Post by Macmoish on Aug 27, 2012 7:00:30 GMT
August 26, 2011 Reports lot of messageboard comment, pro and con at the time)
Guardian - Joey Barton joins QPR on four-year deal from Newcastle
• Midfielder joins Neil Warnock's Premier League newcomers
• 'The ambition of the club really impressed me'
Share 86
QPR have completed the signing of the Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton on a four-year contract. The 28-year-old was in the final year of his contract at St James' Park and made available on a free transfer recently after criticising Newcastle's recruitment policy via his Twitter account.
Barton passed a medical at QPR's training ground in Harlington on Thursday but left without penning a deal, tweeting that he needed "some thinking time and space" before making a decision. Having mulled over the move overnight, Barton has now signed a deal with the west London club and could make his debut against Wigan tomorrow or at home to Newcastle after the international break.
"It's been quite a whirlwind, so to get things finally sorted and draw a line under it all is a great relief," he said. "The ambition of the club really impressed me. "There's obviously a great set of lads here already and that's why they had such a great season in the Championship. The gaffer is talking about adding two or three more bodies and that, combined with the potential of the club and the new owners' ambitions, bodes really well for the future."
Barton becomes the first signing at QPR since Tony Fernandes completed his takeover of the club last week. The Rangers manager Neil Warnock has since had little time to make his mark on the transfer market but is delighted to get the first of the five new faces he hopes to bring to Loftus Road before Wednesday's deadline.
"We've got a very, very good player on our hands," he said of Barton, who will wear the No17 jersey. "He's coming here to show people what he can do. He wants to get back into the England team. He's very enthusiastic. People will say one or two things about him, but they've said stuff about me in the past too, so I won't worry about that."
He added: "He's a winner. Even without the armband on, he's a captain every week. He's a lot better player than people give him credit for. Hopefully we can harness all his positive characteristics and get the best out of him. I think with Tony's backing and [vice-chairman] Amit [Bhatia] coming back on board this is a really positive step for the club."
The Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias said: "On behalf of everyone at Newcastle we wish to thank Joey for his on-field contributions to the team and we wish him every success for his future at Queens Park Rangers."
TELEGRAPH
Luke Edwards
Luke Edwards is The Telegraph's North East sports reporter.
Joey Barton is a fine footballer but is he really worth the hassle?
By Luke Edwards Sport Last updated: August 26th, 2011
It is difficult to know where to start with Joey Barton and even harder to know where to finish.
Newcastle have lost a talented player and Queens Park Rangers have signed one, but it is still difficult to decide who has made the better decision given the circus he brings with him.
I doubt it is possible to sum Barton up in 15 words, but I’ll give it a go. Volatile, intriguing, articulate, arrogant, stupid, rash, bold, talented, competitive, disruptive, angry, difficult, inspirational, bright and deluded.
There are several contradictions there, but then Barton is a contradiction. On one hand he is a hugely talented footballer who played a big part in Newcastle’s return to the Premier League. On the other he is a hugely disruptive influence, divisive in the dressing room, difficult to manage and difficult to control.
In four years on Tyneside he fell out with four managers, Sam Allardyce, Alan Shearer, Chris Hughton and Alan Pardew. Some made up with him, others didn’t.
On the one hand he is seen as a hero at Newcastle United, one of their best players and a vital member of a side which stayed up with relative ease last term. On the other he is a player who had one good season out of four at St James’ Park and who has been, at various times, hated by large sections of Newcastle’s ever-loyal support.
On the one hand he is a humble working class lad, with a leaning towards socialist politics, generous with his time and committed to helping good causes. On the other he is conceited and arrogant, referring to people he doesn’t like as peasants while crowing about how rich he is.
On the one hand he is a footballer who refuses to be pigeon-holed, a reader of philosophy, a player who pledged his loyalty to Newcastle United even when they withdrew a contract offer at the start of the summer. On the other he is merely predictable in his desire to be different, ultimately leaving for more money elsewhere as soon as someone offered him the chance.
Barton, who last season claimed he was the best English midfielder in the country, said he would only leave Newcastle for a team in the Champions League and has, instead, signed for one who, with the best will in the world, will be battling against relegation all season.
He may not have felt loved by Newcastle’s owner Mike Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias – the feeling was most certainly mutual – but Alan Pardew fought long and hard to keep him. Even while those above him refused to forgive and forget his Twitter rants and misdemeanours, Pardew did.
