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Joey Barton (now retired)


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What's also pleasing is his relationship with Tiote. The two know each others games perfectly now. If Barton wants to drift towards the centre to spray the occassional ball, Cheick will always drift 10 or 12 yards to the right to cover the position, before reverting back. Their connection is just about seemless. Before we even think about their technical qualities, the fact that these two are so in-tune is one reason why our midfield is so much better than it was two years ago. Great to see. :)

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Crackers how people still want him in the centre.

 

Like Venkman said in another thread, he sits too deep when he plays centrally, but it is his natural position. I wonder how he would do if he played there now alongside Cheick? Might be pretty tasty, although we obviously need him on the right at the moment.

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

It's a framework issue. The natural framework for the opposition would see their LM mark him on the attack, but Barton floats inside (basically anywhere he wants) and doesn't have a natural marker. I wouldn't be surprised to see teams start allocating an attacker to mark Barton, since he drops that deep anyway. Thankfully for us, when the opposition are on attack Barton is position to help defend so there isn't an overload down the flank.

 

If he was to play in the middle, even dropping deep, his natural marker would still be with him.

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It's a framework issue. The natural framework for the opposition would see their LM mark him on the attack, but Barton floats inside (basically anywhere he wants) and doesn't have a natural marker. I wouldn't be surprised to see teams start allocating an attacker to mark Barton, since he drops that deep anyway. Thankfully for us, when the opposition are on attack Barton is position to help defend so there isn't an overload down the flank.

 

If he was to play in the middle, even dropping deep, his natural marker would still be with him.

 

Yeah completely. It's an unorthodox role he's playing at the moment and it is very difficult to track. Like i said in an earlier post, you'd think his roaming would leave us susceptible on the counter, but Tiote either covers, or Joey tracks back with deceptively rapid pace.

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

It's a framework issue. The natural framework for the opposition would see their LM mark him on the attack, but Barton floats inside (basically anywhere he wants) and doesn't have a natural marker. I wouldn't be surprised to see teams start allocating an attacker to mark Barton, since he drops that deep anyway. Thankfully for us, when the opposition are on attack Barton is position to help defend so there isn't an overload down the flank.

 

If he was to play in the middle, even dropping deep, his natural marker would still be with him.

 

Yeah completely. It's an unorthodox role he's playing at the moment and it is very difficult to track. Like i said in an earlier post, you'd think his roaming would leave us susceptible on the counter, but Tiote either covers, or Joey tracks back with deceptively rapid pace.

 

Wouldn't say it was pace, just determination and work ethic to not let the team down. Jose does a good job of holding them up for Barton to recover.

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With about 15 to go when West Ham were coming close he seemed to be shouting pretty firmly in Nolans direction and vice versa, couldn't tell whether they were arguing or just both giving orders?

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

Saw that too. I think it was a reminder that Tioté had went off injured and Nolan had to start working to maintain the middle.

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I was wrong about moving him back to the middle. He's been a class act out wide.

 

Me too, although the caveat that the whole midfield is basically working because of Tiote. Without him we couldn't play Nolan as a CM, he would be overrun.

 

Tiote is obviously the fulcrum of the midfield, he basically keeps it working. But Barton, as our creative outlet, as been absolutely immense. Both equally deserving of the praise they're getting this season.

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interesting that since carrolls been out  we've played more football and really been creative from dead balls. not saying we shouldn't go to carroll but it's better to mix it up and what a decoy carroll could be.

 

bartons range of passing was the best i've seen today. MotM if it weren't for tiote.

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He is a constant talker/shouter which helps a lot.

 

Absolutely f***ing bollocking Nolan for not tracking back and making him dive in, at five nowt up, that's what I like to see :lol:

aye with about five left.
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