Lambert on Warnock and the Barton/Johnson debacle... 'I think some of the comments labelled towards Bradley Johnson have been ludicrous. He is my player and he is certainly not a cheat. If you are going to label someone that then have a bit of substance to it. If you go face-to-face with someone then there is a chance that things can happen. I certainly don't think it is a full-blooded headbutt. That is not the issue I have a gripe with - its the comments after. I know in the heat of the game things can happen. One; Bradley Johnson never went down so for somebody to say he did is totally wrong. Neil did his talking on the television. I am just responding, but my player is not a cheat. He played with great discipline before and after the incident. But those aftermatch comments were wrong. Maybe when you get beat you start to look for excuses and end up blaming everybody else. My lads were excellent on Monday. They played with an enthusiasm and discipline in their game. If you are going to criticise them make sure there is some substance. I have no issue with Joey Barton whatsover. He scored a really good goal, a really good player. Don't have a problem with him or the incident, but I have a problem with other people speaking about my players.' Now we all know that NW says some silly things. He shouldn't have backed Barton, claiming that Barton isn't the sort of player that would cheat (because that's exactly what he is). But I thought Lambert had a bit more class than this. To say that Bradley Johnson played with great discipline before and after the event is ludicrous. Lambert is concentrating on the fact that Warnock claimed Johnson 'went down' (which he didn't), which is an exaggeration on Warnock's behalf, in order to reflect from the fact that Johnson cheated! They're as bad as each other blindly backing their player, if we're going to arradicate play-acting we need the players own managers to condemn them for doing so.
He's just made a rod for his own back next time he complains about an unfair decision. Their good luck has to run out soon, and a shight decision against them will come soon enough - then he'll have to eat those words
To be fair they had some pretty poor luck with penalty decisions earlier in the season. The difference seems to be that they've often got the rub of the green against the sides down the bottom. Two away wins at Bolton and us as a result of feigning injury from a headbutt, a huge deflection and ludicrous penalty to get a draw with Blackburn etc.
You probably don't care but.... Johnson didn't appeal. I don't think anyone's going to deny he exaggerated the extent of the headbutt, which clearly happened. However, apart from that there was no appeal. That's why the game went on for another thirty seconds. And why he wasn't a cheat. All the appeals were for the tackle on Barton by Bennett- the Norwich players thought the ref would dish out a yellow (which he probably should have) and were appealing against that. It was a surprise as much to the Norwich players as anyone else that the ref goes to Barton with a red, hence the expression of Holt. The fact is, what Barton did was a red card offence, even if it wasn't hard. It seems as though the fourth official called it Which is the only explanation for the bizarre refereeing. Evidently, though, Johnson did nothing that was cheating, which is why lambert is absolutely right that to go around pointing the finger as Warnock has done is a disgraceful and pathetic thing to do. I won't deny we had a bit of luck in the decision, but fury should be aimed at the officials, not Johnson. It speaks wonders that he Has, as yet, not received any yellow cards
I don't see how you can say a headbutt 'clearly happened'. Even the officials claimed it was for 'intent' to headbutt, whatever that means, so recoiling away and clutching your nose insinuating you've been headbutted when you haven't is cheating in my book. I'd have far more respect for Lambert if he admitted Johnson feigned it as Tierney did at Bolton rather than denying Johnson did anything wrong.
Barton admitted contact was made on twitter in a tweet to Piers Morgan. Replays show movement of the head- see "Barton's headbutt" by MrNUFC on YouTube. So actually, Johnson did nothing wrong (apart from that stupid poster showing he can't spell- some players are f***ing idiots- but sounds like he got fined for that)
Even if that's the case, it's nowhere near enough to justify that reaction from Johnson and Lambert should be picking him up on it, at least in public although I'm sure he's delighted with how it went, as with Tierney, in private.
I’ve finally given in and had to make a comment on this ridiculous story. It was not ‘clearly’ a headbutt. The only thing that is clear is that it wasn’t a red card. Barton moved his head towards Johnson no more than Johnson did to Barton. I cant think of one non-Norwich affiliated person who claims it should have been a red. It was a reputation sending off, pure and simple and it cost us three points. More appropriate would have been a red card for Whitbread for instigating it with a kick. Lappin should have had a yellow for his foul on Barton and then another for his foul on Young (which is why the ref blew up in the first place before sending off Barton). Lambert knows Johnson is a cheat because he says ‘before and after the event’. Not during!!! Lambert is a cheat (albeit a clever one) because you can be sure that it was a tactic decided on before the game to try and get Barton sent off, which is why Johnson and Whitbread did what they did off the ball.
