Joey's performances were a stark and welcome contrast to many of the players who joined us around the same time as he did. He was always prepared to give 100% and, unlike so many others, he really seemed to care. Ironically, this was reflected in the number of times he was sent off, which badly let us down on occasion. Nevertheless, I will clap him.... until the game starts.
Eh?! Barton caring being reflected in him getting sent off in crucial games?!
What a load of rubbish and summarises the relentlessly rose tinted view and positive spin on every negative.
Have a proper look back at the red cards. The
actual theme running through this was his own ego coming before the club.
City red- individual spat with Tevez. Can't stand him getting one over on him so lashes out at him. Not giving a **** that a loss could mean relegation.
Norwich red- again his ego comes first. Yes it was harsh but responded to bait from Johnson because of that ego.
Hull- again can't have Huddlestone getting one over on him and lashes out. Again at no point was he worrying about the club. He was worrying about his
individual battle with no thought for the consequences.
If he knew his limits and tackled and did an easy pass like a Derry he would have been a decent player but instead because of that ego he sprayed **** passes all over the places and insisted on
taking every set piece despite the consistent lack of quality.
But even if you forgive that lack of quality it can't be argued the reds were because he cared because in those moments he was only worrying about himself.
The Hull red could have meant 3 points. Then think game against Leicester with a chance of survival could very easily have been a win. That would have meant we only needed 2 more points for survival against what we got in games like Spurs, Everton, West Ham Chelsea or Arsenal at home.
With those 3 points season really coud changed but because of Barton's ego we never got to find out