Joey Barton

[paulg]

He'll never learn cos all he ever gets is a 3 match ban. FA and Prem will never do anything real about him, so he'll carry on until he retires. He's a prick, pure and simple.

[Robbie-fowler999]

Hes ****ed up inside the head...

i hope he does that to Gary Neville next time

[Zapater]

He's a despicable person although I do think that people are making a bit much of it. When i heard "punch" I was imagining a big swing catching him, rather than a mere firm push with a fist rather than a flat hand. No way that had the power to knock Pedersen off of his feet. There's plenty to pull up on Barton, but for me this is neither here nor there.

[Neil Young]

I think he's trying to deal with his problems. Maybe he is f*cked up in some profound way or maybe he's just a pr*ck but his admitting it and apologising (to almost everyone on the planet!) is not the sign of someone who isn't at least taking some responsibility for his misbehaviour.

[Leyton388]

Hes going to get his head smashed in one day. Thats as sure a thing as the sun setting.

[dom9]

Barton seems to have a violent version of Tourettes.

He just can't seem to stop himself from lashing out.

[El Diego]

I wonder of his bro getting locked up for murder has ****ed him up a bit?? He was never this bad say 4 years ago. Before anyone says I know the he stunned a cigar in a bitter fans face, but seemed a one of and he had a fair few untroubled years, until 2 years ago

[Drago]

Chat about mountains out of molehills here. No can seriously tell me what Barton did was worse then intentionally swinging your elbow, and you see that nearly every week. It's not even as bad as a Scholes tackle for me.

[kris90210]

I wonder of his bro getting locked up for murder has ****ed him up a bit?? He was never this bad say 4 years ago. Before anyone says I know the he stunned a cigar in a bitter fans face, but seemed a one of and he had a fair few untroubled years, until 2 years ago

A ****ing one-off? It wasn't a fan, it was a youth player. And he tried to put it out in the boys eye.

**** 'one-off' - he should have gone to prison for that.

He's pure scum. I don't give a **** that he seems to show remorse afterwards. They're just empty words - he's obviously never learned his lesson. The FA should make an example of him.

[Rudo]

Chat about mountains out of molehills here. No can seriously tell me what Barton did was worse then intentionally swinging your elbow, and you see that nearly every week. It's not even as bad as a Scholes tackle for me.

Jeez let it go.

It was a full on punch to the ribs. no excuses.

[Rudo]

A ****ing one-off? It wasn't a fan, it was a youth player. And he tried to put it out in the boys eye.

**** 'one-off' - he should have gone to prison for that.

He's pure scum. I don't give a **** that he seems to show remorse afterwards. They're just empty words - he's obviously never learned his lesson. The FA should make an example of him.

Henry Winter: Joey Barton is a complex character who will always let you down
Joseph Anthony Barton was born on a charge. When the controversial, complicated and inherently unpleasant midfielder gets around to writing his autobiography, and he can start scribbling during an imminent suspension, he can fill many pages by pasting in the Football Association and police charge-sheets scarring his career.

Barton can even print the odd apology like Thursday’s in his book. He can colour in the rest.

Some soft souls will seek to elicit sympathy for the Merseysider, pointing to a difficult upbringing in Huyton, reminding everyone that this is a sensitive young man plagued with inner demons, notably a combustibility when alcohol encountered adrenalin in his system.

They will praise Barton for the way he has tackled such problems, finding help from the good counsel of the Sporting Chance clinic.

Some naive observers will seek to stress that Barton does actually have a brain, that he can be thoughtful company. Good try but no cigar (too dangerous when Barton’s about). All these mitigating factors are just feathers in the wind, blown away by the sheer overwhelming weight of evidence against Barton. Bad is bad.

For Newcastle fans, a frustration must exist with Barton: he has been playing well, demonstrating commendable tactical discipline by excelling out of position on the right of Chris Hughton’s midfield four. Now this. Now this FA charge for violent conduct for punching Blackburn’s Morten Gamst Pedersen on Wednesday. Maybe he should move in with Kevin Nolan, Landlord to the Likely Lads. But maybe not. Andy Carroll and Joey Barton under the same roof would be like Mr Nitro and Mr Glycerine getting together.

Barton apologised for his latest transgression, an act of contrition that signals some self-awareness. He has embarrassed Hughton, who has consistently backed him, and had Gallowgate squirming. Actually, it’s laughable to claim Barton has let anyone down. No one, surely, can have harboured any serious expectations of maturity lurking within a 28 year-old who never learns. Barton’s utterly consistent: he’ll always let you down.

Barton once had the temerity to criticise Steven Gerrard, ignoring that the Liverpool captain has won many friends and admirers since rising from the same tough Huyton streets as Barton. The wry humour inherent in Gerrard prompted him to sneak down a hotel corridor during England week and leave his autobiography outside Barton’s door. Read and learn.

Gerrard has made something of his life. Barton has just made a mess, albeit with a few quid on the side. Gerrard will be remembered for Istanbul and Cardiff, for a Champions League final and an FA Cup final. Barton will be remembered for brawls, cigar-stubbings, assaults and now a punch on an innocent Norwegian. And there’ll be more. Joseph Anthony Barton was born to be charged.

[lancinleeds]

A ****ing one-off? It wasn't a fan, it was a youth player. And he tried to put it out in the boys eye.

**** 'one-off' - he should have gone to prison for that.

To be fair, well maybe not fair, but the youth player - Tandy - was an idiot. He signed for my hometown team Lancaster for a pricely sum for that level only to realise he couldn't be bothered and **** off back tow here he came from. Idiot.

[Drago]

Jeez let it go.

It was a full on punch to the ribs. no excuses.

A full on punch? haha

If that's what you call a punch, **** knows what you'd call a proper dig.

[ChesterDave]

A ****ing one-off? It wasn't a fan, it was a youth player. And he tried to put it out in the boys eye.

**** 'one-off' - he should have gone to prison for that.

And the poor little mite youth player had spent a good part of the evening trying to set fire to the shirt Barton was wearing. An often unreported/forgotten/ignored fact.

[kris90210]

And the poor little mite youth player had spent a good part of the evening trying to set fire to the shirt Barton was wearing. An often unreported/forgotten/ignored fact.

Yeah I read that since I posted actually.

Still you need to be a nasty piece of work to have it in you to (even attempt) to stub out a cigar in someones eye - let alone a 16 year old boy's.

If you have a look at his wikipedia page its been one thing after another from him throughout his career.

And regarding the punch - it was a punch. End of story. No place for it, and bearing in mind all his previous, the FA should make an example of him. That's my opinion anyway. If it had been a little girly slap then fair enough, but it wasn't. He'd have been more suited to boxing than football I think.