Will Barton change his spots?
Discussion
BBC said:
Controversial Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton, 26, hopes he can transform his reputation and become a role model.
Barton was jailed for assault and banned for attacking a team-mate and says he is in "the last-chance saloon".
He told BBC Sport that because of his experiences he may be able to reach out to people, saying: "Hopefully I can be the role model I've never been."
"My reputation will precede me until the day I die and for some people that can't come soon enough," he added.
Barton, who was jailed for assault and affray earlier this year, could return to action against Sunderland on Saturday after finishing a six-game ban for assaulting Ousmane Dabo in 2007 when he was at Manchester City.
"There's going to be young kids who look at the likes of Michael Owen and Beckham, who are unbelievable professionals, squeaky clean, and they can't relate to them," Barton told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I've met people on the street, met people while I was in prison, and they can relate to you.
"When I speak from experience about the things I've done wrong in my life and how I've tried to change them, I think they respect that.
"Hopefully I'll be able to reach them people who, maybe before, were a little unreachable."
Barton was released from prison in Manchester three months ago and began his comeback in a reserve fixture for Newcastle on Tuesday.
He said he deserves "every bit of criticism that was labelled at me".
"I've had more chances than anyone deserves. It's last-chance saloon and I'm just thankful to have that chance," he added.
Barton, who is getting support from the Sporting Chance clinic, conceded many of his problems have been alcohol-related but said he has not had a drink for 10 months and is optimistic about his recovery.
"The main thing for me is staying sober. I feel so good about the future. If I could go back and change things I would but I can't," he said.
"All I can do is do what's in the future and try to help or soothe or repay my debts for what I've done wrong."
Barton was last in first team action when he came off the bench in what proved to be Kevin Keegan's last game in charge, the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal on 30 August.
He stressed he was desperate not to let down all those who had shown faith in him and emphasised his hopes to be "a shining beacon for kids who had been in trouble".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/n...Barton was jailed for assault and banned for attacking a team-mate and says he is in "the last-chance saloon".
He told BBC Sport that because of his experiences he may be able to reach out to people, saying: "Hopefully I can be the role model I've never been."
"My reputation will precede me until the day I die and for some people that can't come soon enough," he added.
Barton, who was jailed for assault and affray earlier this year, could return to action against Sunderland on Saturday after finishing a six-game ban for assaulting Ousmane Dabo in 2007 when he was at Manchester City.
"There's going to be young kids who look at the likes of Michael Owen and Beckham, who are unbelievable professionals, squeaky clean, and they can't relate to them," Barton told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I've met people on the street, met people while I was in prison, and they can relate to you.
"When I speak from experience about the things I've done wrong in my life and how I've tried to change them, I think they respect that.
"Hopefully I'll be able to reach them people who, maybe before, were a little unreachable."
Barton was released from prison in Manchester three months ago and began his comeback in a reserve fixture for Newcastle on Tuesday.
He said he deserves "every bit of criticism that was labelled at me".
"I've had more chances than anyone deserves. It's last-chance saloon and I'm just thankful to have that chance," he added.
Barton, who is getting support from the Sporting Chance clinic, conceded many of his problems have been alcohol-related but said he has not had a drink for 10 months and is optimistic about his recovery.
"The main thing for me is staying sober. I feel so good about the future. If I could go back and change things I would but I can't," he said.
"All I can do is do what's in the future and try to help or soothe or repay my debts for what I've done wrong."
Barton was last in first team action when he came off the bench in what proved to be Kevin Keegan's last game in charge, the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal on 30 August.
He stressed he was desperate not to let down all those who had shown faith in him and emphasised his hopes to be "a shining beacon for kids who had been in trouble".
Personally I'm not convinced - he's been in the last chance saloon more often than George Best.
Is this not just professional footballers over the back?
(Going for a crass generaliastion here) The vast majority of (British) professional footballers are stupid young men who are being given more money than a horse can s
t every week, is it a great surprise that they behave the way that they do.
If you gave your average 18-25yo man in a rundown area £50k a week can you imagine what the would get up to? Just because one kicks a ball around for 90 minutes on a saturday doesn't make them any different.
They are role-models for young children and should behave as such, not like pissed up, women chasing boors.
That is all.
(Going for a crass generaliastion here) The vast majority of (British) professional footballers are stupid young men who are being given more money than a horse can s
t every week, is it a great surprise that they behave the way that they do.If you gave your average 18-25yo man in a rundown area £50k a week can you imagine what the would get up to? Just because one kicks a ball around for 90 minutes on a saturday doesn't make them any different.
They are role-models for young children and should behave as such, not like pissed up, women chasing boors.
That is all.
LHDisbest said:
(Going for a crass generaliastion here) The vast majority of (British) professional footballers are stupid young men who are being given more money than a horse can st every week, is it a great surprise that they behave the way that they do.
t every week, is it a great surprise that they behave the way that they do.
sure, because every EPL player is doing a stretch
Newcastle won't sack him as he's an asset to them. If they fire him some other team will just pick him up for free.
Have to hope that the next time he does it (because no, I don't think his spots have changed), someone in the FA will have the balls to ban him from football for a year.
Have to hope that the next time he does it (because no, I don't think his spots have changed), someone in the FA will have the balls to ban him from football for a year.
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