F...k me.

Great servant to the club. Thanks for everything, Wozza.

Very thin at right back just at present, tho but

Newcastle defender signs for Derby by Håvard Finstad 01.02.2002 10:30 Newcastle defender Warren Barton has signed for Derby in what new Derby boss John Gregory describes as "the quickest transfer in the history of quick transfers".

The 32-year old defender has been out of the first-team picture at St James Park for most of this season and only cost Derby a nominal fee.

"I'm delighted to be here," Barton said. "That's why the transfer went through so quickly. It was a very easy decision to join Derby. This is a big club with a big manager and John Gregory was also a major part of me making the decision.

"I played the first 15 games of the season for Newcastle, got a slight injury and they went on an incredible unbeaten run.

"That made life frustrating, but I have kept myself fit and I wish the chairman, manager and fans of Newcastle the success they deserve. I have no doubt that they will continue to challenge for top honours right to the end of the season.

"Now I am really excited about playing for Derby. It is a great opportunity for me, a great challenge and I just want to play and do well for this club."

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Answers

I feel quite tearful about this.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

He has always been a perfect professional.

I personally stand up and give him an ovasion !!

Thanks for everything you have done !!!

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

This is what you get when you are a good pro.

The board granted his wish very fast and will surely wish him luck in the future !!!

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

All the best to the lad

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Wonder if he knew at the tottenham match...he came running down the touchline a couple of times....

Well, I agree that he's been a great servant etc but I for one am happy that he's gone....now there's NO CHANCE of him getting back into the team and I can sleep easier at night.....

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

I think I'm going to send him a good luck card...

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Happy he's eventually gone, never rated him. He was one of the resons that we've been poor in recent years.

Wonder how much we had to pay Derby for them to take him off our books?

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

He'll do OK in the Nationwide 1st division next season. About his level.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

He's got an unquestionable attitude. The Derby signing is another example of him not sulking and hiding, but just going somehwere where he can play football again. Good luck to him. I expect to see him around in football for quite some time after his playing days, as coach or manager. It's easy to be complimentary when you know he's not going to be playing for us again. ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

barton, great servant, great fight.... NO TALENT

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

It was just a question of time.....anyway, i wish Warren all of luck and will always respect him for his attitude. Good professional.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

I'm absolutely positive that there was a clause in the deal when we signed him that the Wombles would net another half million if we won anything while Wazza was with us.

Very shrewd once again Bobby.

All the best to Warren, great pro if never the greatest player, I really hope Derby stay up now.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

So long and thanks for all the chips...oh, sorry was that meant to be a cross-field ball?

Was he laughing when he called Derby "...a big club with a big manager "? If I was a Derby fan I'd be none too impressed with Wozza as a signing. You send out an SOS and you get more dead weight to drag you down...

Seriously, he's a complete professional who probably deserves to end his career better than keeping the reserves bench warm. Good luck, kid.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

I just been to .com to see the Barton carry on and I see the buggers have used the headline I thought up for a thread on here. I'm rather pleased about that. In fact Barton offski, Jenas & Emerton coming and Bolton tomorrow, I'm in a canny mood today.
Concentrate, no slip ups tomorrow lads!

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

In the picture, that's next to the story at .com, the Derby player looks like he's giving old Wozza more than a welcome handshake.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Also very honest about his overall influence and presence:

I played the first 15 games of the season for Newcastle, got a slight injury and they went on an incredible unbeaten run.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Good luck Wozza. All good things come to an end................;-)

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

A model pro with a big heart who never lacked for commitment or effort. I hope he makes a succes of it at Derby.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Smashing bloke.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Yeah. Good luck but good riddance. Glad to see the back of him, from a football point of view. His qualities would have been much more usable to us if they'd been the other way round, football - perfect, personality - sh1te.

Or is that the equivalent of speaking ill of the dead ?

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Sign o' the times, which is a good thing. No longer will we keep a pro just cos he's 'ok'. Only hope Elliot is next.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Might finally get round to sending a good luck message to an ex- player. Of course, I said that about Ketsbaia and Glass and did nothing. Anyway, if I do I'll append the names of anyone on here who wishes to be included. I can send a Good Riddance card in the same envelope if that helps.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

You can stick my name on it Dan....just don't wish him luck against us :))

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Shocked to see that on Sporting Life this morning! But best of luck to him. I'm sad he's leaving us, but glad he'll have more opportunity to play. I'm sure he'll work as hard for Derby as he did for us.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Many thanks Warren for your commitment and professionalism. Good luck at Derby -(It'll be good if you can help them catch the Mackems!).

