Harry Redknapp reckons Joey Barton will one day become a top manager

Harry Redknapp backs his controversial QPR star Joey Barton to be a top manager one day

EXPERIENCED coach Harry Redknapp reckons his controversial midfielder Joey Barton will one day become a TOP-CLASS manager.

By Tony Stenson and Carl Eldridge/Published 20th July 2014



Redknapp said: “I think he’s a manager in the making. He’s got a great knowledge of the game.

“He is a real student of football.

“He wants to talk about it and he did a great job here last season.

“He was an inspiration late on. I felt he dragged us through games at times.”

Redknapp does not like to judge players before he has seen them up close but Barton, 31, gave him plenty to consider.

In 2004 he stubbed a lit cigar into the eye of a young Manchester City team-mate.

A year later, City found him guilty of gross misconduct following an altercation with a young Everton fan.

He received a four-month suspended prison sentence for assaulting team-mate Ousmane Dabo and in 2010 was banned for punching Blackburn’s Morten Gamst Pedersen.





“Once you come and work with him and see what a fantastic trainer he is and how good he is on the training ground, I could not have asked for more”

Harry Redknapp

In 2011 he signed for QPR – where he will be joined next season by Redknapp’s latest recruit Rio Ferdinand.

“Before I met Joey I didn’t know him and like everyone you only know what you read and hear,” said Redknapp.

“Once you come and work with him and see what a fantastic trainer he is and how good he is on the training ground, I could not have asked for more.

“I think he will be a big influence this year.

“I am looking for Joey and Rio to click. I don’t see why they wouldn’t.

“This season is a big challenge.

“It’s only really at Tottenham where I have gone and not had to stop relegation. But now we’re up it’s a good challenge and I am looking forward to it.”





Redknapp also believes that Jack Wilshere’s crafty *** should NOT see his Arsenal career go up in smoke.

The Arsenal midfi elder, 22 was pictured puffing on a cig at a pool party in Las Vegas.

But Redknapp said: “Johan Cruyff, apparently when he was in his prime, was a big smoker.

“I’m not condoning it but an awful lot of foreign players smoke.

“Arsene Wenger wasn’t happy last time he was caught smoking but he is a young player.”

 

I don't doubt that Joey Barton will be around football long after he has hung up his boots; but I wonder whether he will choose a 'safer' career of punditry.

 

I heard he was being touted as the next presenter of Woman's Hour.

 

If Magilton could headbutt Buzsaky what the hell would Barton do if riled?

 

Perhaps, before he enters into football management, he could be sent to the middle east to sort out the problems there. I'm sure his well know diplomacy and tact would be a major asset!!

 

Based on his QT pearls of wisdom - that witnessed him making a misogynistic simile of the four political parties - I'd pay good money to see him wordsmith his way around the concept of Islamic martyrdom and its vision of 72 virgins.

 

I read recently that Islam was in fact compatible with Catholicism in that when a Muslim dies the Pope provides the 72 virgins in the form of erstwhile nuns.