Barton - think!
First of all, apologies to anyone who's expecting jokes this week. (Yes, I can hear some of you spitting out your cappuccino froth all over your computer screen and smirking 'No change there then.') Thing is, I'm right miffed this week. Anyone else get tired of the hypocrisy of sportsmen? I bloody do...
Fergie gives a matchless response to the fact that Berbatov's two goals v Celtic were offside. Something to the effect that it was nice for his team to get a decision for a change. I mean can't this man button it? The bloody nerve!
Anyone else suddenly go back in their mind to Rob 'Foul is fair and fair is foul' Styles's decision following Jlloyd Samuel's perfect tackle on the gelled tumbler a few weeks back? Don't be such a whingeing ninny, Ferguson.
Then there's KP. I like KP and I like his press conferences. But this upcoming cash cow of a match is no place to start protesting that the media are all talking about the money.
Kevin, son, the whole point of the Stanford charade is the money. If it wasn't for the rivers of cash you're going to be able to shower your loved ones in should you win, there'd be no game. Never has the phrase 'it's just not cricket' ever been so appropriate.
I mean I've got nothing against anyone earning a million dollars if some loaded chump is willing to dole it out, but the pretence that it's not why the players are out there is a flaming insult to our intelligence. I'm sorry to hear KP's pals are on the breadline but hey, if you beat the Caribbean Mercenaries XI then you can pay off their mortgages for them, can't you, mate?
In fact, if it's really not about the money then you can send 90% of your winnings to some peasant farmers in Zimbabwe and feel a little better about the whole thing. Or just front up. No one minds. We'd all do the same. Just be honest about it, like Alistair Cook was until the coach Moores sort of undermined him. You don't want to tell the truth, Cooky... that'll never do.
Celtic's manager responded to the offsides at Old Trafford with a little more perspective. It's not like they wouldn't have got beat any road, so why moan? But then Strachan is a funny and self-aware bloke and his attitude isn't one of them 'why do they always pick on me?' types.
Then we come to the strangest press conference of the week with that reprobate Barton. Not quite sure how but the bloke's one of the more articulate English footballers around. He says he's not been happy with his form recently but he's got more form than the rest of the Premier League put together.
Hearing Keegan bleat for mercy on his behalf rather stuck in a lot of people's throats - certainly it seems that sportsmen get a lot more bleeding rope than most employees. Anyone else in Joey's position would be trudging in line at the jobcentre behind the scabby merchant bankers and the lank-mulleted young estate agents (now they've had to economise on the 'product' for their hair).
But then maybe Kev's a better man than the rest of us. What you can't deny is Barton's frankness when it comes to accepting he's been a violent little plank and deserves everything that's come his way.
The idea of him being 'a shining beacon' for kids everywhere is harder to swallow than a double packet of Jacob's cream crackers, but at least the lad's showing aspirations for summat more than a brace at the JJB and a skinful at some Manc club or other.
Personally I don't see why Barton can't be a shining beacon, or rather a bright red warning light, by being banned from football for another year and going round the country explaining to wannabe footballing show-ponies why he's been cold-shouldered.
But the lad knows he's in the last chance saloon - and he's only allowed an apple and mango J2O while he's there, poor lamb. Ten months off the booze is an impressive start although it does help that they closed the honesty bar at Strangeways a while back.
So while Barton is very very very lucky to have a 17th chance offered him, at least he seems to realise that this is it and the next time he loses it it's all over for sure.
I dunno about you but maybe there's a whole swathe of pinstriped yuppies who might be well-advised to hold a similar press conference and explain why they've trounced the savings and loans of the people of this country by playing silly beggars with stuff that's not their own, the dozy bankers. But as I say, the richer you are in this country the less you have to apologise for your sins.
So I for one will lay off the Scouse tinderbox and hope that we never hear from him again. Actions speak louder than words, Joey. We need proof - and I don't mean 40% proof - that you can turn this around.
But let's just hope that if he does come off the rails again there won't be some numpty League Two no-marks ready to bail him out. Any more horrors and the bloke gets to do what every other ex-con should do - get a proper job.
I'm Derek Robson. People call me Robbo. Legend has it I was raised in the furnace and smog of Teesside. Some might say I took the hard road. I like to tell folk I had trials for Middlesbrough, for Hartlepool and for burglary (not guilty). I've always loved sport. My job is to say it as I see it - whether it's in the bar of the Blue Bell or on this blog. You won't find me calling a spade a soil-redistribution implement.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~57~RS~)
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Barton has served his time.prison ain't a doddle.what would you like all released prisoners to do?I realise he is in a highly payed job,but do you honestly think he'd be better off on a park bench with a can of special brew?he served his time,now let him try to rehabilitate himself.look at the attitude of lee hughes since his release.didn't think you were a hang 'em and flog 'em type robbo?
