I couldn’t believe the news that Newcastle United have told midfielder Joey Barton that he can leave the club on a free transfer.
He only had a year left on his contract but making him available on a free transfer makes no sense at all.
Consistent
Last season he was arguably Newcastle’s most consistent player. And probably enjoyed the best season of his career thus far.
He drove the team forward from midfield and put in some outstanding performances in the black and white stripes.
Problem
He has had a troubled past and been a problem for some of the clubs he has played for. However in the last year or so he seems to have matured slightly and his behave has improved. At 28 years of age it seems that Joey Barton has grown up.
That maturity has shown in his good performances and general conduct last season. Just when he is starting to blossom Newcastle to decide to get rid of him. It just isn’t common sense.
Money
If Newcastle were to let Barton go surely they could have recouped a fee of some sort. Instead they are going to receive nothing for one of their most influential players. This decision must have been made by Newcastle chairman Mike Ashley. I can’t see Toon boss Alan Pardew wanting to lose another key player, especially when he won’t get a fee for the midfielder.
Chairman
It seems that chairman Ashley enjoys making decisions that upset the fans. This summer the Toon Army have already lost captain Kevin Nolan and it looks like fellow Scouser Barton will now follow him out of the St James Park exit door.
Ashley is already unpopular for the fact that the club have hardly spent any of the money they received from the sale of striker Andy Carroll in January. The move to free Barton is unlikely to make him anymore popular on Tyneside.
Love
Barton wasn’t running his contract down at the club for some big pay packet elsewhere next summer. He wasn’t offered a decent renewal offer by the Magpies board. The 28 year-old has continuously stated that he wants to stay at Newcastle but the hierarchy don’t seem to care.
Admirers
Despite his problems in the past there is bound to be a host of top clubs queuing up to the snap up the midfielder, especially with no transfer fee to pay. His talent has never been doubted, it was just his attitude that has been questioned in the past.
However with him appearing to be a reformed character a lot of top Premier League clubs will be interested in signing him. I bet his agents mobile phone is already red hot from the number of phone calls he’s received about the midfielder.
The likes of Everton, Aston Villa and Arsenal were all believed to be interested in signing the midfielder before the news broke. I’m sure with Everton being broke David Moyes would see Joey Barton as an ideal signing. Barton is also a lifelong Everton supporter.
Committed
Joey Barton has always shown a great commitment on the pitch. He will give his all for whichever team he plays for and that’s why the Newcastle United fans are so unhappy with their clubs management for letting him go.
Some players in the modern game don’t really care about what happens to the team, Barton does. For all his Twitter comments and misdeeds Joey Barton would prove a bargain free transfer for whoever signs him this summer.
Appreciated
Barton will now get the chance to move to a club where his on the field talents are appreciated. The Newcastle fans appreciated his hard work but unfortunately for the Toon Army the clubs chairman seems to be clueless on how to run a football club.
Who will sign Joey Barton this summer?
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