Man Utd 80 Liverpool 77 Che;sea 74 Arsenal 68 6 points behind 3rd and only in 4th because Villa ran out of steam doesn't really represent a great season. They're 12 points behind Utd and it will be 15 by the time Utd win their game in hand. Arsenal are still doing well for the money they've spent, but if they want to become a force again they need to break out the chequebook and bring in a couple more Arshavin-like signings. He's had a huge impact on them this year, when the kids weren't cutting it. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that Wenger brings (mostly foreign) youth into his team, and as Utd have shown with their 30M signing of Berbatov, sometimes big money signings don't always pay off, however, if Arsenal are not careful they'll become a club that feeds to other clubs. A few years ago when they were winning things would a player like Flamini have left for AC? If they don't start winning things soon I think their players may look elsewhere. Basically, they need silverware and fast, no more "the team is developing", or "next year is the year". They've got enough young, raw talent, they just need a little more experience and leadership on the pitch. That type of experience generally has to be purchased.

As I've said 'Drog, none of them as human beings are anywhere near Barton's level. On the pitch they could be rough buggers, but off it I don't think any of them were anywhere near Barton's level of nasty. Taking on Barton not only sets a bad precedent for the club but threatens team spirit if it gets out of control. So much (too much IMO) would depend on Sam being able to tame Barton, not only on the pitch but most importantly OFF it.

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.

I agree the refs shouldn't look on the back of the shirt before deciding on cards, but they do. Generally you have to be a bit of a bellend to achieve that (Savage type players) but usually it's a little harsh. I think in Sav's case it was harsh, as he never really put in any ridiculous tackles, he was just energetic and somewhat clumsy in tackling. Barton, meanwhile, has managed to gain a reputation not only on the pitch but off it. He has nobody but himself to blame for that, and even if it is wrong for referees to judge based on outside circumstances, it happens, and Barton can only blame himself for the reputation that preceeds him. It's not his talent I doubt, I've already mentioned I think he's a gifted footballer. I just think his attitude is awful, and if Sam can't tame him, signing him could be one of the biggest mistakes this club has ever made. I don't want us taking that risk and I don't want to see him in the blue and white shirt.

Newcastle fans were willing to give him a clean slate too. As was King Kev. It's clearly worked out well for them. The tackle at the weekend was a dubious sending off, but if Barton didn't have such a well-earned reputation for being a tw@t maybe he would be treated with a degree of fairness. I'm shedding no tears over it, and there's not a queue of Newcastle fans waiting to back him up. To survive in this division we do not need Barton. He's the only player I can currently think of who I do not want at this club, at any cost. I was fine with Diouf, Savage, Todd, Dickov... any of our "dubious" players and I don't mind players who wind up other players and have a dig every now and then. Barton is, however, a total liability and as a human being he ranks far below any of the aforementioned. He's a different class of nasty and even though I won't stop supporting the Rovers if we sign him, the club will fall drastically in my estimations. I don't think I'll be able to cheer Barton in the shirt, it'll anger me seeing him in it.

Arsenal have relied on their youngsters too much, and not spent enough to keep up with the big boys. Wenger needs to admit his policy has failed and break out the chequebook if he wants Arsenal to compete again any time soon. The gulf in class between Utd and Arsenal tonight was rather surprising and a little embarressing for L'Arse.

What a load of rubbish. Have a word with yourself. You've clearly not read any of the posts and made a broad and incorrect assumption. Go back up and ask yourself where anybody mentioned "the media" in this. You brought that up and managed to somehow outrage yourself over it. Also, I do consider myself morally superior to Barton, and rightly so. You won't find me backing down over that.

Aye, there's no real comparison with Diouf. He had his minor spat at Sunderland with whoever it was, but apparently they were like mates again afterwards so I don't think it was that serious. Otherwise it's just been diving and spitting, which are pretty pathetic, but nothing compared to GBH and assault.

The Axe isn't Barton, is he? There are very, very few footballers I'd be vehemently against playing for us. Barton's one of them. In terms of ability, Barton's better than our other options, but the numerous negatives that come with that ability totally negate it. The thought of our club paying someone like him wages to supplement his lifestyle makes me sick.

What a strange man you are. Holier Than Thou? I'll get back to you once I've stubbed a cigar out in someone's eyes, beaten a teenager to a pulp, and smashed up a co-worker so badly he nearly lost his sight Nobody has to suggest an alternative because they don't want Barton at the club.

