Darlene Bent loved our fans, city and club... Didn't stop him hiding in a Birmingham city hotel as soon as he heard they were interested.
Barton is a thug of the highest order and will never change: he is probably in the one place where he still will get respect, so I really can't see him moving.
LOTS of things he's done and said suggests that. - He's willing to take a pay-cut of hundreds of thousands of pounds to play here - He's having contract troubles because he wants a LONGER contract - In private dinner talks with fans he's openly said on numerous occasions that he loves the city, he wants to play out the rest of his career here and he wants to live here permanently when his career is over. In the same talk Nolan said he loves the city but he would move back down to Liverpool due to family commitments. So, pretty much everything he's ever done (short of signing this new contract) suggests that he loves the club and wants to stay here. Barton isn't a bullshitter. He's a typical bloke who really gets along with the fans and loves the support. I mean if any player is gonna get along with a typical geordie fan it's gonna be Barton and not some prima donna like Bent or Carroll. The only problem Barton has is the owners upstairs like Llambias and Ashley. He hates them and they hate him. It's probably why he stated himself that he would sign a contract when someone else has bought the club.
You buggers will argue about anything.. Is it true that Sunderlands shirts are red and white but Newcastles are white and black?
I haven't seen enough of him to know if I would want him in the side really; I know that the Newcastle fans adore himand he certainly has a lot of committment but I'm not sure he's as good as he thinks he is. I don't think there's room for two players like Catts and Barton in the same side although Barton does seem to have got his on-field temper under control I'm not sure if it's a new Joye Barton or just a phase he's going through. On balance I'd rather not have him in a Sunderland side - and anyway I do not think for a moment he would come to us; I think his loyalty to Newcastle stretches at least that far, if he leaves it will be to a different club than us.
