Barton: Great player, poor attitude.
Once everyone has calmed down, decided to put the bed sheet down (going to run out of things to sleep on soon) and decided the battle of being an internet warrior is a futile one, Joey Barton leaving may be seen as a fair and reasonable decision.
We currently have a burgeoning midfield. As it stands we have Hatem Ben Arfa, Cheik Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez, Sylvain Marveux, Haris Vukic, Dan Gosling, Danny Guthrie, Alan Smith, Shane Ferguson and Yoahn Cabaye. We also have youngsters such as Sammy Ameobi, Michael Richardson, Yven Moyo and Mehdi Abeid that are looking to push through. That’s 10 senior midfielders alone discounting Joey.
There is also his attitude and temperament which has recently been called into question again. If you believe reports in the papers and listen to his agent you’ll hear that Barton was upset at not being able to take free kicks and corners and was upset at not being made Captain for the Leeds game.
This for me is just childish and disrespectful. It was a friendly and Cabaye took Lille’s set pieces last season, what’s the harm in him having a go? On the captaincy, less than a month ago Collocini was handed the armband and Barton was quoted as saying ‘I’ll be a leader without an armband and I’ll be there for the lads regardless’ what’s changed from this standpoint?
His twitter crusades have also done nothing but harm to him and the club. We all know Ashley is a tight-fisted git/financial saviour (delete upon opinion) so Barton knew exactly where all of these tirades would lead. I don’t care what anyone says, if you constantly undermine and verbally abuse your boss you’re going to be out on your ear. Just because your boss is the boss from hell doesn’t mean you can say it. A footballer is no different.
With his contract rightly or wrongly not getting renewed maybe it’s better for both parties that we ‘mutually part ways’ now. Barton is a top player, who will probably go to a top side but he hasn’t done himself any favours recently.
I’m not sure whether the style of play Alan covets accommodates Joey Barton either. He can pick a pass but for me works better with a Carroll type striker he can put the ball on the head of. We don’t have or seemingly want that type of player. He also is a far better CM than RM and with Tiote, Cabaye and Ben Arfa taking these roles maybe it would be better letting Barton go and bring in an out and out winger instead?
In conclusion I think the decision to let such a talented player leave on a free transfer baffling although this may be down to the fact that we have yet to field an enquiry for him, the handling of the situation was also terrible, but then again I wouldn’t expect anything different on that score.
The baggage that seemingly comes with Barton outweighs positives for me however. I know a lot has changed in the last two years but at the time many were incredulous that we hadn’t sacked him after his indecencies. He has turned down a new deal, he acted like a child at the weekend and I’m not sure his style of play fits with Pardew’s.
I think letting Barton go is also the final nail in the Hughton era and we can put a lot of nonsense and rubbish behind us. Barton is a top player and a big character but there have been plenty over the years and someone has always come in and shown the quality to allow us to forget them so hopefully Barton will be gone and hopefully forgotten.
Or to steal one of Barton’s own twitter ramblings “the king is dead, long live the king”.
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Good article- I too am suprised at the amount of fuss for barton. The way he is hiding behind twitter to say how everyone is spouting lies in the paper is just boring and tiresome.
Either shut up and get on with repaying the fans who stuck by you when you were in jail and start rebuilding your reputation with the manager or just skidaddle.
I think the latter will be the case. He has burned his bridges by slating the club again and again…..do you think wenger would look at him and think he would be a smart acquisition? What happens if wenger sells fab and nasri will joey start critising his new club??
Absolute cracker of an article. Complete and utter truth every bit.
Routledge has barely had a mention the past few days and what concerns me is not so much who is going but how thin our squad is looking.
I hope there is some grander plan happening as in the past the board have been exposed as having none at all with apologies and explanations about players missed out on on the last day of the window.
Yes, the wage bill needs to be reduced, in particular Smith, Xisco and other highly paid non producers need to go.
But all the effort seems to be in this direction and strengthening seems to have gone on hold, if Enrique goes, we are left with 3 centre halves, 1 right back and no left back ( senior players), Ba up front and the possibility of Shola as captain, scary.
Alan Brazil on talksport is confident big money will be spent, lets hope so or we will be in a sorry plight come next weekend if we dont.
The title should have been ‘The Queen is Dead’ to keep The Smiths quotations going…
Robert what did brazill say? did he enlarge on that comment?
