Joey Barton played very well last night, and helped his manager, Joe Kinnear, pick up his first win as interim manager of Newcastle United.
Joey Barton – good game last night
After the game, Joey talked to the Newcastle Evening Chronicle:
“That was for all our fans and all the people I have let down. My only wish now is that it is the first of many.”
“People have already been asking me if this was my best moment as a Newcastle player, and it is up there with them.”
“Spurs away last season was a big, big moment, and so was my debut for Newcastle. But when you win it’s always a great moment.”
The pressure was really on Joey Barton last night, in his first start of the season at St James’ Park. That of course followed the 73 days he was in jail, but Joey not only showed he’s still a very good player, but he also conducted himself well throughout the game.
He seemed completely delighted, when he scored the penalty in the 9th minute, and the fans just loved it, and he even refrained from kissing the badge – orders from the boss no doubt.
He can only do that when he gets a hat trick. 😀
That has to continue and we are really hoping it will – but it’s going to be very difficult for Barton, make no mistake about that, as Joey will be tempted even by other players, who feel he should not still be in football.
Barton added:
“Once the referee pointed to the spot I really fancied it, although I know a lot of the other players did as well.” “It was never an issue. I am always one to step up to the plate and I have no problem with this sort of thing.”
“One thing that can never be levelled at me is that I have lacked courage. Through my own stupidity I have had to come back from things and this has shaped me for what I have got to do.”
Joey got the Man of the Match award last night, from the sponsors, but he was modest about that and attempted to play it down as he said:
“It was more important to get the team off on the right note and I felt that I could do that with the penalty, and that’s the way it worked out.” “As far as this man of the match award is concerned, I don’t think it should have gone to me.”
“Damien Duff was outstanding, and that’s the best I have seen him play for a number of years.” “If he can maintain that kind of form there could be exciting times ahead for this football club.” “Then Shay Given made a save at 1-0 which was absolutely vital for us.
“Perhaps I got the award because I picked up a bit of the sentimental vote. But individual awards and club plaudits are not really for me.
“It is more important that Newcastle United get the success they deserve and crave, and if we win 2-1 and I don’t score or get the man of the match award I would take that every time.”
As we mentioned earlier, the TV commentators said that if Barton could get control of himself, and also play well for at least a couple of seasons, he could well become a role model to other wayward young men.
He now has that unique opportunity, and we are pleased he is already speaking to groups about his demons and how he is trying to get a handle on them. David Beckham is a perfect model fior how he can regain the fans’ confidence.
If Joey can stick to the straight and narrow – anything is possible for him, and he can turn his life around – we hope he can do just that.
33 comments so far
ToonKing
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Comment #1Captain, captain!!!
p
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Comment #2Wouldn’t be surprised if he really is a future captain.
Would really be good if last night is indeed a new beginning for him. Hope so…
Nenad The Serbian Mag
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Comment #3I’d like to think that he had really turned the page, and that his last night’s goal celebration was honest, with the gesticulation toward the fans…
D.C.
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Comment #4And of course the aptly-name Hatchetman throws him under the bus as a selfish player for taking the pen. What bollocks.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-1081501/HATCHET-MAN-Barton-role-model-didnt-push-Newcastle-team-mates-way-personal-glory.html
Rasko a.k.a Hadji
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Comment #5Maybe i’ll get a stick for this.
I hope JK will turn Alan Smith into a goalscoring machine and lift his confidence like he did with Shola….but the question is……will JK be here by the time Smith recovers.
When is Smith coming back anyway???
Dan13
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Comment #6I’ve got a good feeling about Smith like,
hopefully when he’ll be back and raring to go under whoever it may be.
I’d play him where shola is now or as a replacement for Butt.
skin d
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:24 PM
Comment #7does anybody think that maybe not yet but somewhere down the line barton would make a good newcastle captain.
he seems to display leadership qualities,this could be the making of him and help him turn his life around even more so?.
skin d
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Comment #8toonking,i honestly think he would make a great captain.
Rasko a.k.a Hadji
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Comment #9Dan13….Are you sure that DM will suit AS?
Its a bit of gamble dont you think!
Flan
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:29 PM
Comment #10At last our midfield is looking decent thanks to Joey and Jonas back from injury and Duff back in form.
Rasko a.k.a Hadji
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Comment #11We need 1 RB,1DM,1RM in January without selling anyone in our current squad.
Obafan
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Comment #12Fair comment by Joey and indeed his MOTM award was sentimental, not fully deserved like he mentionned himself. Duff was my MOTM, but it is only a very little achievement. For that I think it was smart to give Joey the MOTM;
I just hope that he will remeber all the words concerning his past he said in that interview will not be forgotten by the man himself, so he will not get back through such a tough and hard situation.
Punk Skunk
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Comment #13D.C.
you got what you deserved readin’ that shite mate!..Joke paper(the new sun?)…Ignore it bro’!..
😀
Punk Skunk
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Comment #14skin d,
aye mate, sometimes givin’ ‘the bad boy’ the responsibility of the armband is the makin’ of ’em…& it could be the case with Joey…You’ve gotta like the lads attitude & passion…Don’t see anyone else jumpin’ out at the moment…
…The contenders, for me, are:
Colo-if/when he has the lingo down…
Butt-He has the balls & experience for the job…
Barton-Could be his callin’…
Duff-Possibly(?)
