Being a Newcastle fan, the Joey Barton saga is something I have followed closely over the summer. A player that would not struggle to get in even the best teams in the country is now seemingly unwanted by the Newcastle hierarchy. The media claims events behind the scenes have lead to the cut-throat attitude taken by the club, but is letting last year's player of the season go to potential rivals for free really the smartest piece of business by the Newcastle board?
In May, it was revealed Barton would not be offered a new deal. Since then, Barton has taken to twitter to criticise the club, and express his discontent at not being offered a new deal.
I like Joey Barton. Even when he was at Manchester City and was one of football's so called 'bad boys', I thought he was a brilliant footballer. In the past few years he seems to have calmed down and let his form on the pitch do the talking. He is the sort of player I feel is right for Newcastle. His passion on the pitch mirrors that of the fans, and he appears to have a genuine love of the club and the area. He may have his moments of stupidity- His mindless punching of Morten Gamst Pedersen against Blackburn last year- but the grit and determination he shows each match vastly outweighs his occasional misdemeanors. When Newcastle were 0-4 down at home to Arsenal last season he visibly motivated and spurred the team on, scoring two penalties, and almost single handedly dragging the team back level.
I do believe some of his twitter comments have been silly. Criticising your employers in such a public forum would end up in unemployment for many outside of the football world. I also believe however that his tweets regarding the club's affairs are derived from his passion for the club, not from any desire for publicity.
Allowing him to leave for free would be a ludicrous decision by the board. If they genuinely believe that he has a negative effect in the dressing room, then they may feel they have no option, but I do believe that this is the sort of passion that key players can have- just look at Roy Keane.
Barton is the sort of player that I feel the team should be built around. He is 28- the peak of his career- if his transfer listing were to be rescinded I feel he could become the key player for Newcastle in the coming years. A Kevin Nolan if you like. Someone who the rest of the team can look to and who the fans will always give everything, whether the team be 4-0 up, or 4-0 down.
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Captain America- Film Review
There seems to have been an abundance of super hero based films this year. Thor, The Green Lantern and X-men First class have all attempted to boggle our minds with stunning visuals supported by A list stars. Captain America: The first Avenger is the latest in the seemingly never ending queue of comic book flicks.Filmed in 3d- as seems to be a requirement nowadays- is all of the shiny CGI and 3-dimensional wizardry just a clever smokescreen to hide beneath a mediocre film?
Superhero films are becoming quite tedious. Okay, so the Batman and Spider-man franchises have produced some very good films, but there seems to be an array of others that have come along with big expectations, yet failed to deliver. Captain America could be seen as more of the same. It is predictable and unimaginative. The good guy (Steve Rogers/ Captain America) defeats the bad guy, and ends up with the girl. Its a plot that has been recycled infinitely, but then if it aint broke, why fix it?
Chris Evans, perhaps known best from playing another superhero, Johnny storm, in the Fantastic Four films, plays the title role. He is likable as the lead, playing his role of a chemically enhanced super-soldier very well, being much less cocky than his usual self, and portraying an altogether more vulnerable being.. He is supported by actors such as Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci and Hugo Weaving, who help to turn the Hollywood blockbuster from bland to altogether more bearable. All play their parts well, although perhaps the most interesting character in the film is English rose, Peggy Carter, played by Hayley Atwell. Unlike in other superhero films, Carter almost has a personality. She is no Mary Jane. She is, if anything, the opposite, showing passion and a command over men, as well a canny knack for fighting.
Set in WWII, the plot is, at times bordering on the ridiculous, with technology looking more 2040 than 1940, but then it is a superhero film, so to expect a believable story would be silly. Of course,in the end Captain America defeats the bad guy, and saves the world, and more importantly America from being obliterated. Chants of U-S-A would have not been altogether surprising.
Although awfully formulaic, and at some times butt-clenchingly cringeworthy, Captain America is a suprisingly enjoyable film for all ages. It is by no means groundbreaking, or a thought provoking piece of art.but it manages to remain engaging throughout, providing a popcorn movie that will be a summer hit.
***
Superhero films are becoming quite tedious. Okay, so the Batman and Spider-man franchises have produced some very good films, but there seems to be an array of others that have come along with big expectations, yet failed to deliver. Captain America could be seen as more of the same. It is predictable and unimaginative. The good guy (Steve Rogers/ Captain America) defeats the bad guy, and ends up with the girl. Its a plot that has been recycled infinitely, but then if it aint broke, why fix it?
Chris Evans, perhaps known best from playing another superhero, Johnny storm, in the Fantastic Four films, plays the title role. He is likable as the lead, playing his role of a chemically enhanced super-soldier very well, being much less cocky than his usual self, and portraying an altogether more vulnerable being.. He is supported by actors such as Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci and Hugo Weaving, who help to turn the Hollywood blockbuster from bland to altogether more bearable. All play their parts well, although perhaps the most interesting character in the film is English rose, Peggy Carter, played by Hayley Atwell. Unlike in other superhero films, Carter almost has a personality. She is no Mary Jane. She is, if anything, the opposite, showing passion and a command over men, as well a canny knack for fighting.
Set in WWII, the plot is, at times bordering on the ridiculous, with technology looking more 2040 than 1940, but then it is a superhero film, so to expect a believable story would be silly. Of course,in the end Captain America defeats the bad guy, and saves the world, and more importantly America from being obliterated. Chants of U-S-A would have not been altogether surprising.
Although awfully formulaic, and at some times butt-clenchingly cringeworthy, Captain America is a suprisingly enjoyable film for all ages. It is by no means groundbreaking, or a thought provoking piece of art.but it manages to remain engaging throughout, providing a popcorn movie that will be a summer hit.
***
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