All posts by h79snht.top

Not even the 750 miles of land and sea between Italy and England can stop Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson taking a swipe at his old Liverpool enemy Rafael Benitez.

Sir Alex chose to reopen old wounds ahead of last Sunday’s clash between his United side and fierce rivals Liverpool by blaming Benitez for the recent decline of the five time European Champions and not the club’s squabbling American owners. Ferguson could have easily avoided the Benitez issue if he had wished, but couldn’t resist one last dig at the new Inter Milan boss.

“I don’t know if Liverpool’s current situation is anything to do with the financial position,” commented Fergie.

“In the last regime they spent a lot of money on players, far more than Manchester United did. They had a huge squad of players, so I don’t know if the financial position is anything to do with it.”

The pair clashed repeatedly over transfer spending and budgets while Benitez was in charge at Anfield. In March 2009 the Spaniard told his United counterpart to ‘check his figures’ after Ferguson argued that the Merseyside Reds had easily outspent their rivals since the start of Benitez’s reign in 2004.

Depending on whose figures you believe, Benitez spent £240m during his six-year Anfield tenure, while Ferguson spent £223m over the same period. The former Valencia boss recouped around £165m, giving him a net spend of £88m (or £14.6m per season). While Ferguson’s net spend over the last six seasons works out at £58m, £30m less than Benitez. Benitez’s £14.6m-a-season certainly does not represent outlandish spending for a club which needed complete overhauling when he arrived in 2004. The over-inflated £80m cheque United received from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo also tips the scales in United’s favour.

Ferguson spent money reshaping his United side following Chelsea’s emergence as champions in 2004 & 05, while world class talent Wayne Rooney arrived from Everton in 2004 during Benitez’s first summer at Anfield. Sir Alex also added the defensive duo of Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra to his squad in 2006, undoubted high-quality additions to the Old Trafford set-up. Benitez also had successes in the transfer market with signings Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina and Javier Mascherano. Although Ferguson has been building from a position of strength, he can still point to three league titles and a Champions League win having spent less money than Benitez.

Benitez had success himself at Anfield, twice breaking the club’s record Premier League points total, a European Cup and a FA Cup triumph. It is incredibly harsh to blame Benitez for Liverpool’s decline when the club have been underachieving for the last two decades. The ownership saga did not help Benitez who had to manage in difficult conditions throughout his time at the club, as the boardroom battle rumbled on in the background. The effects of the ongoing sale process still continues to suck the life out of the club today and cannot be simply discarded when evaluating the club’s current plight.

Ferguson has seen the departure of six Liverpool managers during his 23-years at Old Trafford, claiming to have got on well will all of them except Benitez.

“You should examine him [Benitez] not me. I’ve always enjoyed a good relationship with Liverpool’s managers,” revealed Ferguson.

“Both clubs have always addressed the situation properly after games. That changed under the last regime, but it’s not a big issue for me.”

Clearly not. Liverpool fans have always backed Benitez’s stance on Ferguson and his refusal to pander to the longest-serving manager in English football. Benitez clearly got under Ferguson’s skin and still continues to provoke strong opinions from the Scot despite having long departed to Italy. Here’s what the former Liverpool boss had to say about Ferguson’s comments.

“I am honestly surprised that an experienced and important manager like him said these things and spoke so much about me, considering I’ve been in Italy for three months,” said the Nerazzurri boss.

“I can only add that the Liverpool fans know the story and they know the truth. They also know it’s easy to judge when you’ve been in power for 24 years.”

Of course Benitez had his failings but you cannot alter history to blame him for the club’s gradual decline and mismanagment over the last 20 years.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

You can read more of my blogs HERE or follow me on Twitter.

Liverpool old boy taking the Championship by storm

A look into the future of the Premier League

Charlie Austin couldn’t have timed his return to goalscoring form any better. With Jay Rodriguez looking set to miss the next few weeks with a groin injury, I was concerned about our goals drying up between now and the end of the season.

I needn’t have worried. Austin, who has played second fiddle to Rodriguez for much of the season, came off the bench at Portsmouth and bagged his first career hat trick in the final fifteen minutes. He began the season well, scoring 9 goals in his first 17 appearances, but then a shoulder injury suffered against Leeds United in November set him back, and after missing four matches he struggled to find the net upon his return.

Before his hat trick at Portsmouth, he had scored only twice in his previous eighteen appearances, and I think that was down to a lack of confidence brought about by the dislocation to his shoulder. It can’t have been easy for him to watch his strike partner Rodriguez – who has scored frequently and consistently throughout the campaign – grab the headlines but his goals on Saturday should provide him with the boost he needs.

