Joey Barton had the gall to go public recently (and tweeted) with what everyone already knows.
The midfielder recently stated in The Guardian:
“If it wouldn’t effect [sic] team morale and cause unrest within the dressing room, am certain Jose’s comments would be the tip of the iceberg. And again it would be left to those magnificent fans to pick up the remnants of their once great football club. #hadenoughofcertainpeople. If I wanted to leave, I’d just come out and say I want to leave. Things need addressing as am not prepared to go through a relegation again.”
With the release of their midfielder, Newcastle have now got rid of two of their best players.
Nolan and Barton represented the heart of that team and without them I see Newcastle struggling to stay up this season. Couple this with the discontent of Enrique and the departure of Carroll in January; Newcastle fans have a very tough season ahead of them.
With Barton available on a free transfer, it is not surprising that we’ve been linked with him. Along with ours, the names I’ve heard bandied about include Stoke and Tottenham. If he’s an ambitious player (and if we are indeed interested in signing him) then, given the options mentioned, he’s going to come to us. The only way I can’t see this happening is if United or Chelsea show an interest, but I can’t see this either.
So let’s assume we’re interested, and let’s assume that he wants to play in the Champions League. Should we sign him?
I don’t normally write about transfers. If you saw the scores, I usually get with my fantasy football then you’d understand why. I know a good footballer when I see one, but I’d make a terrible football manager; I just don’t have a good grasp of what ingredients it takes to make a top team. With that in mind feel free to disagree with me.
If I was in charge of Arsenal, I’d sign him, now. Sure, he’s an oik. Yes, he’s often uncontrollably violent. He doesn’t score many goals. Other teams see him as a weak link and target him for abuse. All of these are truths, but what he does have in abundance is passion.
One thing that we’ve been accused of recently is lacking grit. Barton would bring all the grit we would possibly need (and then some). He’s going to be much cheaper than Parker and the only outlay would be wages and a signing-on fee. He’s younger too. Whilst Parker probably had the better season, I think he just peaked. If Parker was a few years younger I reckon Wenger would have moved for him already.
Arsenal have got some seriously talented players in their squad. Our team is full of great passers and good finishers, nearly all of them have incredible technique. What we don’t have is someone who puts a bit of fear into the opposition. Jack Wilshere and Robin van Persie both have a bit of the ‘Bergkamp Nasty’ about them, and this is what I like, but we need more if we are to be champions. We need some real bite. We need some power in the middle of the park. Barton would give us that.
This is the kind of signing Wenger likes; he’s cheap and good. If he came to us he could be an important player for us over the next few seasons. Whether Wenger actually does try and sign him remains to be seen, though I suspect he might. And between you and me, I hope he does.
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Hey Mike,
Nice article well done, I have to say I really would Hate to see Joey Barton at Arsenal.
I think Barton is arrogant and his history really puts me off him joining Arsenal. Our players conduct themselves 95% of the time professionally and I really do not see Barton changing his style or his attitude and would in my mind cause more harm than good for any club he joined.
Yes me maybe talented however that talent has always come second to his attitude on and off the pitch.
As a fellow writer for Gunnersphere I feel it is important to show readers that we all have our individual opinions on him and I am not saying that Mike is wrong for his thoughts because he’s not it is his opinion and has put it across very well I just sit on the other side of the fence.
Thanks Iain. Wasn’t sure how I felt about him when I started writing this article, but by the end I had convinced myself. Yes there are downsides, but I think he could add a dimension to the squad that we’re currently missing. Saying that, I’m well aware that he polarises opinion and in this case I freely acknowledge that I may well be wrong.
Yeah I am the same, I maybe wrong with my impression however been around long enough to realise that a leopard doesn’t always change his spots.
People who don’t want Barton are clouded by his past when in fact his cleaned himself up alot. He might not be the best technical player but that dosen’t mean he’s not good. Every great team has had players that do the dirty work. Keown wasn’t exactly a great example to youths neither was acholic Adams yet we love them for their solid performances. Barton would do that but hey if that dosen’t float your boat we can recall Denilson
i think denilson should get 1 last chance too. i believe mr SCROUGE’s the team’s problem for he favours some players to a fault. i hope he’s finally seeing what it’s like by sentimentally prioritizing his ”french legion” team. i’m a barcelona fan but find myself watching more AFC matches than FCB so i feel the pain of waiting for seems so sure and in plain sight but can be touched. SELL NASRI+CESC, bring in MATA+HAZARD+SAMBA and you got a team
you can`t be serious or “wise up” or “you`re havin a bleedin laugh”
What a helpful response! Care to elaborate on why you disagree?
Joey Barton would prove to be a great signing for Arsenal.In the two games he played against us last season,he was easily the outstanding player on the Park.Go and get him now,if we do not,then i can guarantee that when he plays against us for another club,the headlines the following day will be,’Barton haunts Arsenal,they had a chance to sign him,and they didn’t,and he has made then regret it’.C’mon Arsene,take a walk on the wild side for a change,sign him,and the Headlines will read.’Wenger master stroke in signing Barton.
that’s the issue! remember RYAN BABBEL? he could’ve signed for arsenal and helped alot but he let him join liverpool and wenger probably wished he (babbel) got injured before that champions league night. need we remind him of CR7, RONALDINHO, and so on?!
nice article..both of you good points raised.i’d b happy if we had him.i wouldn’t mind if we didn’t.
Sounds reasonable. A little steel is what we need in the team, but Barton?
I am really on the sidelines with this one.
I imagine the media and MOTD reaching frenzied heights in their anti-AFC campaign if we did get him, but who knows, everybody grows up sometime, and maybe this is Barton’s time.
BARTON WOULD BE A GREAT SIGNING,HE’S A BIT OF A DICK HEAD AT TIMES,BUT THERE’S A LOT OF THEM ABOUT
BARTON WOULD BE JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED,DON’T
DILLY DALLY ARSENE,GO GET THE GUY,TWO MORE LIKE
HIM AND ARSENAL WILL WIN SILVEREWARE.
“UP THE GUNNERS”.
hell will freeze over b4 arsene will sign barton .. he most definitely will be a disruptive influence in the dressing room .. we had enough issues dealing with greedy-bayor and we all know how he has turned out with his constant comments in the media .. if its because we in need of english steel in our team barton is certainly not it
If he comes to arsenal its fine…………Arsenal do need some Hot Blood in the middle of the Park