We asked you to comment - should Newcastle sack troubled star Joey Barton - or give him one last chance. The response has been mixed, but heartfelt. Our thanks to those who emailed NU Mad.
Claire Hubbert:
What YOU (The Fans) Think About Joey Barton!
By Nu Mad
Updated Wednesday, 9th July 2008
Firstly if Joey Barton played for Man Utd this would not be the PR circus that it is with this amount of open discussion from newspapers, Joe Public, Websites and Club Managers. With every scandal that has ever hit Man Utd, and it has had its fair share, the first thing that Man Utd do is shut shop and the PR office deal with it!
Sometimes whether we like it or not if an individual is a asset regardless
of the job, if this is the case then a company will provide support. Which is why Sir Alex stood by Eric Cantona when he attacked a fan along with
injuring a innocent lady who was stood next to the fan.
Sir Alex has also spent years defending Roy Keane's violent behaviour on the pitch and then the famous drug test appointment missed by Rio Ferdinand.
Now I am not saying that Joey Barton to date has shown the on field skill of the three named above however as a Toon season ticket holder I will say that the development of Joey since Mr Keegan returned is vast and he was what we missed at the Everton game at the end of the season.
So yes Sir Alex would stand by him and Roy Keane can only pray to have a player with his potential in his squad.
I believe the real question which should be asked by the football club for theirs ears only is whether the players and the manager are prepared to give Joey a chance?
The fact that the Board appointed Wise (who shares a very similar criminal record with Joey) after Joey's boxing day fiasco means the Board have no moral high ground to take unless Wise departs the club on the same day as Joey or takes a 50% pay cut!
I truly believe Joey should return on a final warning and make a commitment to Mr Keegan or otherwise the alternative will be that Joey plays against us because someone will sign him!
Ashley sort out your communications with the PR office or just sort out the PR full stop!
Tony Davidson:
As a Sunderland fan reading your article I had to admit you have a potentially interesting debate regarding the career of Joey Barton.
For what its worth, whilst, as a red and white I have a good laugh at some of the carry-ons at the toon I also have to feel a bit of sympathy for the club and its fans.
Lots of friends are NUFC fans and are fairly quick to have a pop any "spoiled brat" footballer who gets all the wrong headlines amid the shouts of sack him of course.
While I understand that point of view, the club has to look additionally at the commercial aspects of such an act. Five million pounds is a lot of money to any club to kiss goodbye.
Additionally, Joey Barton is a superb footballer, not the brightest button in the box but theres nothing new there, and please dont forget, he has been punished for his crimes and when released may well realise the error of his ways.
In conclusion I truly believe Newcastle would be daft to just sack him, let Keegan evaluate Barton after his release and leave the final decision as to his future with him.
For what its worth, whilst, as a red and white I have a good laugh at some of the carry-ons at the toon I also have to feel a bit of sympathy for the club and its fans.
Lots of friends are NUFC fans and are fairly quick to have a pop any "spoiled brat" footballer who gets all the wrong headlines amid the shouts of sack him of course.
While I understand that point of view, the club has to look additionally at the commercial aspects of such an act. Five million pounds is a lot of money to any club to kiss goodbye.
Additionally, Joey Barton is a superb footballer, not the brightest button in the box but theres nothing new there, and please dont forget, he has been punished for his crimes and when released may well realise the error of his ways.
In conclusion I truly believe Newcastle would be daft to just sack him, let Keegan evaluate Barton after his release and leave the final decision as to his future with him.
Adrian Wright:
Barton has been punished well enough and he deserves no more. He has accepted that he has failed his family, Club, friends and his collegaues in the game as a whole.
He MUST be given a second chance and a that he deserves. Had it been Christiano / Wayne at Manchester United would Sir Alex sent them parking? it is an obvious NO.
All Barton need is the support of the club and i know going to jail would have taken the rough side of him as with every good citizen.
He MUST be given a second chance and a that he deserves. Had it been Christiano / Wayne at Manchester United would Sir Alex sent them parking? it is an obvious NO.
All Barton need is the support of the club and i know going to jail would have taken the rough side of him as with every good citizen.
