Barton for Captain?

Captain Barton?
The full-time score read Newcastle 4-1 Wolves at the weekend, but the result wasn’t all sweetness and light and had a rather nasty sting in the tail for fans of NUFC.

Our influential captain, Kevin Nolan, picked up his 10th booking of the season which means that he will now sit out the next two matches against Aston Villa and Manchester United, which is a bit of a problem to be fair as our Kevin vary rarely fails to gee up the rest of the team.

So with the captain out and the vice-captain on the treatment table, who is likely to get the nod to be the stand in? There are a few people who would be capable of wearing the armband to be fair, but I have one person in mind for the role if I’m being honest. That man is Joey Barton.

Love him or hate him, Barton’s contribution can’t be denied. I’m not sure if many people are aware of this, but we haven’t actually won a league game without him this season such is his importance to the side. This, in my mind, makes him the ideal captain for Kevin Nolan’s absence.

I understand that some may not be happy about Barton getting the armband based on his previous troubles, but in my mind they are in the past and what is important is what would be good for the team currently. And I think Barton being made captain for the Villa game at least would be a good thing for the continuity of the team.

You see I don’t think Barton will allow anyone to shirk during the match. We’ve seen it at times this season where Barton has been talking to his teammates throughout the match and encouraging them. There has even been the odd fist pump from him in an attempt to get people up for it. He would be the ideal replacement for me.

As I said earlier though, there are others who could do a job, like Fabricio Coloccini, who has worn the armband before, and Steve Harper who commands respect due to his seniority more than anything even though I’m not a fan of having a goalkeeper as a captain.

We are going to be even lighter on numbers at Aston Villa now, so it’s important that we display a resolve as we come up against a team that, in my view, are much much better than their league position suggests. Sound familiar?

I think Barton could be that man. Do you?

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

51 thoughts on “Barton for Captain?

  1. Barton is a natural captain. Colloccini is too quiet, harper is in the wrong position, Shola is too quiet. the only other candidate for me would be STaylor

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  2. Thats a great link Toonsy. Had to chuckle when that Gadgie goes on about us having better players, better stadium, better city, better looking women, less %age STDs etc 😆

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  3. I agree with Tatty; it’s almost him by a process of elimination, but Toonsy’s also right about his natural leadership.

    The only fly in the ointment is that a captain needs a level head; the ability to talk calmly to the ref and players. In that respect, Joey is fast becoming an expert, no doubt the result of countless hours with very expensive therapists. He showed again on Saturday how he can walk away from deliberate wind-ups and sheer physical attack that would have most of us locked up.

    On the other hand, this is the man that punched a player in the guts a few months ago. If he has another day like that, he suddenly becomes the worst captain in history.

    I’d still give him the armband, though. And I really cannot believe the size of the shift in my opinion that’s come about for me to say that! 😯

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  4. Talking of Saylor, you couldn’t really see from the highlights what position he was supposed to be in or how well he did it – apart from a great bit of work to set Jonas off for his goal. Can anyone enlighten me?

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  5. Whumpie – I think he came on as a third centre back to be honest to help close out the game.

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  6. Joey all day, every day. I wanted him captain before the season started a few may remember, as I thought it’d be the perfect tonic to level him out and give him a bit of responsibility. I think Pardew is nailed on to give it to him to be honest, he sees it as well. God, would LOVE us to beat Villa on the weekend, christ knows they deserve it. I have truly come round to the idea of them going down now, screw my pal, remembering the joy they took (a club from the midlands FFS) boils my ****! Albrighton, Delfounso and Delph to the toon for a combined 10 mil. Lovely job 😉

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  7. Whumpie I think we were going with a 5 man defense when he came on as a central defender. Ranger went to right midfield with Shola alone on top.

    Anyway re captaincy: Barton is a great shout as he has earned it and shows real commitment and leadership. Actually I will just agree with tattyhead @ 4 and save some time writing.

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  8. Whoever posted this comment on the linked article above, thank you – finally made me grin on a Monday morning:

    SAFC4EVANEVANEVA
    Monday, April 4, 2011 at 01:32 AM Right that’s it, I’m sick of this sh*t. I’ve supported SAFC for 40 years but I’m going to start supporting Newcastle United. Looking at the facts, they have a better squad, a better stadium, a better city, better looking women, less sexually transmitted diseases and a higher standard of education. Sorry SAFC, I’ve supported you through thick and thin but it’s just too thin at the minute.

    😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

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  9. Whumpie – it really took him 40 years to figure that out??? 😆 😆

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  10. I sussed it the first time I went through the station. And I don’t think the train even stopped. 😆

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  11. Right that’s it, I’m sick of this sh*t. I’ve supported SAFC for 40 years but I’m going to start supporting Newcastle United. Looking at the facts, they have a better squad, a better stadium, a better city, better looking women, less sexually transmitted diseases and a higher standard of education. Sorry SAFC, I’ve supported you through thick and thin but it’s just too thin at the minute.

    * Report Unsuitable

    from that sunderland message board!!!

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  12. You do look at them and think, “that’s us two years back”. A squad built with unaffordable money given to freeloaders with no passion for the club, results heading only one way, fans screaming for probably the one thing they must not do – **** about with the management.

