Barton Baiting and Moral High-ground

  When Joey Barton fought the law (and the law won), he gave up his right to play professional football. Barton's criminal record contains not just a solitary infringement of the law but many. Perhaps Barton's most gratuitous act of violence came when he assaulted of 15 year-old Everton fan in a pre-season tour of Thailand, how courageous.

Barton's status as one of the regulars at the Last Chance Saloon fails to garner any sympathy whatsoever from football fans, even those (I hope) affiliated with either Manchester City or Newcastle United. One has to question whether or not Keegan was actually acting in football's best interests when he gave Barton his sixth-or-so chance, which was cunningly veiled as a second chance in Keegan's post match interview.

While Keegan leapt ever so heroically to the defence of his player, I would like to leap to the defence of Arsenal and their actions at the end of what was a performance of pure dynamism and passing power-play, marred by Barton's brief appearance. It has been well publicised that Barton's very first action when coming on to play against Arsenal was to lunge in on Samir Nasri. Yes, it was a fair challenge, but as Gael Clichy aptly put it, "He wanted to make something for his first game back."

Barton was that type of player before he got locked up, but you would hope that after a multitude of chances that the player would maybe be slightly more cautious. Instantaneously the Barton of old was there again, throwing himself indiscriminately at both ball and player, and a slight timing error on his part and Samir Nasri could have been out for a few months. Nasri's actions where, in my opinion, justifiable.

As a French native, Nasri had to read about his compatriot Ousmane Dabo being savagely beaten in training by a scouse thug. Nasri had the chance to send out a strong message, that brutish criminals have no place on the football pitch. Barton has gotten away with a lot in his stained career, lest we forget his unpunished horror challenge on Sunderland's Dickson Etuhu. When all his previous offences are taken into account, it is highly comic that a hard man was felled by a sly and slight Frenchman who had more courage than the FA by taking his own action against Barton. Clichy's nutmeg was admittedly a more eloquent form of humiliation for Barton but the physical nature of Nasri's blink-and-you'll-miss-it trip was more satisfying considering the Newcastle player has detached retinas with his abuse.

It came as no surprise when the likes of Gallas and Clichy turned down Barton's offer of a handshake at full time. Keegan had a stab at Nasri who fired back, albeit in French. Keegan stated in his post match interview that if Barton can't get back to playing football like he used to, then the "the whole system in every country in the world is wrong." The absurdity levels of this comment are off the chart, if any business executive (to use a job with similar wages as an example) went on a violent rampage in the streets of Liverpool, would he get his job back? Never.

Another interesting statement that Keegan made in his justification of playing Barton was that the only other option was a teenager. Quite clearly Keegan does not share Wenger's footballing ethos. Rather than creating the farcical fracas that Barton's appearance incurred, why not bring on one of the teenagers? The young players would surely have gained confidence by playing five minutes in a Premier League game and they have had to work much harder than Barton in the build up to the games. At the end of the day, Barton's appearance was melodramatic gesture of believe from a manager who should know better.

Swiftly moving on, one cannot avoid speaking of Manchester City's newly acquired funds, but rather than tackle the whole issue (as my fellow Gooner Talk writer Aqqe already has) I would like to pick up on one aspect that lies more in field of football morals and responsibility. I speak of Manchester City's soon to be irrelevant youth system.

Although the managerial team may claim that the shipping in of the world's most expensive players is good for the focus and attitude the cold hard truth is that it narrows down the academy player's chances to break into the first team. Manchester City's academy is renowned for moulding players into solid Premier League footballers, look so further than the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Micah Richards, Stephen Ireland and Michael Johnson. What will become of the likes of Ched Evans and Daniel Sturridge, when competing for a place with Jo and Robinho?

Do they have similar fates to Scott Parker and Steve Sidwell? They were both snapped up by Chelsea, only for them to receive a measly 15 appearances a piece. Sidwell even stated that he did not join Chelsea to "make up the numbers" and held the belief that training alongside the likes of Lampard and Essien would help him improve. Mega money has wasted years of these players careers that could have been so much more fulfilling.

