This.
After our defeat to celtc we've been left a bit weakened in the media, almost as if some "neutrals" have been eagerly awaiting a slip up to plunge the knives into our backs. You can see this today in the papers with Warburton and how they're now trying to set him up as a joke figure.
Before our defeat you had people like me who have always been sceptical about Barton's personality and ability and how that would mix with our great club of tradition and high standards and you've also had those who admire Barton and think he's a cracking player who strolled the championship and has seemingly grown out of his previous personality lapses..
So we've had two distinct, prevalent opinions on the go, now the media have had the chance they've taken full advantage of our vulnerability and are winning over the middle ground and those that were indifferent on Barton by making this whole situation out to be bigger than it is. Setting it up as Halliday vs Barton. It's not that deep. We need to stay strong and not end up more vulnerable, the media want nothing more than us to be infighting over Barton, we're bigger than this.