Joey Barton is a player who splits opinion at the best of times. The Newcastle midfielder certainly has his fair share of critics, but there are plenty of fans who have good things to say about him too, especially given his performances on the field last season. For the majority of Newcastle’s comeback Premier League campaign he was colossal on the right hand side of midfield, leading the stats on assists and being at the heart of most of the Magpies’ creativity. However, Barton sure knows how to stir up controversy.
Before I get onto Barton, let’s deal with the issue that has caused Joey to speak up; the sale of captain Kevin Nolan to West Ham. This strikes me as a very poor decision. Yes, Nolan is never going to be the all-round midfielder that any team would want, but he was Newcastle’s top goal scorer last season. As captain he also led by example on the field, and with the fee that the Magpies are going to recoup likely to be somewhere around the £3 million mark, Newcastle aren’t example making top dollar out of the deal.
Barton has described Nolan leaving Newcastle as a ‘massive loss’, and I’d have to say I’m inclined to agree with him. While a team doesn’t revolve around a single player and Nolan’s weaknesses are clear for all to see, he still brought a great deal to the club and would have been an asset to Newcastle next season, which they’ll now miss and be without if the deal does go through. In his interview on Sky Sports Barton continued to show that he’s articulate and speaks well, and even his Twitter posts had the right thinking behind them.
Joey Barton wasn’t afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve and upon hearing the news of Nolan’s imminent departure wrote ‘just on my way to Ascot, feel sick’, followed by ‘enough of this football its making me sad’. He also re-tweeted a post from JBcommentator saying ‘staggered that Newcastle are letting Kevin Nolan go, great lad, really good player and the leader they needed…big mistake’; a sentiment I’m sure many Newcastle fans would agree with.
Perhaps where Barton did go over the top was with some of his hashtags, writing #whatgoinonatthetoonffs and #mejoseandjonasnext. The former is something I’m certainly thinking, as we follow up what looks like the signing of a decent midfielder in Yohan Cabaye by letting another solid player go. The latter is something I dread, but it does look like Jose Enrique will also be heading to the exit door, Joey Barton’s days seem to be numbered and you wouldn’t rule out Jonas Gutierrez leaving either; in fact with Mike Ashley in charge you wouldn’t rule out anyone leaving!
Say what you like about Joey Barton, but in this instance he’s talking sense and is reflecting what I believe many Newcastle fans are thinking. The problem with what he’s said, though, is that it’s hardly going to help him get a new contract, and will probably only make him head in the direction of Nolan a little bit quicker. I think what the board need to understand is that it’s all well and good bringing in good new players, but if you get rid of all your current decent players, you’re back where you started. Barton was clearly dismayed by today’s events, and I’ve got to say that I am, too.
No. He should keep his considerably wealthy trap shut. I don’t care what he thinks. He’s an overpaid thug who has convinced people he’s had an epiphany. Fools….don;t be fooled. He couldn;t really give a rat’s, lets face it. All motives and actions are governed by self interest. Twitter? Shut up man. And do it now!
He should keep his mouth shut, simple as!!