Barton only started the season in the side because he told his manager he would stay for the rest of the season, regardless of contract issues, but left, using the lack of a contract as his excuse.
Barton is always keen to paint himself as victim at Newcastle and, yes, he should have been retained if the manager wanted to keep him. He has been a big presence over the last 18 months and his loss is a blow to the team on the pitch, but I suspect it may be a relief in the dressing room.
When Kevin Nolan left – also in acrimonious circumstances – for more money and a five year contract at West Ham – earlier this summer, Barton lost more than just a friend, he lost the one person who could keep him in check.
Barton’s performances last season justified his £56,000-a-week wage packet, but the previous three years were soured by injuries, jail terms and even a bust up with Alan Shearer during his short spell as manager in 2009.
Even in the successful Championship promotion campaign, Barton was injured for most of it and was dropped by Hughton at the start of the season after he questioned his authority as caretaker manager.
Barton complained he deserved to be rewarded financially, yet he conveniently forgets most people would not have had a job to come back to after he was jailed for assault three years ago, just as you and I wouldn’t if we used a public forum like Twitter to slag off our employers in a bid to incite customers/fans to turn against them. Yet this is precisely what Barton did last month.
It is also worth pointing out that a new contract was offered to him on the same terms, minus image rights, earlier this year. Barton shook hands on that deal, but returned on the day it was due to be signed and asked for more money.
It was a move that infuriated the Newcastle hierarchy – it does not take much it has to be said – and the bad feeling lingered until the offer of a new deal was completely withdrawn back in May.
In my first blog for the Telegraph I praised Barton for being a footballer who was thoroughly enjoyable to interview. Lively, challenging and far more intelligent than your average Premier League star.
The problem is, being intelligent in the dressing room does not make you an intellectual and it does not make you a genius.
Sometimes I think Barton’s problems are due to the fact he thinks he is not just a better player than he is, but also far cleverer.
Some of his comments on Twitter have been brilliant, insightful and thought-provoking, some of have just been plain stupid, vicious and hypocritical.
At times this summer, it feels as though I have written about nothing but Barton. He has been centre stage in another dramatic summer on Tyneside. Newcastle will miss him as a footballer and they must replace him in the transfer market, but I’m not sure they will miss everything that comes with him.
Now he is Neil Warnock problem and you can be certain of one thing, it won’t be long until he is making headlines in west London, for all the right or wrong reasons.
blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/lukeedwards/100018657/joey-barton-is-a-fine-footballer-but-is-he-really-worth-the-hassle/
Independent - Neil Warnock: What a great week! We win at Everton and then I get Joey � baggage and all
What I Learnt This Week
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Neil Warnock: 'Anyone who has followed my career will know I love a lovable rogue and I'm absolutely thrilled to have signed a real good 'un in Joey Barton'
Anyone who has followed my career will know I love a lovable rogue and I'm absolutely thrilled to have signed a real good 'un in Joey Barton.
He's a quality player who I've admired for a long time and it shows how far QPR have come that he is prepared to sign for us.
I know he has some baggage, but let's be honest, if he didn't we would not be able to sign a player like him. In the past I've had players other managers have shied away from, like Paul Devlin, Michael Brown and our current keeper Paddy Kenny, even Adel Taarabt, who's not a rogue but needs looking after. They've all been superb for me. I see no reason why it should be different with Joey.
I really do think Joey is one of the best midfielders in the country. When Tony Fernandes took over the club we spoke about Scott Parker. Tony's a West Ham fan and really admires Scott. He asked if he was my No 1 priority. I said Joey was my No 1, with Scotty a close second. When Joey was at Manchester City I tried to sign him for Sheffield United. Joey remembered that so he knew I meant it when I told him how much I wanted him.
As soon as the takeover was completed I made contact with Newcastle and Joey's agent. It has taken time, but I knew that would be the case. He was bound to have second thoughts about leaving a club with Newcastle's facilities for one with a training ground like ours � and let's be honest, Loftus Road is a lovely little ground, with a great atmosphere, but it's not St James' Park. But he was impressed with what the chairman had to say about the club's ambitions.
