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
Hoppefot79
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Comment #1Ash stay
Andy
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Comment #2He could but i don’t think he will as MA wouldn’t really be happy about the spokesman for our club being someone is vocal in there dislike for what is going on.
Cheick and Bake
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Comment #3i would love it .. love it if barton was our captain
P.I.
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Comment #4Bronze???
davybtoon
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Comment #5simple answer is no as i cant see were he is gonna play
G
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Comment #6There would be a certain irony in JB being appointed captain. The decision should be based on simply who is the best man for the job though, rather than seniority or skill.
Toonboy_84
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Comment #7Isn’t JB too outspoken for the wrong reasons to be our captain? Would give us bad publicity
cyprus
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Comment #8Joey for captain? Sure! And, if you do read this Joey, don’t listen to Ed, don’t close your Twitter account. Your honesty, admittedly brutal at times, is a breath of fresh air in this world full of puppets and liars.
a.barry
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Comment #9I doubt that Ashley would approve of him being captian. So therefore i carn’t see it happening:/ Think he would do well as well…
nufcmatt
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Comment #10i’d like him to be captain if he was sensible off the pitch as well, he’s our most hard-working player that’s hungry to win games and has been a good vice captain over the last couple of seasons.
roy cropper
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Comment #11pardew wont be appointing anyone until fatman has finished in the july/august sales.
expect an announcement on the 1st of september.
Dannyo
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Comment #12Barton as captain would be ludicrous, a firm no from me.
P.I.
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Comment #13@Cheick and Bake
Beat me to the podium!
I wouldnt mind Barton as el – captain but im not so sure he’ll be first choice in the starting XI
Perhaps Barton staying depends on our success in the Nzogbia deal?
Barton signs a 2 year contract and Pardew will come out and say it’s like having a new player.
Personally i think we should give it to Steve Taylor. Give him a real pat on the back for his performances at the end of last season, and spur him onto take his career to a new level. Try for England call ups and consecutive top performances. Williamson is decent but Taylor has the potential and the attributes in his game to be far better, he just needs to show it.
Aye fair enough hes injury prone but you could have Collo as vice captain maybe. One of them will play every game you would think.
Geordiedoonsooth
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:21 AM
Comment #14Don’t see why he can’t be skipper hope he is
mushy
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Comment #15If Barton stays, then his recent out-pourings is evidence that he could become a real cancer in the club. Therefore, making him captain would be a very astute political move to instill some responsibility and at the same time put a lid on his vitriol.
Cheick and Bake
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Comment #16guys .. who do you think would be a better choice for captain .. given the players we have now ..
lesh
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Comment #17C’mon Ed, be realistic….. would you expect a promotion after publicly critising your employer?
Thought not!
geoff777
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Comment #18He’d be my first choice.
Give him a contract too.
Cheick and Bake
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Comment #19mushy — i agree..
Andy
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Comment #20Leicster have bid £5m for matt mills of Reading the transfer window has now gone officially mad! We got cabaye for less than him!
dak76
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:27 AM
Comment #21Barton all the way for me, had a brilliant season, knows what it means to play for the club , Wants to stay, dispite his past he has shown he’s grown up on the pitch and think it’ll calm him down even more as he’ll have the responsibility etc
JackButler
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:31 AM
Comment #22Still not sure if he’ll be here long enough to be captain
Nevermind the B0110cks
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Comment #23Joey Barton Toon Captain
Love it. Cabaye Marveaux should not be guaranteed starts in my opinion until they prove themselves in the EPL.
JAMSHA
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Comment #24I would luv s.taylor as our cap. But if joey stays then for sure joey will lead us. But wich 1 player in da mid wl b out of the startng 11?
Joey-toto-cabAye-jonas?
Or
Silyn-toto-cabaye-jonas?
Andy
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Comment #25How can they prove themselves without starts? Ranger is yet to prove himself although looked good in glimpses off the bench – why? He doesn’t start matches
mushy
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Comment #26I’ve seen similar situations in business, times out of number. Some union worky-ticket who’s a real pain-in-the-arse to the bosses, suddenly gets promoted into a junior management position. Problem solved!
JackButler
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Comment #27Cabaye, Ba and Marveuax will have pre season to prove themselves
nden85
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:36 AM
Comment #28sunderland are buying someright shite today. pleased that we don’t go for john o’shea and wes brown type players any more.
tsunami
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Comment #29At the moment i have 35 million reasons why i don,t care.
Ericles
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Comment #30Of course Joey should be captain. He may not be spotless but he has nowhere near the bum boils of Ashley!!!
Andy
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Comment #31tsumi give is your top 7
stestickle
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:43 AM
Comment #32no
roshan MAGPIE
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Comment #33i dont think ashley will let barton to become captain
stestickle
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Comment #34showed last season the times he was captain his game struggled
belfastmagpie87
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Comment #35barton would be choice for captain.but im convived he wont be here.i would say barton would be pardews first choice,aswell.
Elb11
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Comment #36I’d give Joey captaincy and work on getting him a new contract.
He was one of our best players last year, why do people keep saying he won’t get into the first 11? The player’s we’ve signed aren’t guranteed to be any good in the premiership (perhaps with the exception of Ba), especially not in the first season.
I truely believe he is a good role model now and shows that you can overcome problems and change as a person. If he can keep the red mist under control (that’s a big IF), I think he’d make a great leader.
JackButler
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Comment #37Don’t think Ashley will try to tame Barton by giving him the captains armband, he will just sell him and get him out of the club. You have to say it’s not the first time Barton has hit the self destruct button on his own career
hitman
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:48 AM
Comment #38did anyone see SSN this morning they were at the training ground,the reporter says there was talk of jonas leaving..
alex84
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Comment #39Hitman, i saw that…i think he was just reporting the gossip thats been in papers, ie smith as well.
did also say were looking to bring in more players…hopefully!
Magpies-till-d3ath
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Comment #40Any squad numbers ben released yet?