Ex-players on Football Focus blasted the ex-Man City player for his dig at his own supporters, Mark Lawrenson saying "the fans pay god money and are entitled to voice an opinion."
Ex-Arsenal defender Lee Dixon was right on his case: "He wants to shut his mouth and let his football do his talking for him!"
Frank Gilmour, chairman of the Independent Newcastle United Supporters' Association, also believes Barton should shut up or risk facing the fans' frustrations himself.
Ex-Players Tell Barton To Let His Football Do His Talking!
Gilmour: "If (Barton) says we don't have the right to criticise, then he wants to learn.
"He obviously knows nothing about the north-east and its passion for football. That performance was from a clueless manager who did not know what he was doing, that was the fans' opinion.
"For (Barton) to come out and say that, he has lost it.
"He has been at the club five minutes and hasn't put in a good performance yet. For him to then turn around and criticise the fans is totally wrong. He should have kept his mouth shut.
"He will learn what happens after you criticise Newcastle fans. It takes a long, long time for us to forgive. I would be very, very surprised if he doesn't get a reaction at Blackburn today.
"I was one of the fans who shouted 'you don't know what you're doing'.
"We know how the game should be played - not as well as managers because they get paid a lot of money to actually organise the teams - but we could see that the balance was not right (against Liverpool) and that was an absolutely shocking performance."