Very good and poignant article. How people have not realized that both the board and Joey are responsible for this is beyond me. Yes, it would have been nice for his contract to have been extended just to have him available, but if he was going to act like a spoiled brat everytime he was over looked in the squad, then good riddance.
How would brazil know anything about what is happening with incoming transfers. The only way we’ll believe anything is if players actually start coming in
Enrique came out and said the same as Barton so y is he not on a free transfer ??? in my eyes both were calss for us last few years.
Cheers lads, Should have got the queen is dead in there. I didn’t metion routledge as he’s having a medical at swansea today and i expected him to be gone when the article was put up. I’d also like to add i’m not on either side of the fence (Ashley/barton) just feel it might be better for everyone if he left.
I had also said i’d of let enrique go as i wouldn’t want double standards but that has been edited out…. (Toonsy!!!!)
Barton’s latest outburst criticised the Board for publishing inaacurate and false statements about him (most notably v Leeds), and I for one believe these need to be taken with a pinch of salt!
The Chronicle is being used by the Board to upset the majority who support Barton and believe his points (not how he’s delivered them!).
The EXACT same thing happened when Carroll left, they published that He had asked to leave just to turn people against him – do NOT believe it. These are extremely shrewd and clever business people.
With that being said, I agree with the argument about it being hard to fit JB into the team the way things are looking and the aquisitions that we have made.
I thank JB for his last two years of service, and hope he can go on to a good Club and show people/the doubters what he can do in a good team – just a pity its not with our beloved Toon.
Xisco and smith are hopefully gonna be loaned out for this last year. No way will anybody buy them with the wages they are on.
Just realized that I don’t recall hearing about Xisco at all when the reserves were in holland. Heard about Perch and Routledge though. Wonder what is being done with the Spanish flop right now
Lets just hope Cabaye can handle the PL then.
But it’s worth noting that come the end of this week we will probably only have one decent striker, no left back, no right winger and bench that will look more at home in mothercare.
We can actually make a bit of money off Jose though
Rorycn – Aye I took the Jose bit out to keep this about Barton
Wrighty, there has to be some truth to the Leeds bust up as an entire squad full of people would be able to disprove it. That wouldn’t look very good at all to our new signings! They’re probably questioning things enough as it is. Would u rather believe a local news article that could very easily be disproved, our a player who is desperately trying to push his way out while still (stupidly) trying to show that he only cares about the fans whose club his actions have put in jeopardy?!
It was also his agent who said Barton was pissed about the armband and set pieces. Not The Chronicle
Any new employer is going to go through the same problems his current one is. What amazes me is Barton seems to be looking for a bigger pay packet as a result of this. At best he’ll end up at a club with Europa football but there is no way an English camps league club with risk upsetting their existing squad by bringing him in. We’re well shot of him…he’s engineered this exit all by himself and it disgusts me that he does it.whilst hiding behind the “pride” of playing in black and white, some fans are sadly too thick to see through it. I can’t blame them for thinking with their hearts but wake up and see that he’s been taking us all for a 60k a week ride.
The summer is turning out to be the unexpected. Well, at least for me.
Hope Barton come out and tell us all the truth.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/8678309/Mike-Ashley-is-brave-to-fling-mud-from-his-particular-spot-on-the-sidelines.html
What a moby!
I noticed the fact that we’ve missed another striker target has passed under everyone’s radar.
Funny how everyone who was going to cost us money has ended up not coming…
stu get ready for relegation matey
“Who could forget that Ashley cost his shareholders £200,000 when he resorted to using a game of spoof to settle a disputed bill”
Fecking class
Im a bit fed up of this cabaye nonsense really; the lad can play he is a french international he may struggle for a few games but the lad is class and that will no doubt shine through.
so todays rumours are we have sold jose to liverpoolfor 5mill + ngog..is this our new number 9..
Willie Mckay has done his player no favours with his recent comments. So, Joey is in fact just another greedy player….It’s a shame because it exposes his Twitter rants for what they really are. No matter how much truth there is in his words, we know he is just trying to paint himself as something hes not.
Greedy, lying players
My last line was supposed to say, “greedy, lying players taking on greedy, lying owners…What has happened to this sport?”
Wnat this all smacks of is that ashley and lllambias are incredibly arrogant to think that they can conduct their business the way they do.
batty – I’m not saying that yet, but if morale is so low and we let Jose and Barton go we will have a smaller squad than we had last year and it wasn’t exactly a cake walk last year was it? Add to that we will have lost our best defender, best creative midfielder and two top goal scorers when you stand back and look at the facts we could be in trouble.