    As I always do, I want them to finish 17th by goal difference. The schadenfreudian pleasure of there relegation would not make up for the lack of derby matches. But whichever way you look at it, this morning’s situation is just priceless. :mrgreen:

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  13. haha you got there first Whumps. That, my friend, is pure poetry. Surely written by a toon fan though…

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  14. Toonsy – pretty sure it is. The bit about STDs is a bit of a giveaway. But that is 24-carat, top-quality wummage.

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  15. Joey Barton deserves the Captaincy and more for his performances on the pitch and also for turning his personal life around, i cant begin to imagine how hard that has been for him but he did it while being kicked from pillar to post on the pitch and also under a continuous witch hunt by the media.
    Rooney by comparison has been protected and his problems have manifested turning him into the disgusting thug that he is, and its only a matter of time before he does a Cantona.
    I make this comparison because outside Tyneside, Barton is still seen as the ultimate villain whilst Rooney is a portrayed as a passionate often picked on Yoonited star instead of the rshole he is.

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  16. Bobby – Everyone of your comments is a good point 😀

    I agree about Rooney. Risible shitbag. I wonder what story the FA are cooking up now to help him get off with his foul-mouthed outburst,

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  17. Bobby – I think it’s changing with Rooney. He got continuous abuse on the 606 call-in yesterday. About time too.

    That said, I can’t actually blame the attitude everyone outside the Toon Army has to Joey. Take away what he does for our team and what you have to the objective onlooker is a man with a continuously awful record of abuse and violence – including his conduct this season because of that one, stupid punch.

    I don’t try to defend him to non-Toon; it’s pointless. But he has won my respect for the way he deals with the provocation he gets. Incredible control; I wish he could teach a few others.

    Perhaps that’s his retirement plan: coaching footballers on how to not be total arseholes. 😆

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  18. Whumpie – Wait until the FA let Rooney off, which will happen by the way. Mark my words…..

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  19. i defo defo think joey barton should be captain , the lad plays with so much passion !!! hes been class this season and imo be 1 hell of a captain 4 the toon army!!! heres a question 4 yous???? when does the transfer window reopen?? im dying for us to get sum new exciting players, is it june??

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  20. Still brushing up mate. I reckon The Chron will have it as they seem to hang in his every word 😆

    If not I’ll take a stab at it later…. Properly 🙂

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  21. I agree that Rooney will end up with nowt, for exactly the same reason their player wasn’t sent off for a foul when he was the last defender and denied a goalscoring opportunity. One rule for them…

    Fekkin’ FA are as bent as UEFA and FIFA. Like a paper clip having a seizure. 👿

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  22. Army69 – to be honest, I’m more concerned with re-signing Barton and Jose first; additions can wait until we know how many we need.

    Mind you, now we look almost safe (not there yet, mind) it is nice to know we’ve got dosh in the bank ready for the task. That huge £35m gamble could pay off yet.

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  23. Barton punch on Pederson compared to ” Close Line Elbow” by Rooney on the Wigan player is probably the best example of the point i am trying to make.

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  24. roll on 1st june!!! i think we will never keep enrique , he just luks the sort that wud bugga off!! if barton goes then he is mad!!! he wont get any other supporters who love him like we do!! i think hes just waiting to see if we are safe from relegation then he will sign a new deal!!! i really think it should be a chance 4 vukic next season like!!!

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  25. Think Enrique will stay, if we can add 4 or 5 quality players to what we have then the future looks good, quick mention for Geordie legend Steve Bruce, keep it going son.

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  26. I think Jose will sat before that if I’m being honest. I think he will be the first to sign a new deal. Aren’t talks set to open between him and the club?

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  27. Perhaps we’re being a bit rose-tinted here, but I think Jose and Barton will stay – and if they can get them to sign up in the next couple of weeks it’ll mean they can focus on building from the moment the window opens.

    AP’s already squeezed in a little hint to cover his back though, about how complicated the Joey deal is to pull off. Hmm..

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  28. I hate Rooney.
    I hate Ferguson (red nose b****rd)
    I hate Man U
    …and their plastic fans

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  29. I didn’t know that we hadn;t won without Barton, He’s top class.

    I know we want lots of signings but…. don’t you lot think we just need 1 or 2 first team members. eg centre forwards.
    And then we just need a couple of back up players because

    Harper
    Simmo colo willio jose
    barton tiote nolan jonas
    Ben Arfa
    New striker

    Imo ^^^^ is a good team

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  30. Agree with Bobby (22). Joey has done more than enough to prove he deserves a shot at the armband.

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  31. Whumpie @13… the source of the your reported post….

    “SAFC4EVANEVANEVA
    Monday, April 4, 2011 at 01:32 AM Right that’s it, I’m sick of this sh*t. I’ve supported SAFC for 40 years but I’m going to start supporting Newcastle United. Looking at the facts, they have a better squad, a better stadium, a better city, better looking women, less sexually transmitted diseases and a higher standard of education. Sorry SAFC, I’ve supported you through thick and thin but it’s just too thin at the minute.”

    💡

    Could it have been Councillor XXXXXX XXXXXX, Mayor of Sunderland?

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  32. Shola coz he’s a geordie.
    Barton coz he’s a leader.
    Collo coz he’s class and Bartons a bit radge.

    Decisions decisions. 😕

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  33. I dont think there is any chance of him not getting the armband, as he was already promised it for the wolves game when it looked like Nolan wasn’t going to make it.

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