Is Barton a bad apple?Joey Barton’s tirades on Twitter has been very well publicised, as have many other players comments on the social networking sites. Jose Enrique, Wayne Routledge and countless others from teams across the UK. This has prompted the Premier League to consider rules and regulations for the popular website.
Of course, everybody is entitled to their opinion and that does not differ because of your profession. Joey Barton, however, has taken it above and beyond “opinion” and turned the popular website into a media circus.
Just to get one thing straight: I don’t necessarily disagree with what he has to say. I do, however, think that somebody such as Barton should hold themselves with a little more tact, dignity and most importantly with a hell of a lot more professionalism.
Barton goes on about how much he loves the fans, the club and how he wears our famous strips with honour and pride – so why did he hold out on the contract back in January? Andy Carroll was sold on the last day and Barton himself had mentioned that he’d like to see his career out here – discussions were going on before then, presumably. (more…)
A little respect (just a little bit) Newcastle United have had a trying summer both on and off the pitch but how does that bode for the season ahead?
It’s a fine old kettle of fish isn’t it? This pre-season, that is. We’ve had some poor results on the pitch and the various missives from people like Nolan, Barton and Enrique have done little to enhance things off the pitch.
First up, the friendlies we’ve had. I’m not convinced as to how much of a yardstick for the coming season such games really are, but let’s hope they’re not a particularly accurate one.
One school of thought says friendlies are all about experimentation and that players don’t really get out of third gear for them, but another school of thought says that’s nonsense and that when players are on the pitch they’ll play with all they’ve got for a win.
When my mate – who currently lives in Hong Kong – visits, we traditionally have a ‘friendly’ 4-way competition that involves darts, pool, table football and – bizarrely – tennis. Whereas we might start off with a friendly game of darts, I can tell you that by the time we’re huffing and puffing in the fifth set of a tennis match it’s anything but friendly! (more…)
Time for certain individuals to keep quietSoon after Newcastle United’s 3-2 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road, Midfielder Joey Barton decided to once again share his opinion on the politics at St James’ Park, via his soon to be world famous ‘Twitter’ account.
Not content with sharing his knowledge on actual government politics, how clever he actually is, his GCSE results, or how rubbish American immigration are, Joey had this to say:
“If only we as players could tell the fans exactly how it is, without them above fining us lots of money. There will be a time and a place.
“If it wouldn’t effect team morale and cause unrest within the dressing room, am certain Jose’s comments would be the tip of the iceberg…..
“And again it would be left to those magnificent fans to pick up the remnants of their once great football club.
“If I wanted to leave, I’d just come out and say ‘I want to leave’. Things need addressing as am not prepared to go through a relegation again.” (more…)
Smokescreens or lack of information?Everton striker Jermaine Beckford is now the latest striker to be linked with a move to Newcastle United, if you are to believe the latest edition of the ‘Sunday Sun’.
The same paper is reporting that Newcastle have not reached any agreement over PSG striker Mevlüt Erdinç, in fact, a PSG ‘spokesman’ had this to say:
“The fax machine is on, the door is open, but no-one has made a bid.”
If the above quote is true, it kind of contradicts the noises coming from Pardew, unless of course he has been talking about someone else this past week…
So, using the favourite word of this seasons transfer window ‘allegedly’, United are allegedly looking at once former target Beckford. Newcastle tried to sign Beckford in the January of their Championship winning season, when Chris Hughton was at the helm, but couldn’t reach an agreement with his former club Leeds United. Beckford eventually did get a move in the summer of that season though, as Everton snapped him up on a free transfer.
Beckford had a slow start to life in the Premier League, but eventually towards the later months of the season, started to show his talent, and finished the season with 8 goals to his name. One of his 8 goals came on the last day of that season, in a home tie against Chelsea, where he demonstrated his pace and skill, by running over half the length of the pitch to score for the Toffee’s in a 1-0 win. (more…)
Alan Smith: Holding on...Some time ago, when Leeds United and Newcastle United last played a friendly game in 2009, David from excellent Leeds United ‘blog, ‘The Scratching Shed’ very kindly wrote a match report of the game.
At long last I have now finally returned the favour by writing a ‘blog on one player who unites both clubs. I am of course referring to Alan Smith, who has been linked with a return to his home club in recent times.
In it, I have given a recap of Smith’s ups and downs (mostly downs it must be said) on Tyneside, since he joined the club as one of a series of somewhat misguided signings by Sam Allardyce in the Summer of 2007.