There will be some problems on the way, it is almost inevitable with a player of Joey's profile. Sky even followed him down on the train from Newcastle when he came for talks. I know he likes to tweet too, but so does the chairman. As long as Joey doesn't bring the club into disrepute I've no problem with it.
I have also signed Luke Young, who's an excellent player who can be a really good addition to our squad. Like Joey he's played for England and has lots of Premier League experience. Now I'm hoping to get two or three more players in before the deadline.
And then... I'm going to sleep, and talk to my wife and kids. I've not been a great dad or husband recently because I've never worked harder to get players into a club. With the chairman being in Malaysia we've been speaking at 1am � breakfast time for him, too late for me. It's a good job Sharon and the kids have been away in Cornwall as I wouldn't have had time to play with or speak to them.
2. How our Championship XI pulled off miracle at Goodison
Who says miracles never happen? I'm sure most people could not believe it when they saw our result at Everton last Saturday flash up on the teleprinter, especially the fixed-odds punters. To be fair they did have some chances and on another day would have beaten us but it goes to show, you can never be sure in football. That's what makes it such a wonderful game.
Even as I wrote last week's column, players were dropping like flies as a mystery virus struck the club. After training on Friday morning I had four lads complaining of feeling ill while poor D J Campbell actually collapsed. We had to call the doc. He stayed behind but Matt Connolly and Taarbs [Taarabt], who were struggling, said they would travel and see how they felt on the morning.
We put them in single rooms so as not to pass the bug on but still had Jay Bothroyd go down with it. The medical staff said he should not be involved but he wanted to be on the bench. Connolly and Taarbs said they would start and see how they went. I must say, whatever the result, I would not have complained with the effort they put in.
The final XI was effectively our Championship team, only Danny Gabbidon of the new signings played. Up front was our only fit striker, Patrick Agyemang, who had never started a game for me since I came to the club. At half-twelve we had the team meeting and I asked him how he felt. He said he felt fine so I told him, "Good, you're playing today." He was as shocked as anyone and proceeded to run himself into the ground, so much so he collapsed just before the hour.
He went down, tried to get up, and went down again, writhing in agony. All the Everton fans thought he was conning it but he was obviously in agony. He ended up going off on a stretcher. I asked the physio what was wrong, he said his knee had seized up. I said, "It looks to me as if everything has seized up." Fortunately he managed to start training again on Thursday. All credit to Patrick, he gave everything for the cause. It is difficult when you've not been playing; reserve-team games are not the same as playing away from home in the Premier League.
It really was an astounding result for, make no mistake, that is a very good Everton side. When I looked at their team sheet, and looked at ours it was just amazing. They had Mikel Arteta, Marouane Fellaini and Louis Saha on the bench! They also had one of the best young players I've seen in years, Ross Barkley. He's got everything and you could sense the buzz around the ground when he got the ball. We're going to see a lot more of this lad over the next few years. It'll be interesting to see if Everton can keep hold of him as I feel they will get some major offers.
When their subs warmed up they all looked immaculate, like Italian male models in their striped, light-blue tracksuits. Fellaini looked about 15ft tall, 17ft with his hair. As he jogged past us I said to young Bruno Andrade on the bench, "Will you pick him up at set-pieces?"
3. I've got a new lucky charm � the club driver's black belt
My pre-match preparations last Saturday were not only hindered by a bug. As I got dressed to leave the hotel I discovered I had forgotten to pack a belt, and now I've lost so much weight that is a problem � a nice problem, but still a problem. I rang Mick Jones, my right-hand man, and said, "Mick, my trousers are falling down, I can't do my team talk without a belt, you'll have to find me one."
In 15 minutes there was a knock at the door and Mick was there with a black belt. "Where did you get it?" I asked. He said, "The bus driver's not very happy, but I told him needs must. I've requisitioned it for the afternoon."
As you can imagine, given how superstitious I am, after the game I said to Ricky, who's our club driver and was taking us back to London, "You do know I'll have to wear this next week?"
4. Favour to Wigan has messed our fans around and I'm sorry
By the time some of you read this we may already have finished our game as we're kicking off at lunchtime as a favour to Wigan. It's a big rugby league town and the 13-man code are at Wembley in the Challenge Cup final. The football team obviously did not want to clash with the TV coverage so we agreed to move. What I didn't know is that a lot of our fans had already booked travel tickets and have been inconvenienced. I'm sorry about that, I didn't realise.
