Don't agree.
It seems alot of people don't seem to recognize Joey Barton effectiveness as a forward going midfield player if you look at it statistically he has got 7 goals this season and 5 assists and last season he got 6 goals and 6 assists something this club has lacked for some time since Rob Lee.
On your point about helping Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen, Joey Barton can by not only his ability to support the front two with the amount of forward runs he makes but also by providing like he has in the past 5 assists this season and 6 assists last.
I agree HTL point about Barton being a better forward going player but thats not our Captain best role his best role is breaking up the play and winning back the ball for the team this is proven by the Opta Stats this season as he has not only had the highest tackling rate this season in the whole of the Premiership but also the 2nd highest tackling success rate in the Premiership.
-Back to Joey Barton- the Vital thing if Big Sam does want him is that he can back up signing the bad personality that comes with Joey Barton by getting 3rd, 4th, 5th like Sir Bobby did with the similar personalities in the dressing room (Bellamy), if he can't then signing him could prove to course big problems.
I know what Barton is capable of going forward, but he certainly isn't the creative midfielder we're crying out for.