As i said, the reaction is hardly major, considering the ref's right next to him-he doesn't even bother to appeal. The ridiculous part, as I said, is the action of the ref, and I think it's perfectly reasonable for QPR not to be happy with that process. But to be annoyed with Johnson, for, in the grand scheme of modern footballers, doing very little is "ludicrous"
It was clearly a headbutt. Not a hard one, for sure, but Barton admitted contact and if you watch the video, though not the best quality you can see the head move forward. So it's a fine line, yes, but a headbutt. It wasn't Lappin that did the foul when the ref blew up, that was Bennett, and yes that was a foul and probably a yellow- which is why all the Norich players come over (which is not nice to see I'll admit). But even you can't deny the whole handbags thing before th headbutt was six of one half a dozen of the other. Barton clearly flings his arms in Whitbread and Johnsons face, equally worthy of a red. And at worst Whitbreads is a yellow. I really think it is the ref that was the problem, not Johnson
What difference does it make? The Smiths Listen to the record Joey and move on We lost the game and all he is interested in is alas himself Barton will never learn he hasn't got it in him to walk away
If you're going to pick up on Barton for what went on with Whitbread and Johnson beforehand then I think you have to punish them all equally, as, as you say, it was six and half a dozen. During those few minutes the fairest course of action would have been a yellows for all of Barton, Whitbread, Johnson, Lappin and Bennett but all four of yours managed to get off with nothing while Barton gets sent off for seemingly no more than being Joey Barton and Johnson doing enough to catch the eye of the fourth official. I would add that I don't know how the ref couldn't have seen it as he seems to be looking right at it.
Barton is a hypocrite who should understand the consequences of his persona. Good luck to Norwich, I am sure we will look back on this point in time and view it as a period of growth. Fact is while our future is bright 75% of teams in the Premiership do not have the vision and backing of our owners. We are in the ascendency! Exciting times ahead for the R's!! WE ARE QPR
It wasn't no mor than that... He used his head and made contact. That's a red card offence. That Dempsey didn't get sent off was ridiculous too. But totally agree with you about the ref, their inconsistency is really bad this season
Bennet and Lappin don't look a like and what would Bennet your right mid be doing following our right back ion your half of the pitch. Anyway forget that. It was Lappin an d that is a fact. Still would love to hear from Rob a non-Norwich affiliated pundit/player etc who said it was a red. And Dave nothing anyone says on this board matters so if your using that logic dont write anything yourself
johnson reeled back to make it look like a butt then held his face, and there was no contact or head-butting action from Barton so as far as i see its "simulation", which is a bookable offence..so whichever way you look at it he cheated.
Bennett played at the head of the diamond. It was definitely Bennett and it was Barton, not Luke Young. Lappin was the one who fouled Barton late from behind but didn't get booked.
You mean I've been wasting my time thinking that my thoughts, feelings, indiscretions, hopes and dreams actually mattered? Why didn't anyone tell me!
Deano. Barton admitted contact was made. End of. It's not simulation, though I've already said he made a meal of it, but much less of a meal than he could, or many other players do. He didn't even bother appealing. damage, you're probably right- the ref had already told Lappin no more for his first borderline tackle, so that was a solid yellow. Even if it was Bennett I said it was a yellow, which is what all the Norwich players were complaining about. As for no pundits saying it was a red- we've had a few nutcases saying it wasn't a red, yes, but why? We can see how bad the footage is, it's very difficult to give an exact answer, the reason they say it wasn't (on MOTD they said it was harsh) was that the ref and linesman didn't see it. Thats the only reason. And, though youll laugh, the FA and head of referees have said it was the right decision... It was their fault this charade has happened- ref and linesman. Nothing to do with Johnson. Whatever happened it was a mess of refereeing this match.
That's not necessarily true. If Barton was to go up and kiss Johnson, their heads would touch, but its not a sending off offence. You get sent off for a headbutt, that's headbutt, not a headtouch. Rob, your defending of Johnson is really quite touching. I don't think he is any more of a cheat than the large percentage of football players, but a cheat nonetheless. Instead of going over old ground on here, the main reason for this thread was pointing out my dissapointment in Lambert, who I thought might have a bit more class than Warnock.
