Pardew, Barton, Barnetta, doors, bridge building and more!

toonsy

From Brunel to Barton - A lesson in bridge buidling.
In an attempt to try and clear up everything that was said earlier I thought I’d try and cram it all into one handy article which will hopefully see us through the night.

I say hopefully see us through the night as I’m having a night off of ‘blog duty so I can celebrate my birthday. I had hoped to keep it quiet although realistically as so many people know of me on Facebook it was never going to happen, so thank-you for the birthday messages everyone!

Back to the football, and Alan Pardew gave his first interview since the whole Twittergate II thingy involving Joey Barton at the weekend. We all know how it ended up as it’s been extensively covered from the start of the week with the net result being that Barton looked to be on his way out of St James’ Park.

However it’s not all doom and gloom and it’s perhaps as not as cut and dried as many have though as Alan Pardew offered Joey a way back into his thoughts, but only if the midfielder can sort his head out and get back on board with the club.

“I’ve never closed the door on anyone and I’m not closing the door on Joey,” Pardew said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the weekend game against Fiorentina.

“He trained with the development team today and, who knows, he may train with the first-team soon.”

He continued: “Joey is a great player and you want great players in your team. It’s very important as a football club that you are all pulling in the same direction – at this moment of time Joey is not pulling in the same direction.”

“That’s not to say that can’t change in a short period of time.”

Pardew then went on to reiterate the club stance on Twitter and now claims that Newcastle are following the same guidelines as Manchester United players now have to follow. In short, tweet away but cut out any comments that have anything to do with the club. Fair enough.

Ironically as Pardew was talking Joey Barton was back on Twitter asking for the phone number of Isambard Kingdom Brunel – the world famous Victorian bridge-builder and engineer. Perhaps there is a chance of reconciliation yet?

Alan Pardew also took the chance to respond to the agent of Tranquillo Barnetta who has described Newcastle’s wage offer as “insulting” and hinted that the Swiss international earned more at his current club even though Swiss press claim that the player is only on £26,000-a-week which is quite a way lower than the £40,000-a-week Newcastle have apparently offered.

“In terms of those comments (from McIntosh) I’m not even going to go there. To say £40,000 is a derisory offer – that’s ridiculous.”

I agree with Pardew on that and I think there was enough anger and venom in the quotes from his agent to suggest that he is just a little peeved that he has been left out of the deal. Diddums. We’ll wait and see on that one.

Meanwhile Pardew is aware of interest in Jose Enrique but claims that there have been no concrete offers thus far. He also claims that we are ready to react to the situation should ant interest firm up and that we are still active in the transfer market.

“Enrique is still here and will play on Saturday,” he added. “I don’t see an issue that he won’t start. I know there’s interest in Jose, but no concrete interest. We are poised to react to that. We also need to bring some players into this club.”

So that just about sums up everything that was said earlier. Feel free to pick it apart and debate it but play nicely as I’m off out for a few sherbets now.

Howay the lads!

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.

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146 thoughts on “Pardew, Barton, Barnetta, doors, bridge building and more!”

  1. The fact that Pardew talked about the Barnetta situation makes me believe we’re involved in discussions for him. This does lead me to question what the situation would be if Joey stays. Ideally we would get both and Barnetta is a far superior replacement for, the now Swansea player, Wayne Routledge. This is Newcastle though so nothing is cut and dry

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  2. Aye mental, I’ve given up trying to predict what’s going to happen at NUFC, I believe Barnetta can play RB too 😀

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  4. Hmmmm….

    Enrique playing? Good way to put pressure on the Bindippers to put up or shut up….

    My worry in the interview was when Pinocchio said “we need one player” then quickly corrected himself to “two”

    TWO?? Two quality strikers and a quality left-back a minimum surely?

    Whippingboys United 2011/12 😥

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  5. Am I the only one who thinks Joey means it would take a bridge builder of Brunel’s calibre to make things right?

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  6. Jay Jay- I’m not sure, come back to me next year when I have a year of philosophy A-level under my belt 😉

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  8. I have a theory on what has happened:
    1) Joey transfer listed on a free
    2) Few clubs interested but many a bit weary of Joey’s tempermant and lack of respect for authority decisions
    3) Joey realises that he isnt going to be able to match his wages here anywhere else
    4) Joey apologises to Pardew.

    I’ll tell you why I dont think it’s the other way round. If Pardew had come crawling to Barton then you can guarantee that he would be all over twitter gloating about it.

    I don’t a lot of people realise that just because someone is a free transfer doesnt mean a club will break their wage structure to accomodate unfairly high wages as it just disillusions players of the same talent at the club.

    Face it, Joey Barton was wrong. You dont see van Persie mouthing off that Arsenal need a centre back.
    Also I think it’s ridiculous to say we havent been ambitious this transfer window. Nolan out, Cabaye, Ba, Abeid and Marveaux in. Despite what Barton claims, he doesnt have a clue on who or how many players the club will sign this transfer window.
    ****** hell half of the pro Barton people dont believe Pardew knows any of the clubs goings on, why would Barton!!

