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Transfer news: Barton being lined up as ‘back up’

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BartonWest Ham are in talks with Joey Barton – and the fiesty midfielder could be taking a medical as early as tomorrow (Tues).

A high level source inside Upton Park told ClaretandHugh a few minutes ago: “We need back up and he was the best player at Queens Park Rangers last season. At this moment I’d say our chances stand at about 30 per cent.”

Outspoken Barton, 32, is a free agent and has been been working for TV and radio. Over the weekend he joked he was the best player in the ground during Saturday’s game between Bournemouth and Aston Villa.

So watch this space. With Barton on board, times will be far from boring!

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Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!"

Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

46 comments

  • mattefumi27 says:

    lol Burton looks like Gattuso… and he also has his class.. 😀

    http://tuttitifosi.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/gattuso_186484t.jpg

  • Radai Lama says:

    I aint got a problem with it,if Slav wants him then fine.If we get him on a Pay-as-you-play as is being suggested then whats the big deal.The guy has not been in trouble for years,had a good season last year for Qpr when i asked my Rangers supporting mate about him.If we are all going to bang on about him being a thug then lets not forget about Hartson here.But people had no issue with him.Mind the fence bubs,thought the diet might have made you a little more acrobatic,lol 😉

  • bubs says:

    That’s the good thing about people like Barton it brings he fans out to give there opinion,
    What ever we say it’s not our decision,
    Now he would make a good player to bring on like last week to keep things tight or if we were loosing to get the boys bubbling again,
    Just don’t want a strong personality upsetting the younger boys or thinking he is more important than the likes of Payet or Noble,
    I think I will sit on that fence with Dickysie,( better be a strong fence )

  • hammersfan01 says:

    Given that he apparently said while commentating on the Bournemouth v Villa game that the best player in the ground was sitting in the stands, I think we can see what his attitude towards his own ability is. Even if said in jest, it shows a remarkable level of self-satisfaction that could end up damaging unity if he throws a strop by not being in the starting XI every week. Yes, I have no doubt that both Slaven and Dicksy would come down hard on anyone that steps out of line, but when has that ever stopped Joey Barton?

    • West Ham Fan No 32 says:

      A good assessment hammersfan01, maybe he said it because he believes it, if he believes it maybe he was right or maybe its just his arrogance, would it damage unity or by damaging unity would that be a good thing to shake out the cobwebs and that happy warm comfortable feeling that usually results in mediocrity ? There are various forms of being united, we could be united in creating a warm cosy family environment where every player says they are trying their best and we win a few games and are competitive in others or there is an uncomfortable environment where everyone is united in challenging themselves by fighting every day against each other to really be the best then uniting on the pitch against their opposition and having the belief to know you can dig deeper than them. I don’t know what goes on on their training grounds but I would imagine the first one to be like Arsenal under Wenger and the second one to the Chelsea’s under Mourinho and Man United under Ferguson.

      • TysonM says:

        Or maybe when he said it at the Bournemouth game he was on a total wind-up knowing people would bite,lol 😉

  • GW says:

    If Slav wants him so be it I have more trust in him than our internet wannabe managers from the moist Kingdom. I actually saw one of them post that there shirt would be confined to the spare room to gather dust if he signed!!! And they call themselves the true fans site lol.. Slav pulled a master stroke on Sunday and we turned over the gooners if he thinks Barton will do a job so be it

    • Hammerman6 says:

      Your right Slav is the manager, but this forum is for the fans to write their opinions, criticise and praise. (probably not enough of the latter) But you have to remember the Board, managers, & players (especially in todays game) come and go,the fans stay for ever, we are entitled to our views and going on Mr Barton’s previous and apparently 80% of the fans do not want him in our beloved claret & blue. Me included.

      • GW says:

        Hammer man that’s what’s great about forums we all have an opinion, mine is simply let the manager make the decision ,your right 80% don’t want him and I’m certainly on the fence but I aint going to stop supporting a club I’ve loved for 35 years because of it

        • Twinkle Toes Nolan says:

          Much double standards as well as i see it.All this thug terminology used & over reaction.Dont seem to remember the same overreaction when one of our own Johnny Hartson kicked one of our own players in the head.In fact it wasnt long ago people wanted our ‘legend’ back as a coach,lol

  • bubs says:

    80% do not want him 20% do that’s worse than our previous Manager,
    But it’s up to Slav
    Gold has forgiven and it’s his money to waste,I hope he gets as much playing time as Nene
    Can’t wait for Leicester and nothing can put a downer on that,
    Just hope a good Freebie Forward comes up maybe Negrado of Valencia loan for 1 year ?