No Hitman our new No9 is machida from Man Utd on loan. We can`t afford to buy one so they are negotiating a loan deal surprise!!
stu i know your not mate but i am
AndrewT
August 3, 2011 at 08:38
How would brazil know anything about what is happening with incoming transfers. The only way we’ll believe anything is if players actually start coming in……..
alan brazil is partial to a freebie or 2 & it appears this is exactly what he is getting from from wor – del boy – in exchange for becoming the clubs mouthpiece over the airwaves.
he’s a discredited character himself so he’s in good company.
Good article mate& agree with what you say the man simply has to go.This all started months ago long before twitter,he was doing a lot of slagging off at talk ins & has not kept his gob shut since.After his contract was withdrawn he said he would stay for the remaining year and do his best for the club then leave on a free,so WHY has he still been spouting off,did he think he was untouchable & there would be no repercussions.In my humble opinion(right or wrong) he found himself in the same situation as Nolan in that his position in the starting 11 was not guaranteed, did he not say himself, younger, better, cheaper. Well I think the cheaper quote can only be down to wages as I bet none of the new players are on the same money as he is.Was some of our football last season really poor,ok we ground out a few results through grit & determination but we were sadly lacking pace& creativity. We will have that now due to the players that we have brought in & the players we already have here who did not feature last season due to injuries etc,hence the “better”quote.I honestly think we will do well this season& the team spirit will be just as good if not better without Joey,he is a bad egg& he has to go.Anyway he is still leaving on a free,which we all knew was going to happen,its just come a bit sooner than what he thought.He has caused a rift among supporters as regards this situation,some for some against,we are 2 weeks from the start of the season, are these the actions of a man who loves the club as much as he says he does,to me they are not,if he loved us that much he should of let his feet do the talking not his big fat gob.The sooner he is gone the better we will be
Joey7Barton Joseph Barton
Just because ur told to jump, it does not necessarily mean u have to. I may choose to stand perfectly still. It’s my right…just a thought
Hitman he loves stirring it up doesnt he !
reading between the lines….no one wants him
The majority are on Barton’s side? The Chronicle is NUFC’s propaganda machine?
What have people been smoking? I have another quote to describe Barton:
“Good riddance to bad rubbish!”
Makes me laugh -certain posters knees are knocking more than Olive Oyls as Bluto came knocking at the door.
If you don’t trust Ashley – Trust him to do what’s right by him. That means all due care will be taken to ensure we are strong enough for the new season to push for the top 10 and beyond.
We get more money for finishing higher and relegation last time stung him badly in the pocket. Anyone who thinks relegation is a good thing for him is docile. Anyone who says he is gambling on staying up is foolish – as spending more than you have is a far more reckless gamble
So man up Hissyfitters!
We must get rid of JB asap he is now taking the piss with his twitter comments and making us the laughing stock of the country. It has gone beyond a joke, do what shearer did ban him from the training ground and get rid.
If you don’t trust Ashley – Trust him to do what’s right by him. That means all due care will be taken to ensure we are strong enough for the new season to push for the top 10 and beyond.
In other news, seems like Manure is ready to sell Berbatov to PSG.
Wonder who will be deemed surplus to requirements when that happens…
A welcome distraction from the tiresome JB talk in any case.
Hitman – reading between the lines its Barton saying that he wants his contract paid up to leave now (or at least part of it).
Can you remember when you were in prison Joey? This Leopard looks like he hasn’t changed his spots.
Great article – agree on all fronts.
My main gripe at the moment – as someone stuck 400 miles away, is the piss-take that’s happening. And it’s not based on Barton directly, it’s about the fans getting their bedsheets out because of it.
If you want to know how the rest of the world feels about something you’re too close to to see clearly, the satire writers are a good place to start. This just about sums it up:
http://www.thenewsgrind.com/news/uk-news/joey-barton-latest-newcastle-united-rethink-sign-a-lunatic-transfer-policy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheNewsGrind+%28The+News+Grind%29
Those calling for heads to roll because they’ve sacked Barton need to read this (it’s pretty funny anyway), take a deep breath and get some perspective IMHO. You are NOT helping.
Barton is just as full of shite as the man he is attempting to expose.
Total fcuking hypocrite.
The sooner he fcuks off and takes his scumbag shit-stirrer of an agent with him the better.