I'm deeply saddened by some of the pathetic comments in this thread. No player can do more than give 100%. Many players sometimes give LESS than this, but NEVER Barton. Barton was totally commited to the cause, gave his all to the team and to the area, had more time for the fans than most other players and has never been known to rock the boat when not selected.

A professional and a gentleman - more than can be said for those who would put the boot in at this stage in his career. Hang your heads in shame.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Well said, Jonno. I posted before reading the thread and am saddened by some of the comments.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Jonno, I re-read the messages after your posting. I share your sentiment, but so it seems to me do most people on here, albeit with an undertone of optimism that it's a sign we've upped a level. I couldn't see much personal negativity really.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

I have long and often been the loudest critic on her of Warren Barton's technical footballing ability. For me he was never up to being a top Premiership player, which is what Newcastle United is about.

Something that I would never question is the guy's attitude. He never hid, even when, or particularly when, he maybe should have done. He had the attitude we all would have had if we wore the strip. He empathised with Geordies and felt our pain, and our pleasure at what Newcastle United did to our lives.

If he ever returns to play at St James Park I will gladly applaud him for his efforts. The highlight of his career at Newcastle, and many of ours too, must be the night we beat Barca 3-2. He was rightback that night and was on of the heroes.

Thanks Warren, good luck for the future.

Now we can move on.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

No-one questions him as a person or as a committed player, his ability has however been questioned by more than a few! I wish him the absolute best in the future and wholeheartedly thank him for what he's done for us. I am still GLAD that he's no longer able to play for us.

If that makes me a nasty person then so be it...i'm also suprised at you for labelling people's opinions as pathetic...as someone who's well known to dislike personal attacks, i'd say that was a bit personal wouldn't you?

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

does anyone know whether either Jenas or Emerton can clap ?

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Agree with Pete. Nothing on here is anything other than complimentary about Barton as a person and as a committed NUFC player. I think he's the kind of bloke we would all be pleased to have a drink with, a pro. who hasn't got his affluent head up his arse. However, despite the odd spells of top class defending and running up the wing, he was never better than average as a premiership defender. Nothing wrong with that, it's just that if we want to be top three we have to have players who are consistently excellent, and only occassionally average. But we all wish him well. I for one wouldn't mind seeing him back in a coaching/backroom capacity when he decides to call it a day, probably in the next 3-4 years.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Perfect attitude, but never a winner.

Put into perspective, IMO, when you answer the question 'Do you wish he hadn't gone ?'

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Well said Jonno. Smashing bloke (both of you)

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

LOL, Macbeth re the clapping.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Ben just got home from school and I told him of Jenas and of Barton. A shrug for Jenas, as he's never heard of him, but an "oh that's sad" for Warren, "he's always been there".

Must be like Frank Clark leaving I suppose

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Good old Warren - I too wish him all the best. Put my name on the card!

His best moments for me were;

the equaliser at Anfield in the 2nd 4-3. He went mental and so did the crowd.

His barnstorming performance v Palace in the cup a couple of seasons ago.

Not a great player but a model pro.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Thanks Warren and good luck at Derby, who's got better(?!) hair you or Gregory?!

A twist of fate, if Barton hadn't played so absolute $h!te in our home game against Troyes, we would have been in the UEFA Cup (earning mega-Euros?), half the team would have been crocked and/or knackered and we'd have been struggling in the PL along with our north-east neighbours ;7)

A model pro and a good clapper, bon voyage mon ami.

Softie I know a good estate agent in Langley Mill (Derby's Willington Quay) should you wish to re-locate, better still I know some canny hair stylists in the Toon ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

I remember that Palace game Lynda - he was a hero that day when we eat 'em with 10 men. I actually saw him in an England shirt against Sweden at Leeds.

There are a lot of players about who would do well to learn from the attitude Warren Barton has demonstrated to the game of football over the years. Outstanding character.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Top blerk; great pro. Never Roberto Carlos, but a better player than evidenced by the unfortunate bs on here.

Good luck bonny lad.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

... a better player than evidenced by the unfortunate bs on here. ...

