Barton claims credit for Blues revival

October 03, 2007

Joey Barton

JOEY Barton believes Manchester City's resurgence this season may not have happened without his performances in the last campaign.

The England midfielder left City for Newcastle in a £5.8million deal in the summer but is yet to make his competitive debut for his new club due to injury.

Barton has been out since breaking a metatarsal in a pre-season friendly in July but played 45 minutes as Newcastle reserves drew 2-2 with his former club in Manchester last night.

The 25-year-old had some "playful banter" with fans when the Newcastle first team played at City last weekend and hopes he receives a good reception when he eventually returns to play.

"I hope they appreciate the job I did last season," Barton told BBC Radio Five Live.

City battled against relegation last term but, following the takeover of Thaksin Shinawatra, are now third in the Barclays Premier League under new manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"Were it not for myself, Micah Richards and Richard Dunne the club wouldn't have had Shinawatra, the Premier League and Sven.

"I think they could easily have gone down last season but for a couple of results."

Newcastle were beaten 3-1 at the City of Manchester Stadium and remain in mid-table but Barton has no doubts he made the right move.

He feels Newcastle, following the takeover by Mike Ashley, can match his former club and has urged caution on the part of City fans.

"It is important they don't get too carried away with a couple of results," he added.

"Hopefully we'll get the kind of investment they got at Manchester City and get a similar result.

"I think Newcastle can be as big as they want to be. No disrespect to City but in Manchester, Manchester United will always be top dog. As much as they want to believe it, it is not going to be.

"The big thing about Newcastle is there is only Newcastle in Newcastle. Newcastle could be a big side and turn it from a big four into a big five."

What do you think? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (229) |

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Mike (03/10/2007 at 11:54)

Not interested in what you think Joey - you are a mediocre player at a mediocre club.

OxfordBlue, Oxford (03/10/2007 at 11:58)

What a jerk.

Captain Quirk, South Africa (03/10/2007 at 11:58)

Some people talk only because they are physically able to... and they enjoy exercising that ability.

David (03/10/2007 at 11:58)

hope he breaks another bone soon.. preferably one in his neck!

ROYTON MAGGOTT, MANCHESTER (03/10/2007 at 12:01)

Is Barton having a laugh that he helped to keep us up.
Some of our best results and
displays came when he wasnt playing. Does the name Johnson ring a bell.

andy williams (03/10/2007 at 12:02)

"were it not for me, dunne & Richards"...... What about Weaver, Distin & Mpenza Joey.

Face it joey you've joined a club going nowhere fast and you definetley would not get into our team you would be in the reserves with your mate dabo who you slammed in the face when he had his back to you.

matt fallon (03/10/2007 at 12:02)

joey, joey,joey, you want a good reception back at city you just blew it, united will always be the top dog, you couldn't have said anything worse.

Fully, Dublin (03/10/2007 at 12:02)

Goodman Joey, taking rubbish as usual!

andy williams (03/10/2007 at 12:03)

mozza_100, Ashton-under-Lyne (03/10/2007 at 12:03)

He's not said anything that isn't particularly untrue but I still think he's an absolute donut. Its true that United will always be a big club but the games international now and there is no reason City can't be big as well. We would have gone down were it not for a couple of results that went our way. He can't claim he has anything to do with this season's early success, he would have merely replaced Johnson in the team and I believe he'll be a better player than Joey, not to mention a damn site better profession. We brought him up, we gave him our support, we paid his extraordinary wage demands, we gave him chance after chance to prove the rest of the football world wrong but still he just can't keep his mouth shut. Its about respect and dignity and he has neither.

Dickov.....Can you believe it!!!, Wembley, 1999 (03/10/2007 at 12:03)

As I said on the other Barton article - why keep putting things on here from this wind up merchant?

I really don't care what this idiot thinks.

MUEN - Hows Bojinov doing? How did Issakson get on last night? What was Ched Evans goal like last night? What about an in-depth interview with the fitness coach or something like that - in fact anything to do with City that doesn't include Bartons name or his comments......

In Sven We Trust. CTID

41andnotseenowtreally, Heaton Misery (03/10/2007 at 12:03)

Masterstroke this one MEN to give us some bait.

Anyway, ahhhhhh, thank the lord for Joey. We owe our present standing to him and not to Sven, Frank, Blumer etc......