With Rodriguez facing a battle to return before the end of the season, Austin has a genuine chance to overtake his partner’s league tally of fifteen. He currently stands two shy of that mark, and a fully confident Austin could be about to benefit from a purple patch over the remaining seven fixtures. Three of those games are against teams in the bottom four, and I’m sure Austin will be looking at the next few weeks as a chance to stake his claim for a regular starting berth next season.

Of his 39 appearances so far this season, 13 of those have been as a substitute and often he has only entered the action in the final ten minutes of games. On Saturday at Portsmouth he came on shortly after half time and I think that this is much more suited to his game. It gives him the time to get up to speed with the action; as we saw on Saturday, his first goal arrived twenty minutes after coming on, and two more followed in the next fifteen minutes.

His finishes were all predatory, coming from a combined distance of about fifteen yards and as an out and out goalscorer he brings something different to the squad. Rodriguez is more of an all-round forward who holds the ball up, wins the flick-ons and scores all types of goals. Martin Paterson is a workhorse; never likely to be prolific in the Championship but his high energy performances create chances for others. Danny Ings, who scored his first goal for the club at Portsmouth, looks very sharp but as yet Burnley fans have not seen enough of him to make an informed opinion.

The types of goals Austin scores remind me of watching Andy Payton in the late nineties, and as a Burnley fan I can’t pay him a higher compliment than that. He is not particularly tall, muscular or quick, but he often finds himself in the right place at the right time in and around the penalty area. His partnership with Rodriguez has produced 35 goals so far this season, and if a Premier League club do come in with a good offer for Rodriguez in the summer, Eddie Howe will have to base next year’s campaign around Austin’s goals. His display at Fratton Park on Saturday suggests he is up to it.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod id=’writer-1′ align=’right’]

It’s Christmas and to celebrate the festive season and their sponsorship of the Football League, npower are giving away pairs of tickets to Championship club supporters. It is the perfect gift for these lucky winners and a friend to commemorate 2010 and see their team into a successful 2011. Make sure you don’t miss out!

npower are offering you one last chance to save on your energy as they are rewarding fans for switching their gas and electricity supply to npower and paying by direct debit. For ‘real fans’ npower has launched Football Saver* for new customers – It’s guaranteed 7% cheaper than standard rates until 31st December 2011 plus you will automatically be placed into a special prize draw where you could win a £45 voucher to spend at your local Football League club shop, courtesy of npower, say for example towards a new shirt for the season. To take advantage of the offer call 0800 975 6613** quoting N570P, offer closes 30th January 2011.

npower are all about giving not only to the fans but to the local community too. As the new title sponsor of The Football League Kids Cup, they fully support the annual six-a-side competition with teams of Under-11’s and Under-13 girls played in towns and cities throughout the country, culminating in finals played at Wembley Stadium before the end of season npower Play-Off Finals.

The Competition:

Here at FootballFanCast we have teamed up with npower to offer footy fans the chance to win a Pair of Tickets for sixteen lucky home fans to the following four matches:

Doncaster Rovers v Middlesbrough – Saturday 18th December Barnsley v Burnley – Sunday 26th December (Boxing Day) Derby County v Doncaster Rovers – Sunday 26th December (Boxing Day) Scunthorpe United v Preston North End – Sunday 26th December (Boxing Day)

–

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is to answer the following question correctly:

Which team is not in the npower Football League?

A) Crystal Palace

B) Chelsea FC

C) Cardiff City

Email your answer along with the game you would like to watch to [email protected].

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

–

Terms and conditions:

Tickets are located in the home team stand and are only valid for home team supporters. Winning the football tickets doesn’t guarantee the automatic win of the £45 voucher. Winners of the voucher will be notified by npower by 31st Dec 2010. *Residential customers only. Offer and vouchers subject to availability. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply visit www.npower.com/shirtoffer or call 0800 975 6613** ** Calls may be recorded and monitored for training and security purposes. To view all the competition terms and conditions visit http://www.npower.com/footballcricketterms

David Beckham has called Jose Mourinho a genius and backed ‘The Special One’ to lead his former club Real Madrid to glory in 2011/12.

The Spanish capital city side have had to watch as rivals Barcelona have claimed the last three La Liga titles, and Pep Guardiola led his side to Champions League glory last term.

Despite this, the LA Galaxy player feels the Portuguese coach can turn the tide and bring success to the Santiago Bernabeu.

“They have one of the best coaches in the world. Mourinho is a genius and he has proved that with all the teams he has coached,” the former England captain told Marca.

“Madrid are building a powerful side with important players and they can win all the competitions. They are a team that strikes fear (into their rivals) and I have no doubt they will be able to win everything.”

