Alan Pardew backs controversial midfielder Joey Barton by making him Newcastle captain against Aston Villa
Alan Pardew, the newcastle united manager, has reacted to Joey Barton’s denunciation of Gareth Barry by handing him the club captaincy this weekend and likening his controversial midfielder to two of the most enigmatic characters who ever graced English football: Eric Cantona and George Best.
Leadership material: Joey Barton will captain Newcastle United at Aston Villa Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Rob Stewart and Sandy Macaskill 12:00AM BST 09 Apr 2011
Pardew is quick to point out that he might not agree with Barton’s verbal attack on Barry, whom he described as a “teacher’s pet” and “tortoise” in a French magazine, but has no intention of gagging the player because he feels his outspoken ways are integral to him becoming Newcastle’s outstanding performer.
“Now I don’t agree with all of his opinions, on or off the training ground, but he does have a genuine opinion, like Eric Cantona, George Best, Paul Ince. These types of people have strong opinions that made them the players they were,” Pardew said.
“Joey may have thrown too many sound bites and perhaps hasn’t done himself too many favours with that interview, he is a little bit disappointed and feels he’s been badly reflected but that’s Joey. I said 'Well OK Joey, perhaps you shouldn’t have done it’, but that is how he is.”
With Kevin Nolan banned, Barton will captain Newcastle at Aston Villa tomorrow in a move that completes the rehabilitation of a player whose spell on Tyneside has been blighted by a six-month prison sentence for assault and suspended four-month sentence for attacking former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo, who he described as a “pussy” in the interview with the French magazine.
Meanwhile, Randy Lerner was on hand to observe training at Aston Villa yesterday, a clear indication of the importance that the club’s American owner has placed on the home fixture against Newcastle.
Lerner’s appearance came with an admission from Gérard Houllier that the club’s future, and by extension his own, rest upon the run-in to the season. “The seven games will determine everything,” said Houllier, who is expected to have a full-strength side at his disposal.
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