Exactly. See the bit in bold.

http://www.brfcs.co.uk/mb/index.php?s=&amp...st&p=756316

Totally agree Gordon - but you appear to be arguing that we could afford him, my opinion is we'd have to stretch ourselves to a degree that makes it too risky.

I'm not really sure what they could sack him for. They probably could have sacked him when he went to prison, but I'm 99% sure they couldn't use that as an excuse 12 months later on. Being sent off against Liverpool certainly isn't enough to sack him for...and he hasn't really done much else.

The only way I can see him leaving is if it's a 'mutual' agreement...by which I mean Newcastle will have to pay him something to leave.

If they've any sense he'll be on a final written warning (or equivalent) already. Whether they could then take the next step towards termination probably depends purely upon what he said and if it can be deemed threatening/offensive. Knowing Joey Barton.........

Barton WAS on 65k. That means nowt now. You are as good as your last season in this game. The rules of supply and demand also kick in, and there will not be much demand for him from the 'wealthier' clubs who are able to pay that sort of money will there?

Its a matter of opinion. Newcastle took him to their club for £5.8m and gave him a contract worth £65k a week. That was after he'd battered Dabo and had that case hanging over him. It would appear that the demand was there then, and similar demand is pretty likely this time. He might not get £65k, but there's a huge middle ground between what he's on now and what we could afford.

Educated guesses are perfectly valid Gordon - Barton reportedly on £65k, fair to assume that Davis isn't. Reasonable assesment IMHO.

Come on theno, we all know that had that been a Rovers player tackled it would have at least been a 50/50 split on here as to whether or not it was a penalty.

Here's my interpretation on it: with the benefit of replays he touches the ball first and so that isn't a foul, but the ref was right in my view to give it. There was absolutely no way to tell that Fletcher touched that in real time and with such minimal contact on the ball it would have been an odd one for the officials not to give. No ref in the world wouldn't have given it. Once he had given it, he had to send Fletcher off.

Did you actually just write that?!

You've lost it mate.

That can be negated by inserting clauses into the contract that would cover us in such a scenario...

No it can't. If he gets sent down on October 1st, we'll then have to struggle through to the next transfer window without our best midfielder.

There's no point in negating the financial implications if we cannot then reinvest the money we save.

I dont like the guy either, but i also dont believe in branding a guy when he clearly hasnt done anything this time to deserve it.

I can see where you're coming from with that, in truth I think the sending off was a bit harsh. However since then Barton has shown just how little professionalism and respect he has. If you get sent off you have to accept a dressing down from your manager. Although it was harsh it was a completely pointless lunge and just another example of the odious little #### letting his temper get the better of him.

Had he held his hands up like a man and accepted that he was wrong we wouldnt even be having this conversation. But he's not capable of that.

As I said, nobody in their right mind could have said it was a penalty.

Two words: Contact Sport.

I agree.

But would you say it was a Rovers penalty or not if it was us instead of Arsenal?

Nobody in their right mind could have said it was a penalty, Rovers or not. It was a fantastic tackle.

Good points 47er. Behaviour aside, lets look at this practically - do we really need another midfielder who is highly unlikely to be able to play a full season? We have enough injury prone players, to add another one who is also frequently suspended AND is on parole would not be a clever move. What happens if we make him our only midfield signing, the transfer window closes, he goes off and does something stupid and ends up back in the clink? We wont be able to replace him and we'll be weak in that area for another 1/2 season. It's not worth the risk.

Also, he's a ####.

Depends where Arsenal want to go Gordo. As it stands the gulf between them and the others is widening at a frightening rate. Soon it'll be the big 3 (Utd, Chelski, Liverpool), followed by the next 5 (Arsenal, Villa, Man City, Spurs, Everton), followed by the rest. I wonder if Arsenal's owners will be happy to see them in that second bracket.

Erm.....am I right in thinking that Arsenal haven't lost in the league since November?

So many holier than thou perfect people eh?

I worry about Bartons insecurity and his inherant scouse persecution complex but I also wonder where we are going to sign a 5-7m rated player in mid career for next to f*%$ all as befits our precarious financial status? Instead of pontifications and criticism from the beginnings of a lynch mob lets have some alternative suggestions guys.

Tell you what every cloud has a silver lining eh? ..... At least EHD is having the spotlight of our 'Lady members' taken off him with all this talk of Barton signing.

Alternative suggestion - Sean Davis. He's on a free this Summer, right? Just as good as Joey Barton, nowhere near as injury prone or as much of a ####.

As far as I know Wayne Rooney is a perfectly well behaved young man off the pitch, which is more than can be said for the cretin he's being compared to.

I would understand if Barton joined, but why is your respect for Allardyce already waning, T4E? He's done a magnificent job since taking over. There was that little episode where inexplicably had a go at Rafa, but I cannot think of any other reasons.

I'm not sure really. The Rafa/Fergie thing was shameful. The lack of interest in playing the top 4 has started to bug me (originally I defended him for that, but getting beat 4-0 does not sit well with me regardless of the opposition). We've only picked up 7 points in our last 7 games. We play too many players out of position and our football is dire. I've been getting through by telling myself that its a needs must situation and next season will be different, but the more I think about it the more I'm starting to think that Sam just wont be capable of that.

My respect for Sam would decrease considerably if he came.

That sums it up for me. And my respect for him is already waning.

I normally don't care about a players off field antics or reputation, but the more I think about it the more I am concerned about this. Joey Barton is a disgusting, vile, despicable little ####. On the other hand, I'd love us to get him in and let him attempt to go all Ousmane Dabo on Chris Samba. That would be fantastic.

Birmingham then according to the press who think us and Bolton have too much sense.

Off to Birmingham to play in centre midfield alongside Lee Bowyer.

Ouch.

Barton suspended by Newcastle.

Its a fantastic idea and needs to happen asap.

Looking forward to tonight, should be a far better game than last night.

You haven't left your laptop unguarded in the bar or something have you? That's quite a good idea.

:lol:

I mean, a top class Italian or Spanish fellow isn't going to come to England to play for Aston Villa or Everton, yes? Maybe he would for the Big 4 but what if he's not good enough for that?

More to the point, what if he is good enough but they don't have space for him. See Tevez, for example. As you say, those players will go elsewhere and play for a top 3 or 4 club and help strengthen their league. Your point is a good one.

Until, of course, they expand the Champions League again.

3 of the 4 semi finalists are English again. Potential all English Final. If not its Barca v United/ Arsenal.

Either way it should be a good final.

It dawned on me last night that this English domination of the Champions League may well work out well for the game in this country, but not in the way you might think.

The gulf between the top 4 and the rest in the Premier League has turned the competition in to a boring procession, and one which desperately needs a shake up. That will only come from UEFA/FIFA - and will probably only happen if the same clubs start to dominate their competitions too. There's too much money in the Champions League for Platini and co to let it go stale.

Hopefully, anyway.

Unless I and others were wrong in thinking that Benni was kept back from the Liverpool game simply to keep him fit for this weekend.

Maybe there's more to it than that.

This seems more likely than Tris's bizarre theory.

Was on the ticker on SSN. Also said Grella, Zurab, Ollson and Simpson are in the squad.

Apparently Benni has been named in the squad for the reserves tonight.

I get the feeling neither of them will be that bothered about the decision. Not that I want Scotland to do well at all, but they deserve a lot better than those two.

This has gotten out of hand very quickly.

Very disappointed in McGregor. Fergie doesn't surprise me in the slightest.