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Los Blancos have added Nuri Sahin, Stephane Varene and Hamit Altintop to their already star studded squad this summer, and are being linked with a move for Brazil star Neymar.

Barcelona and Real Madrid both face UEFA charges following the fall-out of Wednesday’s Champions League clash at the Bernabeu. Both Carlo Ancelotti and Arsene Wenger have dismissed the talk of conspiracies, although I am sure the likes of Jose Mourinho will beg to differ.

In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that include Ferguson claims United lack a Ronaldo; Houllier leaves hospital, while Arsenal fans beg Kroenke to halt ticket prices.

*

Real and Barcelona go to war again after Uefa charges – Guardian

Wenger won’t sell star names – Sky Sports

Ferguson: United lack ‘Ronaldo’ factor – Daily Telegraph

Newcastle join hunt for Leeds’ winger Snodgrass as Pardew looks for pace – Daily Mail

Arsenal fans beg Kroenke to halt price rises – Daily Telegraph

Gabbidon charged with improper conduct by FA for X-rated Twitter rant – Daily Mail

Houllier leaves hospital – Sky Sports

Carroll told to expect Newcastle abuse – Guardian

Redknapp is a goer for Asamoah – Sun

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Mancini: Tevez could quit even if we reach Champions League – Mirror

Etherington likely to miss Cup final – Guardian

[divider]

Listen to the third episode of our brand new podcast – The Football FanCast. – Featuring Razor Ruddock, Gary O’Reilly and singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin, who performs a live version of his cult tribute to Mark Viduka, with Razor on backing vocals!

Sir Alex Ferguson has reproved the decision to host this season’s FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley, in lieu of travelling “chaos” and financial outlay fans of the four northern participants will face. United’s fans are unlikely to be affected by Ferguson’s concerns, seeing as the majority of them are based in the Capital, but the Scot’s suggestion that a Manchester derby to decide an FA Cup finalist should take place at Anfield provides a farcical alternative. Albeit Ferguson proposed Villa Park as a secondary option, I would feel personally disappointed as a Stoke City or Bolton fan to relinquish a rare trip to Wembley due to travelling costs which are incurred on most Premier League weekends.

A growing concern amongst a number of fans and pundits alike is the fading ‘magic’ of England’s oldest Cup competition. In my view, the recent hosting of FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley have preserved at least some of the tournament’s gloss, as they have provided a handful of smaller clubs a unique opportunity to perform for up to 90,000 spectators in one of the world’s most recognisable venues. Barnsley fans may have been similarly content to feature in a semi-final at say Old Trafford in 2008, but the opportunity to feature at a stadium of Wembley’s prestige, however recently developed, occurs quite literally once in a lifetime for a club of that calibre.

Staging three FA Cup ties a season instead of one increases the odds for small clubs to realise such a unique opportunity, and certainly improves their chances of causing an upset as Portsmouth proved last season in beating Spurs. A regular reappearance at Wembley seems implausible for both Stoke and Bolton fans, but it is understandable that Ferguson, who has led his team out on eight occasions since the stadium re-opened in 2007, feels aggrieved at the heightened importance of such a fixture with a tense culmination of United’s Premier League and European challenges also occupying his thoughts.

[ad_pod id=’unruly’ align=’right’]

It is possible that Ferguson is attempting to alleviate some of the pressure on his squad and undermine the progress Roberto Mancini has made since his instalment as City manager. I have no doubt that City will be competing with their neighbours on all fronts before long, but next month’s semi-final affords the Sky Blues a first return to Wembley since the 1999 Second Division Play-Off Final. Two injury-time goals thrust City towards what is now referred to as the Championship just four days after their rivals had completed an unprecedented European treble with two stoppage-time goals of their own. The difference in stature provides evidence of just how far City have advanced since the turn of the century, as they are presently able to entice World Cup winning stars to a state-of-the-art 50,000 capacity stadium.

The chance to showcase that wealth of talent at Wembley and the incentive to humiliate their neighbouring adversary in front of a global audience should not be undermined by Ferguson. For City, April 16th provides a glimpse at the rewards their extensive and expensive project will soon repeatedly reap and the prospect of ratifying the Abu Dhabi regime against United at Wembley is an occasion no amount of Ferguson mind-games will dampen.

