The Daily Mail is suggesting that Gerard Houllier wants the 28-year-old at Villa Park as he tries to turn around their worrying form and will offer Nigel Reo-Coker plus some cash in an effort to tempt Newcastle into a deal.
I very much doubt, and I very much hope, that there is nothing in this, and the fact that it is printed in the Daily Mail makes me lean towards that conclusion, but as Jay Jay wrote the other day, the fact that Barton, amongst other players, is performing so well is bound to attract some interest.
Interestingly, in the very same Daily Mail article, which you can read here by the way, it is also stated that Barton has opened talks over a new contract with Newcastle.
Now it would be foolish to believe that after disregarding the rest of the article, so I’m willing to pretty much disregard that. Rather predictably though, Barton’s agent, Willie McKay, was not too far away and made this comment on the whole thing.
“A lot of clubs have shown interest but Joey is very happy at Newcastle,” said McKay. “His ambition is to play for England again and he should do as he is the best midfielder in the country at the moment.”
It is true, and McKay did say that, but what the Daily Mail forget to mention is that he said much the same thing when there were rumours linking Barton with West Ham a few weeks back. Alomost identical in fact. Surely not? Surely not the Daily Mail reusing a quote to give a story more validity?
Unfortunately, that fact will probably get overlooked as more sites jump on the bandwagon of Joey Barton being sold and how it must be true because there is a quote. We’ll see who is right, but I wouldn’t bet against myself on this occasion.
The fact of the matter, like a lot of our players, Barton enjoys it at Newcastle. He quite often says that he has an affinity with the club and the fans after they stuck by him through some very troublesome times. Add to that the fact that he is probably our best performer at the minute and has demonstrated his ability under his new manager will more than likely mean that a January deal for Barton will be well wide of the mark.
At least I hope so anyway….
no chance(touch wood), get him and Jose resigned asap.
richietoon(Quote)
Aye I think it’s bollocks myself like, but it won’t stop people taking it as fact.
toonsy(Quote)
well what a weekend! shocking result in the footy but you have to move on and prepare for the next game, which is MASSIVE! if i had a choice over being in 4th round of FA cup or doing the double i know what i would choose.
this talk of joey leaving is pure nonsense though he has been instrumental this season for us.
i do think on the positive front however that we will have 1 new signing today, who it will be i dont know but it was quiet over weekend after pardew said he expected somebody in on friday
rambo87(Quote)
Cant see Barton been sold just silly stories really , wouldnt be surprised if his agent behind it , just trying to stir it up to get a better deal for Joey.
Johno Toon(Quote)
Bingo 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Reo Coker may possibly be a future target for Pardew with their history, But in this case its *****.
I hope there is truth in the contract talks, We need him and Jose signed up asap…
CC(Quote)
it makes me laugh 2 fckin years ago all these c@nts were saying joey should be thrown oot of football ,now there trying too say every man and his dog are after him ,but have you noticed the measly price tag there sticking on him its a joke as they are still having digs at him through the price tag ,try fckin 10 times that amout you tw@ts
batty(Quote)
Oh yes – we must really want to do that deal – why don’t we just negate Villa paying us anything – Just swap Barton, Collo, Tiote and Carroll for him (throw in Ben Arfa if negotiations get tight)
Its not just the writers of these articles that look like goons – the Editors discredit themselves and patronise their readers too.
Stardust(Quote)
the infamous twitter bloke reckons we’ve made an enquiry about Jay Bothroyd.
Played in the last England friendly with Carroll didn’t he, must be doing something right, haven’t saw him lately but i’ve not saw much in him in the past to say he could do it at EPL level.
I Love Mike(Quote)
totally agree, pathetic how people can be
I Love Mike(Quote)
L’Equipe reporting we’re after 23 year old Youssef El Arabi from Caen
Said to be a “technical and athletic player who likes to tease defenders” and “has scored 10 goals and set up two this season”
“He can play anywhere across the forward line, or behind the strikers, but his primary position is on the right wing”
He is valued “valued at around €5M.”
Seeing a few stories now about this sort of player coming here, believe it when I see it
I Love Mike(Quote)
Agreed. Being linked with what seem like impressive young players abroad but I’m having none of it until they’re here. Slightly more encouraging that it’s not the gutter press over here doing the talking but maybe the French etc see us as an easy target for silly season stories aswell! Lol.
As for Barton, it wouldn’t surprise me if other teams were interested but they can ****** off. Our best midfielder along with Tiote, doubt he’s going anywhere. I take it we didn’t appeal his red?
