FFC Fantasy Football partners,

This week, Joey Barton, and Lee Bowyer were involved in separate on-the-pitch incidents that could have resulted in suspensions, but both have been treated with leniency. While most of you may be wondering why their behaviour is tolerated, SquadGod take a look at their performance stats to find out which player is worth the "aggro".

Common sense would point to Barton, he's the younger of the two (25), and prior to his move to Newcastle, he seemed to be the only thing keeping Man City from the Championship. Bowyer (31) may be in the twilight of his career, but he has still managed to score four goals for West Ham in only 1011 minutes of Premier League football this season. Barton has played a comparable 960 minutes of action, but all he has to show for this is one goal, scored against lowly Fulham back in December. Bowyer has two assists to Barton's one, and 25 shots to Joey's 17 (which suggests that he spends more time in attack).

Defensively, honours are pretty even. Both players have 14 interceptions each, although Bowyer's efforts have contributed to four clean sheets for the Hammers, to Bartons one up at Newcastle. Even if we take into consideration the shocking state of Newcastle's defence this season, and some stellar performances from West Ham's Robert Green, we can't help but feel that Joey Barton has lost that talismanic effect he had at City.

What really lets Bowyer down is his discipline. He's managed to pick up seven yellow cards, and one red, this season. Barton seems to have curbed his foul-play this campaign, and has only picked up three yellows (last season he racked up ten yellows and a red).

Winner: Lee Bowyer

The old saying "it's not the dog in the fight, it's the fight in the dog" rings true here. These are players whose confidence appears to run hand-in-hand with their aggression, and when Joey Barton curbed that side of his game, his performances dipped as a result. Bowyer may not have many years left at this level, but you can guarantee that when he's on the pitch he'll give you his all - even if he doesn't last the full ninety.

Calling all Spartans currently on SquadGod, we have the 300 league. It has a customised scoring system that rewards players who get red and yellow cards, and it's open to all, bar the feint hearted. To get stuck in, click here. 

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