Kevin Keegan has acknowledged that Joey Barton is starting to play up to his top form, in spite of his well documented off field problems.
Joey Barton – had a great game on Sunday
Keegan now feels that the Liverpool born England international has matured into a fine all-round performer, and Keven was delighted with his display in the extremely impressive win at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan told the Newcastle United official website.
“As the game went on he just got stronger and stronger,” “I said to him afterwards, ‘That’s the best I have seen you play’.”
“He had some very good games for me at Manchester City but I don’t think I have ever seen him as outstanding as that.”
“He was winning tackles, bursting forward and picking out passes and it was his work which set up Oba (Martins) for the fourth goal.”
“And credit to him, he has got some problems off the field which are well documented, but he has come in and trained properly and worked hard and is reaping the rewards now.”
We’re not sure what will happen in June when Joey’s trial comes up where he is charged with assault against his former Manchester City team mate Ousmane Dabo.
But it sure looks like Joey can be a top player if he can control his anger tendencies, once he has had a drink. Everybody likes to see people overcome their demons, which we all have, and the Newcastle fans are no doubt hoping that Joey can go on to bigger and better things at the club.
But first of all he has to face his trial in June and continue to get counseling that will help him personally.
If he can do these things, he has a fine career ahead of him at Newcastle United, that’s a near certainty. And many people at the club, like Kevin Keegan the manager, are only too happy to help him through this.
But only Joey can grasp this huge opportunity he has in front of him, with both hands.
We really hope he does just that.
Comments welcome.
83 comments so far
Leo
Apr 2, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Comment #1under the carpet i hope
Marty
Apr 2, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Comment #2Always thought he would be grt to have at the club if he would concentrate on playing n stop getting in brawls n other stuff because the guy is A CLASS PLAYER if he just did that.
Lets hope he can sort things out on the other parts of his life because this is the type of player we need at this FULL HEARTED CLUB. 🙂
Obafan
Apr 2, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Comment #3Okay, he took his second (not the first time he gets a second chance) and last chance. I just hope for him that he now has learned his lesson, cause one wrong step and he could be in bigger problems (no football future).
So let us hope he keeps his concentration on NUFC, cause he has been fantastic recently (which I never thought).
Doctapaul
Apr 2, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Comment #4A lot of players have stepped up to the mark in the last 4 games or so.
Some of the aggression has gone from Barton’s game which may be no bad thing. AND better still, if he replaces that with guile and talent it will be a good thing. Some of his 20-30 yd passes have been sublime. It’s the odd awry short pass that Joey needs to sharpen his wits around. Because when he loses a simple short pass to opposition on the half way line, usually most of the players are in front of him, and it gives the opposition to outnumber us on their counterattack.
Barton is on the road to recovery in his football. If he can sort out his off field problems we may well yet see the best of him at St James. I don’t think I would have been saying this about 6 weeks ago.
Also Geremi is proving to be one of our most intelligent players. I like my wingers to ghost past players (a la Ginola and Zog when he’s on form; where was he on Sunday by the way?) AND Geremi is something different. He plays a canny short game, he tucks in well and covers for Baye when he makes his forward runs. And best of all (like our own Lee Clark used to be) he knows how to get the ball in the centre without having to run past a defender. Now that he’s finding Viduka (or whoever) he is proving far more effective in the 433 formation.
It’s good that Milner will have to fight for his place when he is fit because the pressure will be on him now to up the effectiveness of his game.
The light at the end of tunnel got a lot brighter on Sunday.
ScottyT
Apr 2, 2008 at 5:44 PM
Comment #5well i have to say that i am always prepared to give players chances but after the way barton had been performing andwith him gettin in bother agen i thort enuf was enuf nd we shud get rid…
but credit to barton he has shown he can still play at a high level in the last few games so the tag of thuggy barton i was using ill take away for the moment and give him another chance. if he can continue the form from fulham and spurs then itll be good for him and the club. well done joey.
James
Apr 2, 2008 at 6:22 PM
Comment #6He’s only here so he can get used to wearing Stripes…see you in jail Joey
King Kev-4-3-3
Apr 2, 2008 at 7:06 PM
Comment #7james, u do my head in with your negative comments
James
Apr 2, 2008 at 7:13 PM
Comment #8King Kev – a lot of people would give their left arm to play professional football, and it annoys me to see Barton being allowed to.