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  10. I hope Enrique is about for Arsenal and Sunderland and then we bring in M’Bengue with his fee. Two mil profit and a younger player in – sound good, Mike? It seems to have gone suspiciously quiet on the striker front which to me means only one thing: good news. All our successful transfers have been done without the press knowing anything about them, and that’s the way I like it. Here’s hoping we get a nice surprise. Although I’ve got a feeling we won’t have one in until closer to the end of the window. LB, ST and Joey staying and I’m happy. Funny how good toon fans are at adapting to disappointment, isn’t it? And sorry Toonsy but, happy birthday mate. I hope 40 treats you well 😆

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  11. Jay….don’t think it really matters what he meant, there’s not a cat in hells chance he’ll be staying imo. Fatboy won’t change his mind……..I’d love to be wrong though.

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  12. Who should I start a season with on Footy manager lads? Shall I do another with the mighty toon?

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  14. Rich – Best way. Especially with predictions like mine 😉

    Im not one for “in the know” stuff but I’ve also heard what Stuart said a couple of articles ago about new contract discussions for Barton. Don’t shoot the messenger though 😆

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  16. Toonsy… I’d love nowt more than to be wrong like, he’d be a big miss on and off the pitch imo, even more so with Nolan having fecked off, you at least one big character at every club.
    Enjoy ya birthday…have you finished blowing out all them candles yet? :mrgreen:

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  17. Happy birthday Toonsy, hope ur having a good one. On topic, pardew didn
    t say the barnetta deal was off. Not sure on barton.

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  18. Not quite rich 😉

    I may be old but I start looking like you (Shrek’s ringpiece!) I’ll start to worry 😆

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  22. Wouldn’t it just be like the Toon now to be completely unpredictable with MA and Joey to shake hands like men and the board to bring in 4 new players!

    😆 We can dream right?!

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  25. wahey! After blogging for all of three years, I’ve finally sorted out an avatar! What a day 😎

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  30. RT- aye, I heard they hired extra stewards in case I netted one 😆

    “If Spencer scores we’re on the pitch” 😆

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  31. AndrewT – you’re just trying to provoke that kunt Bull Sit No 9 aren’t you.
    Not allowed to have dreams on this blog.
    😥

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  33. Spencer scores often according to his mum. She told me in bed last whilst I was smashing her pasty how he always has men round

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  35. Toonsy, You we’re talking about me whilst having sex? next to know you think about me so often.

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  37. I think the club is just toying with Barton incase Barnetta bid fails 😉

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  39. Spence – Your mum doesn’t bite either, but she did sit on my face and dribble like pele 😆

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  44. I think a huge bridge building effort is going on but am not sure what good it will do.Was a huge fan of Joey’s before this entire episode and was heart-broken when I heard about us releasing him on a free but now if he is reinstated I fear whether it might turn out to be a huge disruptive influnece in the dressing room.I just don’t want him to start having fights with the new boys and young lads because he was not given set piece duties or the armband or we lost a game. 🙁

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  48. I thought Pardew handled himself well today to be honest. He answered everything, made his point and left things open for a way back on all sides.

    People moan about him and about how we finished lower than we were when he took over, but his points per game was still better than Hughton’s which suggests to me that other teams found more form whilst we just about carried on the same with, as is pointed out regularly, a weaker squad.

    He’s making the right noises about playing tge right kind of football so lets just wait and see what he can bring us on the pitch

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  50. Toonsy- Keep it mate, i’m sure the rest of the lads will enjoy in though 😛

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  51. From Pardew’s Press conference today-

    “I spoke with Sir Alex Ferguson today and he’s had this problem with Twitter before.
    “You cannot be critical of the club within a personal account. You shouldn’t do that on your own account.”

    Would he call SAF just to talk about Twitter?I think this talk came around when he called up to discuss something important.Perhaps the media have hit upon a possible deal in Obertan?What do you guys reckon?

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  53. Is this what you call a blog free night?

    Did you manufacture an arguement with the missus so you could get on? 😉

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  55. Newkie- Just a trail with some of Richie’s mate’s at Burradon near foggy hall.

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  58. I cannae really see the point of Obertan on loan. Fergie will want guarantees he is going to play most games. I think we already have better in Barton Gosling Donaldson and Inman so why bother.
    All transfer activity should be on getting a striker or two in

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  63. Happy Birthday, Toonsy.
    I for one can’t wait until the Silly Season is over, bring on the football already. I have not found this season to be so silly after all.
    I still remain hopeful that good news will eventually come forth before the close of the window, but am struggling with what I would define as good news. I am not ready to step on any train, and am rooting still for the train to be derailed and come to a crashing halt…but I am ever the optimist and only want to see the best for the club I support.

    At this point, as much as I like JB and Jose, I think them leaving would settle things down and allow the club to move forward…that or they sign a flippin contract already. What bothers me most is the uncertainty of it all and the inability to get too excited, not knowing yet what the team will look like going into the new season.

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  70. icedog says:
    August 4, 2011 at 21:01
    big four-o stuart

    Jeez, did he work in Beirut as a kid?

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