I must admit I've never been able to see that Clarky. Whenever he played, my heart was in my mouth whenever the ball went anywhere near him.

Social attitude isn't enough, end of story, and he seems to have lived on that for ages. The odd game in umpteen when he's resembled a top class player, should have had us trying to offload him ages ago IMO.

I mean, where would we have been if we'd had eleven absolute gentlemen who were perfect pros, but couldn't play at the top level to save their lives ?

I wish he'd gone to Derby four years ago, nowt personal, and I really do hope he's found his level there, but I won't miss him, football wise.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Barton's 'longevity' here is not of his making PB, and we shouldn't criticise the man because of it.

My recollection of Warren Barton is that he looked a good player when he first came here - I was very comfortable with him. For some inexplicable reason, he then went through a period, under Dalglish, when he was absolutely bloody awful, and took some stick. I really believe many people's 'memories' of WB are of his displays during this spell.

He re-established himself under Gullit when everyone else was clearly falling out with the Manager, and did OK. He then went on to perform well after BR came in, and was one of a group of senior players who Robson successfully turned to to salvage the Club from the abyss.

His form after that season has gradually deteriorated, and I suspect he is probably finished as a top flight player - although he may now enjoy a short renaissance following his transfer.

I feel the overall negativity towards a man I would regard as a good servant of the Club is way over the top. There are quite a few players who imo should never have been allowed to wear the b&w shirt - either because they were totally cr@p players, for their attitude or lack of committment. I certainly don't regard Warren Barton as one of that group of players - in fact far from it.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Just written out my good luck card, thanking him for his wonderful industry and wishing him all the luck in the world in the future. First time I've ever written to a player...

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Don't get me wrong Clarky, it's only how he came across to me as a technician that's formed my opinion, and I'd even accept that it's my fault that I can't see him in the same light you do - remembering mainly the cockups, and not the good stuff, because the good stuff is what I expect him to do anyway, as a top player, so it's taken for granted and therefore not memorable.

But, as a person, I wish there were a lot more like him, and I really do hope he makes a go of it at Derby, because, despite my reservations about him as a player, even I have to admire his guts.

You never know, it might stand out more obviously to me what a good player he is when I don't have the axe to grind that he's playing for us. At £800,000 Derby might have got themselves a bargain.

Good luck to the lad, and I mean that.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

I agree with Clarky's last message. Barton has been villified by many in the crowd (and quite a few on here). However, apart from a very few odd games, I don't think he can be blamed for letting the side down - and I include playing performance in that as well as attitude. The lad came here and immediately had an (metaphorical!) albatross hung around his neck. World's most expensive defender or other such cr@p. Perhaps expectations were set too high that day. But from that day on, he never gave more than 100%.

Perhaps I'm gonna start skating on thin ice now, but contracst that with the likes of Griffin, who very likely, is a better technical RB. But will somebody just tell me whow much Andy Griffin has actually given this club and how many top class performances he's put in during his time? Or Farcelino. Or Sylvia's Mother. Or Andy Pandy? During the time WB has been here, we've had very little other choice. Given those circumstances, he's done a decent, tho not outstanding, job. Let's hope he doesn't do so well when he comes up against Laurent Robert in a month or two.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Full on with Screach, Dougal and Clarky. He wasn't exactly Peter Beardsley, but for a long time he was very good. No one's perfect, and no one is good all the time, but we could have had a lot worse. I'm glad he's gone, coz I think he's past it, but he has proven himself as a true Geordie to me.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

I was quite sad when I read this in the paper. Thank you Warren for everything you did and everything you tried to do for Newcastle United.

He was never the greatest player we have had but, as has been mentioned before he always gave his best and he never hid. Other players when they were having off-days would try and hide, but not Barton meaning his f ups were more apparent than others. I also strongly believe if he had shorter hair we would have noticed much fewer of his mistakes. I've read numerous times on here that one of our players should have got a tackle in, but it was difficult to say for sure who it was. Lee and Speed look pretty similar from the top of the broon stand! Sadly for warren, we didn't sign anyone else with really long blonde hair! I would also like to remind people of the Warren Barton from 1999/2000 (possibly the year before) when many of us were thinking about a possible England call up as he had been solid for us then. There was even discussion as to whether he was going to be one of the older players in KK's Euro 2000 squad.

