Joey Barton is the nearest thing to

[dirty_sanchez]

He's been better than Gerrard this season i may add, you can't deny it.

I can and will deny it, because it's bollocks.

[Michael]

don't rate him highly either, just don't see what the fuss is all about, but a player that i like and wouldn't mind us getting is gareth barry, imo he's loads better than barton is effectif both as a leftbacl or a midfielder...

WOW... at last!

I have never understood why Barry has never been picked up by one of the big clubs! He has always looked like a great left back to me.

Admittedly I have mostly only seen match of the day clips and his performances during Liverpool games. Non the less he makes a good first impression.

Any ideas?

[WILF]

Another who thinks he is not up to our standard. For the third time I ask who ARE actually "good unough for us"?

Well without being faceatious(sp) , what is our level??
Do you mean good enough for us now or good enough for us to go on and win no 19?

For the latter I suppose you have to look at top class players, who can also be moulded into a team playing in the "hurly burly" of the Premiership, in mid-winter.No egos,Rafa doesn't do that, and happy with rotation.

So what do we want, a team of supastars like Madrid, Buffon, Cannavaro, Kaka, Ronnie, Messi, Villa, Rooney, Henry, etc, or are we(the fans ) going to be a bit more realistic?

I think you ask a difficult question Mr Rips

[The Wolfman]

I can and will deny it, because it's bollocks.

he hasn't been better than gerrard.

But for two seasons now he has been scoring regularly, and looking comfortable in attack as well as chasing the ball back.

[REDSCOUSER]

Is this a wind up? You are clueless Marky18.

you haven't seen nothing yet ? He outdones himself nearly every thread

[Diego]

WOW... at last!

I have never understood why Barry has never been picked up by one of the big clubs! He has always looked like a great left back to me.

Admittedly I have mostly only seen match of the day clips and his performances during Liverpool games. Non the less he makes a good first impression.

Any ideas?

i agree, i've seen him quite a bit and i have always been impressed with him, and he would be great for us at left back, and a good midfield cover...

[simey85]

really dont think we need barton, he is a good premiership player nothing more he is not in the top class bracket. i would much rather see us buy an creative midfielder with a bit of guile and trickery who can open teams up.

[Jack D Rips]

Well without being faceatious(sp) , what is our level??
Do you mean good enough for us now or good enough for us to go on and win no 19?

For the latter I suppose you have to look at top class players, who can also be moulded into a team playing in the "hurly burly" of the Premiership, in mid-winter.No egos,Rafa doesn't do that, and happy with rotation.

So what do we want, a team of supastars like Madrid, Buffon, Cannavaro, Kaka, Ronnie, Messi, Villa, Rooney, Henry, etc, or are we(the fans ) going to be a bit more realistic?

I think you ask a difficult question Mr Rips

I know its a difficult question. But how can anyone know how a player will perform for us?. For example were Xabi, Finnan, Momo, Agger good enough for us before we got them. What about Morientes? I think most would have thought that he WAS good enough.

People here are now talking about Barry. Is he not just a big fish in a small pond?

[red g]

I know its a difficult question. But how can anyone know how a player will perform for us?. For example were Xabi, Finnan, Momo, Agger good enough for us before we got them. What about Morientes? I think most would have thought that he WAS good enough.

People here are now talking about Barry. Is he not just a big fish in a small pond?

Xabi was high profile when we bought him, just not that high profile over here, finnan had been the premierships best right back, and agger as the price suggests was also highly regarded.

You never know till u try would cite Hyppia as a fine example. I do think Barry is a vast improvement on what we have thougn.

[dww]

I do think Barry is a vast improvement on what we have thougn.

In which position? He is a decent central or left mid. He hasn't played full back much in recent years when I have seen him. I can honestly say that he isn't an improvement over our CMs and doesn't offer the guile or pace I would desire from left winger. I like him as a player but I don't think he is better than what we have and I'm unconvinced that there is a plce for him in our system.

[Redspin]

Maybe you are the one to answer my question above. What players ARE actually " good enough for us"?

Run a few by me and I'll tell you. But for starters, the likes of Wright bloody Phillips, Barry, Reo Coker, Barton and similar dross aren't good enough. Now your turn

[Marky]

I can and will deny it, because it's bollocks.

No but it's not, he's been consistently better than Gerrard THIS season, Gerrard's been very poor by his standards this season.

[dww]

No but it's not, he's been consistently better than Gerrard THIS season, Gerrard's been very poor by his standards this season.

Are you saying that Barton is performing to closer to his potential than Gerrard or that you would actually have prefered to have Barton in your team than Gerrard this season? I'll give you the first for sure.

At the start of the season both were poor, although I would accept it if you were to give Gerrard the edge for being more rubbish even if I'm not sure I would agree, but recently both have found form and to be honest I am much the happire that we had Gerrard in the side.

[dirty_sanchez]

No but it's not, he's been consistently better than Gerrard THIS season, Gerrard's been very poor by his standards this season.

What are you basing that on though? The Opta stats say it's bollocks. The England manager says it's bollocks.

[sayward]

The thing is though, Rafa likes to play with two holding midfielders, Barton might struggle to get games. I like him, he has tons of energy, good passer, he is a little like Gerrard. However, Gerrard is better on the right wing for us where he can't be marked out of games, he has been very quiet for much of this season Stevie but 6 goals in his last 12/13 games (?) shows we are getting him back, however I wouldn't put that down to him playing more central.

I reckon Mascherano will be a fantastic talent if he settles. He is a very very good player, I think it's exciting that Rafa is investing in more and more young talent, so far only Agger and Sissoko have made an impact in the first team (Gonzalez too)