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I am Not Barton's biggest fan but i sincerely hop he's over his troubles and can turn things around.
he can be a good footballer as he showed at Citeh!
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Great blog Robbo! Totally agree about the Alex Ferguson bit. I too was incredulous when I read this comments in the paper this morning. I hate the way that he thinks he is being persecuted by everyone all the time. If you are going to stand there and tap your watch whilst drawing in the 95th minute then you deserve all the venom you get. If he seriously thinks he and his team are hard done by then he needs his head looking at.
How many teams get a penalty at Old Trafford? None, hardly. I can't think of one recently. I can't wait for him to retire and take his myopic views with him when he goes.
Also, I think that Barton is on his last chance now, any more problems and no-one would realistically take him on again.
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#1 Not too sure how you can describe Robbo as a hang em and flog em type? Are we reading the same article? My impression was that Robbo is all for given him a chance, but this really is the last one (in the premiership)
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no problems with giving someone their "last chance".however,the tone of mr. robson suggests he's not quite100% behind barton.eg "reprobate barton","violent little plank"etc.If this is someone on your side then goodness knows what he's like having a go.
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I'm a big fan of Joey Barton. His 100% dedication is something that lacks in modern day football. He's a 'Jack The Lad' and indeed has made choice that have severley hampered people perceptions of him.
Leave him to it now, see what happens.
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Leave him to it now, see what happens.
Again?
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Why no link to this except for from the Fun and Games page? Are they phasing you out Robbo?
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Yes, as far as I am aware he has only been involved in one non-football related indescression.
Can we count the Dabo incident?
There again you can take the boy out of Liverpool....
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Rovers-return:
"He's a 'Jack The Lad' and indeed has made choice that have severley hampered people perceptions of him."
A 'jack-the-lad' who makes choices like stamping defenceless people's heads into pavements and shoving a burning cigar into a TEAM-MATES eye???!
I think these have more than hampered people's views. More like shown him up to be the mindless, brutal thug that he is. And a 'jack-the-lad'???? I don't think that's how most people would define his behaviour!
If he can truly reform and move on from this then I will step back and applaud the lad but it's going to take more than a few good performances on the pitch.
And the hope of him being a kids role model? I certainly hope my kids don't grow up looking up to a criminal, ex-convict like him, however well reformed.
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Oh and Robbo, your comment about Fergie - SPOT ON!!!! Brilliant.
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I wouldn't say he stamped on an 'innocent' person's head.
I'm not defending him, but this type of behaviour goes on every day and is nothing out of the ordinary in this day and age.
Because Joey is in the public eye makes this all the more worse for some reason...
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Ok maybe the other lad wasn't completley innocent but he was lying on the floor with no means of defending himself.
It is made worse because he's in the public eye and because kids and young lads, especially, look up to him as a hero figure, someone they want to grow up to be like. How many young boys would say, when asked, they want to be a professional footballer? An awful lot is the answer.
That's part of the job and footballers have to accept that. They get paid enough so they should be able to behave in the way they're expected to.
I also think it is out of the ordinary - only becuase of the media protraying the young generation as one of thuggery, gangs and knife crime. This is not how the vast majority of people choose to live.
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BARTON DOESNT DESERVE TO PLAY FOOTBALL AGAIN. He assualted someone. I dont care about all that nonsense "he served his time" that is absolute rubbish. It gives a terrible image to world football. That someone who has assualted an innocent man is still earning over 50k. It's bloody out of order. Hes one of those sportstars that robbo said about. Hes lost his image all he cares about now is the money.
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I have no sympathy for that guy who started a fight with him. He got what he deserved defenseless or no - he made the choice to fight him.
That said, the other incidents are very bad for football and this really must be his last chance.
As for Fergie - you really think an intelligent man like him really believes that? He just wants to maintain this siege mentality and who can blame him - not as if its a failure.
Strachan is an honest man and a very likeable one on and off the pitch and what he said was the brutal honest truth.
As for KP and Co - Can't agree with you more mate.
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'But as I say, the richer you are in this country the less you have to apologise for your sins. '
NEVER WERE TRUER WORDS SAID...
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There is some real weird thinking going on in this blog.
Suppose Joey does do some more naughty stuff and copes a few months ban. Does anyone honestly believe that your average manager, given a chance at a free Joey, wouldn’t jump at the opportunity? Most managers are certainly desperate and scared enough to.
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