He's attempting a wind up mate, it's what he does. That post actually made me laugh out loud. Definately getting better!

LOL

Come on, man. The Rafa/Fergie thing was blown way out of proportion. Sam makes 2 or 3 lines comment to a posed question and suddenly every newspaper in the world has him siding with Fergie and backing up his former mentor. It was a mountain out of a molehill. The similar "lack of interest" in playing the top 4 is down to focusing on the games we needed to win and dealing with our ridiculous injury problems. Bolton never surrendered to the top 4, and in actual fact often gave them (especially Utd) a good game, so why do you think next season we'll continue to surrender? With the amount of injuries we have and the threadbare squad Sam cannot be blamed for playing players out of position. Ince was doing it when we had an almost fully fit squad. No judgement can be made on Sam until next season at the earliest... this season is about staying up by any means neccassary, and we are on course to achieve that, regardless of anything else.

Calling Barton a "block head" is a little simple. He is a disgusting human being, and his antics off the pitch extend far beyond anything Todd, Neill, Sav, Diouf or Dickov ever did or have done. The club sets a bad moral example when it decides "forget that this man is a violent thug who has angered, betrayed and hurt both fans and teammates in the past, he has skill therefore we shall sign him". If you were being sarcastic in your post btw, I take back any criticism of it. I just can't tell.

Let's try again: He can pass. Watch games he's played for City and you can see that... he hasn't featured enough in an awful Newcastle team to display such talent regularly. If he didn't have such talent, he wouldn't be so sought after despite his record. The fact he's still getting interest says something about the skills he has. He's a workhorse who doesn't give up. Much like Savage, he'll chase opponents across the pitch and put them under pressure. Obviously, sometimes it gets him in trouble (Sunday as an example) much like it did Sav, but it's a trait not enough footballers possess. He attempts to lead the team by example and motivate. Again, much like Sav. He's not afraid to give underperforming players a piece of his mind. In fact, he's in many ways like a more technically gifted version of Savage, but he somehow has a far worse attitude and appears to be a terrible human being.

Barton's shown glimpses of talent, he wouldn't be sought after if he didn't have skill. He's got a good passing game, he's very committed (on Sunday he was one of the few Newcastle players who looked arsed, closing players down and chasing the ball) and tries to be a leader on the pitch. He might be overrated by some, but I have no doubt he's good enough for the premiership. His attitude is and I think always will be his biggest problem. He's not like Savage, Dickov or Diouf, who may get into a few more on-pitch altercations than the average player but are generally considered good blokes off the pitch, Barton's a scumbag as much off the pitch as on it. His reputation preceeds him in matches, I'm sure, but he only has himself to blame for that and should expect no less after the things he's done.

Most of Barton's good performances came before he moved to Newcastle, he hasn't really produced anything of note whilst he's been there. Think he's had 9 appearances this season? He did look the most committed on Sunday, but then, it's not hard considering the other players seemed to be going through the motions on their way down to the Championship.

Thing is, Barton's not a kid anymore. He's 26. If he still can't control his emotions at his age he needs to seek psychiatric help, fast.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...hall-shame.html Obviously there's now even more to add to that list, but quite frankly, not a player I'd want at our club. Whatever talent he has is negated by his awful behaviour.

I'm not talking a normal slanging match... some of the quotes are hilarious I'm sure they'll come up in a redtop soon enough.

Rumours that he and Shearer had a massive bust up after the Liverpool game...

The catch is he might only be able to play 9 games a season, as he has for Newcastle, due to getting wasted and knocking out somebody in front of a maccy d'z. He's also prone to training ground bust ups, and has battered one of his own team mates and stubbed a cigar in another's eye. But yes, he's just what we need. Sign him up.

I'd be absolutely gutted if we signed Barton. He's quite literally the bottom of the human barrell, not comparable to Diouf off-pitch at all. If this club has any self-respect the answer if Sam asks about Barton will be the same as the answer in regards to Bullard: NO.

Newcastle fans are saying the reason Barton gets sent off and yellow carded so often is because "his past is in the back of the referees mind". Whose fault is that? No sympathy for Barton at all. I hope his past actions do result in him getting treated unfairly, he deserves it.

Both players are absolute jokers. If I was Scottish I'd never want to see them near the national team again. Ferguson's been rubbish for a while anyway, his exclusion from the line-up against Iceland probably helped them win.