5. Hopefully ticket-price cuts bring more kids to Loftus Road
Hopefully those fans will have their losses cut by the reductions in ticket prices announced this week by our new owners. I think the gesture of repaying some season-ticket holders is really amazing in today's climate. A lot of fans must find it hard to afford tickets, especially with family, so I think it is fantastic that they will be able to bring under-eights for nothing. I can just imagine how excited kids will be travelling to the ground to watch all the top clubs we're playing this season.
6. Carling Cup is a diversion we could have done without
On Tuesday we lost in the Carling Cup at home to Rochdale. Mick went to watch a player that night and I was tempted to go myself. I wish I had. It was the same last year when we lost to Port Vale at home. Rochdale more than deserved to beat us on the night, and scored two cracking goals, but I must admit the competition is a bit of an unwelcome one for promoted clubs. I wasn't surprised to see both Norwich and Swansea eliminated.
I only played three lads who had started at Goodison and would have made more changes if I could, but I didn't have enough players. Sod's law one of the ones I played, Bradley Orr, was injured. I also played Adel, who in my wildest dreams I would never thought would be included in such a match, but he knows the only way he will get back to match fitness is by running around in games. On the plus side it was a good opportunity to give both Bruno, who's 17, and Michael Harriman, an 18-year-old debutant, a run on the night.
7. Here's to 14 more, Ars�ne
Finally I'm delighted for Ars�ne Wenger that Arsenal shut his critics up in midweek. Champions League 14 years on the trot: not bad for a club in crisis.
www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/neil-warnock-what-a-great-week-we-win-at-everton-and-then-i-get-joey-ndash-baggage-and-all-2344592.html
Read more: qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=25771#ixzz24j9l3Hs8
BBC
Joey Barton joins QPR from Newcastle United
Candid Barton explains QPR switch
Joey Barton has admitted he did not want to leave Newcastle United but has spoken of his excitement at joining Queens Park Rangers.
Barton signed a four-year deal on Friday and could make his QPR debut against his old club on 12 September.
Asked if he would rather have stayed at Newcastle, Barton, 28, said: "I think everyone knew that.
"It is disappointing times and it's sad when Newcastle's best players are leaving to go elsewhere."
Barton was keen to pay tribute to the Newcastle fans.
"I've an incredibly special relationship with the Geordie nation," he added.
"Unfortunately they weren't the decision makers at the football club."
Ultimately people pay to come and watch the football. They don't come and watch how people run the football club
Joey Barton
Barton had joined the Magpies from Manchester City for £5.8m in 2007 and was in the final year of his contract at St James' Park.
He was made available this summer on a free transfer after using Twitter to criticise the club's transfer policy.
Barton told BBC Sport he did not "say things for effect or to rock the boat".
"I think footballers are massively well placed to make decisions because they are in the heat of the battle," he said.
"For me the most important thing is, if someone asks me a question, I tell them the truth.
"For some people they don't want people to know the truth.
"Ultimately people pay to come and watch the football. They don't come and watch how people run the football club. We are the performers, the artists."
On moving to QPR, Barton said: "My decision was to join an exciting emerging football club that has very exciting short-term ideas and really exciting long-term ideas.
"I'm in the prime of my career and to make a move of this magnitude you have to be excited.
Joey Barton facts
Born: 2 September 1982
Birthplace: Huyton, Merseyside
Position: Midfielder
Former clubs: Manchester City, Newcastle
League appearances: 211
League goals: 22
League yellow/red cards: 56/3
"I had to make decision in the best interests of myself and my footballing career.
"I felt it was a fantastic opportunity and one I had to take."
Barton did not sign in time to make his debut against Wigan on Saturday, so will have to wait until the meeting with his former employers to don a Hoops shirt for the first time.
On that clash, he added: "There is an important game at Wigan first and foremost then we will start concentrating on the Newcastle game after that.
"It will be strange. I have still got a lot of friends at the football club and spent four and a half happy years there.
"It will be difficult but that is football."
QPR manager Neil Warnock said Barton's arrival will be key to the club's hopes this season.
"We've got a very, very good player on our hands," he stated.
"He's very enthusiastic. People will say one or two things about him, but they've said stuff about me in the past too, so I won't worry about that.
