When Joey Barton arrived in Scottish football back in 2016 he was heralded not unsurprisingly as a ‘superstar’ signing by the Rangers supporters and media alike.
Joey was coming to Scotland to dominate, one journalist even predicted him as the Scottish Player of the Year before the season even started. I won’t name Andy Devlin to spare his blushes. It was a very bold claim indeed considering Joey just like his new side were strangers to Scottish footballs top flight. It was a step into the unknown for both.
Joey was here to take over and he strutted around the park like he was some sort of superstar just fresh from lifting the champions league not the championship with Burnley. the aurora surrounding him was as phoney as his French accent.
He soon found out that our football wasn’t as easy as he thought and was embarrassingly nutmegged by Hamilton accies midfielder Ally Crawford in a 1-1 draw at Ibrox on his Rangers league debut. A couple of weeks later he was booted high in the air at Rugby park by future Celtic defender Greg Taylor, Barton’s pride had taken a big a dent as his body after crashing back down on the plastic at Rugby Park.
He dusted himself down and a few weeks later he was prepared for battle with Scott Brown at Celtic Park as the new side and new boy aimed to make a statement against the champions. Barton v Brown was the cry, the one everyone was waiting on, it was as big as the game itself.
Barton of course did nothing but mouth off just like his club’s supporters, if ever a player and club suited each other it was Barton and the Rangers. Broony done what Broony done and just remained quiet from day one with that devious smirk, although you knew deep inside he was itching to put Barton in his place. Broony, like most good players does his talking on the pitch.
The game itself started with a handshake between both players, but once the action started it was no holds barred. The match itself was a mismatch. Celtic proved to be a step up too much for Barton and the Rangers. Celtic trumped 5-1 thanks to a Moussa Dembele Hat trick and goals apiece form Scott Sinclair and Stuart Armstrong.
Moussa Dembele was undoubtedly star of the show and man of the match, but Scott Brown wasn’t far behind. He dominated the middle of the park and put in the display of a real leader, Barton couldn’t get near him and was as deflated at the end as the many beachballs that littered the field.
Indeed one drop ball summed up the difference between the two players. Brown won it clinically with sheer determination, and little fuss. Barton never recovered from that as neither did his Rangers career as it turned out. This would turn out to be Barton’s last game as a Rangers player.
Just a few weeks later he was cut loose by the Ibrox club and he headed back to England with his tail between his legs. Joey was shown up as an average player and the only thing big about him was his mouth. He still to this day criticises the standard of Scottish football.
The very same arena he failed to make the grade in. It still hurts Joey that he was shown up for what he is, an overhyped average footballer. It’s said he has a bit missing upstairs, but he must be a bit clever if he persuaded that many folk he was a decent footballer.
Joey Barton, an arrogant Englishman who arrived in Scotland with a view of taking over, only to be sent homewards to think again. Thanks for the memories Joey.
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