On March 15, as the first two rounds of the new season were rekindled, Barton's performance was like a bolt of lightning cutting through the night sky. In one of the key matches, Shenzhen and Shenzhen Xinpengcheng, Barton delivered two precise assists, especially under the eyes of the national soccer coaching team of Ivankovic, through the corner kick tactics, he delivered a fatal strike for Grant. The recipient of this honor was none other than Barton, who was recently placed on the national soccer training list by Sporting New Horizons, and who is expected to blossom again under Ivankovic, a coach who is particularly interested in polishing the attacking wingers.
Looking back at Ivankovic's past, his coaching experience in Oman is impressive. The fast defense and counter-attacking tactics of the Omani team were too much for the opponents to handle, and it seems that this tactic will become his secret weapon in coaching the Chinese national team. The new players, in just a few days of training, have deeply experienced the essence of "speed and accuracy", which is Ivan's basic requirement for all players, while "confidence and bold breakthrough" has become his motto to motivate the players.
Ivan's tactical preference is obvious - whether it's a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-1-2, he likes to have breakaway wingers on either side. This is why he has brought in a host of wingers in recent times, including Barton. In the winger position, Barton will have to face as many as eight competitors including Wu Lei, Wei Shihao, Fernando, Xie Pengfei, Lin Liangming, Chen Pu, Xie Wenneng and Dai Weijun.
Of those, Wu Lei, Wei Shihao and Fernando are undoubtedly the powerhouses, and they are expected to lock down a place in the two matches of the new season. Barton's opponents, on the other hand, include Xie Pengfei, Lin Liangming, Chen Pu, Xie Wenneng and Dai Weijun. Judging from the performance in the first two rounds of the new Super League season, Barton has the advantage with more playing time and better athletic condition.
In games against Nantong Zhiyun and Shenzhen Xinpengcheng, Barton averaged 84 minutes of playing time, and he provided key assists for Ademi and Grant. In comparison, his rivals Lin Liangming, Xie Wenneng, Xie Pengfei and Chen Pu also made two appearances, but their average playing time was far from Barton's and none of them scored or assisted.
Barton also has a clear advantage in the offensive stats. He has attempted 12 shots on goal, which ranks fourth in the CSL and is the only local player in the top ten. In terms of passing, Barton has completed 15 passes in two games, six of which have been successful and four key passes. He ranks third in the CSL league in passing, tied for first in successful passes with Zhu Baojie of Shenzhen Xinpengcheng, and higher in key passes than any other competitor. Judging from his performance in the new season, Barton certainly has the capital to make a statement in both games.
In terms of technical characteristics, Barton shows a well-rounded ability in both offense and defense. His tactical adaptability and strong ability to integrate up and down the pitch make him particularly important in supporting the wing-backs. Although the likes of Lin Liangming, Xie Pengfei and Dai Weijun each have their own specialties in terms of breakthroughs and link-ups, Barton's all-round strength is even more impressive.
