Scottish Supporters Network

Let’s Remember That Joey Barton Failed In Scotland

Date: 22nd March 2018

By Scott Johnston, Editor of The Footy Blog & DP for Full Time Films.

When we deal with Joey Barton the football pundit, I believe it’s important to remember that he has a pantomime villain image to uphold.

As such the banned midfielder will spout a load of garbage about various topics as a way of trying to validate his media pay cheques.

In the last couple of weeks, Barton has taken aim at Scottish football and made some very disparaging remarks about the state of our game.

Barton managed to slag off the recent Rangers Celtic clash without actually viewing it, that’s the arrogance that we are dealing with.

I’m not surprised by the Englishman’s contempt for the game up here; Joey started his Rangers career by disrespecting Scottish football, he disrespected his new club by not doing a proper preseason and then reportedly disrespected his manager and teammates after a humiliating defeat at Celtic Park.

That last incident cost Barton his job in Glasgow. He stated that he left but in actual fact his contract was terminated.

Joey always bigs himself up as a proper player and will have excuses for his failures.

In his latest outburst he suggested the standard of Scottish football was ‘pathetic’. Yet in no game in the Scottish Premiership, did Barton boss a midfield battle or take a game by the scruff of the neck.

He mentioned that he’d make a pass and that wouldn’t work because his teammates didn’t know where to run. That understanding comes with time and practice, yet Barton again decided against starting preseason with his teammates and instead stayed at the Euros to cover the tournament as a member of the press.

Plus all top footballers find the right pass and will manage to get more from their teammates, Joey just wasn’t as good as he thought he was.

The pundit then mentions that he only lost once in Scotland. While this is technically true, we should remember that he only played five top flight games for Rangers and only won on two occasions.

Scottish football isn’t of the highest standard but it’s not pathetic nor is it rubbish. Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson have been receiving rave reviews this year and their development in Scotland is crucial to where they are now.

We also have clubs that are engaging more with their fans and are getting better attendances as a result. We should forget the doubters and think of the many positives.

Joey Barton’s time in Scotland can easily summed up. He was too cocky and instead of being a top class performer; Joey played too many misplaced passes, wasn’t a great tackler and struggled to get fully up to speed.

No matter how many times he tries to paint a different picture, that’s the truth.