Thank you Warren, I hope when you return to SJP you get the welcome your attitude (always) and performance (sometimes) deserves.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Funny I always had the notion he would end up at a London club , not nesscarily in the Premier tho, agree with Pit Bills views, had a good run, footballs been good to him, toon has been good to him , what more can you say,I personally feel that compared to the luck Irving Nattras had the boy done okay with very limited ability.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

I've met a few BBsers, canny lads and lasses and have given 100% to the club with their committed support, singing and clapping. But sadly aome of them have limited footballing knowledge as shown by their views on a good technical full back as Wazza was. When you don't know much about football the natural tendency is to choose a scapegoat when things are going badly and warren, noticeable as he was, was a natural choice for the less knowledgeable. sad but true.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

Sorry to see him go from one point of view, but Aaron Hughes is doing superbly well at the moment there, rarely chooses the long pass which was my main criticism of Barton (as well as Elliott now).

However, he always tried he best and was a great ambassador to the club. Whenever there was charity work he was nearly always involved. Even though he probably knew he had played his last game for us, he still acted like he was part of our team when doing his appearances on the Worthy Cup highlights on Tyne Tees.

Good luck to Centre Parting!

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

Started off with a clean sheet and done us a big favour in the process

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

"I was quite sad when I read this in the paper", front page of the Tokyo Journal was it Kegsy, your Japanese must have really improved?

;7)

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

Inside back page of the Japan Times actually. Japan is more civilised than you think :-)

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

Listened to the 2nd half of Derby's webcast. Barton praised a number of times. His experience over-running the youth of Etherington at one point, according to the announcers. :-)

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

Where's Softie (I guess in the Strawberry right now), he's been very quiet lately?

Kegsy, when are you leaving (for the U.K.?), I'll be passing through Tokyo again quite soon?

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

Bud, I'll be moving from the Sydney clique to the Japan clique (well there will be me and Kegsy, that's almost a clique) on April 2nd ish. Kegsy wold undoubtably be the person to show you around, but I'd love to go for a few beers if that fits in with our plans.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

Adk, I'm normally in Hong Kong (where's Del Boy?) and / or Singapore.

I'm heading back to Singapore from Canada next Friday and I was hoping to break my flight in Tokyo to see Kegsy, but I think he's off to the U.K. soon?

I'm heading for South Africa the week after. I'll certainly try to make an extended visit to Japan later in the year, see you then mate.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

Watched the Derby v Spurs game earlier this afternoon, and thought Wor Warren did OK. Cool head, organised the young defence, and played the ball out of defence without any frills. Only got forward once or twice, and when he did I thought his lack of pace on the recovery was noticeable.

At 33, he's got himself a two and a half year contract out of this move, and I couldn't be happier for the lad.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

I noticed from the Derby game that Wozza did his customary side step backtrack - a move which Elliott has since inherited at SJP. Amazingly, he actually won the ball from it.

Overall though he put in a solid performance.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

"I'm sad to leave Newcastle because I have so many friends here and I feel at home in the North East". Wor Warren.

I would like to place on record our thanks to Warren Barton Because he has been a fantastic professional at this club ... I never like selling good players and Warren has been a jewel since I've been here." Bobby Robson.

Warren Barton deserves nothing but the utmost respect of Toon fans everywhere.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

I hope he one day comes back here, either as a coach or a scout or something.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Me an'all, Paul.

I'd even go so far as to say he will come back, even if just to live.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

There are a number of people who have been fairly critical on this thread of people who didn't think Barton was up to much - variously suggesting that we are pathetic or know nothing about football.

I'll hold my tongue about what I think about those opinions - suffice to say that I'm not impressed - but speaking personally I expect more than just a great attitude from Newcastle United players. Not a single person on this thread has questioned Barton's attitude and virtually everyone has wished him well for the future. What more do you want????

The bottom line is that Barton cost 4.5 million quid. I don't know how much we paid him over the years - maybe another 3 million being fairly conservative? That's about 200 quid per paying customer, give or take. 200 quid out of my pocket and out of most of your pockets. For 1 player who most of us don't think was ever much good. 8 million quid that could have been spent elsewhere (the academy?). I think that entitles me to my misguided pathetic opinion, and all the others who have expressed their happiness that he's gone.

