Set to miss the first 10 games of the 2012-13 season following his mind-numbingly stupid actions against Manchester City, and all but eliminated from Mark Hughes’ 22 man QPR squad, Joey Barton stands at a crossroads: Will he be an EPL player next season?
Alright, so I’m going against the grain here, but I believe there’s more to him than meets the eye – both footballing and entertainment wise.
As a footballer, he brings a few key attributes to the table that barely justify the antics that are bound to follow him. He breaks up play very well.
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English players who can get stuck in and aren’t afraid to shy away in a physical match are few and far between. He also succeeds where few players in world football can – getting under the skin of his opponent. Carlos Tevez, Morten Gamst Pederson and Gervinho will all testify to this. Attributes that are important for teams like QPR who need something extra when facing the likes of City and United.
But it’s as a source of entertainment where Joey Barton truly excels. Let’s face it, without the likes of him and Mario Balloteli, the EPL would be a lot more dull. His Twitter rants against footballing icons, his moments of philosophical pondering, and his downright bizarre – and often violent – antics on and off the pitch, make for truly interesting viewing.
I believe that if he can get his act together – at the age of 29 he’s fast running out of time – there’s still a lot more he can give to the EPL and the teams he plays for. Imagine a player everyone is sure will spark a fight and be sent off. Now imagine that player keeping that image, but not sparking the fight. The tension – the entertainment – that he will provide to a global audience while still playing well and disrupting the opposing team’s rythm is invaluable. That’s why I believe Joey Barton should be a Premier League footballer.
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