Joey Barton Begins on Long Road Back from the Brink

For Joey Barton, last night’s game against West Brom was just a taste of what redemption might feel like. But for neutral fans around the country, it was a cause for more conflicting emotions.

Many casual fans believed that, after his criminal conviction earlier this year, Barton should have been hung out to dry by the footballing community. Even inside the game, many of those in power were more than prepared to turn their backs on the former Manchester City midfielder.

Yet, even in the face of a media maelstrom, Newcastle United stood by Barton—giving him yet another chance to actually make something of the great talent he evidently holds.

Last night, in his first start since emerging from prison and subsequently serving an FA ban for a separate indiscretion, Barton finally began to repay the faith and support the club had shown in him.

That he put in a man of the match performance was cause enough for celebration amongst the Newcastle fans, but the fact that he topped it off with a crucial penalty was even more encouraging.

At great cost to their public reputation, the club can now begin to look forward to seeing a return on the £5 million they paid for the player, back in June 2007.

"Obafemi Martins was supposed to be the penalty taker but Joey just grabbed the ball," said manager Joe Kinnear, after he saw his side move out of the bottom three with the win.

"He wasn't on penalties and he'd have been in trouble if he'd missed, but fair play to him, he's obviously a very confident lad. Joey's on fire in the dressing room now.

"He stuck it away well and he's trying to prove a point—all he wants is to play football and be given a chance."

The majority of Newcastle fans were already more than willing to give the 26-year-old a chance—watching Saturday’s game against Sunderland with the London branch of the Newcastle Supporters Group, the biggest cheer of the game was reserved for Barton’s late arrival—as they appreciate how valuable his steel and drive in midfield will be in getting them out of their current turmoil.

As far as they are concerned, if Barton’s presence is good for the team then that is good enough for them. And few would argue that it was a coincidence that Barton’s return coincided with some of the most stimulating football Newcastle have played for months.

After that sort of performance, few Toon fans will not want to see Barton on every subsequent team-sheet. The players will feel the same.

Further afield, however, Barton still has a lot of work to do. Few football fans will ever forgive his past indiscretions, and he can continue to expect abuse similar to that which he experienced at the Stadium of Light (where a coin was thrown at him) and at every away ground he visits.

Nevertheless, with the right guidance and support, the opportunity for redemption is certainly there. He might never be the most popular of players, but if he keeps his nose clean off the field (by no means a forgone conclusion) then his performances on the pitch can be his route to salvation.

The committed, all-action displays that Barton has so often exhibited in the past will always be popular with casual fans. Cutting out the snarling, abusive talk and cynical tackles that marred his return to the Premiership against Arsenal earlier this year (where Samir Nasri was on the receiving end) will also go a long way to improving his perception amongst the masses.

All in all, last night’s performance was the perfect blueprint for how Barton needs to play in order to atone for his previous misdemeanors.

For so long used to attempting to change people’s minds with his fists, finally it looks as though Barton might be beginning to try and change minds the way he should have been all along—with his feet.