"He's a lot better than people give him credit for. Hopefully we can harness all his positive characteristics and get the best out of him.
www.bbc.com/sport/football/14650167
Guardian - Joey Barton joins QPR on four-year deal from Newcastle
• Midfielder joins Neil Warnock's Premier League newcomers
• 'The ambition of the club really impressed me'
Share 86
QPR have completed the signing of the Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton on a four-year contract. The 28-year-old was in the final year of his contract at St James' Park and made available on a free transfer recently after criticising Newcastle's recruitment policy via his Twitter account.
Barton passed a medical at QPR's training ground in Harlington on Thursday but left without penning a deal, tweeting that he needed "some thinking time and space" before making a decision. Having mulled over the move overnight, Barton has now signed a deal with the west London club and could make his debut against Wigan tomorrow or at home to Newcastle after the international break.
"It's been quite a whirlwind, so to get things finally sorted and draw a line under it all is a great relief," he said. "The ambition of the club really impressed me. "There's obviously a great set of lads here already and that's why they had such a great season in the Championship. The gaffer is talking about adding two or three more bodies and that, combined with the potential of the club and the new owners' ambitions, bodes really well for the future."
Barton becomes the first signing at QPR since Tony Fernandes completed his takeover of the club last week. The Rangers manager Neil Warnock has since had little time to make his mark on the transfer market but is delighted to get the first of the five new faces he hopes to bring to Loftus Road before Wednesday's deadline.
"We've got a very, very good player on our hands," he said of Barton, who will wear the No17 jersey. "He's coming here to show people what he can do. He wants to get back into the England team. He's very enthusiastic. People will say one or two things about him, but they've said stuff about me in the past too, so I won't worry about that."
He added: "He's a winner. Even without the armband on, he's a captain every week. He's a lot better player than people give him credit for. Hopefully we can harness all his positive characteristics and get the best out of him. I think with Tony's backing and [vice-chairman] Amit [Bhatia] coming back on board this is a really positive step for the club."
The Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias said: "On behalf of everyone at Newcastle we wish to thank Joey for his on-field contributions to the team and we wish him every success for his future at Queens Park Rangers."
TELEGRAPH
Luke Edwards
Luke Edwards is The Telegraph's North East sports reporter.
Joey Barton is a fine footballer but is he really worth the hassle?
By Luke Edwards Sport Last updated: August 26th, 2011
It is difficult to know where to start with Joey Barton and even harder to know where to finish.
Newcastle have lost a talented player and Queens Park Rangers have signed one, but it is still difficult to decide who has made the better decision given the circus he brings with him.
I doubt it is possible to sum Barton up in 15 words, but I’ll give it a go. Volatile, intriguing, articulate, arrogant, stupid, rash, bold, talented, competitive, disruptive, angry, difficult, inspirational, bright and deluded.
There are several contradictions there, but then Barton is a contradiction. On one hand he is a hugely talented footballer who played a big part in Newcastle’s return to the Premier League. On the other he is a hugely disruptive influence, divisive in the dressing room, difficult to manage and difficult to control.
In four years on Tyneside he fell out with four managers, Sam Allardyce, Alan Shearer, Chris Hughton and Alan Pardew. Some made up with him, others didn’t.
On the one hand he is seen as a hero at Newcastle United, one of their best players and a vital member of a side which stayed up with relative ease last term. On the other he is a player who had one good season out of four at St James’ Park and who has been, at various times, hated by large sections of Newcastle’s ever-loyal support.
On the one hand he is a humble working class lad, with a leaning towards socialist politics, generous with his time and committed to helping good causes. On the other he is conceited and arrogant, referring to people he doesn’t like as peasants while crowing about how rich he is.
On the one hand he is a footballer who refuses to be pigeon-holed, a reader of philosophy, a player who pledged his loyalty to Newcastle United even when they withdrew a contract offer at the start of the summer. On the other he is merely predictable in his desire to be different, ultimately leaving for more money elsewhere as soon as someone offered him the chance.
Barton, who last season claimed he was the best English midfielder in the country, said he would only leave Newcastle for a team in the Champions League and has, instead, signed for one who, with the best will in the world, will be battling against relegation all season.
He may not have felt loved by Newcastle’s owner Mike Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias – the feeling was most certainly mutual – but Alan Pardew fought long and hard to keep him. Even while those above him refused to forgive and forget his Twitter rants and misdemeanours, Pardew did.