Owen-Cool under pressure…
Flan
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Comment #15By the way how did Xisco get 4 votes for MOTM ?
IndiaMag
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Comment #16Guys, do you have a link for the goals of yesterday’s match.. I could watch only the second half.
Punk Skunk
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Comment #17Confidence buildin’?..
Ganiyu
Oct 29, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Comment #18Young way ward men will change
Paul:D
Oct 29, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Comment #19i said yestaday before the match that barton should be captain now everones sayin it….soon enough kk will be back, we will have good owners…no more poisen dawrf…and barton as captain, the team will be climbin higher than ever before, abnd all will be good with nufc 😀
adam
Oct 29, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Comment #20You don’t earn the captaincy after one game… Calm down and lets see what he does for the next few months. Shay, Butt or Taylor for the captaincy with Barton watching and learning how to be a true pro. Thought he was excellent last night and am delighted the club did not sack him but it is certainly along road ahead and the last thing he needs is uslot getting carried away and him thinking that all is forgotten as he has alot more to give back to the club for what he did. Also this month on month thing with JK is also decent as it is keeping him on his toes and ensuring he does his best for the club. I for one would be OK with him continuing for the rest of the season and then reviewing it in pre-season and getting a top, if possible British candidate to replace him. Mr. Shearer springs to mind with JK upstairs.
Paul:D
Oct 29, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Comment #21shearer or kk…maybe ketsabia or beardsly might be able to but it has to be someone with the passion….;look at our past manager record, the only 2 who have succeded are kk and robson…woulda thought that would be realised by now
Punk Skunk
Oct 29, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Comment #22Definately NOT Shay or Taylor for captain & i can’t think of a british coach i’d employ!..
…Don’t like a goalie bein’ capt. Too out of touch with the game…Taylor…’nuff said!..
reillers
Oct 29, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Comment #23I think Shay did very well captaining the side, apparently he’s 100% record as captain.
But I think Barton would over time, after a while, make a good captain.
I said earlier he remined me of Roy Keane a wee bit, if Keane hadn’t been straightened out who know’s what path he would have went down.
But Fergie did it for him and he’s been one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, the best players that the Premiership has seen. He was given a second chance, give Joey his. He served his time, now lets get on with it. I’m not saying that he’s going to captain the club to countless of tropheys but he’s passion and fire.
He showed passion and in his celebration as well, he lifted the ground. That’s passion that we’ve only seen from Given in this team.
Barton did himself and us proud yesterday and I hope he keeps it up.
Maybe in a while from now he should captain the side, but now, now everything is too raw, all the feelings, all the hate. It’d be unfair on him and the players.
But maybe some day he’d make a good captain.
toonoot
Oct 29, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Comment #24If pigs could fly …. the price of bacon wud gan up!
broon ale
Oct 29, 2008 at 4:52 PM
Comment #25reilers!!! i wouldnt go as far as describing Roy keane as the greatest player the premier league has ever seen. especially on this forum!
he is no Ronaldo, or bergkamp, or cantona, or shearer, or beardsley!
Punk Skunk
Oct 29, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Comment #26But he is Irish!.. 😀
…Or Gazza, Henry…
Bart
Oct 29, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Comment #27We need a WORLD CLASS defensive midfielder, 1 young right back and 1 young attacking midfielder and a right winger.
reillers
Oct 29, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Comment #28Broon ale, since the premierhsip became the premiership, I think he has been..are you telling me that slave boy Ronaldo is better then Keane, all bias aside, honestly..??
And Punkskunk..oh aye, true he’s Irish that makes him much better then most. LOL!!
CHUCK
Oct 29, 2008 at 6:21 PM
Comment #29Nothing like a bit of jail time to focus the mind.
Joey had a fair game but not yet up to speed, captain you say ? C`mon get real !
Duff was by far the most outstanding player on the pitch, Shea was as usual outstanding with a couple of saves that kept us in the game.
Enrique showed signs of rust, needs playing time and some confidence building.
Jonas needs game time, as does the Martins-Shola partnership.
Beye his usual solid prformance.
Guthrie is improving, had undrrated him, agood prospect.
The central defenders looked okay, but need more support from the midfield.
Would like to see Bassong get some playing time, he`s got great pace .
Xisco, have to see more of him ?
Carroll, not really !
CHUCK
Oct 29, 2008 at 6:34 PM
Comment #30On Roy Keane, your comparisons are apples and bananas, Roy bossed the midfield, he could do it all, defend ,pass, score and most of all his example and probably fear of his ire, drove the team to play to their limits.
Alex Ferguson knew that, he was a Billy Bremner, a Graham Souness, a Jimmy Scoular,
etc. and i am being kind to the others.
Anyone with any understanding of the game knows that.
If anyone disagrees, tell me who was better in that role ?
Punk Skunk
Oct 29, 2008 at 7:11 PM
Comment #31Reillers,
😀
…Irish is good mate!..
Obafan
Oct 29, 2008 at 7:15 PM
Comment #32adam
Taylor captain??? Come on every week he is the worst on the pitch. He doesn’t deserve to be in the team and you will make him captain.
BTW a captain should take his responsability, Taylor never does that. The only thing he does is starting to laugh with his own mitakes.
KK FOREVER (Ross)
Oct 29, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Comment #33a future captain for us, that simple.