Head spin
IF there was ever any scintilla of doubt about where the power lies at Newcastle United, it was brutally removed yesterday.
By sending Joey Barton's agent packing without even the sniff of a contract offer yesterday, Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias sent a message. It was a clarion call to the dressing room, to the manager and to any agents presuming the club's need to recruit gives them a licence to make unreasonable demands - and it leaves no-one in any doubt that they are in firm control of events at St James' Park.
I will declare my personal feelings here - and that is the club are making a huge mistake with Barton. He is an exceptional player who has played a key part in United passing their first Premier League test with flying colours. In addition to that I have always found him charming, engaging and fascinating company.
But I don't have the benefit of working with him day in and day out and the picture painted by others is more complex. Barton can be difficult, bolshy and troublesome when irked and he requires careful management. There are days when too much effort and attention is channelled on one man, and while it hasn't emerged publicly there have been times when he hasn't been shy about coming forward to proffer opinions on the people who run the club. That verdict has been delivered in uncompromising terms directly to the chairman too.
That outspoken approach has not helped Barton, who made a mistake by giving an interview to a French magazine in March. I believe that Ashley and Llambias - who have probably not forgotten the money spent in the wasted first three years of Barton's contract - are re-affirming their supremacy at St James' Park.
Emboldened by the belief that recent big calls like the sacking of Chris Hughton, the sale of Andy Carroll and the appointment of Alan Pardew have come off, they're preparing to make another big, unpopular call. And Barton finds himself the fall guy.
In this battle of wills, though, no-one comes off in credit.
Barton, who is just as stubborn as Ashley and company, wants to remain at Newcastle for the rest of the career but has been shoved towards the exit door. Pardew's credibility has taken another hit because he made such a play of trying to keep hold of the midfielder. And Newcastle United's dressing room is weaker for losing one of its best players.
Ashley will believe there is another Cheick Tiote out there ready to replace Barton. The Toon owner will think he can find someone who'll be less hassle and far cheaper than Barton.
But that is a simplistic view. For all his failings Barton offers ferocious commitment and has played a pivotal part in the club's recent renaissance. And as anyone who watched the Arsenal comeback will testify, he can play as well.
I hope a solution can be found that keeps Barton at the club for a long time to come. Where there is a contract, there is hope - as we found out in the Steven Taylor saga.
But at the moment it looks like Barton will become the latest big player to depart Newcastle. And whichever way you try to spin it, the club, its manager and its playing staff will be weaker when it happens.
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THE NEWCASTLE PUBLIC THINK THEY HAVE A BIG CLUB. NOT SO. ANY OF THE TOP SIX CLUBS COULD TAKE ANY OF THEIR STAR PLAYERS IF THEY WISHED. NEWCASTLE RANK ALONG WITH WIGAN.QPR. NOTTS F. BLACKPOOL.STOKE. MAKING UP THE NUMBERS. LONDON FOLK ALL CONSIDER TOON SMALL TIME. A FEEDER CLUB FOR THE BIG BOYS.
RUPERT LUPIN a small club ? haha is that why we beat arsenal away last season or why chelsea couldnt beat us and we knocked them out the carlin cup ? or why we beat liverpool? or why spurs were lucky to get a draw vs us stfu man u dont no what ya talkin about kidda
Robert Lupin - which people of the Newcastle public have you been speaking with? How do you define a big club? Jog on with inflammotry comments like this. What do we or anyone not in the hell hole that is london care what london 'folk' think about our club? I will tell you - nothing we couldnt give a monkeys.
Oh and its rude to type in caps
RUPERT LUPIN: When you have something educational to post here, then please do so. But untill that time please refrain from your childish, playground comments. They are not interesting and they show you for what you really are.
London folk (as you say) will probably wince at your playground comment and hope upon hope that you are not a Londoner yourself.
You most probably are, a sad uneducated mackem.
Lupin son, go lose yourself, you,re an idiot!!
Name one club that could ever boast the support we have with so little to show for it? Answer none. Our club is huge mate and in reality only United could compare if we were to be succesful with our "raggy" neighbours down the road probably third and that takes some guts to say.
London's a joke compared so except it and live with it.
