Barton is gone, Distin is gone, Beasely is back at PSV. I hate to say this, but it will be a struggle to avoid relegation unless this team starts to buy some good players.
The guy has undoubtedly got issues and he's probably not a very nice person, but I don't think City fans are giving Barton enough credit for what he did for us on the pitch. He gave it everything he had every game, something that can't be said of most of the team last season. He always showed the City fans a lot of respect and win loose or draw never failed to come over to aplaud the away fans and hand his shirt to a kid in the front row. I reckon was desparate to succeed with City and a lot of the the stupid stuff he did was out of frustration that the team weren't achieving more. After what happened he couldn't stay but I we're really gonna miss his drive next season. I suppose one good thing about Barton and Distin going - at least that's 2 players off our books who count Willy McKay as their agent...