Comments on: Big Sam Must Control Barton’s Negative Aggression

By: Ed Harrison

Ed Harrison — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 11:21:59 +0000

Stephen – agree Barton is good player – and we expect him to push into the England squad a lot more – now he is at Newcastle.

By: Ed Harrison

Ed Harrison — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 11:21:00 +0000

Also think the writing is on the wall for Carr and Babayaro – and hope Babayaro doesn’t just see out his contract – for the money.

By: Ed Harrison

Ed Harrison — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 11:20:12 +0000

Murvar – we like Heinze – but lots of Newcastle fans don’t. Given Sam’s talk about height at the back – not sure he will go after Heinze – but he’s quite a character – and good player with great left foot.

By: Murvar

Murvar — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 09:15:00 +0000

We’re always optimistic at this time of year; that’s what the close season is for. But the signs are that at last we have a manager with a strategy, not just a knack of bringing on players or a motivational expertise (or a loud Scottish voice) who relies on intuition more than anything else. Sam knows he has the chance to establish a footballing dynasty at Newcastle – he could be to us what Shankly became to Liverpool and Busby/Ferguson to Manyoo. He has strengthened the spine of the team (Rozehnal-Barton-Viduka) and the calibre of the backroom staff – especially the medical side. He’s clearly working to improve the defensive flanks as well – the man has a plan. My only reservation is about the new owner’s reported view that if Sam doesn’t show suffcient improvement over next season, he’ll be replaced. That isn’t a strategy – it’s a blunt intrument which will only increasse the chances of short-term panic buying if things aren’t going well enough fast enough. We are seeing the consequences of that kind of policy now ie the uncertainty about Owen and Martins’ futures because of the buy-out clauses in their contracts. Ashley’s empire didn’t happen over 12 months, so why should he imagine that a football club can turn virtually overnight into a sustainable winning machine? Chelsea had a platform before Mourinho arrived; we don’t have a solid base to build on – just a bunch of mixed talents and professionalism that needs to be enriched with more of both and moulded together. The next priority for me? A pair of full backs – ever since Nattrass and Kennedy we have struggled to find reliable effective full- backs. That would liberate Dyer and Solano to do what they do best (if they’re on the pitch at all) – open up opposing defences. Geremi, Heinze would do; Carr and Babayaro won’t.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 07:37:40 +0000

Barton will be a class signing for us.He scores goals and has the determination and desire to win things with us.Yes he has a bad temper and is in the headlines for alot of bad things but with Big Sam in charge i cant see any problems to be honest look at Anelka he is nicknamed the sulk have we heard any problems from him??No we havent.Barton is alot better than Parker he scores more goals and is alot more useful Parker works hard but for me he just runs around in circles and cant make good passes which Barton can and Owen Martins and Viduka will benefit from that kind of player in midfield