Barton only started the season in the side because he told his manager he would stay for the rest of the season, regardless of contract issues, but left, using the lack of a contract as his excuse.
Barton is always keen to paint himself as victim at Newcastle and, yes, he should have been retained if the manager wanted to keep him. He has been a big presence over the last 18 months and his loss is a blow to the team on the pitch, but I suspect it may be a relief in the dressing room.
When Kevin Nolan left – also in acrimonious circumstances – for more money and a five year contract at West Ham – earlier this summer, Barton lost more than just a friend, he lost the one person who could keep him in check.
Barton’s performances last season justified his £56,000-a-week wage packet, but the previous three years were soured by injuries, jail terms and even a bust up with Alan Shearer during his short spell as manager in 2009.
Even in the successful Championship promotion campaign, Barton was injured for most of it and was dropped by Hughton at the start of the season after he questioned his authority as caretaker manager.
Barton complained he deserved to be rewarded financially, yet he conveniently forgets most people would not have had a job to come back to after he was jailed for assault three years ago, just as you and I wouldn’t if we used a public forum like Twitter to slag off our employers in a bid to incite customers/fans to turn against them. Yet this is precisely what Barton did last month.
It is also worth pointing out that a new contract was offered to him on the same terms, minus image rights, earlier this year. Barton shook hands on that deal, but returned on the day it was due to be signed and asked for more money.
It was a move that infuriated the Newcastle hierarchy – it does not take much it has to be said – and the bad feeling lingered until the offer of a new deal was completely withdrawn back in May.
In my first blog for the Telegraph I praised Barton for being a footballer who was thoroughly enjoyable to interview. Lively, challenging and far more intelligent than your average Premier League star.
The problem is, being intelligent in the dressing room does not make you an intellectual and it does not make you a genius.
Sometimes I think Barton’s problems are due to the fact he thinks he is not just a better player than he is, but also far cleverer.
Some of his comments on Twitter have been brilliant, insightful and thought-provoking, some of have just been plain stupid, vicious and hypocritical.
At times this summer, it feels as though I have written about nothing but Barton. He has been centre stage in another dramatic summer on Tyneside. Newcastle will miss him as a footballer and they must replace him in the transfer market, but I’m not sure they will miss everything that comes with him.
Now he is Neil Warnock problem and you can be certain of one thing, it won’t be long until he is making headlines in west London, for all the right or wrong reasons.
blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/lukeedwards/100018657/joey-barton-is-a-fine-footballer-but-is-he-really-worth-the-hassle/
Independent - Neil Warnock: What a great week! We win at Everton and then I get Joey � baggage and all
What I Learnt This Week
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Neil Warnock: 'Anyone who has followed my career will know I love a lovable rogue and I'm absolutely thrilled to have signed a real good 'un in Joey Barton'
Anyone who has followed my career will know I love a lovable rogue and I'm absolutely thrilled to have signed a real good 'un in Joey Barton.
He's a quality player who I've admired for a long time and it shows how far QPR have come that he is prepared to sign for us.
I know he has some baggage, but let's be honest, if he didn't we would not be able to sign a player like him. In the past I've had players other managers have shied away from, like Paul Devlin, Michael Brown and our current keeper Paddy Kenny, even Adel Taarabt, who's not a rogue but needs looking after. They've all been superb for me. I see no reason why it should be different with Joey.
I really do think Joey is one of the best midfielders in the country. When Tony Fernandes took over the club we spoke about Scott Parker. Tony's a West Ham fan and really admires Scott. He asked if he was my No 1 priority. I said Joey was my No 1, with Scotty a close second. When Joey was at Manchester City I tried to sign him for Sheffield United. Joey remembered that so he knew I meant it when I told him how much I wanted him.
As soon as the takeover was completed I made contact with Newcastle and Joey's agent. It has taken time, but I knew that would be the case. He was bound to have second thoughts about leaving a club with Newcastle's facilities for one with a training ground like ours � and let's be honest, Loftus Road is a lovely little ground, with a great atmosphere, but it's not St James' Park. But he was impressed with what the chairman had to say about the club's ambitions.
There will be some problems on the way, it is almost inevitable with a player of Joey's profile. Sky even followed him down on the train from Newcastle when he came for talks. I know he likes to tweet too, but so does the chairman. As long as Joey doesn't bring the club into disrepute I've no problem with it.
