A week has gone by with a 0-0 with Newcastle away a 1-0 win against Udinese at home and our brilliant captain has left. So not a week that will live long in the memory, but it could be a lot worse.
Our draw with Newcastle really only has one talking point and that was Gervinho v (Guess who?) Joseph Anthony Barton. It all started with our new number 27 going down far too easily for Barton’s liking. Joseph decided that he did not like this, so he lifted Gervinho up by the scruff of the neck and continue to do so whilst shouting, what I can only imagine to be, the most disgusting language only 2 inches from Gervinho’s face. After a few players came between them, Gervinho’s long arm reached below Barton’s Hitler styled hair and slapped the Scouser in the face, with the lightest of touches.
What happened next, is what you expect to see from Deco in the 2003 Uefa cup or Rivaldo at the corner flag in the World Cup. Barton fell to the floor a good 2 seconds after contact had been made. A very embarrassing act from a man who prides himself on being a tough midfielder and one who is fully against cheating. As I do when I see a Spanish player (Segio Busquets) fall to the floor in extreme agony, only to stand up the next minute when nothing is given, I get extremely annoyed about how they can be considered men in their own countries. Do people look at them and go, “WHAT A MAN!” Or do they the same as me “What is wrong with him?!”
Off the point slightly but, I struggle to comprehend this notion, maybe English football is behind times when it comes to “Showing the officials what they need to see” For example, when the pressure is on in a match that a team is winning and the opposition start to get on top and they get more and more possession. As soon as a team like Barcelona would win back the ball and if they are being pressurised by the opposition, any of the slightest touches (which are hardly fouls) they would go down. This would waste time and to be honest you cannot moan at them for going down because the opposition player has not touched the ball.
It is a way of playing which teams in Spain, Italy and Portugal have perfected. I think that we are both blessed and punished for having referees that let the game flow and not give as many fouls as other European officials. I think this does harm us when it comes to playing in Europe, because it frustrates our players when fouls are given away in European fixtures, this will ultimately put our teams off our game.
Our teams need to either learn to play differently in Europe or we can keep waiting till the referee’s change the way they manage games. In my opinion this could never happen.
Now it sounds like I am suggesting that Joey Barton is ahead of his time, because he almost definitely is not, he is far too dumb.