This is a professional footballer then?:
1) He beat a man unconscious, twice
2) Stubbed a cigar out in a players eye
3) Smeared food over a 12 year old Newcastle fan’s autograph book when asked for his autograph
4) Beaten a player to a pulp during training
5) Spent Christmas in prison
Yes, in the last 2 games his form has been good. But if there is any justice in the world, Joey Barton will be thrown in prison later this month and be exiled from wearing our shirt ever again.
oioi
Apr 2, 2008 at 7:25 PM
Comment #9totally off subject but essential viewing…off nufc.com , it made my day haha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAG5qHfwY38
ScottyT
Apr 2, 2008 at 7:31 PM
Comment #10james – tbh exactly my feeling towards barton and ive said that since his last assault but..
since keegan arrived he was given another ‘last chance’ and no ‘incidents’ so far and form seems to be picking up so ill give him 1 more chance again but yh i get your point.
James
Apr 2, 2008 at 7:49 PM
Comment #11ScottyT – Every player/person deserves a second chance I agree, but how many second chances has Barton had in his career now? It won’t be long before he has a fight with Butt or Martins or beats someone else up during the summer.
Fat Sam said Mort refused on 3 separate occassions to buy Barton, and had to be convinced by Sam who said don’t worry he’s a new man. How does he repay Newcastle and Mort? By beating a man to a pulp and spending Christmas in prison.
Its such a shame because he is a great footballer.
I will support him till the verdict because he’s one of our players, but I won’t miss him when he’s gone.
ScottyT
Apr 2, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Comment #12yes i agree he has had too many chances and im totally the same m8 ill support him for now but if he does go down then so be it it wont be a huge loss to me – ave slated him badly in the past cos hes been utter shite and cos i felt he shud have been sacked after his last incident but hes still here so yh ill support him specially after his improved performances lately
ave also sed in the past what a stupid decision it was to sign barton and get rid of parker and i still stand by that but hopefully barton will prove us wrong .. hes eventually startin to at least
walker
Apr 2, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Comment #13its got nothing to do with us what joey does or is supposed to of done.all im bothered about is how he plays. just judge him on his football then if thats not good enough have a go.
CRAIGG
Apr 2, 2008 at 8:39 PM
Comment #14When Barton kills someone some of you might just start to think that theres more to life than how he plays on a saturday Talented or not.
walker
Apr 2, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Comment #15until that unlikely event drama queen i dont care what he does.
CRAIGG
Apr 2, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Comment #16I dont see how it is so unlikely he nearly blinded someone with a cigar, Beat his team mate up for not passing to him in training, Beat some people up so bad he was nicked and locked up, Kicked Etuhu in the balls as they went for a high ball for no reason, Through a punch at Maloney a couple of weeks after being let out on bail and Has a racist murderer for a brother, He is an evil yob and i dont think that he should live such a privileged lifestyle
If me or you had done stuff like that we would be looking at a long stretch .
ToonKing
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Comment #17come on people what do you care what he does in his spare time ?? i’m pretty sure he doesn’t give a flying fook what we do in our spare time so why should we. We don’t go to jail if he fook’s up, he does, so what’s the fuss about ?? . But the thing he and us care about is Newcastle United, if he does he’s job there then we are all happy including Joey and vice-versa. If he’s shit playing for us then yes we have the right to judge him but not in his personal life.
Ausgeordie
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Comment #18I am about to move to a place with no cable tv. Anyone know any sites where you can watch the game live? Or subscription services? Anyone?
ToonKing
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Comment #19best site out there for you mate, visit the forums if you need help.
http://myp2p.eu/
Chicken
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Comment #20Fickle as fcuk.
Knew this would happen.
Open your eyes people – the lad is bad news. He aint gonna change.
Sooner we get rid the better.
Ausgeordie
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Comment #21Thanks mate! Cant live without my 2am matches.
daiv
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Comment #22Forget Mr J Barton. He’s going to do a spell at Her Majesty’s Institution. He’s history.