I have also signed Luke Young, who's an excellent player who can be a really good addition to our squad. Like Joey he's played for England and has lots of Premier League experience. Now I'm hoping to get two or three more players in before the deadline.
And then... I'm going to sleep, and talk to my wife and kids. I've not been a great dad or husband recently because I've never worked harder to get players into a club. With the chairman being in Malaysia we've been speaking at 1am � breakfast time for him, too late for me. It's a good job Sharon and the kids have been away in Cornwall as I wouldn't have had time to play with or speak to them.
2. How our Championship XI pulled off miracle at Goodison
Who says miracles never happen? I'm sure most people could not believe it when they saw our result at Everton last Saturday flash up on the teleprinter, especially the fixed-odds punters. To be fair they did have some chances and on another day would have beaten us but it goes to show, you can never be sure in football. That's what makes it such a wonderful game.
Even as I wrote last week's column, players were dropping like flies as a mystery virus struck the club. After training on Friday morning I had four lads complaining of feeling ill while poor D J Campbell actually collapsed. We had to call the doc. He stayed behind but Matt Connolly and Taarbs [Taarabt], who were struggling, said they would travel and see how they felt on the morning.
We put them in single rooms so as not to pass the bug on but still had Jay Bothroyd go down with it. The medical staff said he should not be involved but he wanted to be on the bench. Connolly and Taarbs said they would start and see how they went. I must say, whatever the result, I would not have complained with the effort they put in.
The final XI was effectively our Championship team, only Danny Gabbidon of the new signings played. Up front was our only fit striker, Patrick Agyemang, who had never started a game for me since I came to the club. At half-twelve we had the team meeting and I asked him how he felt. He said he felt fine so I told him, "Good, you're playing today." He was as shocked as anyone and proceeded to run himself into the ground, so much so he collapsed just before the hour.
He went down, tried to get up, and went down again, writhing in agony. All the Everton fans thought he was conning it but he was obviously in agony. He ended up going off on a stretcher. I asked the physio what was wrong, he said his knee had seized up. I said, "It looks to me as if everything has seized up." Fortunately he managed to start training again on Thursday. All credit to Patrick, he gave everything for the cause. It is difficult when you've not been playing; reserve-team games are not the same as playing away from home in the Premier League.
It really was an astounding result for, make no mistake, that is a very good Everton side. When I looked at their team sheet, and looked at ours it was just amazing. They had Mikel Arteta, Marouane Fellaini and Louis Saha on the bench! They also had one of the best young players I've seen in years, Ross Barkley. He's got everything and you could sense the buzz around the ground when he got the ball. We're going to see a lot more of this lad over the next few years. It'll be interesting to see if Everton can keep hold of him as I feel they will get some major offers.
When their subs warmed up they all looked immaculate, like Italian male models in their striped, light-blue tracksuits. Fellaini looked about 15ft tall, 17ft with his hair. As he jogged past us I said to young Bruno Andrade on the bench, "Will you pick him up at set-pieces?"
3. I've got a new lucky charm � the club driver's black belt
My pre-match preparations last Saturday were not only hindered by a bug. As I got dressed to leave the hotel I discovered I had forgotten to pack a belt, and now I've lost so much weight that is a problem � a nice problem, but still a problem. I rang Mick Jones, my right-hand man, and said, "Mick, my trousers are falling down, I can't do my team talk without a belt, you'll have to find me one."
In 15 minutes there was a knock at the door and Mick was there with a black belt. "Where did you get it?" I asked. He said, "The bus driver's not very happy, but I told him needs must. I've requisitioned it for the afternoon."
As you can imagine, given how superstitious I am, after the game I said to Ricky, who's our club driver and was taking us back to London, "You do know I'll have to wear this next week?"
4. Favour to Wigan has messed our fans around and I'm sorry
By the time some of you read this we may already have finished our game as we're kicking off at lunchtime as a favour to Wigan. It's a big rugby league town and the 13-man code are at Wembley in the Challenge Cup final. The football team obviously did not want to clash with the TV coverage so we agreed to move. What I didn't know is that a lot of our fans had already booked travel tickets and have been inconvenienced. I'm sorry about that, I didn't realise.
