Five reasons Joey Barton fits Manchester United better than Wesley Sneijder

Joey Barton a better fit at Man U than Wesley Sneijder? Really? Darragh Harkin thinks so and offers five reasons to back up his claim.

By Darragh Harkin

There are a lot of reasons that a club like Manchester United should not sign a player or a person like Joey Barton. So many, in fact, we’d be here all day thinking of them. Instead why not let bygones be just that?

Here are five reasons he would suit them better than a certain Wesley Sneijder:

He’s FREE

First and foremost you need to look at the touted price of both players and you can’t get much cheaper than free. That is unless the team off-loading the player actually gives you money, but that rarely happens. Barton is 30-something million cheaper than Sneijder might be and that’s before you take into account wages.

Manchester United has never been a club short of a few pounds but having already spent very big this summer on de Gea, Young and Jones do they really want to fork out more?

Premiership Experience (The Veron Syndrome)

While Sneijder is clearly the more talented player and could very well light up the Premier League if he arrives, there is always that element of risk involved. People had great hopes for Juan Sebastian Veron when he arrived at Old Trafford but we all know how that ended.

Of course Sneijder being Dutch would make you think he’d easily suit the English League but Barton has Premier League pedigree that we can’t ignore.

No Enforcer

Every football fan and pundit seem to agree that Man United’s main area of weakness is their midfield and in particular the centre of midfield. While Fletcher could be considered a workhorse he’ll never be an enforcer. Carrick, Park, Anderson and Giggs are even less likely to play this role but Barton could easily slot right in.

He has a great engine, can pick a pass and is not afraid to tackle. He would never be a true enforcer like Roy Keane or Paul “The Guvnor” Ince but he certainly would add some needed grit to the Champion's midfield.

Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney

People would also argue that now Paul Scholes has retired United now have no playmaker, but the signing of Ashley Young could change this. Young, who can play in many roles, is being touted for a slot behind the front two or one. He is capable of being a creator and though he could play the attacking midfield or second striker role it’s not very likely to happen. More of a back up plan or extra option, I think.

What’s more likely is that United’s prize possession Wayne Rooney will fill the void of playmaker but in a more advanced role than Scholes. Rooney would relish a role behind a solo striker like Hernandez, with Young, Park, Valencia and Nani in the wings.

If all this did come together United would no doubt need a player to take the ball off the defence and Barton has proved throughout his career he’s not opposed to doing this.

Yes it’s all theoretical, but if I can consider this option the higher ups at Old Trafford have thought of it too. So why spend big on Sneijder when you already have players capable of doing the job?

Sir Alex likes to win

Over the years Sir Alex Ferguson has proven to be a great manager and someone who likes to have a punt, particularly when he’s got good odds on winning. If he took Joey Barton on a free it would be an almost risk-free situation.

Of course Barton could come in and disrupt the harmony of the Old Trafford dressing room but he wouldn’t get away with it for long. He would be forced to do things the Fergie way or get out.

Fast forward a year and Barton’s on his way out of Old Trafford. Fergie can say he tried but it just didn’t work. Barton would probably complain a lot but wouldn’t we all side with the wiley Scot ahead of the whiny Scouse?

On the other hand, if it worked out Fergie would be hailed as a hero once more, something I am sure he would not be too unhappy about.