On-loan French player Djamel Abdoun, has hit out at Joey Barton today over the recent training ground incident.
From eurosport.co.uk:
Yes, I know players are over-pampered and soft these days, but is it a fact that Pearce - generally considered one of the 'old school', does struggle to communicate and integrate the foreign elements into the side?
There is clearly a problem that persists, and if Pearce (or his coaching staff) are failing to spot it, or worse, turning a blind eye to it, then surely this is something else that can be added to the list of reasons stacking up to support a change in manager.
From eurosport.co.uk:
You wonder what role Stuart Pearce plays in this as we have seen Barton question the foreign signings and Richard Dunne went on the offensive before the Blackburn defeat, as the likes of Hamman, Beasley, Trabelsi, Corradi and Samaras have either struggled or been slow to assimilate into the side and show anything resembling decent form.
Manchester City midfielder Djamel Abdoun has
blasted Joey Barton following his training-ground fight with Ousmane Dabo. He
said Barton picked on Dabo because he would not fight back, and claimed the
midfielder acts like "he is the Zidane of Manchester City".
"Joey Barton is a
coward. The marks he left on Dabo's face were shocking. Ousmane was unlucky to
be caught up in it," said Abdoun.
"He would not hurt a fly, and Barton knew
it - he would never have picked on someone like Sylvain Distin, Hatem Trabelsi
or Bernardo Corradi.
"Ousmane just pushed him and did not aim a blow, but
Barton hit him with punch after punch.
"Barton simply does what he likes. He
acts the big star - he thinks he is the Zidane of Manchester City, but he is
just a player like any other.
"He is an over-inflated footballer. He is way,
way off from being a Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard.
"Manchester City is a
great club but the problem is that they have foreigners on one side and English
players on the other.
"If the two halves manage to bond together City can
finish in the top six - but that good mentality does not exist.
"In the
dressing room the foreign players will sit on one bench, and the English players
on the other side. I noticed it straight away when I arrived.
"It's time
City's people realise football is a team sport, and stop telling the papers the
foreigners are to blame for their position.
"The clash between Barton and
Dabo symbolises the two factions at the club.
"And the guy who started it is
the one who is always creating havoc - this is not the first time he has been
involved in something like this."
Yes, I know players are over-pampered and soft these days, but is it a fact that Pearce - generally considered one of the 'old school', does struggle to communicate and integrate the foreign elements into the side?
There is clearly a problem that persists, and if Pearce (or his coaching staff) are failing to spot it, or worse, turning a blind eye to it, then surely this is something else that can be added to the list of reasons stacking up to support a change in manager.