I wouldn't question his attitude for a minute (nor has anyone else which is an extraordinary compliment to a player who not many people rated) and if some of our more gifted players over the years had his attitude then maybe we might have the trophy that we all crave. But equally if he had the talent of some (most in my opinion) of those players then maybe we'd also have a trophy. I reckon I saw him play in the flesh a hundred times and in my opinion (although apparently I know nothing about football) he wasn't worth anything like the money WE paid for him. Good athlete but poor positional sense and rubbish distribution. Not as good as Steve Watson. Not as good as Andy Griffin. Not as good as Aaron Hughes.

I wish him well, everything I know about him suggests he's a top bloke, and if I happen to be at SJP when he returns I'll stand up and clap and sing Warren Barton Centre Partin along with everybody else. That's to thank him for working his socks off and for not taking for granted that being a professional footballer is a privilige few of us get to enjoy. But I know a lot of top blokes, none of whom I want to see lining up for us on a Saturday afternoon.

I'm DELIGHTED he's gone. I'm even more delighted we've got money for him and that we've shifted him off the wage bill. But best of all is the knowledge that we've gotten rid of someone who, with the best will in the world, was never even close to being good enough.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Suggesting that those people who don't rate him as a fullback know nothing about football is quite possibly the most offensive thing I've read on here. If everyone was agreed on a subject, there'd be no point in having a BBS. And I'm a Barton fan.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

How much did we get for him? Anything said about that yet?

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Agree Dougal, Wozza is past his best and the position we are in it is no longer enough to just "try your best".

To sum up Barton in one phrase: Tries hard but lacks common sense.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Nail on head, dougal.

Ref the fee for Wozza, I heard somewhere (on here?) that it was £800k, whereas the official statement said is was a "nominal fee".

I don't believe for one moment Derby would pay £800k for a 33 yr- old blerk who will be on a Bosman soon. I reckon it would be not more than £200k.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

My, some people are sensitive!

My post was an exercise in turning the criticism to point the other way using the same preambles etc- and the reactions were interesting.

Of course I was incorrect in making bald statements about others footballing knowledge - just as some posters were wrong about Barton's ability.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

suggesting that we are pathetic

I used the word "pathetic" and it was not directed at any individual. For the record (and I always take great care choosing my words) it was I'm deeply saddened by some of the pathetic comments. That seems plain to me but to clarify, "pathetic" is being used as an adjective here describing the comments and does not mean "the comments of the pathetic." There was nothing personal in my remarks.

I stand 100% by what I said. I WAS deeply saddened at some remarks made about a favourite player of mine. I had hoped he would complete his career here and hopefully join the coaching staff. Reading YBR's comments about him in The Journal yesterday, it sounds as if he too thinks Barton is a fine example to young players.

I'm saddened at some of the attitudes here. I very rarely attack any United staff (TSM is just about the only one). I recognise that some of them aren't always as good as I would hope. For example, I'm disappointed in the form of Elliot this season but I don't think it's the least bit constructive to ever get on a player's back. I hope Elliot can rediscover some of the form I seem to remember he had when he left us, and while Robson continues to select him I'll give the lad every encouragement.

The reason Bartinho became a favourite player of mine is that he was the victim of some of the worst treatment from fans I have witnessed at SJP. He stood up to it like the lion he is and played his heart out for us. He was never heard to whinge about anything. I never underdstood the vitriol directed at him. Earlier this season I recall him putting Bellamy through with a brilliant ball out of defence in an away game. In the next match at SJP he tried the exact same thing but overhit the ball and Bellamy couldn't get near it. "Typical Barton - hoofing it anywhere" came the comments from the terraces. Any single thing the guy did wrong was magnified out of all proportion - I never understood why. I daresay that if he, instead of Shearer had missed that pen against the Mackems there'd be a contract out on him.

So he cost £4.5 m. The most expensive defender in the World. Let me point out the obvious and say that if a transfer fee is too high that is NOT the fault of the player but the fault of the buyer who thought he was worth that much. I happen to believe that in terms of Value for Money Barton was one of Keegan's less good buys, but that isn't Barton's fault. He always gave 100% - no player can do more and if that's not good enough it is for the manager to omit him from the team. He was a regular pick for all four of our previous managers. That speaks for itself IMHO.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Bud,

Sorry, I leave for the UK on Wednesday - hope to meet up with you next time you are in town....

