JOEY BARTON - A LIFE IN TWO HALVES.
In the eyes of many he follows in the stud-marks of individuals such as Duncan Ferguson and Vinny Jones, both players noted for their more aggressive style of play (to say the least). To Man City fans he is a nightmare of the past, yet to Newcastle fans he is their glimmer of hope as Premier League status is slowly but surely regained. To say he has had a contentious career is an understatement. Found guilty of common assault and affray on the 20th of May 2008, the Liverpool born player was sentenced to six months imprisonment, which was cut short by his release after 77 days of this term. This incident as well as his attack on fellow Manchester City player Ousmane Dabo looked to have fundamentally ended his playing days, with surely no club of notability ready to take him under their wing. Yet as Saturday’s 4-4 draw between Newcastle and Arsenal shows us, football is a crazy game and can surely make room for some crazy individuals.
Essentially what Saturday showed the footballing world is that Joey Barton, as reviled as ever by most fans, has successfully completed his resurrection from the depths of the footballing black list to the heights of calls for England duty and Premiership success. His life could almost be fit into the two halves of Newcastle’s sensational comeback. As simplistic and amusing as this concept seems, it could be seen as efficient in describing the tumultuous ups and downs he has experienced.
Newcastle’s first half was dire, some claimed the worst the team had seen since relegation. Barton, although showing some spirit was nothing of the player most Newcastle fans have become accustomed to this season. The team as a whole were not ready for the onslaught Arsenal were to give in a mere 26 minutes, consisting of four goals, and all were to the away side.
It would seem an impossible job for Newcastle to come back from 4-0 down at half time. An angel of some sort would have to be called upon… step up England’s most hated player. Clearly pumped up from a half time team talk filled with as many four letter obscenities as one can imagine, Barton took to the field with a sense of clear purpose. This team were not going to go down without a fight. What followed was one of the most miraculous halves of football the Premier League has ever seen, with Barton using his aggressive style of play to put himself about the pitch, always hassling Arsenal, insuring two penalty conversions and goals from team mates Leon Best and Cheik Tiote.
This however is not a dictation of the weekend’s game, but a comparison between Newcastle’s performance and Joey Barton’s ‘second half’ alteration of his lifestyle and career. This is not to say that Barton has altered all his ways, for as Newcastle’s game against Blackburn showed, he still holds the tendency to lose his head… punching Morten Gamst-Pedersen in the chest following comments between the two being a prime example of this.
This is a man who has clearly had issues, for despite the belief that all famous people should be perfect models of society; this cannot always be a reality. There are those that need the opportunity to take a second chance in life. It is quite difficult to argue in Barton’s case due to his behaviour, as he said in an interview with the Independent in 2009: “At the end of the day I let a lot of people down and now I am just hoping to re-pay them. I know a lot of people don't think that I deserve another chance and rightly so but fortunately I have got one.”
Despite his altercations in his career and personal life Barton is showing that he still has a lot to offer football and the Premier League. He cannot be completely forgiven for his actions of the past, and there are few excuses for him to hold on to, yet he is publicly attempting to make it clear that he wants to change. As difficult as it is to take footballers for their words these days, Barton’s honesty can be seen as genuine. This is rather admirable in the face of such intense media scrutiny and a trait which has stuck with Barton since the days of his release from prison. His honesty, often blunt and unforgiving towards his confronters, has been part of the understanding that he has built with Newcastle fans over the past few years.
Barton is a no-nonsense footballer. He plays the game because he loves it, and despite his personality traits that have caused him so much trouble in the past, is currently showing that on the pitch. He tackles, shoots and runs to his utmost, and is one footballer reassuring this writer’s belief that footballers do have a soul.
Jesse
