Jonathan de Guzman

[surrey_hoop]

What would happen to Ali & Joey

They'd sit on the bench I guess. Harsh I know, but that is the nature of football - if a player joins with more quality and they play in your position, that is the way it goes. The same applies to Danny Simpson now that Isla's joined.

[Kevin Mcleod]

They'd sit on the bench I guess. Harsh I know, but that is the nature of football - if a player joins with more quality and they play in your position, that is the way it goes. The same applies to Danny Simpson now that Isla's joined.

If joeys ever on the bench when fit i will eat my bobble hat and scarf.

[surrey_hoop]

If joeys ever on the bench when fit i will eat my bobble hat and scarf.

For all his determination and drive, he is obviously limited as a player.....especially in the PL. You would genuinely like to see us start Barton ahead of De Guzman or Fer?!

[Kevin Mcleod]

For all his he is determination and drive, he is obviously limited as a player. You would genuinely like to see us start Barton ahead of De Guzman or Fer?!

Yep and i reckon harry will as well. Hes our heartbeat.

[surrey_hoop]

Yep and i reckon harry will as well. Hes our heartbeat.

In which case, I don't understand why a club our size would spend £10million on a midfielder only to leave him on the bench, so that two players we have had on our books for years can start ahead of him. All this "Barton is our heartbeat" stuff is overblown in my book...yes he has matured as a player and a person, but when was the last time he truly took a game by the scruff of the neck, and could be considered a matchwinner? You could probably count less than a handful of games in the last few seasons.

[Kevin Mcleod]

Not two players starting ahead, only joey. He is good enough for the prem i reckon, and you need a leader (heartbeat)in every team. Hes our main man like JT is to the sc um. Time will tell, and i reckon if he takes all the free kicks he will get a few goals this season as well, fingers crossed,

[Rangers77]

Barton, when fit, will play every game.

[surrey_hoop]

If we start 5-3-2 this season, that leaves Mutch or Taarabt as the ACM, then 2 midfielders out of Barton, Faurlin and possibly Sankhare, Fer, De Guzman or Mohammed Diame. I'm sorry, but if you think that Barton is an immediate starter out of that lot then I think we'll have to agree to disgaree on this one. Even if we only sign 3 of those players I still wouldn't consider him a must pick. Incredible how 1 above average season in the championship has turned him from our very own enfante terrible into the "heartbeat of our team."

[Rangers77]

If we start 5-3-2 this season, that leaves Mutch or Taarabt as the ACM, then 2 midfielders out of Barton, Faurlin and possibly Sankhare, Fer, De Guzman or Mohammed Diame. I'm sorry, but if you think that Barton is an immediate starter out of that lot then I think we'll have to agree to disgaree on this one. Even if we only sign 3 of those players I still wouldn't consider him a must pick. Incredible how 1 above average season in the championship has turned him from our very own enfante terrible into the "heartbeat of our team."

We would sign only sign one of those four players you name. And he'd play with Barton.

[stanistheman]

In which case, I don't understand why a club our size would spend £10million on a midfielder only to leave him on the bench, so that two players we have had on our books for years can start ahead of him. All this "Barton is our heartbeat" stuff is overblown in my book...yes he has matured as a player and a person, but when was the last time he truly took a game by the scruff of the neck, and could be considered a matchwinner? You could probably count less than a handful of games in the last few seasons.

Barton not being around probably cost QPR a Premiership place 2 seasons ago. If only for the fact that he pulls his weight and this makes others do the same. Yes he had his off days too, but not too often. QPR might choose to play with 3 CMs - Barton, Mutch and de Guzman.

[jmelanie]

Since we have not signed either de Guzman or Fer (and Fer is looking less and less likely), I am not sure why we are even having this discussion.

[surrey_hoop]

Barton not being around probably cost QPR a Premiership place 2 seasons ago. If only for the fact that he pulls his weight and this makes others do the same. Yes he had his off days too, but not too often. QPR might choose to play with 3 CMs - Barton, Mutch and de Guzman.

I really don't think missing Barton was the reason we didn't win until December and ultimately went down - we were a shambles not just as a team but as a club at that time, and were doomed for relegation virtually after the home demolition by Swansea. Yes, he pulls his weight and spurs others on, but that isn't enough in the PL....you need quality as well if you want to survive in this division, and for me Fer and De Guzman are both better players than Barton. I can't imagine Fer or De Guzman would shirk their responsibilities either, so the team would feed off of their presence as well.

For all this, I think Redknapp will start Barton this season.....I don't agree with that decision personally, especially when we are being linked with very good midfielders left, right and centre, but I hope he proves me wrong.

[QPR Richard]

They'd sit on the bench I guess. Harsh I know, but that is the nature of football - if a player joins with more quality and they play in your position, that is the way it goes. The same applies to Danny Simpson now that Isla's joined.

Do you mean if a better player joins?

[DeepcutHoop]

Barton not being around probably cost QPR a Premiership place 2 seasons ago. If only for the fact that he pulls his weight and this makes others do the same. Yes he had his off days too, but not too often. QPR might choose to play with 3 CMs - Barton, Mutch and de Guzman.

Barton's temperament and attitude has improved this year, but last time round in the Prem he was appalling up until the last few games of the season.

You don't get booed off the pitch by your own fans, based just on one bad performance. That was the culmination of a lot of bad performances.

That said, I think he's earned the right to be a starter, but if we can buy enough quality that makes him not a certain starter that would make me very secure in our midfield's ability to cope in the Prem this time round.

[surrey_hoop]

Since we have not signed either de Guzman or Fer (and Fer is looking less and less likely), I am not sure why we are even having this discussion.

You can bet a pound to a pinch of salt that we will sign at least 2 midfielders before the transfer window closes.