Football fans are susceptible to travel ‘chaos’ each and every weekend, but no supporter would dispute Wembley as a destination whether as a semi-final or show-piece venue. It is worth remembering that Ferguson refrained from similar rambling when, in 2008, fans of Manchester United and Chelsea embarked on a round-trip of over 3,000 miles to see their teams compete in the Champions’ League Final in Moscow. Perhaps on that occasion UEFA could have taken the logical step to re-locate the match to Birmingham’s St Andrew’s Stadium to allay Ferguson’s fear that supporters spend too much money following their clubs, but somehow I suspect the supporters would not have concurred.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

http://twitter.com/football_sheri

[bet_365 type='generic' size='468' af_code='365_061609']

Bolton boss Owen Coyle announced that he is not interested in signing transfer listed Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton.The 28-year-old was placed on the transfer list by Newcastle on Monday after criticising owner Mike Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias.

Barton was linked to several clubs including Bolton, but Coyle said on Thursday he would not try and sign the one-time England international.

“I think Joey Barton’s best position is in the centre of midfield, that’s not an area we are looking to strengthen,” Coyle said.

“What I do know is whoever does manage to sign him is getting a hugely talented player and I’d imagine a player with a point to prove so it will certainly be good business for someone.”

The Scottish manager has not ruled out a move for Manchester City wingers Sean Wright-Phillips and Vladimir Weiss.

Coyle helped Bolton to 14th in the English Premier League last campaign, but said his team was capable of producing surprises this season.

“I think if you ask anybody at the beginning of the season they would say that the top six places should fill themselves, barring something going horribly wrong any of those elite clubs,” Coyle said.

“But I think it’s also fair to say that on any given day we are all capable of beating whether it be the top six or not.”

“Consistently we know that we’ll not match them over the season but we know game to game we can go and win games and take points and that’s why it’s the best league in the world.”

Bolton meet La Liga outfit Levante in a pre-season friendly at Reebok Stadium on Friday.

Football often throws up the most implausible surprises, yet there are some things in football that should happen, set in irrevocable stone. Real Vallodolid should beat tiny Alcorcon and reach La Liga. Steve Evans should never have been allowed to manage another football team. Cristiano Ronaldo should be the most impressive player at Euro 2012.

However, things do not always go to plan in football. After the craziest of seasons in the Premier League, we have seen the unpredictable nature of football grab our collective attentions and place us on the enthralling edge of our collective seats. At the European Championship, though, the fear is that once again Europe’s leading lights will go disappointingly dim after the travails of the league season.

The post-mortem following Holland’s disastrous defeat against Denmark has focused predominantly upon the failure of the nation’s most menacing attacking players to decamp with their festive attributes when it most matters. Sneijder, Robben, Van Persie: all magnificent throughout their respective domestic seasons, yet startlingly impotent in the famous orange.

Likewise, much focus was placed upon Cristiano Ronaldo’s mediocre turnout against Germany. Indeed, the issue of his inability to replicate glittering club form on the international stage is one which has been a perennial weight upon his broad shoulders throughout his career and a exasperating pest unlikely to be shaken in the near future. In fact, the issue is one which has characterised the club/country debate for many years now; why are the best players in Europe so frustratingly plain in the most illustrious of settings?

There is of course, the most obvious and cliched of explanations. Footballers play too much football. After a long, hard slog of a season, are footballers suffering from smothering burnout come the summer of an international tournament. Perhaps, though there may well exist deeper and more alarming reasons which compromise the integrity of international football.

Of course, the ‘winter break’ conundrum is often cited as a foundational reason behind a national team’s success. However, of the 28 players who featured in the 2010 World Cup Final, a quarter were at a Premier League club the season before. A similar trend was present at the 2008 European Championships. At no point was were the fitness levels of those players noticeable worse than their colleagues afforded a rest over the Christmas period.

The fact is that, on the whole, most players competing in this summer’s championships will had a similar amount of minutes on the field over the course of the season. There will be deviances as injuries, form and suspensions dictate differing levels of minutes played, yet the majority of players at the tournament will have accumulated corresponding levels of fatigue. Essentially, tiredness is not a sufficient vindication for the disconcerting degree of mediocrity on show at international tournaments.

Instead, the riches afforded through the prominence of the club game has resulted in the dwindling salience of international football. Playing for your country can simply not offer the financial incentives that the money mastery of club football can. Besides this, a glorified perspective of club football is driven into the football supporting conscience by the media and television companies, particularly Sky Sports’ rampant hype of the Champions League and Premier League. As such, all levels of football’s institutional structure is geared towards the promotion of club football over internationals.

Media exposure creates increased importance and interest, which in turn creates greater demand for club football; players and mangers alike must  then cater to this demand by pouring the majority of their physical and emotional resources into their club exploits. What we are left with is the vacant natural enthusiasm that all players should assume without endeavour every time they pull on their national shirt.

