Depending on which side of the fence you sit, thug, convict, play-maker and leader are just some of the words most likely to crop when people talk, usually quite passionately, about this self confessed Evertonian.
The lad has certainly had his well documented run in's over the years, there's no point in raking over old ground, as it looks like to the somewhat neutral observer, that he's began to mature a bit. People will almost certainly piss and moan about him venting on Twitter about proceedings at Newcastle as a sign he hasn't changed his ways, but for any frequenters of the social media outlet, he genuinely comes across as one of the more humorous, articulate and readable of the often lamented so called thicko's about in professional football. Not to metion liking half decent bands and artists in a virtual Ocean of RnB and Hip Hop bellendary that engulfs premier league jukeboxes, car stereos, mp3's. Who would of friggin well thunk it eh?
The point here is that as of today (2nd of August), Everton unsurprisingly still haven't managed to add to our fairly talented squad of decent, talented, polite, apologetic band of nearly men in Royal Blue. Opinions will be hugely divided here, but i genuinely see Joey Barton as an opportunity to add a different type of leadership, drive and steel into a squad that craves it. The point about him upsetting the team spirit is almost complete bollocks too. If its as strong as some fans and players are so eager to remind us of, then they will put him in his place if he gives it the big one as soon as he walks in. Sometimes though, its refreshing to have a player who will just give you the home truths you need to up your game.
I hate to use Gerrard and Liverpool as an example as I cant stand the furrrking bulbs and being 30 i have had to suffer watching him win all kinds of shiny pots for them. But when they are at their best, he's at the heart of all of it, snarling, snapping and reminding people of what it means to play for, yes you've guessed it: LIBBERPEWWLLLFURBURRKLUB. Watch him, as annoying as it is, the only other player in that team he's even remotely polite to throughout the game is Carragher, and thats because he's a fellow Gremlin. Anyway I digress slightly. You need that in a side, and top teams almost always have them. Think Roy Keane, think Souness, think Peter Reid, another Huyton lad who knew what it meant to play for a local side.
He wont come cheap and we'll have to fight hard to get him as there will be a lot of competition for his signature. But I believe, *****Please Put On Royal Blue Tinted Spectacles Here***** if we can convince him that this is his perfect opportunity for footballing redemption and success with his boyhood club, then who, millionaire or not, wouldn't gamble on that. He could be a hero at Goodison.
Ultimately, if it all goes tits up. Which it could do. You've paid nothing for him and you get rid for what you've paid him in wages. Something tells me it could be different though if we miraculously found the magic beans down the back Kenwrights Luvvie Lounger for this deal, we wont though.
And I for one, will think of what could have been. Good luck at Spurs Joey!
Up those glorious Toffeemen.
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