Took me time to read all the topics, but I enjoyed the article. I do know that that’s comfortable to get online essays than to create by personal efforts.
Hats off to wohveer wrote this up and posted it.
Keep it cmonig, writers, this is good stuff.
RUPERT LUPIN: You need to get back in the kitchen because it is quite obvious to everyone that your knowledge of football is ZERO!
RUPERT LUPIN: You need to get back in the kitchen because it is quite obvious to everyone that your knowledge of football is ZERO!
There needs to be compromise. As usual the fans don't get told anything specific by Llambias or Ashley so we have to guess. As I understand it Barton was offered a 2 year extension to his current contract (effectively 3 years) which would take him up to the age of 31. He reputedly wants 5 years which I have to say is totally unrealistic. Whilst he did have an excellent season that's the first return we have had on an investment of approx £16million (£6 million signing + £10million wages) - not exactly value for money. Joey needs to stop criticising his employees, let his football do the talking and sign up - he owes us big time.
There needs to be compromise. As usual the fans don't get told anything specific by Llambias or Ashley so we have to guess. As I understand it Barton was offered a 2 year extension to his current contract (effectively 3 years) which would take him up to the age of 31. He reputedly wants 5 years which I have to say is totally unrealistic. Whilst he did have an excellent season that's the first return we have had on an investment of approx £16million (£6 million signing + £10million wages) - not exactly value for money. Joey needs to stop criticising his employees, let his football do the talking and sign up - he owes us big time.
There needs to be compromise. As usual the fans don't get told anything specific by Llambias or Ashley so we have to guess. As I understand it Barton was offered a 2 year extension to his current contract (effectively 3 years) which would take him up to the age of 31. He reputedly wants 5 years which I have to say is totally unrealistic. Whilst he did have an excellent season that's the first return we have had on an investment of approx £16million (£6 million signing + £10million wages) - not exactly value for money. Joey needs to stop criticising his employees, let his football do the talking and sign up - he owes us big time.
as a sunderland supporter accept newcastle has used a dunkirk spirit in adversity they produce their best.looking at newcastle a once great football club.has fell from heights to a moderate club .reason why list a thousand .reading lots of comments by nufc fans a sense of jealousy towards sunderland fundimently we are run as a football club and not a sportswear buisiness.yes disapointed but direction are newcastle going places .success and trophy and european football .who do you think is going towards these goals newcastle or sunderland ?.opionion is divided steve bruce may have a shelf life and without doubt this season will difine his sunderland future.also newcastle alan pardew sacked championship manager employed again as premier manager .likes to operate under ownership guidance and a owner who is alian to supporters .pardew is a reasonable manager .but accieving success in the toughest league will be behond his abilities he aint no brian clough neither is steve bruce for that matter.so back to my point sunderland has a plan and a owner who is used to being a winner.your owner is a minnow as a retailer in a small pond.ellis short is a shark in a prediters ocean.five years on from now .north east football will show contrasting fortunes .sunderland are now attracting players of repuations of quality .newcastle haggling on paying 100 thousand for a lower league surplus keeper says it all .sunderland stadium and facilities are envy of many premier clubs.also now recruiting very young talent becoming the new ajax way .these are facts now i leave it up to fans who have a reasonable knowledge of football matters .again well done to newcastle for derby win but time is on sunderlands side and newcastle i would be scared very scared .
Robert Lupin is not a real person, howay man that must be a made up name & i think that it's a made up blog
typical reading comments from the southerners
is this just cos they get the olympics that makes them big
not so at all
us up north have big hearts and big pride in where we come from we have culture we have style like the football we have up here
newcastle and sunderland have always been a big club we have loyal supporters that follow the clubs and regularly fill the grounds un like our southern counterparts that dont even live in the same city they support
us up north have the game in our hearts and we are proud where we come from
we dont jump ship and shout for other teams when we do crap in the league
geordies will always wear their shirts and we will be seen all over the world
See Supermac is telling BA TO STAY AT THE TOON. He can talk. Him and Pat Howard could not wait to join ARSENAL. Call the kettle black. If the big clubs want toon players they get them. Newcastle are a feeder club for the top teams.