The lovable Scouse scamp will be hoping for a better 2008/09, having proven in 2007/08 that he is probably the biggest berk in football
It’s fair to say that Huyton-born midfielder Joey Barton attracts attention. Firstly, it was for his all-action midfield displays as he excelled for Manchester City.
Then it was for his popular and amusing assessment of certain high-profile England players’ ventures into the literary sphere.
Thereafter, sadly, it has mainly been for a series of off-field incidents which brought him a six-month jail term for assault and affray with another four-month sentence suspended for two years.
That’s a pity, because on the field he’s well worth the £5.8m Sam Allardyce paid for him in July 2007, five months after Barton made his England debut.