Lee Ryder - Blog on the Tyne

Lee just posted his latest blog on the tyne, reading it he makes some really good points about Twitter and how people are using it:

Rage against the machine - Newcastle United style
By Lee Ryder on Aug 1, 11 10:10 AM

If you had not worked out that we are living in a brave new world which is dominated by modern technology - then perhaps the marbles began to drop one by one on Sunday night when Joey Barton began clattering away on his phone on Twitter just moments after getting on the team bus at Elland Road.

Don't accuse Newcastle players of inconsistency - this was the second Sunday in a row that such an incident unfolded and amazingly from within the same domain as the manager, backroom staff, team-mates and officials.

Unlike, Jose Enrique's rant in Columbus - which came soon after touching down in Ohio - Barton chose his words slightly more carefully.
Nevertheless it prompted a mixed reaction from Toon fans.

Barton turned down the chance to talk to the media yesterday on the way out of Elland Road.

Two weeks ago, he said that what he inserted into Twitter shouldn't make the papers - but if he is turning down his chance to address the majority of fans then he is only adding to a confused mess.

But there were plenty of journalists who scampered around after him to rewrite his Tweets and tell the nation what they'd already read anyway via their mobile phone on Sunday night.

Some sections championed the idea of Barton making his unrest public, while others felt it eroded team spirit, attacking the Scouser for his actions.

In summary, Barton actually said sweet FA and whipped some fans into hysteria via the social networking tool.

His first Tweet: "If only we as players could tell the fans exactly how it is, without them above fining us lots of money. There will be a time and a place."

This translated: "I could tell you exactly how it is but I'm not going to now and I don't want to pick up a huge fine like Jose did, so instead I'm going to let you stew over it."

Many fans have pointed out that this rubber stamps that team spirit is not what it should be.

But in reality, Barton and Enrique are the only players to hit out from an entire squad of NUFC players.

You have to ask, with only two people making the wrong type of noises: Is there more to this whole than meets the eye?

I won't name any names but I have spoken to at least eight players who don't agree with Twitter and have no intention of joining Barton and Co on the social networking tool.

Leon Best actually went public with his views on it stating: "It is more trouble than it's worth".

My observations of the squad going into the new season is that there is nothing more than the usual pre-season apprehension going into a new season.

As far as team spirit is concerned I only hear two voices from unsettled players (one who wants to go and another who wants a new contract after turning one down last January).

I've got a lot of time Barton, I've always felt he is a blessed player that is misunderstood.

I've witnessed all of his comebacks from injury at Newcastle and generally found him a likeable human being, or in football stakes, a normal lad who just loves playing football.

But his Sunday night Tweet has caused unneeded disruption in the camp.

It's OK spouting off when you are actually making a point is fine but if you are actually doing and saying NOTHING or NOTHING NEW, then why bother at all?

He added he didn't want to go through another relegation.

So, he is suggesting we need to sign more players - tell us something we don't know.

Until players are signed and until the current regime come out and say in public exactly what the aims and goals of the club are for the new season, people will jump to their own conclusions.

If Mike Ashley - who never talks to the media - was feeding the local papers with propaganda then you would know all of that by now.

But going back to Tweet-gate 2.

Perhaps, for me, more damage was caused in the Tweet in the bi-product of the rant which involved Danny Simpson and the pair's partnership on the right hand side.

Reading between the lines, Barton is unhappy with left hand side of the pitch.

Simpson Tweeted: "Let's keep our side of the street clean."

Not much consideration for James Tavernier or Ryan Taylor then, the two players who played at left-back at Leeds.

It's a shame for Tavernier really, a player who has been outstanding in pre-season and simply doing an honest job in a position that isn't his.

Anybody who thinks Tavernier is just some kid who was at loan on Gateshead last season needs to smell the coffee.

Tavernier was brilliant in the States and the management at Newcastle really think he can push on this season.

He is basically a right-back and will challenge the position this season.

One day Twitter will simply occupy some blackhole in the middle of cyberspace but for now it is an issue that will continue to cause unrest at football clubs.

Overall, I don't think that Twitter is a bad thing.

Basically, Twitter gives everybody a voice and while freedom of speech is fine by me, it also brings up other issues.

Firstly, everybody feels they are entitled to answers.

Secondly, many people feel they can approach anybody they want without using manners and hurling abuse at the same time.

You can't tar everybody with the same brush because as I say there are some really good points out there, and I for one invite the opinions of supporters and readers.

In years gone by, had somebody penned a letter and delivered it with the document containing the same abuse, there's every chance it would be handed into the police if the recipient took enough offence from it.

Some people on Twitter also don't seem to grasp that just because they have an opinion and they see it up in lights online, then it doesn't mean they are RIGHT.

I think the modern journalist is right to listen to fans and communicate on Twitter and I for one will continue to do so, but only at my discretion.

Generally, my dealings with fans (many of whom I met on Twitter) have been an enjoyable experience and in recent times some friendships have been formed.

I don't mind sharing with you that in my time journalism this hasn't always been the case.

Since I started in newspapers (for several publications) I can tell you that before Twitter I have witnessed more senior journalists simply tear up a letters or fanzines from fans and thrown them in the biggest dustbin they could find before continuing to believe they were the best thing since sliced bread.

So the fact that journalists are even talking to fans on Twitter has to be deemed as progress.

However, just what damage it is causing the one thing that will always belong to the fans, which is Newcastle United, at the moment is an entirely different matter.





Good read IMO

 

i think in all contracts issued from the club they should put in a social networking clause, stating that they should not discuss team or club matters on social media, for example, nile ranger tweets he is in london on the day of one of our league cup games against chelsea, any opposition players or managers can then assume that he is in the team, now do that for the rest of the team, now rival coaches would be able to pick out who is where and doing what, because like it or not, your pumping information out to everyone, even people who can use that against you. i can put money on it that very soon footballers will not be allowed to tweet about the club full stop, positive or negative. and the sooner that day comes the better, because its caused nothing but trouble.

any prem managers on twitter?

imagine sir alex ferguson:

gonna play 4-4-2 tonight cos nani picked up an injury but owen is looking good.


although that example is silly thats in some was what our players are doing when using twitter to discuss club buisness.

 

Good read and a valid point that so far it's only the two unsettled players that seem to be bitching about signings etc, didn't see the exchange on twitter last night but Simmo's "Let's keep our side of the street clean." could be taken several different ways in the context presented here. Anyone read Simmo's posts last night, what context were they in? Was he talking about the right hand side or did he mean keep matters private not tweeting about them?

 

This.

 

Decent blog, but fails to mention the rather coincidental timing of the creation of Barton's twitter acount; the same day as the summer contract negotiations broke down (or didn't begin) and his agent made it public. This 4pm announcement will probably be his last move in turning the fans against the club and making his escape.

 

Defo
And Barton's latest comment just proves what Lee is getting at.

Barton has over played it on Twitter for my liking and probably gone to far with it now.

He has nothing to really loose, so why say wait until 4, just come out and say it!!!!