WHAT A JOKER THIS GUY IS !!!

g1lly, droylsden (03/10/2007 at 12:03)

what a reknaw. hope you get sent down and join your brother and cousin

Phil, Sheffield (03/10/2007 at 12:05)

Whilst Barton was an important player for City along with the likes of Dunne, Richards and a few others, Barton would not get into our current team. He isn't as good as he thinks he is, and he isn't missed. Good riddance.

Mr Blue Stuff (Who do you think you are?), Bury (03/10/2007 at 12:06)

With compliments to one or two blues trying their best to create new songs to the current crop of legends, I have chipped in with the following:

To the tune of that's amore...

When the ball hits the net, it's a F****** good bet, that's ELANOOOO, he's the boy from Brazil with the flair & the skill, that's ELANOOOO, ding a ling a ling, ding a ling a ling, ding a ling a ling, that's ELANOOOO, with his left or his right, he is pure dynamite, that's ELANOOOOOO

Come on boys, got to be worth a try against Horsefaces lot on Sunday.

Or....

Super, Super Mart,
Super, Super Mart,
Super, Super Mart, Super Martin Petrov.

Or....

Walking in a Micah wonderland, there's only one Micah Richards...

CTID

Carl Jones (03/10/2007 at 12:06)

Every Scouser thinks hes a comedian and it appears Joey is no exception. He is right about making the right move though. He wouldn't get in our team this season! Europe here we come.

aparsons radcliffe, radcliffe (03/10/2007 at 12:07)

cant stop laughing who does he think he is ?

Bugsy Blue (03/10/2007 at 12:08)

Thank you Jeoy for doing your £20,000 + a week job! You worked hard for 90 minutes each week! We're so grateful! Idiot!

bigf, Wirral (03/10/2007 at 12:08)

I would argue the converse, he needs to shoulder his share of blame for the predicament we were in last season, sent off twice, shamefully cynical tackles, the schism between foreign players and the local lads, appaling distribution, very poor set piece. He did have a few good games, and tried hard, but overall his contribution was not as significant as he thinks it was.

Blue-Swede-dude, In Nancy's Knickers! (03/10/2007 at 12:09)

Joey, you never fail to amaze me with how highly you rate yourself.No disrespect Joey, But Newcastle are only on a par with Sunderland and Boro in terms of size and you have just been bought by Mike Ashley who then realised that he had made a BIG mistake, similarly to that Sam has made by signing you.

We are better off without you and you know it. Stop being bitter. You left us because you wanted to win things hahahahahahahahahahah! Funny!

YOU TUBE!

Brother G, My Blue Heaven (03/10/2007 at 12:12)

how can we ever thank you enough?Everything you touched turned into a right royal mess and,make no mistake,our club is much better off without you!Thankfuly now you have gone,talent such as Johnno and Ireland can express themselves and as for"we aint ever gonna be the top team in Manchester" well i wouldn't worry yourself about that because you are now confined to history and living with the fact that you will never be the player you think you are.Good riddance.

Spike,, Whitefield (03/10/2007 at 12:13)

Shut up Barton you childish jeleous little boy. You have always thought you were the next Patrick Viera and strutted round the fields of Liverpool smashing your so called team mate's in the face if they didn't pass the ball to "the great Joey Barton"....nothing has changed then..... "there's only Newcastle in Newcastle" WOW your well clever.....

Thank god Big Sam had a rush of blood and came to take him away....just like the van will for big sam when he realises he's bought a real thug who will be smashed up on his first night out in Newcastle....... Oh happy days...........

Don't be GLUM ignore the SCUM!!!!!!

The Truth (03/10/2007 at 12:13)

Joey's brains blow his hat off.....again.

Svens blue revolution, manchester (03/10/2007 at 12:13)

wot an absolute joke!! MUEN how about never ever ever putting a story on here about barton again!!

Paul Lake's Knee (03/10/2007 at 12:14)

This will certainly stoke the fires with City fans.

I wouldn't mind hearing the whole interview, Joey was often misquoted or highlights were taken out of context when he was with us. Nothing he says is untrue, we needed him last season and United will probably always be bigger - but biggest doesn't mean best. We don't need him anymore and I bet he is gutted he left now - ha ha.

Thanks for the memories Joey, you trying to leave 18 months before you did, your sending off vs Spurs to enable us to have the greatest come back ever, making Dunney break his foot, the cigar-gate and most of all that charming agent you have... we will miss you - you stroker!!!

CTID

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