Barton

Don't usually bother reading write ups on sites such as Football Fan Cast, but found for once a neutral has finally managed to see what we do in Joey Barton:

You may be wondering why I’m writing about Newcastle’s Joey Barton for the second time in a week (if you didn’t catch the first article, make sure you check out ‘If it had been Barton…’) However, like many Newcastle fans, I don’t think he’s getting the credit he deserves. While this doesn’t bother me one bit, as long as he’s doing the business on the pitch in the Premier League for Newcastle then I’m a happy man, it seems like many people cannot bring themselves to give the controversial midfielder any praise whatsoever.

This quote from Gareth Roberts, incidentally about the hoo-ha surrounding Wayne Rooney, sums up the way I see Barton largely being portrayed in the media. “Joey Barton has long been the boo-boy of the football world, so much so that rather than being praised for a superb season with Newcastle this year, he seems to have dropped out of the papers altogether: when there’s nothing negative to write about Barton, there’s nothing to write about.”

That couldn’t be more true, in fact there’s little being positively written about Newcastle at all which is a bit strange seeing as they’re a promoted team in the top half of the Premier League, but never mind. Coming back to Barton, the England international has excelled on the right hand side of midfield throughout the season. He’s part of the strongest area of the Newcastle team, with the tenacious Cheik Tiote, exciting Jonas Guiterrez and Mr Reliable Kevin Nolan, but arguably should be regarded above them all for his frequent man of the match performances.

How far Joey Barton has come is illustrated by the fact that Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was set to make him captain against Wolves if Nolan missed out due to illness as expected, an honour he’ll get to fulfil against Aston Villa on Sunday. The game against Wolves marked the return of arguably Barton’s finest hour this season, in a behavioural sense at least. At Molineux earlier in the season Joey was targeted from the off and hardly batted an eye-lid, let alone retaliated. At St James’ Park on Saturday, Barton was once again subjected to a tasty George Elokobi tackle, but I think Wolves quickly realised that they weren’t going to get any joy from the ‘let’s wind up Barton until he cracks’ tactic.

The 28-year-old is clearly in the peak of his career right now and Newcastle deserve to reap the results for sticking by the previously troubled midfielder. Serious contract negotiations will take place this summer, but they should be straightforward enough as Barton wants to stay and Newcastle want to keep him. His agent has said “it’s about the length of the deal”, and given the form and level of control he’s shown this season, Newcastle shouldn’t be too worried about handing him a five-year deal. Barton’s representative also said “he wants to get back into the England squad”, but given the way Joey’s represented in the media, I can’t see Fabio Capello going against the grain.

Given Joey Barton’s past, it’s hard to write an article about him that doesn’t involve either the words ‘controversial’ or ‘troubled’ or both as I’ve just done! However, that shouldn’t stop people writing positive things about him and the way he’s performed this season. Barton is trying to let his football do the talking, so why not concentrate on that? He is a footballer after all. One thing Newcastle fans can be safe in the knowledge of is that if Joey Barton isn’t being written about in the newspapers then he must be playing and behaving well, otherwise we wouldn’t hear the last of it!

A good read
http://www.footballfancast.com/2011...-for-newcastle-star-media-silence-says-it-all

 

A good read indeed and well done Gareth Roberts. Joey has been exceptional this season, a perfect pro.

Barton’s representative also said “he wants to get back into the England squad”, but given the way Joey’s represented in the media, I can’t see Fabio Capello going against the grain.

I'd have thought it was Capello's job to find out for himself how Joey had been performing and not read lazy journo's articles on him to make his judgements. A bit like lazy management to match the journos isn't it.

 

I'd have thought it was Capello's job to find out for himself how Joey had been performing and not read lazy journo's articles on him to make his judgements. A bit like lazy management to match the journos isn't it.

Yes

 

Maybe Cappello has taken a leaf out of Denise Wise's book and has been watching players on YouTube or picks them off of the players ratings on Champ Manager!!!!!!

It's certainly not based on form.

I like how the writer has pointed out how very little is written about NUFC considering they are in the top half of the table after bouncing back from the fizzy pop league. Like Barton unless it's a negative then nothing is written.

 

Capello doesn't even know that the NE of England exists. He thinks that England stops at the M62 and that Scotland is an island. The only reasons NE players have got in are:

1. Welbeck - actually a United layer
2. Carroll - Lots of noise made by Spurs
3. Henderson - Same as above but by United



See...

 

Capello is like the leader of the Press Association. He picks his team through the media, and he bases all of his decisions on comments from various media. And I am not even English!

 

the fact Barton hasn't played for England simply highlights everything that is wrong with the national set up
what a farce

 

You're absolutely right, I think it's more of a clique these days probably since the Sven era, sometimes Capellos behaviour is so outrageous I wonder if it's so he will be sacked.

 

Sven and Capello have both proved to be overrated and expensive failures. They haven't got any National pride and it's just a job and the money they're after.

An English manager for the England job to bring some National pride back into the game is what's needed.

 

Quite right, seems to be the general consensus that the next manager will be Harry Redknap.