Joey Barton continues to try and impress potential suitors by proving his fitness in pre-season, as the former QPR man goes in search of a new club Joey Barton at St Mary's University gathering training data on his fitness The 32-year-old took part in a daunting VO2 max test Barton was released by QPR at the end of last season following their relegation from the Premier League By John Downes For Mailonline Published: 22:05 GMT, 9 June 2015 | Updated: 01:04 GMT, 10 June 2015 Joey Barton has been working with a strength and conditioning coach at St Mary's University in Twickenham, gathering training data on his fitness. The 32-year-old, who recently gained three million followers on Twitter, has been trying to prove his fitness on social media - ostensibly to attract clubs to his availability given that he is currently a free agent. Barton was among six players released by QPR following their relegation from Premier League. please log in to view this image Joey Barton has been trying to prove his fitness to his three million Twitter followers please log in to view this image Barton (right), seen here in action for QPR against Liverpool last month, is looking for a new club please log in to view this image The combative midfielder bid farewell to the west London club after being released following relegation The Merseyside-born midfielder played 28 times for QPR in the Premier League last season, scoring one goal but couldn't help his side from finishing bottom of the league with just 30 points from 38 games. Barton left QPR on good terms, thanking the club's fans, chairman, board, managers and teammates that he worked with during his four years at Loftus Road, and in a statement admitted: please log in to view this image Barton passes the ball under pressure from Everton winger Aaron Lennon at Loftus Road this season please log in to view this image Chelsea midfielder Ramires tries to get close to Barton in one of his best performances in a QPR shirt 'I was devastated that we went down this season but can hold my head high knowing I gave 100 per cent every single time I pulled on the blue and white hoops and hope with everything that the club can bounce back up straight away.' Bobby Zamora, Rio Ferdinand, Richard Dunne, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Brian Murphy were also released. please log in to view this image Any club signing the midfielder would benefit from his years of experience in the Barclays Premier League please log in to view this image Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3117493/Joey-Barton-continues-try-impress-potential-suitors-proving-fitness-pre-season-former-QPR-man-goes-search-new-club.html#ixzz3cdRhGlMV Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Joe B is a heart on the sleeve player - and, provided he continues to curb his 'red mist' moments, would be a decent addition for any championship club for at least another couple of seasons. Whether he is 'good' enough' for the PL is debatable - possibly a couple of years ago, but last season it felt like he was relying too much on his engine to get his out of trouble and in the top flight that gets you found out. But then in a better team, with more support around him? After his last day idiocy (and absurd 'explanations' against City in 2012 I never wanted him to play for the club again - and said so - but he does seem to have 99% conquered his anger issue and gave as much as anyone last season. Despite this, it is absolutely time to move on - with muted thanks. I don't think we will miss him as much as he might think/hope - but we are hopefully taking a different path to rebuilding our club/team and his presence is too much of a reminder of mistakes that were made. One further thought, at this stage in his career he must be thinking about life after playing, and he is probably weighing up the media vs coaching options, and given his media profile, that would probably be the direction you would expect him to go. That does suggest that he will be trying to ramp up his profile in the next couple of years, and we really don't need any more of the JB show - hopefully with him and Harry gone the circus will move on to another town.
