Alan Pardew will soon have to appoint a new captain to replace the departed Kevin Nolan.
Joey Barton – could he be the new captain
And the three main candidates for the job would seem to be Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini and Joey Barton.
But our new 26 year-old Senegal striker has quickly ruled himself out of the job, as Demba Ba said today:
“I am not here to be a captain or a leader,” “Other people here can do this job – players who have been here a long time.”
“I am not interested in being captain and there are many who should be captain before me.”
Those are good words from Ba, and we wonder if Alan Pardew will go for Joey Barton as captain next season?
Pardew and Barton get on famously, and that would certainly mean that Joey would play a big part in the coming season, and the captain’s job could even help him get a new deal on Tyneside, which he is still very keen to do.
But, come to think of it, if didn’t help Kevin Nolan get the deal he wanted on Tyneside.
There’s no doubt that Barton would be a controversial choice, but if he terminates that Twitter account of his, it may even be possible, and whoever the choice is – it has to be Alan Pardew’s choice and his alone.
But it could be that Joey has already burned his bridges with the club’s hierarchy (Ashley and LLambias), and he could still be on his way out of the club this summer.
Between Fab Coloccini and Steven Taylor, the Argentine has the advantage that he is a regular first teamer, whereas Steven has struggled for his first team place, and Mike Williamson has regularly been preferred in the side.
However, Fabricio’s English is still not too good, so we think it will be a toss up between Steven and Fab for the captain’s job.
We have to think Joey would be too controversial a choice for Alan to make, although it’s possible, and we don’t even know if Joey will be allowed into the US this summer, because of that jail time he served three years ago.
There’s little doubt it will be very interesting to see what Newcatsle squad we end up with on September 1st.
Comments welcome.
96 comments so far
tynesidetommo
Jul 7, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Comment #81It has to be Harper – bright, intelligent and loyal. Let’s not kid ourselves. Barton won’t get a sniff of the armband even if he’s still here at the start of the season. Colo is another good shout while Staylor is just a gobby kid.
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jul 7, 2011 at 12:55 PM
Comment #82@ davybtoon comment 5 quite simplehes gona play in the centre right beside tiote with cabaye just in front of them
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jul 7, 2011 at 12:57 PM
Comment #83tynesidetommo i dont think harper will be in ahead of krul this year.
spitfire_
Jul 7, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Comment #84@ Cheick and Bake
The refs and the opponents must have respect to our captain, like thay have to Nolan or sort of… Do you think that especially refs have respect to Barton? Just think about for this game 1-1 against Wolves and espacially last 10-15 min…
John
Jul 7, 2011 at 1:06 PM
Comment #85Sure hope he is, hes a real man not a fancey boy premadona, a leader, no contest for me.
Tom_Toon
Jul 7, 2011 at 1:15 PM
Comment #86chuck – You say all the gret defenders were and are positionally astute. That IS Steven Taylor worst characteristic, he has no positional sense at all, this is proven almost every time he plays. He should not be captain because:
1. He should not start, Williamson is better all round.
2. The guy is pig shit thick and couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery.
Tom_Toon
Jul 7, 2011 at 1:17 PM
Comment #87I echo the thoughts on Cabaye as captain, providing his English is good enough come straight of the season. If not then it has to be one of Colo, Barton (if he gets a new contract) or Enrique (if he stays).
So likely it be Colo.
Gary
Jul 7, 2011 at 1:23 PM
Comment #88Joey Barton for Club Captain and Stevie Taylor for Team Captain and Derek Llambias as boot boy.
cleggy78
Jul 7, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Comment #89harper
simpson taylor collo ?
barton cabaye tiote home
arfa ba
defoe
harper
simpson taylor collo ?
barton cabaye tiote arfa away
defoe ba
6- 8th finish well within reach
chuck
Jul 7, 2011 at 3:11 PM
Comment #90Tom Toon
Cabeye is it ?
Obviously you come up with some dumb ass statements,to claim a £1m. player is better than the ex Engerland U21 captain , then put up a player for the captains role whom you have no knowledge about other than perhaps a you tube clip, just about proves it.
DJM TOON
You are as entitled to your opinions as i am, even though they are pretty dumb.
Ed. on the other hand has a certain responsibility and should be aware what he says sometime has far reaching results, much more so than the average Comment on his blog.
Tom_Toon
Jul 7, 2011 at 3:47 PM
Comment #91chuck – You have no idea what you’re talking about. Clearly you cannot read properly and nor are you eyes working properly.
ocorious
Jul 7, 2011 at 3:54 PM
Comment #92Joey better make it to the US!! I’ll be at their first game and have been dreamin about seein him for months!
max
Jul 7, 2011 at 4:06 PM
Comment #93steven taylor of course..
TinoToon
Jul 7, 2011 at 5:27 PM
Comment #94@Ed, i dont know how the law works on USA, but as far i know Joey Barton made a trip this very last summer to Las Vegas and LA. i will very dumb if a convicted person is allowed to travel, gamble, and party but no to play football on a preaseasson tour.
RedMissionBells
Jul 7, 2011 at 6:41 PM
Comment #95Barton is the ideal candidate for captaincy.
He is highly determined and does not chicken out against bigger teams.
Puts in good tackles and crosses too.
To me, Barton is much better than Barry, Carrick, Huddlestone and Charlie Adams.
AndyMac
Jul 7, 2011 at 7:53 PM
Comment #96I was wondering if Pardwho ever really wanted “captains” in the dressing room and I’ve just heard that “reading between the lines I think he (AP) is saying he does not want player power in the dressing room” So he wont want JB as captain let alone in the team ?
Maybe that explains why Pardwho is such a loser ?