Oct 2016 12:00:38
Cee Kranjcar hasn't been at that level for about 6 years. Barton's been at the top end of quality his WHOLE career. I'm not saying Kranjcar can't get it back but right now Barton is by far our best player, people can't take emotions and there own views out of it for a second to realise it. They aren't the same type of player tho although if we had got someone of his quality in an attacking position (think Andre Gray when we played against Burnley) it would be far more obvious. He does love the club and that was evident with the first few games of the season but losing 5-1 to them must have been a sore one for him. That cometitive drive is what propelled him to being a top player as you've said he isn't the most talented player in comparison to others around him but it doesn't mean he isn't a low end of the table EPL CDM. Is Haliday? let's not pretend he's anywhere close.
07 Oct 2016 13:06:49
barton is a trouble making journeyman. Why do you think he never lasts at a club. A liability in my opinion but it is what it is he's a ranger so he gets the backing.
07 Oct 2016 13:39:32
barton on paper is better than anyone we have but hasn't shown that on the pitch and since he isn't going anywhere and wants to fight for his place then let him as he will have to improve vastly to get into the team as he isn't anywhere near holt halliday or rossiter or windass for that matter with everyone fit he is a third choice midfielder in our squad unless he can prove otherwise I don't really care.
if hje starts to get games and isn't perfoming well then people will get on his back and I will be one of them.
07 Oct 2016 13:41:03
I think Ross must be Bartons Da lol. honestly he's bang average, wouldn't even be in my team if everyone was fit.
07 Oct 2016 14:08:05
Bartons nothing special let's not make it out he is, and right now all he has shown at ibrox is that he isn't half the player of scott brown, best player in Scottish football? the best player in Scottish football wouldn't get suspended for 3 weeks by their own club when they are going through a rough patch. I like Barton he's descent but still and old epl player like the others before him who thinks he's special. he has a lot of work to do.
07 Oct 2016 14:23:53
At least James Stirling has some common sense. I haven't said that his performances have warranted that title but he is by far our best player. Straw man arguments bluedie, don't win an arguments. If he's bang average our whole squad is beneath that as I've said you're the kind of person who is in love with Haliday when he's by far our worst mid.
07 Oct 2016 14:26:00
And Cee, you've self proclaimed that only Windass has got pass marks in some of the games, the whole squad was poor nothing to do with Barton they weren't fit. Easily the best player in our squad and your dumb if you think otherwise.
07 Oct 2016 16:03:04
Ross W,
As with all of these things it depends on how you define"best". Yes Barton has played at a higher level for longer than anyone else in the squad is that enough in itself, maybe. Is he technically more gifted than Kranjcar, a better tackler perhaps but passer or dribbler I would say not. Then we come to attitude and character, never mind saying he would be the best player what did he do to prepare for this"mantle"virtually no pre season because of his media commitments. If you are 34 and have got a tough new season coming up where you have to live up to your self proclaimed status why would you behave in that way. It has to be arrogance for me. He underestimated how fit he needed to be and got his come-uppance. Also being the best player should mean he could fit seamlessly into any formation we play whereas he looked as if he were struggling in a 433.For me being the best player in the squad is a combination of attributes and I don't believe Barton possesses what it takes to deserve the title in most aspects.
07 Oct 2016 19:34:07
Ross u just go off on a rollercoaster of pure nonsense mate, if you ever read my posts I've been highly critical of halliday all season. and for you to say i'm in love with halliday when you are gushing over barton is just too funny.
07 Oct 2016 19:36:22
Regardless of how good he is or was he doesn't fit our system at all. Lacks mobility and real technical ability, both of which are critical to our midfield three. I'm not a huge Halliday fan but he's undoubtedly more mobile and has a better touch and passing! Barton can mix it up and stick a foot it, what his game has always been based on, but it's of zero use if he can't get near anyone. Rossiter is able to mix it up and is mobile, Niko is technically the best passer in the league by a mile etc. So what is it that anyone expects Barton to offer that makes him even as good as them?
07 Oct 2016 21:35:49
Spot on RFCinfinity. abit of common sense. I actually think Ross1995 said in an earlier post that "barton loves us"please tell me i read that wrong😂ðŸ™.
07 Oct 2016 23:40:22
Barton isn't arrogant haha you must be on the cans. He's been getting the run around by average midfielders all season. At least halliday scores goals and plays for the shirt not himself. Scott brown isn't great but every airial battle with barton brown showed more hunger and aggression.
07 Oct 2016 23:51:31
Your heavily criticising Halliday but it's wrong for others to have an opinion on Barton. I don't see anyone spitting the dummy out about that like u are. Before the Aberdeen game it showed clips of Barton and on numerous occasions players walked past him and he never chased back when his role is to mop up. Let's be honest he has been total crap and he wouldn't be anywhere near my starting 11.
I was excited when he signed but couldn't care less anymore. The difference between this season and last is we used to be explosive going from back to front and it hasn't happened this year because the midfield was too slow. The quicker windass joins holt in midfield the better and atleast Halliday fights and gives us everything.
08 Oct 2016 07:36:35
Spot on JD90.another fine post. i was actually starting to question myself abt Barton/ Gascoigne, thinking that i was totally missing something special abt this "superstar"
08 Oct 2016 07:41:50
Exactly Barton has made a career with limited ability with his dig and will to win bit even that's went to s&@t. had to laugh at the story abt his agent winding him up abt Sir Fergie wanting him at Man U, (DOH Joey, my my you really are away with the birdies if you believed that😂)