Ross(Quote)
Not so sure. The French press is completely different to ours and is much more regulated. Stories are generally checked before publishing so who knows? They were right about Benny and Erdinc.
toonsy(Quote)
They’ve said they’re going to appeal, they are fast tracked these days so I think we may actually hear something today.
I don’t think it was a red, but having both feet off the ground and ‘out of control’ like he was, by the letter of the law, I can’t seeing it being recinded.
I Love Mike(Quote)
Hmmmmmm……
toonsy(Quote)
I can’t see it being turned over either 🙁
toonsy(Quote)
Now you’ve said that I do remember somebody saying that all French press is double checked before it goes to print and anything deemed too far fetched is binned, makes it slightly more believable! Was it L’Equipe that broke the Benny story? They’re France’s main football outlet are they not? Or the most well respected?
Ross(Quote)
It wasn’t a red mate. He left the ground to travel, making sure he won the ball which he did. 1 footed, from the side, studs down. Like you say though he “lunged” and was “out of control”, there’s no way it’ll be over turned, especially after our past few Barton/Benny stints with the FA.
Ross(Quote)
They are the most well known. Not sure about respected like 🙂
Nah it’s all becuase the politicians like to protect their sleazy lives (allegedly) so they brought out certain rules with regard to press reporting.
toonsy(Quote)
I see Pardews had a dig at Krul in the press, I would start laying the blame at the doors or the “exemplary” Alan Smith or Nolan and Lovenkrands who should be leading by example.
Rather than a talented young goalkeeper who has been really overworked by the return of Williamson and Perch to the backline…
CC(Quote)
I hate to say this, but L’equipe is kind of known for publishing ridiculous rumours, as well as accurate ones.
El Toro(Quote)
Better than the Daily Mail then 😆
toonsy(Quote)
I haven’t read it, but it is stupid to criticize such an inexperienced keeper. Saying that, Krul has been a bit disappointing though, if i’m truly honest.
El Toro(Quote)
Agreed. Someone hit the nail on the head earlier. Reo-Coker is being linked because he has previous with Pardew. It is utterly lazy journalism.
El Toro(Quote)
Loving the new ‘thumbs up’ system, Toons
El Toro(Quote)
He was moaning about his kicking apparantly, But the ammount of times he had to clear the ball was ridiculous, He is 21 and has a hell of a future.
I have noticed his confidence on crosses seems to be diminishing, He used to come of catch everything now he seems to be flapping a lot more.
CC(Quote)
Do you? I’ve just taken it off 😆
I’ll put it back in.
toonsy(Quote)
Done 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
toonsy check email plz
DJG(Quote)
hate the new thumbs up thing Toonsy, ya should think about taking it off 😉 :lo:
richietoon(Quote)
😆 🙄
richietoon(Quote)
Aye Toonsy the thumbs up scoring is canny. I gave you your third to test it, not because you said owt productive like 😀 haha
Ross(Quote)
what about a thumbs down system?
Johno Toon(Quote)
😆
You’re all like kids with a new toy 😆
toonsy(Quote)
WE’re lovers not haters 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Done.
toonsy(Quote)
What about an edit button
CC(Quote)
It slows the site down loads as everytime someone edits it sets up another connection to the database.
toonsy(Quote)
does anyone else think its a positive thing that we are being linked to buying and selling so many players.
It actually means that the club are keeping their cards close to their chest (which is a good thing) and the journo’s have not got a clue 🙂
shrews mag(Quote)
And I’ve just done this for people who don’t kow about how to do smileys, or people who can’t do them, Rich 😆
toonsy(Quote)
You’re kitting the place out bigtime Toonsy! Haha. I didnt know any of the smilies bar the standard one so I’ll now probably annoy everyone by using at least one a post given the fact they’re right infront of me.
Ross(Quote)
Me too 😎
toonsy(Quote)
It’s just a bit of fun. I think sometimes that can be lost so it’s nice to have a couple of fun things lying around to lighten the mood.
toonsy(Quote)
So much for that money grabbing **** Steve Clarke not wanting to relocate… 👿 😈 😡
CC(Quote)
Totally agree Batts
geordie deb(Quote)
I thought that aswell when I saw it on SSN. Still, the events shortly afterwards kind of vidicate his decision.
toonsy(Quote)
As I said yesterday, him having a go at the players in the press will come back to bite him and us.
geordie deb(Quote)
Aye but in truth Kenneth aint going to be there very long either is he.
