Joey Barton. The driving force in the Manchester City midfielder? Or the arrogant wannabe who thinks he is ten times better than he is? People comment on how he has matured, always offering a hand to players when he has floored them with an atrocious tackle. Always telling the referee to keep his cards in his pocket when Joey has been on the receiving on of one not dissimilar. Is this a true development of the boy who not so long ago requested a transfer form the club who have given him second chance after second after second chance? Or is it simply a cover up of what is really inside this 'new man'? Maybe Stuart Pearce has just told him how to act on a football pitch, to make it seem that the gaffer himself has made astounding progress with him? Maybe not. Only they know. Why did it take a year for the team to realize that Joey wasn't the best set piece taker in the world, despite it being advertised that Manchester City have the worst percentage in terms of getting the second touch off corners? Was that due to lack of ariel ability? Richard Dunne? Sylvain Distin? Micah Richards? Nedum Onouha? Or does Barton have such a chip on his shoulder that he wouldn't let anybody else take the kicks, because he is the best corner taker, until Richard Dunne refused to allow him to take anymore? Stephen Ireland. Young, confident and talented. Plays with his heart on his sleeve. Makes unnoticed tackles and cutting through balls that Zidane in his pride would have been proud of. He covers more ground on a football pitch than a Ferrari Enzo at full pelt. And the most pleasuring thing of all? He never loses the ball cheaply and always makes the correct decisions at the right times. He truly is a breath of fresh air to Manchester City Football Club. Not since we were graced with the stunning footwork of Ali Bernarbis, have we seen such class at our football club. Stephen Ireland - class, determination and just pure joy. Joey Barton?