The things he says on twitter are just the tip of the iceberg imagine what he must be like on the training field and dressing room “Love the club ” my a***
We also do’nt need anyone to trigger off the idiots among us Pitch invation at Darlington Booing at Gateshead.You can list as many players as you like this is not the way to attract them. Also Joey by quoting George Orwell etc.. dose’nt make you any less of a******** Try reading “IF” by Rudyard Kipling
A welcome distraction will be this weekend with the fizzy and charity shield start again…
Just spoken to my old pal who lives in newcastle and he walked into carver yesterday and carver apparently said that team spirit hasnt been affected and things are carrying on as usual…… mmmm
My mate asked why the club were not saying anything on transfers ; but he wouldnt say anything other than players will come in.
Mate said he great chap but gave nothing away.
JohnnyBrookes // Aug 3, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Anyone just hear that on talksport?!!! “Joey Barton was offered a take it or leave it, non negotiable contract, which HALVED his wages, and the club are leaking info to smear his rep”.
You named 10 senior midfielders, Barton is better than 8 of them. Ben arfa wont play right midfield. And at the end of the day Joey is a top player in his prime, why the hell would you want to lose a player of his calibre if you didnt have to?
Stuart: agree with your summary of the squad to some extent, i.e. this bit:
“But it’s worth noting that come the end of this week we will probably only have one decent striker, no left back, no right winger and bench that will look more at home in mothercare.”
But I’m not sure how you can claim that we have a thinner squad, even now. We’ve got Gosling, Benny, Cabaye, Marvaux and Albeid to play with. Even assuming Benny and Jose go that’s still 2 up from last year (unless you mean a year ago, I suppose). And it seems likely that they can cover Nolan and Barton’s spots very well indeed.
Let’s not forget that we have an entire month of the window left to go, and the majority of business is usually done within those 30 days. I believe we will get the striker and LB… but I’m not convinced they will be the long-term solutions. That may have to wait another year, especially now Barton and co have slapped our shitty laundry in the public eye again.
As the club have been saying for years now: steady, sustainable progress. Don’t expect Messi to turn up just yet.
If someone offered me 60k a week, I jump as high as they wanted!
TC – eloquently and perfectly put
I wondered this weekend after McKay backed the club that Joey backed out a deal he had agreed and the fact Joey was ‘up a height’ re not taking free kicks and being made captain – that even McKay recognises Joeys out of line this time, he seems to be laying the blame for the contract change at Joeys door not his – and trying to get himself back in with the club.
Josh: when a player is as toxic as Joey, you DO have to lose him.
And he ain’t all that, either. Cabaye totally showed him how to take set pieces at the weekend and he knows it.
smear whos rep…he got no rep…hitman u got more rep…
Here’s a new thought: Does anyone else think maybe Joey’s fallen off the wagon?
Seriously – his recent tweets do sound a bit, um, Gazza.
andy gray on talk sport says the offerd him a take it or leave deal whiched halfed his wages..
this carnt be true..
Whumpie: I dont believe Joey is toxic to the squad, he tells the truth and if you consider that being toxic to the squad there is serious problems at Newcastle. I agree Cabaye is a top draw player but so is Joey and you forget Cabaye has never played in the prem, Joey has for many a year.
a doubt it whumpie,i think he has a kid on the way,mybe he is just settled and dosnt want the upheavel of moving so close to the birth of the bairn..
What’s the point in listing all the midfielders we have, when they do completely different jobs? It’s like saying for Enrique’s replacement we have loads of defenders, and listing centre halves, right backs and keepers. Plus, we’re talking about our most incisive passer, the brains behind the moves in the team, so listing the likes of Guthrie and Smith is just pointless and misleading. In terms of a footballing brain and vision we don’t really have anybody to compare. Perhaps Cabaye may be able to do the job, but we’ll have to see.
As for Barton’s alleged little tantrums about the captain’s armband and free kicks, we don’t really know do we? We don’t know what has gone on behind closed doors and whether this is all just a result of the frustration that hs built up over the summer. It seems conjecture is only allowed to be used when it suits certain viewpoints.
I agree you can’t go abusing your boss on a public forum and not expect to suffer the consequences (two week fine in this case), but to concentrate on that would be missing the point. This isn’t about Barton doing that. It’s part of a much bigger picture. One employee saying something out of line is a whole different ball game to four or five. Yet still people are focusing on his critical tweet and not seeing it as part of what is really going on.
There’s discontent there on a big scale, yet let’s all concentrate totally on villifying Barton under section 14.6.5 of the Employee’s have to behave at work Act. Let’s ignore all the rubbish that’s at the core of this discontent amongst the workforce. Whatever you do, don’t acknowledge something is wrong.