Im still waiting for the press to call the bindippers out for being deluded and living in the past with this appointment, Seeing as Dalglish hasnt been involved actively in football for over a decade far longer than Keggy… 🙄 🙄
CC(Quote)
😆
richietoon(Quote)
That won’t happen. They are a really spiteful bunch them red bin dippers.
They have pissed and whinged about everything to do with their “proud club” over the last few years.
They moaned about Rafa getting no money, but in reality he spunked over £300 million on garbage. They moaned about Rafa, he went. They moaned about the owners, and they went. They got new owners, and are moaning about them because they are going to wax cash all over the place. They moaned about Hodgson, and he went.
toonsy(Quote)
Aye the scouse Messiah 🙄
richietoon(Quote)
Those smileys better for you ❓
toonsy(Quote)
That was one of my absolute hates that Rafa bollocks, He bought something like 80 players and sold on about 75 of them, Yet the defendeded him through everything and then slaughtered Hodgson for buying Poulson and Konchesky…
W@nkers 🙄
CC(Quote)
Had the same argument with my dad on interpretation of the rules.
If you shag a lass who is 15, it doesn’t matter if she is 6’2, and looks like she is 30, the law clearly states that having sex with the opposite sex who is under 15 is against the law, its clear, and isn’t open to interpretation.
In Tiote’s case, Fifa’s rules on red cards are also clear:
“Any player who lunges at an opponent when challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force and endangering the safety of an opponent, is guilty of serious foul play.
I think we can all agree he ‘lunged’ with ‘excessive force’ with ‘one leg’, and if you do that, as well as the fact he was off the ground and therefore has to be ‘endangering the safety of an opponent’, all means that in accordance with the rules, he is guilty of serious foul play and punishable by red card.
As a personal point, I don’t think it was a red card, and tackles such as these should be sort of means tested by ex-professionals to see if the punishment is suited, as in this case, I don’t believe Tiote’s (3 matches) was as bad as Gerrards (3 matches)
I Love Mike(Quote)
Who scored me for the Steve Clarke thing ❓ ❓
CC(Quote)
Moi
toonsy(Quote)
Why it seems like the most pointless excercise ever 😆
CC(Quote)
The yank at villa wants to recoup some of the money he has spent so they wouldn’t offer a great deal of cash, so it would be “we’ll give you a ***** player from a struggling ***** team and a bit of pockets change for your lad who’s playing great and has been instrumental in your far better than expected first season back in the premiership, can we shake on it?” **** off villa, I’m loving watching you crash and I just hope the burn is soon to follow. Afternoon lads 🙂
jay jay(Quote)
2nd that jay
batty(Quote)
2nd that jay 🙂
batty(Quote)
Bloody love to see Villa relegated like. After their antics when we went down, were they to somehow drop this season I think id celebrate it like the derby win and our survival.
Ross(Quote)
Hear hear! I said at the time of his conviction, when all those tw@s were having a go at us for keeping him on the books. When all the shouts went up for us to sack him, my first thoughts were “why?? Just so some other prem team can snap him up for free upon his release???”. Winkers the lot of em.
MrT76(Quote)
This story is so nonsensical it actually made me chuckle.
MrT76(Quote)
Toonsy, I can do those ones, its the flag wavin,all singin and dancin ones I cant do 😳
richietoon(Quote)
we are appealing tiote red card
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/01/10/newcastle-set-to-appeal-cheik-tiote-red-card-72703-27959736/
Johno Toon(Quote)
And now you can 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
eh, how? can just do the ones on the comment box which I could do anyway…or am I missin summat and bein a thick ****? 🙂
richietoon(Quote)
get some bloody work done richie lying aboot like a loppy dog 😈
icedog(Quote)
Ice…I’ve been at work since 8.30,or so the office thinks….this MW black ops on the playstations hard bloody work anyway 😉
richietoon(Quote)
How about Kris Commons from Derby he’s availible for 0,75 M. Good winger in the championship and Ashley should be able to afford the fee??
DanishNufcfan(Quote)
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Derby-demand-750k-for-Rangers-target-Kris-Commons-article669089.html
DanishNufcfan(Quote)
Had a lot of injury problems, but looks a decent player.
jay jay(Quote)
JAY JAY never been my cup of tea like,but there you go its all down to fans view of diff players 😉
icedog(Quote)
JB’s more your cup of tea Ice 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Kris Commons is not a bad player and can score goals also. 💡
SpartanChris(Quote)