  • Roman says:

    It’s obvious we are all divided on Barton.If the manager wants him I’m okay with that.Even Barton won’t mess with the Balkan mafia.Love Matte’s comment about Allardyce.Brought a smile to my weary face.

  • sweetfannyadams says:

    Please tell me this isn’t true

  • bubs says:

    Thanks Rads,never looked in last night was having a long good drink with some fellow expat hammers not a gooner in sight,

  • bubs says:

    Rads not heard from Mate for a long time is he on holiday with Spoonie,
    Or using a new name,
    He ain’t Sam Official is he ?
    Just been told for not important any more they have relaxed the laws,
    They should tell the 2 Daves and they can spend some more money we can have
    Austin and Hernandez

    • Radai Lama says:

      Nah Matte was on here lastnight bubs,he is about again 😉

    • Radai Lama says:

      Thisnis the message Matte posted lastnight Bubs,Matte is still Matte,lol

      mattefumi27
      August 9, 2015 at 5:47 pm Reply
      Oh, now that’s football… Payet is from another planet, Oxord is a great talent with a wonderful personality (he’s only 16!), Zarate has self-confidence… no more “respect the point”, true attacking football… All I can add to this is congratulations Slaven and fu*k you Allardyce

  • Radai Lama says:

    they couldnt afford his wages.QPR are or were in the sh*t with FFP.My mate is also a QPR supporter & said he was very good last year for them.I dont give a sh*t either way whether he comes,just will have to trust Slav i guess 😉

  • bubs says:

    If he was so good last year why have they let him go ?
    If he was outstanding last year why were they relegated ?
    If we give him a chance it could cost us in the future when players not getting games IE
    Poyet leave,
    If he is willing to be a fringe player and Nolan and Alfitano leave to make room no problem
    Just think we are in a good place at the moment and it only needs one mistake IE Collins against Astra to fukc things up and Barton is known for it,
    But no problem back on the beer bring a happy hammer is all down to things going wrong
    Nothing can make today be a bad one
    Come on you Gooners

    • Hammerman6 says:

      I have read all the comments and I have to say Bubs my gut feeling is your right, leave this one alone. He’s a good player, but He’s 33 and can be volatile. I don’t think Dicksy would tolerate him for too long, and the last thing we need now is the team spirit being jeopardised by training ground bust ups or red cards.
      Too risky for me.

    • West Ham Fan No 32 says:

      He was out of contract and his salary wasn’t sustainable, I know a lot of QPR fans who all said he was the rare bit of quality in their midfield. He has an unsavoury past but there are numerous players like that quite a few we have had through our club. His combative side is actually what we need in the dressing room, I am sure that Slaven and Dicksy are assessing his ability to see how often he would be playing because you wouldn’t want him not being involved and having no outlet for that aggression then he would be a negative influence but if he is playing he will raise the level of the players in the team much like Tevez, Bellamy etc heis player that can change the course of a game and the fact that he winds people up even his own team mates is something every dressing room needs to keep them focused. If he would be starting most games he is worth having probably on a 1 or 2 year contract.

  • JagerChugger says:

    Dunno but guess would have to trust in Slav. But then surely there are other midfielders available? What about Song? Are we still in for him or not?

    • Radai Lama says:

      Barton might be short term until Song is fit to maybe sign in Jan.Who knows.Only the manager & board i guess 😉

  • TRB says:

    No thanks. Too old at 33, next month!

  • slaven a laugh says:

    No thanks. Unless it’s part of some weird swap deal where we trade in Jarvis Maiga and Nolan in exchange for austin. Except it’s two for the price of one as they throw in a free joey Barton.