I (Adrian Wright) in Freetown, Sierra Leone supports NUFC stand in supporting Joey Barton this far and hope to see him soon in training with his colleagues.
GO ON JOEY!!!
John Egan:
Ferguson didn't get rid of Cantona after his Kung Fu kick on a fan did he ?
Carl Ribchester:
I can't comprehend why Keegan would want him in his squad; he is a million miles away both in ability and in character, from the players I associate with him as a player, such as Peter Beardsley.
I make this reference because as a child I supported Carlisle - (my father's home town team) and followed Newcastle. At least I did until Keegan and Beardsley signed for Newcastle which led to me realigning my allegiances after watching Carlisle being torn apart in a five one thrashing at St James Park.
I make this reference because as a child I supported Carlisle - (my father's home town team) and followed Newcastle. At least I did until Keegan and Beardsley signed for Newcastle which led to me realigning my allegiances after watching Carlisle being torn apart in a five one thrashing at St James Park.
Quarter of a century later and I have an 8 year old son who is mad about football; he supports Newcastle and follows Carlisle… it's a family thing; I never totally dropped the Blues. And I make this point because; if Barton is still at Saint James Park at the start of the season I will be taking the Bairn to Brunton Park to buy a blue shirt this year.
Marie Shannan:
I read your comments about Barton on newsnow, and as you asked for readers comments by email, I thought I would respond.
As a retired nursing sister, I have seen many people with horrific injuries, because people like Barton, could not control their temper or aggresion.
If it was a one off incident with Barton, I would say fair enough, everyone deserves a 2nd chance.
Unfortunately there seems to be a sequence of violent behaviour with this lad.
Whether he was a footballer or not, I would feel the same way about his behaviour.
He attacked the lad in L'Pool with appalling violence, as clearly seen on tv, and this whilst he was already awaiting court hearing for beating up a fellow footballer.
Some Man City players who witnessed Barton's attack on Dabo, have come out in the press and said it was sickening to see such violence, and they said the savagery of it would live with them forever.
So that should tell you something. Then there was the incident where he turned on a youth team player, and stuck a lit cigar in the lads eye, because the lad had challenged him about trying to set youth team players costume sleeves on fire at a seasonal party for Man C staff.
How much more does he have to do, before clubs do something that will really help him.
I think N'Castle should only give him a chance, if he apologies privately and publically for his behaviour, and if he commits to as much ANGER management counselling as is needed.
In his case it will be months, rather than weeks.
He is lucky he hasn't killed somebody, with the beatings he dishes out.
If it was the club I support with my family, I wouldn't want him playing for us again, until I was assured of change in temperament through anger management and control.
All the best to N'Castle United for this next season.
Very sincerely - Marie Shannan.
Manchester United Fan.
As a retired nursing sister, I have seen many people with horrific injuries, because people like Barton, could not control their temper or aggresion.
If it was a one off incident with Barton, I would say fair enough, everyone deserves a 2nd chance.
Unfortunately there seems to be a sequence of violent behaviour with this lad.
Whether he was a footballer or not, I would feel the same way about his behaviour.
He attacked the lad in L'Pool with appalling violence, as clearly seen on tv, and this whilst he was already awaiting court hearing for beating up a fellow footballer.
Some Man City players who witnessed Barton's attack on Dabo, have come out in the press and said it was sickening to see such violence, and they said the savagery of it would live with them forever.
So that should tell you something. Then there was the incident where he turned on a youth team player, and stuck a lit cigar in the lads eye, because the lad had challenged him about trying to set youth team players costume sleeves on fire at a seasonal party for Man C staff.
How much more does he have to do, before clubs do something that will really help him.
I think N'Castle should only give him a chance, if he apologies privately and publically for his behaviour, and if he commits to as much ANGER management counselling as is needed.
In his case it will be months, rather than weeks.
He is lucky he hasn't killed somebody, with the beatings he dishes out.
If it was the club I support with my family, I wouldn't want him playing for us again, until I was assured of change in temperament through anger management and control.
All the best to N'Castle United for this next season.
Very sincerely - Marie Shannan.
Manchester United Fan.
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