My thoughts, 'Bullying is any persistent behaviour that is intended to hurt someone. It can happen anywhere – including at school, at work, online or at home. Examples of bullying include name-calling, making threats, being violent or aggressive, spreading rumours and undermining, humiliating, excluding or pressuring someone.' I haven't a clue who Luke Thomas is, I hope his friends around him give him support as I'm sure these views of him by Joey Barton have mentally scarred him. JB is a nasty bully boy. As reported... “Then to compound it one idiotic young boy – I can’t even call him a man – has compromised the team with his behavioural standards and we find ourselves 2-0 down with a mountain to climb. Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton launches an astonishing outburst at his own player after 'inferior' Peterborough United beat his team. Barton also launched an astonishing verbal assault on his own player Luke Thomas as he was deemed culpable for the crucial second goal in the early stages of the second half. “Unless we man up – and I know you have to be careful saying that in the modern era – and absolutely eradicate these weak, feeble-minded individuals that are currently inside our unit, we won’t get promoted out of this division. “The frustrating thing for me is because of an idiotic decision we find ourselves 2-0 down and they had something to hang onto.
Even if he had a point, JB should have kept this behind closed doors. I couldn't see that LT was uniquely at fault for the second goal anyway. At least two other players could have got a bit tighter and stopped the move, and their winger deserves some credit for nutmegging Hunt and putting in a decent cross. Heat of the moment stuff, but JB shouldn't have aired those comments.
Calling another adult an "idiot" or their actions "idiotic" is not bullying. We've all been criticised harshly before at some points in our lives as adults and mostly we'll take it on the chin and get on with life. I don't agree with what Barton said or the way that he aired his thoughts but that's not bullying.
Apparently according to the WDP he failed to tell JB that he a muscle injury until they were getting ready to go back out for the 2nd half and this led to him not being able to go with the player whose cross led to the2nd goal
Was surprised that JB was so vociferous on Radio Bristol - sounded like the lad has been told a few times?
No idea. I think this is just Barton being Barton. Always someone else's fault. LT is a good player and if you want to get the best out of him, you don't go public like this. Some players will react positively and be spurred on by it "manning up". Most would probably be cheesed off and rightly so. I think Barton has reacted in a way that he would like to be treated himself if he was the player think it works for everyone when it doesn't.
Funnily enough, Barton just said this about it... https://x.com/bbcbristolsport/status/1709275788980146507?s=20