  • whambam says:

    Don’t worry about him putting us in a bad light, the media and the pundits do that daily, look at the abuse we got signing PDC, Boyer etc, look at the flak we took keeping Hartson after his training ground row, if they can find it, they’ll use it, we’ve had 2 Psycho’s, a Terminator, a MadDog and the list goes on and on,

    • Radai Lama says:

      Lol,yep too true.We have had plenty of crazies before,many who become fan favourites.Aint saying Barton would be but we have had plenty of lunatics in the past 😉

  • HammerAttack says:

    Correct Tyson.For what it is worth i spoke to a Rangers fan friend of mine this afternoon.He had nothing but praise for him about how he played last season.Guess we as Irons fans just dont see the guy play but make judgements on history & a few televised matches each season.If Bilic thinks he can be of use then great as far as im concerend.

  • TysonM says:

    He was immense for QPR last season bubs.My mate is a Rangers fans.He said he was one of their high points in a sh*t season along with Austin.Said he led the team through what could have been a far far worse season.If Slaven wants him i will go along with it.If he offers something to the squad then thats fine with me 😉

  • bubs says:

    After every thing that has been said about Morrison now we are going to sign his grandad,
    Not sure Slav and Dicksie can control him,he did OPR no good last year all I can see is pain
    We don’t want games being thrown away with only ten men on the field,
    Problem is he is a good player at his best but we would have to have injuries to
    Noble,Kouyate,Cullen,Payet,Lanzini,Zarate,Oxford,Obiang,Poyet,
    Before we need him are we expecting the team bus to blow up
    NOT FOR ME

    • Stingray Stewart says:

      Lol,i cant see anyway that Slav & Dicks cant control anyone bubs.Would you f*ck with them.Maybe after a night on your Amstel perhaps 😀

  • pabloonechop says:

    Good day for releasing bad news?

  • Si Hammer says:

    Just got to love ‘fan managers’,i will leave Slav to do his job.He wants him i will go along with it.He will have his reasons.Is why he is manager & we just tap away on keyboards spreading our wise words,lol 😉

  • canchaz says:

    If this is true, then after a summer of nearly flawless signings, this would be about the dumbest move ever.
    Looking at the players we already have in midfield, I can’t think of a single (sensible) reason for this move

  • hammer4life says:

    I think the signing makes sense on a one year deal.
    He will be cheap, he is a very good player and he has tons of experience. I don’t think Slav has plans to start him but he will be an ideal player to bring on in the 70th minute when we need fresh legs and have to tighten up the midfield. He is also useful going forward and can also be used if we are chasing a game. Yes he has a terrible disciplinary record but if we are using him in that type of role it considerably cuts down the chance of him blowing up. My only fear is that he might disrupt our changing room.

  • MerryMichaelW says:

    This would be the worst possible move, and would dissipate all the good will at the stroke of a pen.

  • Lt. Quickdrawovic 1st Slavalry C&H Regt says:

    He wouldn’t be a choice of mine and I’m not a fan of his past behaviour although that was a while back but luckily for WH I’m not the manager super Slav is and if he wants him then so be it. Can someone please explain comments under the last story (about young Reece) how the assumption was made that Barton would be Nobles replacement? Have I missed something?

  • Stingray Stewart says:

    Got no problem with this signing if it happens.If Slaven feels he wants him then he can have him.Simple as that.Really got the wetpants dribbling though,lol

    • Sams P45 says:

      Hahaha,careful Sting,im one of the ‘wetpants’,youre hurting my feelings,haha 😀

      • Stingray Stewart says:

        Lol,well true you are but you dont flood the floor over every little drama like some of the them,lol

  • Vintage Claret says:

    Do we really need this at the moment. Going back on their pledge of only signing young players with future in front of them, no more past it players on a last payday. don’t buy the short term rubbish, we still have obiang and poyet to step in if needed.

  • West Ham Fan No 32 says:

    He is a quality player, Nolan and Carroll know him well, Payet and the french lads will have seen him play, sure he has a lot of history but our club has seen its share of those players (DiCanio, Bellamy, Speedie to name a few) and they have done well, with Dicks and Bilic in charge they won’t stand for any rubbish and he is a replacement for Downing on the right side of midfield.

  • 646566 says:

    Not happy with this signing at all. His past antics have been so vile I don’t want my club to be associated with him. I’ll probably get abuse stating everyone deserves a chance but it won’t change my opinion.

  • Ed the Hammer says:

    I am going to be wildly controversial and suggest that maybe Charlie Austin was the best player at QPR last season…

Comments are closed.