As an Arsenal fan when I look at the reserve and youth teams I can pick out prospects for the future and know that they will be given chances. When Chelsea and now Man City fans look at their reserves and youth teams it has to take a prodigy to break into a team constructed with an unlimited budget. Abramovicch and Dr. Sulaiman Al-Fahim didn't buy Chelsea and Man City to cultivate youth, they bought their respective clubs for immediate results.

Al-Fahim stated that he also considered buying Arsenal and it's a good thing he didn't, as he would have almost certainly disagree with Wenger's transfer policy. With the trillions on offer to Wenger, Al-Fahim would have grown increasingly frustrated as Wenger would refuse to break from his ways and starve the youth of chances, the Arsenal youth system is competitive enough as it is. New owners wishing to take over Arsenal would be disappointed at the fact that they could not make Arsenal a Galacticos side overnight with Wenger still at the club. It's these protectionist views towards Wenger's unique techniques that have seen the cautious fending off of Alisher Usmanov and rightly so.

The Premier League must look a pretty daunting prospect for any academy player, now more so than ever. As mentioned in one of my previous articles, I feel that Arsenal still stand as a beacon of hope for the youth of football. A Big Four club who haven't let money blind their responsibility to the youth of football. It's only a matter of time now before more Middle-Eastern oil money arrives at the Premier League and the youth programs are snuffed out. The game's young talent are reliant on these clubs and it would be the criminal for the Premier League to turn into a Billionaire Boys Club where these players are ignored in favour of world superstars.

I admire Arsene Wenger's believe and faith in youth and no matter how rich a prospective owner of the club is, no fan of Arsenal could let him take away the chances that the club's youth get. It may sound incredibly self-righteous but Arsenal are the only big club consistently giving their youth the chances their hard work deserves.

Andrew McPhail

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Comments

[Tom]

So many apalling comments in this discussion.

Why on earth should Joey Barton be banned from football? If an accountant is jailed for an attack in the streets, should he be banned from accounting?

The answer is of course "No".

Can someone please explain the difference between the football and the accountant? Why should a footballer be banned from plying his trade, but not the accountant? And if the words "role" and "model" are used, then I will tear my hair out because that is a rubbish argument.

[denny]

the points made all hold some validity. But those fans who accuse the ARSENAL fan of being self righteous are just as bad because of the way they react.If A.W. WAS English he would not receive half of the criticism he has to endure from these arrogant fools who don't
even listen to what he has said
or try to understand his youth policy.

[amy]

joey has done his time now and it is not his fault if he was only given a short sentence he can not exactly ask to stay in prison because he thinks he deserves it! i agree joey has made mistakes however he has now done his time and should now be allowed to try and get his life back on track. in a way he got more than most would get for the attack in liverpool city centre as now adays someone fighting whilst drunk on a night out would never even be caught. the above article his a load of noncence and joey was not at fault the arsnal player were!

[JJK]

Self righteous garbage. If Newcastle got rid of Barton, there would be at least half a dozen Premiership clubs whio would want to sign him. (Actually, I should also say it is hypocritical for an Arsenal Fan to come out with this drivel. Tony Adams went to jail for putting his and other peoples lives in danger: did you demand he be sacked?)

Lee Hughes actually did kill someone, and he is back playing football.

[carl]

One last thing - I agree Barton should never play again. But Arsenal have their own little Barton in Eboue - he is a dirty little player that I dislike as much as Barton.

[carl]

Steve you state "Yeah right, the first side to field a totally foreign starting eleven in the league."

Unfortunatly, Chelsea (who I am a fan of) was the first club to do this back in the 90's.

[carl]

I think that Andrew is forgetting that Sidwell was released by Arsenal, as he did not cut it. At least Chelsea gave him a go....

[geez]

Someone said The Arse were the first to field a non-english team.... I think you will find that the first to do that was Chelski mate.

[Eddie]

Typical Arsenal column. Never mind that Arsenal doesn't cultivate English talent. Take of the red glasses for a second.

