I think we need players who can mix it up. Passing/creativity is just one element, you need players with the speed and pace to carve holes into the opposition, you need players who can stick their foot in, you need two central midfielders who can attack and defend in tandem, and you need players who can dictate the tempo of the game.
Although we may need to upgrade Milner/Duff/N'Zogbia, our midfield has very good balance for the 442 system we intend to use, and the creative midfielder people are wanting would be as useful as a chocolate teapot.
We don't have that. So how can our midfield have "good balance"?
Barton and Guthrie will be perfect.
I'd hate to think that's going to be our central pairing for the year, there's more creativity in Towelie's chat up lines than that.