Emre Better Than Barton?
Last updated : 06 December 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
Barton has been very vocal these last few days - pointing the finger of doubt at the Toon Army; telling the BBC he is "a special one" and "not bothered" if he gets a five year prison sentence.
All in a day's excitement for the controvercial 25-year-old.
But does he care? Apparently not, if you saw his exclusive interview with "Inside Sport".
A troubled young man with head full of broken toys.
All very well, if he was producing on the pitch. But I don't see anything he has done to date to suggest he is better (or as good as) Emre, and the Turk is getting a little frustrated sat on the bench.
Barton ran out at St James' Park on Wednesday evening for the Magpies' Premier League clash with Arsenal - the first time since the 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool which sparked an angry response from the Toon Army
Barton told the club's website: "I woke on the morning of the game to see that comments I had made earlier in the week had been presented in some quarters in a way they were never meant to be.
"When I spoke about the atmosphere at our last home game against Liverpool, the point I was making was that, through results good or bad, we all need to stick together on and off the pitch.
"There are a lot of new players at the club still finding their feet and there was a big summer of change at the club with a new manager and owners coming in.
"So it is clear everyone needs time to come together and move the club on - and that will happen much, much quicker if everyone is pulling together.
"Of course I never questioned any fan's loyalty - who could question the loyalty of any Newcastle United fan, or their right to be unhappy if performances are not going well?
"In fact, I actually made the point that it is up to the players to lift the fans when results are not going our way.
"What I said was intended to be a rallying call after a defeat. It was not a blast or an attack."
Emre is back to full fitness, and must accept the fact Barton is Allardyce's big signing, and the boss has the added pressure of having to justfy the £25m he spent in the summer. Something Chris Mort picked up recently when he was asked if there would be money available in January.
The Toon chairman said he wanted to see some reward from the wedge Allardyce has spent already!
