Premier League - Poll: Toon should sack Barton

Eurosport - Sat, 09 May 12:19:00 2009

Eurosport-Yahoo! readers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of Newcastle United sacking bad-boy midfielder Joey Barton.

FOOTBALL Newcastle United Joey Barton - 80 per cent of Eurosport readers think Barton should be sacked after his latest disciplinary problems - 0

A whopping 80 per cent of the 14,600 votes received since Tuesday are in favour of Alan Shearer and the Magpies' board ditching the former Manchester City man after he followed his sending off against Liverpool for a disgraceful tackle on Xabi Alonso with an angry, dressing-room tirade at boss Shearer.

It is the latest in a long line of on and off-pitch disciplinary issues for Barton, who recently completed a prison sentence and alcohol rehabilitation programme following a street assault.

One question begs to be answered though: of the 20 per cent who think he should not be fired, what do you propose doing with a man who - aged 26 - shows no sign of modifying his violent, disrespectful behaviour?

Poll: Should Newcastle United sack Joey Barton?

Yes: 80 per cent (13,625

No: 20 per cent (3,434)

(17,059 votes as of 09.00 on Saturday May 9)

Readers' views on Joey Barton:

beachbabe: Barton has had about 20 chances to stop acting like an animal on and off the pitch, I think only teams like Birmingham, Millwall or Leeds would would suit a player like Barton.

Jon C: Barton is nothing short of a thug. He has proven his inabillity to curb his temperament both on and off the pitch on more than one occasion. And this creature is supposed to be a role model for young people! The sooner he is banned from the game for life, the better. He has had numerous chances to prove he has changed, and like many a time on the pitch, he has squandered those chances.

Tim B: Barton has to ask himself would any fan really pay good money and be proud to have him representing their club - I don't think so. Not only did he make another rash challenge but he had time to reflect and consider how he has jeopardised Newcastle's chance of staying up - I would expect a "sorry boss" to Shearer, not what he reportedly said! Newcastle is a proud club but having Barton in the team must be a total embarrassment for the fans.

Chopper: I am one of few people who thought that the bloke could change, I was obviously wrong. But for those people quick enough to say he shouldn't have been given another chance, just think of other footballers who have faced charges and come back such as Eric Cantona, Dennis Wise, Tony Adams, Steven Gerrard, Darren Ferguson, Lee Bowyer, Jonathan Woodgate and probably many more.

Eurosport

Comment 1 - 19 of 39

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  1. S

    From JULIA, on Sat 9 May 10:09AM

  2. Anybody in any other walk of life would have lost his­ job when he was in prison, this piece of pond life­ walks straight back in to his and still acts like a­ total idiot, get rid now and if anybody else takes him­ on like the other footballing idiots namely Megson and­ Allerdyce then they deserve all they get.

    From yahoocat, on Sat 9 May 10:08AM

  3. I was a Newcastle supporter for nearly 30 years,­ through soe dark times as well as good, and when some­ very questionable signings (Bowyer, Bellamy,­ Ferguson...) were made.

    But Barton was the last straw,­ and I ceased to have any interest in the club the day­ he signed. How could I ask my sons to cheer on this­ thug and still try to bring them up as decent people?­ The club has reaped the reward of it's foolishness­ in sining Barton and has been as good as cursed the­ last two seasons.

    The sooner he goes the better. I can­ support Newcastle (in the Championship I fear) and­ Barton himself can continue his slide to prison and­ disgrace

    From edhall67, on Sat 9 May 10:04AM

  4. The guy is mental sick!!he needs a doctor not a­ football coach!!!period!!

    From sabas, on Sat 9 May 9:57AM

  5. sack the scum

    From Alex W, on Sat 9 May 9:57AM

  6. He's a useless lump of potatoes..

    From Marie B, on Sat 9 May 9:50AM

  7. He's a thug.. And has shown that on many occasions­ he does not deserve to play any football team, sack­ him..

    From Marie B, on Sat 9 May 9:50AM

  8. aw yeh n he didn apologize did?????? coz if he did he­ didnt do it well enough although im pretty sure he­ hasnt even spoken to the media since the alonso­ incident

    From smiley123, on Sat 9 May 9:45AM

  9. get rid of the little idiot all he is good for is­ knocking people about and beating youngsters up. sad­ git

    From smiley123, on Sat 9 May 9:44AM

  10. GIVE HIM THE BOOT

    Did he say sorry?? His just a angry­ prat with a complex

    From bryjones71, on Sat 9 May 9:43AM

  11. KICK HIS HEED IN

    From john.connolly01, on Sat 9 May 9:41AM

  12. as a newcastle fan, i never want to see him again. even­ if we are in a desperate situation now, we need good­ honest hard working players, not unreliable thugs.­ Shearer deserves respect from everyone for what he has­ done for newcastle and england, why does joey barton­ think he is bigger than the club. Newcastle united will­ go on much longer than joey barton or any player, and i­ think someone needs to remind players of their duty to­ their club.

    From nathang32, on Sat 9 May 9:40AM

  13. Leeds were classed as a dirty side in the past!!!!!!­ Think `beachbabe` needs to look at the recent fair play­ records before slagging off other clubs.......

    From chrisdicks2, on Sat 9 May 9:40AM

  14. I can`t understand why any true supporter of football­ would want to see him on any football-pitch again.

    From Bobby Robson A Legend, on Sat 9 May 9:38AM

  15. well he was the best player v liverpool until he got­ sent off

    From jodieclennan.oxox, on Sat 9 May 9:37AM

  16. I would sack them both Barton and shearer where was the­ @#$% when he was offered the managers job in the first­ place he wouldn't work with keegan he got three­ managers the sack they say a player should never be­ bigger then the club Alan shearer as always thought he­ was bigger then Newcastle united football club even if­ we stay up he won't do anything next year never­ mind this one so please make them both scatter back to­ the wilderness to where they belong Legend my ar@e

    From john m, on Sat 9 May 9:37AM

  17. most of us toon fans,never want to clap eyes on him­ again.

    From peterfullerton1, on Sat 9 May 9:35AM

  18. Joey barton is an idiot. He gets paid loads of money­ and' after being warned on numerous occasions,­ still can't behave himself. There is enough people­ like barton around who don't get nothing. It is in­ this guy's nature to be voilent and abusive which­ is why he can't change

    From matt c, on Sat 9 May 9:30AM

  19. I suppose the 20% that voted to keep him are desperate­ Newcastle fans.Understandably you want your best­ players to keep you up or bring you back up next season­ and besides his glaring character flaws, on his day­ he's a decent player.Me,i'd sack the w@#ker.

    From M L, on Sat 9 May 9:22AM
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