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Jonno, it's a fine line between calling someone's honestly expressed and largely reasonable opinions pathetic and calling them pathetic, but I take your point. Especially as last week I told someone who I have a lot of time for that his opinions were moronic...... mind you, he was trying to tell me that Beckham at his best is better than Gazza at his best, but I digress......

And you're absolutely right about the stick dished out to Barton at various times - over the top and not constructive at all. He handled it very well and deserves (and clearly has got) our respect. The transfer fee we paid certainly wasn't his fault, but of course it plays a part in whether we think we got value for money from him. I don't think we did because I think he was hopeless no matter how hard he tried. Respect his attitude but delighted he moved on. I don't think we're actually a million miles apart in our positions here, you just rate him a bit higher than I do.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

The first i found about this was when I had the lads ( and lasses ) over for a BBQ at my house on Saturday night . My old man ( who knows Bartons old man ) has arrived from the UK for a few weeks . He had brought Bartons semi final ( v chelsea ) shirt as a gift for me . I thought I'd look dead good with it on ... UNTIL I was informed of his departure .. what a complete tw@t I felt ! Ahhh well one for the collection I suppose :-(

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Hey ADK, you call me pathetic all the time.
...and moronic.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

at least you didn't get him tatooed on your leg!

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

No, I got Disco Des.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

you too? I thought I was the only one. What ever happened to my hero?

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

WB makes an excellent start at Derby: Derby County Mad
"Of course, the other Gregory masterstroke, was Warren Barton. Now I will be totally honest , I have never been a fan of Barton, but for so long us Rams fans have been crying out for a master, an experienced Prem player that could hold together the young guns at the back., Barton was that man! He so deserved his man of the match accolades in the Sundays and he instantly endeared himself to us by saying that Derby was a big club with a big manager , again it has been so long since we have had such positive comments from an incoming player. His steadying influence and positive defending seemed to help Higgy and Riggs to be a lot more settled in this match."

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Perhaps some of the split opinion on here is down to the fact that - IMHO - Barton's career on Tyneside went through a number of phases: anonymous, shit, excellent, anonymous. Sorry Jonno, but for long, long periods he played consistently poor, error-prone, visionless football week after week. I too was struck by the fact that four successive managers saw fit to pick him, though if you share the common view of KD and RG (and I don't know if you do) then it's slightly disingenuous to cite their endorsement of his 'talent' in WB's defence.

Yes, Barton endured years of barracking, but again ask yourself why. Newcastle fans are slow to turn on a player - cf Andersson - but Barton's consistent haplessness tried the patience of the most forgiving supporters. Then, inexplicably and incredibly, he started playing very very well, exceeding anything the previous three years or so had suggested he was capable of. I ate my words. He had, as you say, borne the criticism and emerged stronger and better for it.

Latterly, though, I feel he'd gone back towards his old self, more competent than at his probably KD-era nadir, but nevertheless something of a passenger. So I wish him well. I haven't forgotten that he was capable of man-of-the-match performances and I'm mindful of the fact he's contributed to the team on, and I suspect more than we realise, off the field, but neither have I forgotten that he infuriated me perhaps more than any other Newcastle player in the last five years.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Six and a half seasons, 142 league games, roughly 21/22 games per season, I'm not convinced that four managers viewed him a first choice if half the time they chose somebody else.

Gullit sold Steve Watson cos he could, Barton managed to stay so long cos no one else wanted him at the salary he would require. He is a perfect signing for Derby as their web site stuff suggests. They need geed up, they need an older head, they need something to lift them over the next dozen games. He can do that. Can you imagine how hyped up he'll have the other players for them playing Sunderland this weekend.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Kegsy, I'm sure I saw Disco Des on the FA Cup round-up last week. He was on the corner of his own box, facing in the general direction of his keeper, in possession of the ball. He was blissfully unaware of an on-rushing attacker who mugged him and slotted home. I can't recall the team, but I'm certain it was him & his boys got stuffed.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

"He was blissfully unaware of an on-rushing attacker who mugged him and slotted home."

Sounds like Jamie McClen on Saturday

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

if you share the common view of KD and RG (and I don't know if you do) then it's slightly disingenuous to cite their endorsement

Disingenuous?! I'm wounded there. Actually, the reason I stressed FOUR managers is that I think most of us respect (if not worship) at least 2 of those. Personally I had a fair amount of respect for RG particularly with regard to tactics, team selection etc but obviously he lost the plot in man management. No I would be being disingenuous if it was ONLY the endorsement of TSM that I sought. :-) All right then - to his credit he was picked by 3 of our previous managers but on the debit side ...

