Barton blasts Taarabt

Joey Barton has hit out at QPR teammate Adel Taarabt, claiming he is unable to see the reason for the hype behind the midfielder.

The club captain says the Moroccan’s work rate is the reason he has struggled to adapt to the Premier League so far this season after starring in the Championship last term.

Speaking to Ian Wright on Absolute Radio Extra, Barton said: “At the end of the day this is the top level of world football, and if you’re not prepared to work hard, you’ll come up massively short.”

“You know, if I was Adel and I had Adel’s ability I’d be not wanting to come up short having not worked hard enough.”

Taarabt was also alleged to have recently stormed out of Craven Cottage after being substituted at half-time in a match QPR went on to lose 6-0 to Fulham.

Barton added: “That game, he was told he was a genius; I’ve yet to see it, and I don’t know whether that’s because he doesn’t work hard enough or whether he tends to sulk.”

The midfielder went on to slam the attacker’s attitude, insisting that his behaviour was unacceptable and if the Loftus Road outfit want to stay up this season they will have to use all of their squad.

“I mean, I’m happy that he’s upset really because it shows he does care, but there’s a way of doing it,” he said.

“There’s a few lads who weren’t selected today (in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers) and their heads have gone down, and maybe they could apply themselves better to that decision, but it’s one of those things.”

“You know, there’s going to be 14 officially in that squad that keep this side in the league this year, everyone has to buy into it, and there’ll be times when players come in and out, but I think their reaction, their attitude to it is going to be the most important thing, not getting the bus home with fans and storming off.”