Joey Barton should be locked up next to his brother as well. He's a danger on the pitch and to society as he's proven time and time again. A good talent, wasted.

[MK]

In any other profession with a criminal record like that (repeat offender)he would have been fired and could not get another job.

For some reason it's ok in football?

[stuart]

I keep hearing about Arsenal's great youth policy so am looking forward to seeing all these young Arsenal players breaking into the England team in the near future...oh...never mind.

See Arsenal is attempting to buy a team in the same way as Chelsea, and United, the difference is that they buy players younger when they are cheaper.

I dearly hope that the powers that be at City can persuade the new investors to continue to invest in the youth team. Regardless of anything else, it is good for the popularity of the team to have players like Wright Phillips, Johnson, and Richards on the pitch and therefore from a marketing point of view can be argued to be a worthwhile investment.

[Steve]

Arsenal the beacon of honing young talent?
Yeah right, the first side to field a totally foreign starting eleven in the league.
Arsene may like youth but he sure as Hell isn't doing anything to promote youth from within England.

As for Barton, the tackle was legit but he's still filth.

[Oli]

People are referring to Roy Keane who was rightly sent off for a terrible foul, and was then given a ban years later for the same foul. Some say that was the FA being weak, but let's see if the same witchhunt takes place for Jamie Carragher as he says in his new autobiography that he 'did' Rigobert Song using the same language that got Keane in trouble. Carragher says:

After I established myself at right-back, our African defender Rigobert Song found himself out of the team and our previously healthy relationship instantly deteriorated.
One morning in training he was told I'd been called into the England squad after performing well at full-back.
There was a look of astonishment on Song's face - a bit like the one we used to give him when he claimed he was only 21.
He might as well have blurted out he thought I wasn't good enough for international football.
He strolled off to his French speaking friends and began talking to them. I could see him pointing towards me while everyone was grinning. It was clear what he was saying and the rage inside me simmered.
Later, Song walked on to the training pitch with a smile on his face. He was limping off it with a grimace an hour later. The first chance I got, I did him. Never have I hunted down a 50-50 tackle with greater appetite.
"You're not f***ing laughing now are you, you soft twat?" I said as he hobbled away.
Did I care he had a knock? No way. I don't remember him or anyone else in the squad for that matter trying to take the piss out of my ability again.

[Neil]

How many times was Tony Adams convicted of drink driving?

How much did Merson stick up his nose and get away with unpunished by sobbing to the cameras?

Arsenal hypocrites.

[Moses]

This article illustrates why I hate Arsenal fans. This guy has the nerve to judge Barton when he gets satisfaction from physical retaliation?? When Eduardo was injured it was the Gooners again who were clamouring for Tiny to be banned from the game. Again, the Gooners believe they have a great side because they are young and play wonderful football. Is it just me who notices that Gooners always create a new barometer whenever their actions/ status is questioned. Someone correctly pointed out that thugs, drunks and boring football have also had their day at Arsenal. How many red cards did Viera get? But then ofcourse, the Gooners would argue that its "part of his game" and he would lose his edge if he played less violently. Remember when Arsenal turned winning with ten men into an art?? I really want to tell you to F off! Get off your high horse mate!!! Barton, like anyone else in society deserves to earn a living. If he falls foul of the law he will be punished again!

[Peter]

Yes, Barton's presence is a disgrace. Many people are rightfully outraged that he remains in the game. But its all talk. How about one club - any club - takes a stand and says if Barton is picked to plays against, we don't play - game off! That might sound absurb but whats the point in taking a 'moral stand' if its only ever talk?

[Steven Gude]

Joey Barton has been given a second chance, live with it. I am a Sheffield Wednesday fan, and i don't condone violence in football, but he has been given a second chance, moaning isnt going to do anything

[j alexander]

Patterson,
Exactly why should Joey Barton be banned from football? He had a fight. He's done his time. If people let him get on with playing football we'd see his quality. Let's judge him on that. Most footballers' peccadilloes go unpunished: Joey Barton's haven't.
I suspect that those writing messages in support of Barton's position are those who have actually played football and have minds impervious to the influence of the media.
Also, Patterson, if you'd like some help with your grammar and spelling, you only have to ask.