I find it astonishing that you think our player of the season is being put on a free because nobody would bid a penny for him. You really think nobody would buy him? Even for a million quid? And we are actually talking a million quid here. We’re not talking five quid petty cash. Remember, this is the club who wouldn’t budge over a million for the Swansea full back to replace Enrique. We’re talking tight arse grab every penny you can here, yet we just let him walk out of the door for free?
There’s only one reason he’s on a free, and it’s to get rid of him before he blows the lid on the whole load of shenanigans going on behind the scenes. Ashlley cannot stand people voicing a critical opinion, hence the disgusting decision to remove the level seven singing section. This free move makes NO commercial sense whatsoever.
I’m still at a complete loss as to how the baggage Barton WAS carrying has suddenly reappeared as a problem due to one or two tweets. I don’t recall much being said about any baggage last season. In fact he was lauded more for his handling of situations such as that disgraceful attempt to wipe him out of the game when we played Wolves. Yet all of a sudden, click of a button and it’s back to baggage time.
Convenient stuff if he were to ever put a foot wrong ain’t it?
I think everyone is missing the big picture, Letting Barton go like this is making the club look silly. We are a laughing stock…. Nobody will take the club seriously and attracting good home players will be near impossible. The only players that will come are foreign ones who just care about money…. I reckon we will go down this year and it’s only what the board deserve. We have spent nothing of the 35 million(In reality) and i don’t expect us to. If there is a younger, better cheaper version of Barton out there, I really don’t see him wanting to come to Newcastle!
Hitman – if the club wanted to offload him after him refusing a contract – why smear him – with Bartons contract it makes others less likely to sign him. Doesn’t stack up that one fella
Joey tells the truth?
Haha – I swear I’ve heard it all now.
The bloke has been proven to be a liar in a court of law – just like Ashley – the man many on here would have you believe is the devil incarnate.
What a hoot this is turning out to be.
His agent is Willie MacKay????
I think we can figure it all from here.
If ever anyone could manufacture a reason for a move
and put on a show, MacKays the man.
This is the guy who brought us, among many others, Boumsong for gods sake
Maybe, what with Carroll, Nolan and Enrique doing a bunk, someone saw the chance to try to make a few bucks
I can imagine the conversation now
“Mr Llambias – my client Mr Barton is not very happy, we may have to consider looking at the many other irons that we have in the fire if you dont ………..”. “CLICK! BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Memo to John Carver;
Please arrange to have Mr Bartons personal belongings boxed up and forwarded to Mr MacKays office, send someone who’s not working.
Joey Barton – “You did what????”
MacKay “Dont worry Joey mah boy. We can still swing this. All you need to do is kiss the badge and quote Orwell. We’ll have you playing for Leyton Orient in no time. The secret is to make it look like your choice”
Rorycn – you’re not sure Barton’s style of play fits with Pardew’s. What is Pardew’s style of play? Do you know it? I don’t, not least because this is not Pardew’s team. Pardew himself said he wanted to make the signing of Barton his top priority. This is Billy Dainty’s team and this summer is his pantomime season. Barton is just side show Bob.
Stardy – It is pathetic that we’re just over a week from the start of a new season and we’re still on a desperate pursuit of a centreforward – that’s if Pardew is to be believed.
Michael
“There’s discontent there on a big scale, yet let’s all concentrate totally on villifying Barton under section 14.6.5 of the Employee’s have to behave at work Act. Let’s ignore all the rubbish that’s at the core of this discontent amongst the workforce. Whatever you do, don’t acknowledge something is wrong”
The answer is straight forward and on the record. NUFC will not give ageing player huge contracts anymore. We are no longer a gravy train and players hate it. Tough titty I say. Go join a mug club who are happy to overstretch themselves and go busto.
dublintoon..your missing the point..english more then any1…ask for more money not foreign players..what world do u live in….english players per money they get are shit…when a foreign player comes he plays welll then like tiote is worth more money….i.e mod from spurs…he scores 2 goals 2 assets and thinks hes the bees knees and wonts to move…they are all a joke..u got more chance of getting relegated from this blogg then us going down…this league is that shit..even u could play in it..
