Joey Barton ridicules Nedum Onuoha over claims he could have been a Premier League striker after his former Man City team-mate labelled his outspoken ex-team-mate a ‘bully’ after his tirades at female football pundits
Joey Barton has criticized former teammate Nedum Onuoha after he called the outspoken former footballer a “bully”.
In recent months, Barton has made a number of sexist remarks towards several former female players, pundits and commentators who play a major role in the coverage and analysis of men’s football.
Then last week, former City teammate Onuoha said the ex-Newcastle midfielder “lacks perspective” after telling stories from his career.
Now Barton returned fire after Onuoha – on Dirty guys podcast – revealed that he was a striker early in his career and compared himself to a former Premier League player.
When asked how he was as a striker compared to former top flight strikers, Onuoha replied: “I would say I consider myself at least as good as some people. Obviously you have your killers, the top brass, but some of them…
Joey Barton criticized former teammate Nedum Onuoha on his Common Sense podcast
Onuoha called former teammate Barton a “bully” after recalling an incident during their playing careers in a recent podcast.
“As crazy as it sounds, thank him, Gabby Agbonlahor, right? Gabby went through a period where he didn’t score in like 20 games or something like that.
“But he also holds the record for most Premier League goals for Villa. But he made it through and I remember thinking, “I can do this!”
Barton, who Onuoha later called a “bully” in the podcast, has since hit back and said the former QPR star is “not a threat”.
Barton in hisCommon senseThe podcast said: “There Nedum says he is a better center forward than Agbonlahor.” I’m not saying Agbonlahor was bloody Alan Shearer. But Agbonlahor was an unpleasant companion. He was a threat.
“Nedum Onuoha is not a threat as a striker. He has damn near no nerve endings from his kneecaps to his toenails. He doesn’t know how the hell to feel the ball on his feet.
“Look, he can defend himself like hell. Because he’s fast, he’s strong. If he gets to you, you’ll be caught in a web! Up to a certain level in the Premier League this can negate the winger position.
Onuoha said he compared himself to former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor.
However, Barton (right) stated that Onuoha was not a “threat” as a striker during his career.
Talking about the same In the podcast, Onuoha recalled his time at Manchester City with Barton and said:Players on the team like Sylvain Distin, Richard Dunn… they understood that even if you’re not ready yet, they hope you’re ready because there’s a reason you’re here. Joey was the complete opposite.
“He took the idea of fighting to keep his shirt literally. For me, one of the problems with him is that he lacks perspective. He can make a joke and he can’t take it.
“To begin with, it was a Christmas party, and Joey and I think his brothers were trying to set this guy’s suit on fire with a lighter.
“So (Jamie) Tandy starts doing it as a response, as a joke or something. But Joey didn’t like the joke, and then the cigar went out right in the child’s eye.”
In 2007, Barton was involved in a training ground brawl with Dabo, where the latter suffered a detached retina, and Barton was given a four-month suspended prison sentence for his involvement.
Barton recently recalled sticking a cigar in Jamie Tandy’s eye in 2004, but claimed his Manchester City teammate set fire to his shirt to provoke him.
Onuoha said: “Usman Dabo, one of the nicest guys I’ve ever played with, Joey kicked him every day in training.”
“When Joey decides that someone is fighting for his position, he will do anything. Kicks, talking, everything.
“And then one day Usman says: “No, now I’ve had enough.” So Usman threw him back. “That was the same day Joey knocked him out, grabbed him by the head and kept punching him.”
He continued: “There was a guy called Layton Slack and he came over to headbutt. Joey hit him six feet in the head. He’s a bully.