Don't get me wrong on this - I know Barton is not Roberto Carlos or whatever, but the boos he got so undeservedly at SJP seem often to be echoed in SOME attitudes and comments here which is what I find disappointing. Criticism of a player is fine, and a main talking point on here, but quite a few have just had it in for Barton and he could do no right for some. Other players seem to be forgiven their errors more easily.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Enough said...

Meanwhile, the United players were amazed when Barton walked into their dressing room at 5pm on Saturday as they celebrated their victory over Bolton Wanderers - wearing a Derby County tracksuit.

Barton was man-of-the-match in the win over Tottenham on his Derby debut and straight after the match he jumped into his car and motored back up to Tyneside.

United skipper Alan Shearer revealed: "Warren never got the chance to say his goodbyes to the players and he walked unannounced into our dressing room.

"He had tried to get up to see some of the match and it would have been great if he had seen our winning goal but it wasn't to be.

"But this just sums him up. He is already being missed in our dressing room. He has been fantastic for this club and he is a model professional."

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Bloody hell he must have been motoring to get from Derby to Newcastle in 15 minutes!

According to Football Unlimited, when asked if he had any pre match nerves before his debut he told Gregory, "If I can't play in front of 30,000 there's something wrong. I've had 52,000 booing me before."

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

....not exactly a ringing endorsement of the SJP faithful! Hopefully, he was joking.

However, I still recall his obvious annoyance at being booed by a section of the Leazes End in a game early this season - InterToto game? Sad, actually.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Yet he still remains positive, gave his all, stayed "remarkably fit for his age"(according to JG), and still loves the team enough to come back to see his mates rather than sit back and enjoy his MOTM champagne. Go ahead and mock, but he is a football hero to me. It's not always about pure technical ability and being a world beater. I'd have a team of Warren Bartons over a team full of technically brilliant players with sh*t attitude any day.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

I'll take the team of technically brilliant individuals anytime. I can't even count the number of good honest pros we've had over the years and generally the more of them we have in the team the worse we are. Sounds perverse, and I'm not knocking players with a good attitude, obviously the ideal combination is talent plus attitude, but it's nowhere near enough.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

A lovely little end to WB's Toon career as reported in tonight's Ronnie:

Meanwhile, the United players were amazed when Barton walked into their dressing room at 5pm on Saturday as they celebrated their victory over Bolton Wanderers - wearing a Derby County tracksuit.

Barton was man-of-the-match in the win over Tottenham on his Derby debut and straight after the match he jumped into his car and motored back up to Tyneside.

United skipper Alan Shearer revealed: "Warren never got the chance to say his goodbyes to the players and he walked unannounced into our dressing room.

"He had tried to get up to see some of the match and it would have been great if he had seen our winning goal but it wasn't to be.

"But this just sums him up. He is already being missed in our dressing room. He has been fantastic for this club and he is a model professional."

Says a lot about him as a man.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Lovely story, and typical of the man. Apparently, the Toon players watched the Derby game in their hotel before the Bolton game and were all cheering on Wozza.

Pity his overall contribution to the Club wasn't better understood or more widely appreciated. However, the player's reaction speaks volumes.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Yeah Clarky, it was the Intertoto game against Troyes after he was caught in possession. Not really a terrible performance but perhaps one costly mistake too many for some fans.

A lot below me, strangely not too many around me started booing him, so next time he got the ball the rest of us cheered him. This isn't ideal as he didn't particularly deserve a cheer, but booing was a lot worse. I really felt for him.

I can safely say I have NEVER booed my own team at any occasion and will never do so as long as I live.

With regard to Warren Barton, there are some views on here fairly against him and others in favour of him strongly. I hate to sit on the fence but I am right in the middle. Loyal servant, couldn't fault him for effort, but in the end not good enough to be a regular for us now. Aaron Hughes is showing the sort of form that Warren has never shown for us. I hope Derby stay up, I really do, as I wish WB the best. In fact it's a shame Derby don't have to come to SJP this season again as it would be great to give him a big cheer, set the record straight after those tossers booed him during the Troyes game.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002