Joey Barton: I'm better than England's World Cup flops
Published 23:00 19/07/10 By Simon Bird
Joey Barton has told Fabio Capello - I’m better than your World Cup flops.
And his message to the England coach is: “On form, I’m as good as anybody in this country.”
The Newcastle midfielder wants Capello to start picking players on form not big name reputations - and he has vowed to be among them.
Barton won just one cap for England against Spain three years ago, and has a turbulent career on and off the pitch.
He said: “Fabio Capello said he will pick players who were in form. Sometimes it hasn’t happened like that and people have been picked when they haven’t performed at club level. I think if we can get anyone from this football club into the England team, we’re doing really well.”
“They were built up to do quite well and I thought they would do well. Obviously it didn’t really happen.
“People are going to chip in with their opinions, but none of us know. None of us played in that atmosphere or played in that pressure. As an Englishman, though, it wasn’t good. Hopefully, this can force the game to change and now they will stop picking big names and instead pick players that are playing well. All of the successful countries do that.”
The controversial star is ready for action and making ambitious claims of what his first season back in the Premier League with Newcastle United could hold.
He said: “First and foremost, I want to do well for Newcastle United. But watching some of the performances in the World Cup over the summer I think that on form, I’m as good as anybody in this country.
“I don’t say that lightly and I have to go out and prove that, but surely every midfielder in this country should be thinking like that?
“They should be looking at it and saying, ‘That’s where I want to be and that’s where I can go.’ That’s my goal, and if I break into the England squad, it proves that I am doing fantastic for this football club. Firstly, I have to do well for Newcastle, though.”
Barton will have to win his place in the Newcastle line up first. His last top flight game resulted in a dressing room spat with boss Alan Shearer after he was red carded for clattering Xabi Alonso, but he insists he is a calmer person now.
Barton added: “I don’t know what role I will have next season - but I’m ready to do whatever is required.”