Pardews old side played ball on the floor and got at teams he’s also said he wants to bring pace to the side and all reports say we have been working on keeping the ball and using a bit of nouse, we are also ‘trying’ to buy a striker that plays off the shoulder. I’m not saying bartons a bad player but for me his best asset is putting the ball on the head of a striker and that doesn’t look to be the way we are going to play. It’s a big decison but i just think it is best for barton,ashley,newcastle and the fans if barton leaves. There is clearly animosity, he’s not happy that cabaye looks like he’s pardews main man and he doesn’t have as big a say as under hughton. Ashley wants rid/save wages. The team get rid of a clearly unhappy player and we, hopefully, can get back to doing what we do best supporting the team (And complaining about a lack of transfer activity).
Nobody really knows what has been happening.
Barton isn’t the most trust worthy guy in the world and we all know that Ashley and Llambias are proven liars so who’s right is anyone’s guess!
Laudrup – you crease me up mate.
Same old “poor old Joey being picked on ” again.
Its called living with the consequences of your actions mate and applies to anyone and everyone.
Enrique didn’t have Bartons baggage and he also got the 2 week fine
Barton was offered the chance of a roll over at the end of the season, but like Nolan, turned it down.
I have guys working for me who are on warning letters and probation. If they screw up again within a certain period of time – they’re gone.
Think “suspended sentence”
Regardless, mate, the baggage goes with you.
Basically he should have known better.
Whatever faults from both sides,
It makes no sense to ‘sell’ Joey for nothing.
For a man who misses out on some of the best talent as he won’t budge a million here and there and a man who imposes a wage cap meaning we don’t strengthen the side with enough quality or re-sign or best players…
His business sense is once again in-consistent which proves he knows nothing about running the football team but just enjoys playing God.
Agree with Moreno…selling Barton would never have been a surprise but for nothing? Ridiculous decision making
I agree letting him go for free is strange but i think the fact that no one has made a bid/enquiry for him this summer when everyone knew he was available has caused this? What’s his wage 40k a week? that makes around 1.5 mill this season saved. So that probably equates to his transfer fee in the new budget for players contract sytem.
Plus I don’t think many would be fussed if we brought in a top class, out and out right winger…but is that seriously going to happen? Evidence suggests not…and he’s the only one of our current crop of centre mids that can play out there. I mean how bad was Guthrie? Gosling is a similar mode to Barton….he doesn’t just have to cross either, he’s been brilliant at picking out the passes from the centre.
A lot of posters suggest Joey Barton is egotistical on this thread. Can’t see an egotistical maniac like him going meekly on a free….another poor call….
http://www.paddypower.com/bet/football-specials/Transfer-Specials/Joey-Barton%27s-next-club-2886047.html?force_racing_css=N
….Arsenal look a good shout at 11/2.
….why is my comment “awaiting moderation”. Toonsy, been having a bl00dy neetmare with this blog over the last week. Reet PAIN IN THE @RSE. I think you need a bigger server mate.
Here we go again
Barton suggesting that wont be pushed out of the club.
Guess we know where his priorities lie
60 grand a week even if he just sits on his arse.
Now there’s loyalty for you
Can’t really blame him – would I be happy to collect that kind of money for doing nothing???? I think I might be able to come to terms with it.
Reports of temper tantrums and arguments surfacing, justifying the clubs response.
Is it possible that the club have kept everything in house until now?
In keeping with his eagerness to quote Georges, how about one from George Bush ” They misunderestimated me!”
Sorry, but letting him go on a fee was EXACTLY the thing to do. A million quid (and you’d have trouble getting it) is nothing compared to the damage the guy was doing. Show some balls, sack the poisonous element and move on ASAP.
Correct decision. I’m gutted that Joey’s brought it upon himself, but as he has, I think Ashley’s done the right thing and sent a clear message:
– No more ‘player power’. We pay you well enough that you should keep your council; if you have a grievance, bring it to me, not the world. If the manager does something you don’t like, then throwing a hissy fit will get you nowhere but the transfer list.
– No more NUFC gravy train for players. We’ve WILL operate within our means, which means it’s an open market. If we can get a midfielder on 30k a week who will do as good a job, we will. If you don’t like it, there’s the door.
Stardust 64 – You do realise Barton is in his 20′s?
Have you heard of Ryan Giggs and/or Paul Scholes? Were they on the gravy train too?
The reason he’s going on a free is because Barton himself said a couple of days before this all kicked off that he would sit on his contract unless the club gave him a free transfer…woe and behold shortly after he gets one, coincidence or a well thought out Mackay plan???…..I refer to Stuart’s comment @67, so who the feck knows
*lo and behold
….. woe is me 
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