5. Hopefully ticket-price cuts bring more kids to Loftus Road
Hopefully those fans will have their losses cut by the reductions in ticket prices announced this week by our new owners. I think the gesture of repaying some season-ticket holders is really amazing in today's climate. A lot of fans must find it hard to afford tickets, especially with family, so I think it is fantastic that they will be able to bring under-eights for nothing. I can just imagine how excited kids will be travelling to the ground to watch all the top clubs we're playing this season.
6. Carling Cup is a diversion we could have done without
On Tuesday we lost in the Carling Cup at home to Rochdale. Mick went to watch a player that night and I was tempted to go myself. I wish I had. It was the same last year when we lost to Port Vale at home. Rochdale more than deserved to beat us on the night, and scored two cracking goals, but I must admit the competition is a bit of an unwelcome one for promoted clubs. I wasn't surprised to see both Norwich and Swansea eliminated.
I only played three lads who had started at Goodison and would have made more changes if I could, but I didn't have enough players. Sod's law one of the ones I played, Bradley Orr, was injured. I also played Adel, who in my wildest dreams I would never thought would be included in such a match, but he knows the only way he will get back to match fitness is by running around in games. On the plus side it was a good opportunity to give both Bruno, who's 17, and Michael Harriman, an 18-year-old debutant, a run on the night.
7. Here's to 14 more, Ars�ne
Finally I'm delighted for Ars�ne Wenger that Arsenal shut his critics up in midweek. Champions League 14 years on the trot: not bad for a club in crisis.
www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/neil-warnock-what-a-great-week-we-win-at-everton-and-then-i-get-joey-ndash-baggage-and-all-2344592.html
Read more: qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=25771#ixzz24j9l3Hs8
BBC
Joey Barton joins QPR from Newcastle United
Candid Barton explains QPR switch
Joey Barton has admitted he did not want to leave Newcastle United but has spoken of his excitement at joining Queens Park Rangers.
Barton signed a four-year deal on Friday and could make his QPR debut against his old club on 12 September.
Asked if he would rather have stayed at Newcastle, Barton, 28, said: "I think everyone knew that.
"It is disappointing times and it's sad when Newcastle's best players are leaving to go elsewhere."
Barton was keen to pay tribute to the Newcastle fans.
"I've an incredibly special relationship with the Geordie nation," he added.
"Unfortunately they weren't the decision makers at the football club."
Ultimately people pay to come and watch the football. They don't come and watch how people run the football club
Joey Barton
Barton had joined the Magpies from Manchester City for £5.8m in 2007 and was in the final year of his contract at St James' Park.
He was made available this summer on a free transfer after using Twitter to criticise the club's transfer policy.
Barton told BBC Sport he did not "say things for effect or to rock the boat".
"I think footballers are massively well placed to make decisions because they are in the heat of the battle," he said.
"For me the most important thing is, if someone asks me a question, I tell them the truth.
"For some people they don't want people to know the truth.
"Ultimately people pay to come and watch the football. They don't come and watch how people run the football club. We are the performers, the artists."
On moving to QPR, Barton said: "My decision was to join an exciting emerging football club that has very exciting short-term ideas and really exciting long-term ideas.
"I'm in the prime of my career and to make a move of this magnitude you have to be excited.
Joey Barton facts
Born: 2 September 1982
Birthplace: Huyton, Merseyside
Position: Midfielder
Former clubs: Manchester City, Newcastle
League appearances: 211
League goals: 22
League yellow/red cards: 56/3
"I had to make decision in the best interests of myself and my footballing career.
"I felt it was a fantastic opportunity and one I had to take."
Barton did not sign in time to make his debut against Wigan on Saturday, so will have to wait until the meeting with his former employers to don a Hoops shirt for the first time.
On that clash, he added: "There is an important game at Wigan first and foremost then we will start concentrating on the Newcastle game after that.
"It will be strange. I have still got a lot of friends at the football club and spent four and a half happy years there.
"It will be difficult but that is football."
QPR manager Neil Warnock said Barton's arrival will be key to the club's hopes this season.
"We've got a very, very good player on our hands," he stated.
"He's very enthusiastic. People will say one or two things about him, but they've said stuff about me in the past too, so I won't worry about that.
"He's a lot better than people give him credit for. Hopefully we can harness all his positive characteristics and get the best out of him.
www.bbc.com/sport/football/14650167
