Kinnear - Barton Is The Best We Have Available!
Last updated : 28 October 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor
If he plays tonight, against West Brom (and it seems most likely), I can see him walking away with the Man Of The Match award ... no kidding.
He was onto a hiding at Sunderland, make no mistake, and regardless what Joe Kinnear says ... I believe the Toon boss 'bottled it' when he told Barton to warm up when Nicky Butt was crocked in the first half.
Barton started to warm up, and I don't think Kinnear was prepared for the reaction the former Man City midfielder got from the Mackems.
Kinnear has defended his decision to keep Butt on the pitch in the Wear-Tyne derby - despite the Newcastle United midfielder needing a half-time injection on his injured leg.
Butt was forced off the field in the first half, and had an injection on a dead leg at the break.
The 33-year-old has conceded two penalties this season and gave away the free kick which was converted by Kieran Richardson for the home side's winner 15 minutes from time.
Kinnear: "Butty had an injection at half time on a dead leg. He wanted to see it out, and I think it froze the pain.
"He felt OK with it. His knee or thigh went tight. He came in and the doctor treated it, and said he was fine.
"I am being criticised for bringing Joey back, but I have got to do the best I possibly can with the squad I have.
"I am not going to listen to people or pay lip-service to anybody. I am playing Joey Barton because he is a good player.
"I am not going to have anybody else tell me different.
I think our best 11 players are capable of beating anybody in that league.
"It is getting your best 11 out on the pitch, that's where the problem arises.
"Obviously some of the players who have come in have not been as good as the ones who have gone out, but if we were to be in a position where we could get our best 11 out week in, week out, I can't see us being out of the top 10.
"It's a must-win for us against West Brom and if we do achieve that, then there's a whole new slant on it, the picture looks completely different.
"We have two home games now to try to get maximum points. If we were to get maximum points from those two home games, then we are taking about being up near the top 10, so the picture changes very easily."
