Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton believes Manchester City's revival this season would not have happened without his performances in the last campaign.
The 25-year-old left City for Newcastle in a £5.8million deal in the summer.
But Barton told BBC Radio 5live: "I hope they appreciate the job I did at Manchester City last season.
"Were it not for myself, Micah Richards and Richard Dunne they wouldn't have had Thaksin Shinawatra, the Premier League and Sven-Goran Eriksson."
Barton has yet to make his competitive debut for the Magpies after breaking a metatarsal in a pre-season friendly, but played 45 minutes as Newcastle reserves drew 2-2 with his former club in Manchester on Tuesday.
He added: "I think they could easily have gone down last season but for a couple of results."
"It is important they don't get too carried away with a couple of results. Hopefully we'll get the kind of investment they got at Manchester City and get a similar result."
Barton's new side crashed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of his former employers on Saturday but the England international insists he is happy with his decision to move to what he regards as a bigger club.
He said: "I think Newcastle can be as big as they want to be. No disrespect to City but in Manchester, Manchester United will always be top dog. As much as they want to believe it, it is not going to be.
"The big thing about Newcastle is there is only Newcastle in Newcastle. Newcastle could be a big side and turn it from a big four into a big five."
The 25-year-old left City for Newcastle in a £5.8million deal in the summer.
But Barton told BBC Radio 5live: "I hope they appreciate the job I did at Manchester City last season.
"Were it not for myself, Micah Richards and Richard Dunne they wouldn't have had Thaksin Shinawatra, the Premier League and Sven-Goran Eriksson."
Barton has yet to make his competitive debut for the Magpies after breaking a metatarsal in a pre-season friendly, but played 45 minutes as Newcastle reserves drew 2-2 with his former club in Manchester on Tuesday.
He added: "I think they could easily have gone down last season but for a couple of results."
"It is important they don't get too carried away with a couple of results. Hopefully we'll get the kind of investment they got at Manchester City and get a similar result."
Barton's new side crashed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of his former employers on Saturday but the England international insists he is happy with his decision to move to what he regards as a bigger club.
He said: "I think Newcastle can be as big as they want to be. No disrespect to City but in Manchester, Manchester United will always be top dog. As much as they want to believe it, it is not going to be.
"The big thing about Newcastle is there is only Newcastle in Newcastle. Newcastle could be a big side and turn it from a big four into a big five."
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