Barton slams mediocre signings

Updated 13.56 Mon Apr 23 2007

Keywords: Watford, Premiership, Stuart Pearce, Manchester City, Joey Barton

Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton has pleaded with the club to stop signing stopgaps incapable of pushing the Blues on to a higher level.

The outspoken England international gave full vent to his feelings in the aftermath of Saturday's Premiership draw with doomed Watford at Vicarage Road.

It is not difficult to work out misfiring forwards Georgios Samaras and Bernardo Corradi may be among the players Barton is thinking of

Although he only signed a new four-year contract last summer, Barton has become disillusioned with City's failure to get themselves into the top half of the table.

And he is concerned unless the quality of their signings improves, the club will continue to float along 'achieving nothing'.

Barton said: "I can't help but say to the coaching staff and the manager, we need to buy quality players. I can't get away from the fact we are buying stopgaps; average players who have not really cut it at the highest level.

"We have tried to gamble by signing players who have almost been at the highest level but not quite been worldbeaters, so in my eyes they are average."

He added: "So, we are bringing in average players on top money and they are not producing. There is no coincidence in the fact if you want top players you have to pay for them."

The Liverpool-born player insists he remains committed to City and is pointing fingers at 'everyone' rather than anyone specific.

However, it is not difficult to work out misfiring forwards Georgios Samaras and Bernardo Corradi may be among the players he is thinking of.

The effectiveness of manager Stuart Pearce's transfer dealings has been the subject of intense debate among City fans throughout the season.

Pearce has claimed his club is suffering because of a lack of investment on the transfer front, a situation chairman John Wardle is acutely aware of, hence the desire to sell a 19.09 per cent stake in the club he owns jointly with business partner David Makin.