Not one for second chances, huh? If we took that approach to murderers, may as well introduce the death penalty.
As Stu said, he's off the drink and sorted out now. If you want reckless Newcastle players try Alan Smith, he doesn't have the timing, speed or technique to slide, yet he does and makes bad challenges, making him both dangerous and a liability.
As for the persona bullshit, that's like saying "Oh it's his persona to dive, it's fine" or "It's his persona to swing his elbows when challenging". There are hard, and there are reckless challenges, De Jong makes numerous reckless challenges, including two scissors (at least) in one game against Newcastle, the kung fu kick, etc.
Joey Barton is a thug. He's not as bad as he used to be granted, but he is a thug nonetheless. All it will take is one person to push him too far (like a Gary Neville) and he'll flip again.
What will it take to push him to far though?
As shown against Wolves, it takes a lot more to push him over the edge now. 2 years ago if he was subject to that sort of treatment he would have retalitated and probably would have lamped someone. Obviously after the Alonso tackle he did I wasn't a massive fan but I do believe Barton has changed his ways in the last 6 months/year or so.
er do you even remember the furore afterwards? everyone was calling for his head at the timeGood point. Martin Taylor literally ruined Eduardo's career with a genuine horror tackle.
But nobody is calling for his head?
What will it take to push him to far though?
As shown against Wolves, it takes a lot more to push him over the edge now. 2 years ago if he was subject to that sort of treatment he would have retalitated and probably would have lamped someone. Obviously after the Alonso tackle he did I wasn't a massive fan but I do believe Barton has changed his ways in the last 6 months/year or so.
The saying 'a leopard never changes it spots' couldn't be more wrong. Some people can change. A lot of people do fall back to their old ways, but I truly think Barton realizes his immature ways, and realized he had to change. He said he would change his ways, after Newcastle decided not to terminate his contract when he was behind bars.
Some people just need to be given the incentives to change. And there are far worse people playing football(Marlon King etc)
Some people can change, but what can't change is the ruined career of the Man City youth player whose eye Barton stubbed his cigarette out in. It's not just once he's fallen foul of the law too. I don't think that someone who has ruined another player's career and life should be able to play football again tbh.
He and Marlon King have done their time, and deserve a second chance. Even Lee Hughes and Lee McCormick deserve 2nd chances.Some people can change, but what can't change is the ruined career of the Man City youth player whose eye Barton stubbed his cigarette out in. It's not just once he's fallen foul of the law too. I don't think that someone who has ruined another player's career and life should be able to play football again tbh. In nearly all decent jobs you wouldn't be re-employed after serving jail time, so I don't see why football should be any different, regardless of the fact that he might have 'changed'.
Some people can change, but what can't change is the ruined career of the Man City youth player whose eye Barton stubbed his cigarette out in. It's not just once he's fallen foul of the law too. I don't think that someone who has ruined another player's career and life should be able to play football again tbh. In nearly all decent jobs you wouldn't be re-employed after serving jail time, so I don't see why football should be any different, regardless of the fact that he might have 'changed'.
De Jong is a thug, as is Karl Henry. If their type of play isn't stopped now, it is only a matter of time before a player is injured so badly that he will be forced to retire.
If either of them go anywhere near Essien, I'm buying a gun ^^)
To be fair, he hasn't done anything like that recently. Even in the Wolves game, where he was targetted mercilessly, he didn't retaliate.
the issue isnt just specifically about de jong, his was just one in a long line of tackles like it. the article is talking about that attitude of "let them know you're there", where players go in hard, maybe there's intent maybe there isnt, but they go in hard and reckless and without a **** for the player they go into. I'm not saying we should tiptoe into tackles. but there is aggressive ball wining and there is reckless nonsense, and somehow the line between the two has become very blurred.
No because diving and swinging elbows are 2 very different things and are both against the laws of the game. Making tough challenges isn't.