By Tim Hodges
Gus Poyet feels that some of the fans who criticise Ashley Barnes don’t quite understand football.
The Albion boss thinks that fans should perhaps look at what Barnes brings to the team – not just scoring goals but his movement and his work rate when the Albion aren’t in possession of the ball.
Poyet feels that Barnes deserves his regular starting place on merit. He went on to say that the former Plymouth man ”gives the Albion options, and always wants to win”.
The Albion boss considers the striker is a very important player for Brighton.
Barnes is contracted to the Seagulls until July 2013.
Poyet, however, wouldn’t be drawn on other individual contracts. He said that what concerned him was when a player had a three-year deal and sometimes an agent tried to renegotiate that with 18 months still left to run.
The Albion boss feels that a three-year deal means that they play for three years then, if they are good enough, they can be rewarded with a new deal.
Only a few exceptional players have the right to renegotiate midterm. ”I don’t like player or agents asking for extensions when there is still time left,” the Seagulls boss said.
