Barton And Toon Army Are Made For Each Other!
Last updated : 17 July 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
Yes we've had big names, but you ask the Geordies to name their own personal favourite players and the likes of Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley, Kevin Keegan, Les Ferdinand and Rob Lee will always get a mention.
They were big players, no doubt, but each had a passion for the club that took them to another level. And I feel Joey Barton is going to become a hero to those in the Leazes and Gallowgate Ends.
Barton has a reputation ... but it is one of passion ... and that won't go un-noticed at St James' Park. Just as Scott Parker's odd little skip and a jump (making him just a second short) when going into 50-50 tackles didn't go un-noticed.
Parker was never captain material, certainly not what the Geordies expect from a skipper. He would gladly give you a hand up out of the trenches ... Barton would be 'up and over' at the first sound of the whistle.
The ex-Man City midfielder is determined to make the most of his clean slate as he begins the trophy trail with Newcastle.
The 24-year-old midfielder is likely to make his debut for the club he joined in a £5.8million move from Manchester City last month in a friendly at Hartlepool tonight.
Barton: "Every time you move club, it is a new start, new horizons. When I had the opportunity to come here, that was one of the thoughts in my mind.
"People might say I come with a bit of baggage, but I have come to Newcastle, it is a fresh start and it's down to me to make the most of it.
"I have come here to win trophies. I didn't come here to pick up wage packets.
"I think there have been certain players they have bought in previous years who have been mercenaries, or they have come and not shown the commitment that maybe they should.
"But hopefully, they have all gone now and this side here is a side that's hungry and wants success.
"As a squad of players, you cannot ask for any more, and that's what I want to be part of.
"You have got to be a man about it. If you make a mistake, you have got to hold your hand up and say, 'I was wrong'.
"I have never shied away from the fact that I have made wrong decisions and done things I probably regret in hindsight.
"But the main thing is for me, I will always stand up and be counted.
"When you look about at the players, most of them in there were here last year, and they finished one place above City - and City had a really bad season, so Newcastle must have had a disastrous season.
"It's baffling, really, but with one or two new additions - the manager is probably going to keep adding to his squad over the coming weeks before the season starts - then we have have a great squad here.
"If it does not achieve, it will baffle me again because there are some very good players within the squad."