[Josh]

I can't believe the stupidity of some of the people here.

Barton's challenge was legal in one sense - it was not a foul, as such - but it was incredibly dangerous and should have resulted in a free-kick and red-card.

The fact that the FA were weak over Keane - who was far less dangerous than Barton - is no reason to leave Barton to injure people.

Let's be clear, here: what Barton wants to do is to hurt and injure people. If he can get away with it within the laws of the game because of weak refereeing, he does.

Forget what the author of this blog wrote: that challenge on Nasri has no place in football.

[spursrcrud]

AW does not only rely on his youth systym but is also very astute in the transfer market although he does not get it right everytime.The mega bucks flowing into the English game I think is good for the game and at the same time us Gooners now have the best football with a young team and yes I remember standing on the north bank singing 1 nil to the Arsenal never did I or any of my friends ever think that we would be the shining light of classy football and still have respect for what the game means good luck to Man City after more than 30 years of hard times they are overdue some success same as Chelski were the money now flowing through the EPL means we will never see a Notts Forest coming up and winning the league the lottery of being English Champions is over and only the big 4 have a reasonable chance of winning it I think this is a detriment to the game and will not get any better I that Arsenal do not wave the white flag to some billionaire and even when AW retires we still be the leading light in terms of good football and hopefully Thugs like barton WILL NEVER PLAY FOR OUR TEAM OR EVEN GRACE OUR GROUND he is a criminal with such a small brain he should be sectioned and which manager it their right mind would want a THUG in their team?

[RD, Almeria]

You're absolutely correct - It does sound ncredibly self-righteous. If someone came along to the Emirates with a billion quid to spend 99.9% of Gunner's fans would snatch their hand off.

About Barton - Thug who should have been banned for 20+ games and basically locked-down in therapy. Keegan is weak with players. He was weak at City and was weak at N'castle.

[james]

Theres been loads of 'hard man' footballers over the years plenty of training ground bust ups anyone remember hartson kicking Berkovic in the head?
Roy keane freely admiting he meant to 'do' harland, a tackle that ended his career and has shown no remorse for it yet he gets treated with respect.
The difference is his some of his family aren't in prison

[j alexander]

i apologise for what some may consider homophobic remarks but i happen to enjoy a challenge like the one joey barton put in as much as i enjoy seeing, for example, that thierry henry screamer past fabian barthez. because they are both part of football and should remain so.

[j alexander]

I also disagree with the time served by Barton, but, knowing something about the sentencing structure of our courts, know that the time he served was not due to any leniency on the part of the courts. Plenty of hooligans are given sentences which do not fit their crime. It is not Joey Barton's fault that he is free, it is our society's and the sentencing powers of our judges. However, as he is free, and has served his time, we cannot castigate him, more the system that allowed his freedom after such a paltry penitence.
Also, why should the FA decide they are somehow a bastion of law?
Also, why should we pick on the fashionable scapegoat Barton when training ground altercations have been happening for years? Is it because the victim was black?
On the same note, football is not big city business, even if they are paid the same. There are more fights in football's sunday leagues that go unreported. Having not worked in offices I am not sure the same happens there, but somehow I doubt it.
Also, the North London's Arsenal are producing 1 England international every 12 years. I always thought that supporting a club meant supporting your local team, but if there is a slim to 0 chance of you or your children ever playing for that team, then what's the fcking point, no matter how prettily they pass the ball without HAVING A FCUKING SHOT!

[Chris J]

i am absolutely disgusted by your comments. I quote 'a slight timing error on his part and Samir Nasri could have been out for a few months'. Had this been Paul Scholes it would have been laughed off saying he's never been able to tackle. 'Stevie G' would have been described as making a 'committed' challenge. I am not a fan of Joey Barton and belive Newcastle should have fired him, however, I believe he has paid his dues to society.