Spyro
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Comment #23yeah i dont care about his off the field behaviour, i care about the football thats it
daiv
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Comment #24Spyro
Thats rubbish. Hes a nutter who beats people up. Its ok being a rapist or murderer as long as he plays OK for NUFC? Hes played two decent games out of 32 and now hes a top player? Wise up.
scott9
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Comment #25barton is a great player and i think keegan is the man to get the best out of him definatley barton has looked a lot better unfder keegan hes great at putting confidence into players n thats wot hes done with barton
Tom_Toon
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Comment #26Well he isnt a rapist or a murderer, hes had a few scraps and done a few silly things in the heat of the moment. Dabo didnt exactly look that bad.
Spyro
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Comment #27exactly tom toon, some of you lot are way over the top. So he has committed a few crime, dont any of you know any people who attract trouble? I got a few mates who attract trouble and often get a bit rowdy, so what, its not a big thing.
Ausgeordie
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Comment #28The only raping I saw was the Spurs midfield getting bent over and plugged on saturday!
Spyro
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Comment #29anyway, we only know half of the story when it comes to Joey Bartons crimes, how do we know he wasn’t seriously provoked into doing all that stuff? so what he has a bad temper, big deal
Spyro
Apr 2, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Comment #30and no daiv, he is a top player because of what he has done before those 32 games, he is a good player and has proven that on many occassions. Anyway, what happened to going along with what KK believes? KK likes him and sees he is a good lad and a great footballer, so just leave it
richie
Apr 2, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Comment #31well dragoner tomtoon et al , haven been on in while, joey is starting play well i tipped this,,hopefully stay out of truoble and continue t improve under kk
hes a player that can b a part of a better newcastle side next season………
richie
Apr 2, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Comment #32http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T41R3jgAWdQ
think he comes across v well
reminds me of roy keane,,
i hope in time he becomes the keano of our time….
Leo
Apr 2, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Comment #33this site is all go tonight, i went out for a drink and just got back, and ive got over 100emails from this website. it was quality reading through them all
Spyro
Apr 2, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Comment #34And by the way, since when did people get punished for having racist relatives?? thats just stupid
domtoon
Apr 2, 2008 at 11:47 PM
Comment #35geordiegerrard in the making. i don’t think it’s right to judge him. he who cast the first stone etc. he has 1 more chance – 1 more!!! and the next incident he’s probably gone regardless of whether he serves time at Her Majesty’s Pleasure. allardyce bought him, he’s done a few more stupid things before xmas, now kk is in charge of him and the situation isn’t keegan’s his fault. he says he’s seen good in the guy so let him do his best for us and if he somehow turns the sorry situation around, then he’s done himself well. the guy gets paid shedloads for playing for the toon so unless he messes up under the king, i say we get behind him and let the courts decide his guilt. plenty of reformed people in the world, let’s hope barton is one of em.
Luke
Apr 3, 2008 at 12:37 AM
Comment #36disgusting questioning from Logan.
Luke
Apr 3, 2008 at 12:40 AM
Comment #37http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqKemGKJVnU&feature=related
Hadji
Apr 3, 2008 at 1:02 AM
Comment #38Daiv…32 games he played you said…hmmm.
Didn’t he miss the first 8 games mate,wasn’t he suspended on 2 or 3 games.
When the team is playing good like at the moment…just relax and enjoy.
KKN39
Apr 3, 2008 at 1:23 AM
Comment #39well maybe i’m just being irrational when it comes to NUFC … don’t care his off-field problems but if he plays well for the club, the fans and other teammates he’s good enough to stay and should receive support from all black n white. more performance like his at white hart lane certainly wont hurt. plus, in more practical sense, is it easy to replace him, an all-rounded box-to-box English midfielder with bags of experience and potential and carved for EPL games from Day1, with the 5.8m paid last summer?
Vitorbarbosa
Apr 3, 2008 at 2:54 AM
Comment #40For me, football isn’t end on the pitch only. Every footballer carry our image, our brand. They are our ambassador. They are the faces on our sites, on adverts. Football watch by communities around the world, from a very young kid to old man.
In some places, they see their football idol faces more than their presidents/prime minister. So, they should lead by example and show positive characteristics.
For Joey Barton case, I won’t judge him guilty until the court say so. He has history of bad behaviour, who doesn’t has a dark history?
But, he is mature enough to decide what he is doing. If he choose to punch and kick people, then the authority will take charge. If he choose to play badly, we will take charge.