This is not to say that footballers no longer feel pride or motivation to play for their country; it is simply that an increased volume of their interests are forced into the club game at the behest of the altered footballing landscape.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

There are also other contributing factors. Fatigue is undoubtedly affecting yet not the sole reasoning. The necessity of adapting to an often wildly varying tactical system may also affect a player’s game, whilst the absent comfort of regular team-mates must be a destabilising detail.

However, the increased gravity of clubs in world football has instigated a rapid reversal of previous trends whereby representing your country was the ultimate achievement. When the inevitable ‘why can’t England players replicate their club form’ argument re-opens come July, look no further than the relentless elevation of club football above all else.

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

Santos moved top of the Campeonato Paulista with a 3-0 victory over Mirassol on Wednesday.Striker Maikon Leite opened the scoring in the 27th minute to give the hosts at Estadio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho the advantage at the break.

Midfielder Ze Eduardo maintained his perfect record of scoring in both of Santos’ Paulista matches so far this campaign when he struck two minutes after the break, before netting a second in the 75th minute.

Elsewhere, Mogi Mirim’s Ricardinho scored both goals in his side’s 2-0 dispatching of Ponte Preta.

Portuguesa brought up their maiden victory of the Paulista campaign with a 1-0 triumph over Oeste at Estadio Dr. Oswaldo Teixeira Duarte.

Santo Andre and Linense played out a 1-1 draw, while Americana beat Sao Caetano away from home 1-0 at the Estadio Municipal Anacleto Campanella.

Bragantino and Corinthians exchanged first-half goals before finishing 1-1 and Sao Paolo crushed Sao Bernando 3-0 to go level on points with leaders Santos after two games.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Dagoberto, Marlos and Fernandinho were the scorers for Sao Paolo in their victory.

Joey Barton was signalled out for treatment last Saturday against Wolves. Regardless of what Mick McCarthy would have us believe, there was a plan amidst Wolves’ tactics and it was to rile Barton, in the hope that he would react and that maybe Alan Smith would follow. Half the challenges that Barton felt the brunt of were fair; they were tough but ultimately what we like to see in the Premier League and one of the reasons we love it.

To McCarthy’s credit, it was a ploy that could very easily have worked; Barton’s moustache may have gone, but his temper remains, or does it? Barton waited until the final whistle had gone to remonstrate with the Wolves boss, and although he was vocal during the game about his treatment, there were no overzealous actions on his part.

Joey Barton’s struggles with his aggression are hardly a secret, but if anybody was unaware, here goes (deep breath):

Dec 2004: Stubs a cigar in youth player Jamie Tandy’s eye and tries to set fire to his shirt while on tour with Man City.

May 2005: Breaks a man’s leg while driving his car through Liverpool’s city centre.

July 2005: Assaults a 15-year-old Everton fan in Thailand.

Mar 2007: Arrested and cleared of assault and criminal damage.

May 2007: Assaults Ousmane Dabo during training at Man City. Fined £100k and given a 4-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty in court to the charge of assault.

Dec 2007: Arrested for common assault and affray for an incident in Liverpool. Sentenced to 6 months in prison.

Dec 2007: Admits to suffering from alcoholism.

May 2009: After being sent off in a match crucial to Newcastle’s relegation from the Premiership, Alan Shearer calls him “a s***.” He replies that Shearer is “a s*** manager with s*** tactics.”

It is prolific at the very least. The thing is, Barton remains a Premier League player because he is rather good. More than just a tenacious hustler, he both energetic and creative. As valuable as an attacking force, as he is helping the likes of Butt and Smith with his midfield defensive duties. Barton, along with Kevin Nolan, Smith and Sol Campbell are the Premier League experience that most promoted teams simply don’t possess. When Barton kept his nose (relatively) clean during his time at Man City he was one of their best players. Under both Kevin Keegan and Stuart Pearce he was a key part of the side, but there was always the next potential explosion simmering away.

Three games into the season may be jumping the gun, but what Barton showed at Molineux is that he is capable of self-control. It must go against all his natural instincts not to lash out, and yet under immense and relentless pressure, he kept his temper in check. While Newcastle’s squad has good players, it is not the largest, and lengthy and unnecessary suspensions will be the last thing that Chris Houghton needs in his quest to ensure Premier League survival.

An in-form Joey Barton will help take Newcastle onto better things. His goal against Villa, although afforded far too much room, was an example of his quality. Some may argue that he doesn’t deserve to play professional football, that he is an awful role model for children, and while this may or may not be true, it is a debate for another day. But Barton is playing professional football, and playing it well. If it continues then Geordie fans will reap the rewards.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Get updates on my articles by following me on twitter.

*

Click on the image below to see the gallery of  Valon Behrami’s stunning girlfriend