The bad boys of football - Part 2/3

Everyone loves a squeaky clean guy, but the ladies perpetually fall for the bad boy in the torn denim with an evil, glinting stud. Even in football, the players who take authority as a challenge are the ones who make the headlines. Being nice is essentially boring. So a gentlemanly Gennaro Gattuso wouldn’t even hold a candle to the ruffian that he becomes on the field. Here’s part two of the three part series of the top three bad boys in football today. Click here for Part-1 of this three part series

P.S. This is not an effort to glorify behavior which is frowned upon. So please do not try this at home.

Joey Barton

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 13: Carlos Tevez of Manchester City clashes with Joey Barton of QPR after being fouled during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers at the Etihad Stadium on May 13, 2012 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

A thinker? A Thug? Or simply an individual who challenges your belief that a thug and a thinker cannot possibly be the same person. Notorious for his antics on and off the field, Barton has lit many a fight up with his esteemed presence. A brother to a convict who was involved in a racially motivated murder, Barton doesn’t veer far from expressing what his thoughts are on any given situation. Not the best idol for your kid, but he/she certainly can pick up a couple of lessons from this bloke.

A surprise to many, his weapon of choice is the microblogging site twitter, where he has close to 2 million followers which is no mean feat. He lambasts everyone and everything, occasionally picking on Peirs Morgan, the famous presenter and talk show host who is an Arsenal fan.

The tenth best tackler in the Premiership today, according to Opta statistics, he is also the dirtiest player. His chargesheet includes 39 bookings and 3 red cards while at City, adding proof to his excessive aggressive approach. He has found critics in most places, and his attitude keeps him on the opposition’s toes. Even during last year’s final match of the English Premier League, Barton decided to lash out before getting sent off, rounding it off with another push. His career includes two charges of violence with a six months sentence. He was awarded another four months later after a training ground bust-up. With the Football Association, Barton has seen three suspensions, including one for punching Morten Gamst Pedersen.

Overall, Joey Barton is an industrious footballer whose work rate has found the appreciation of the public, but his occasional rant does more harm than good. He has also proven to be a thinker of sorts and his tweets are witness to the occasional gem. He personifies the working class with true grit and determination to add value to his upbringing, and only shows us why we must break our stereotypes of a media trained footballer. Barton doesn’t only draw your attention; he manages to hold it too. He may not be your friendly neighborhood football hero, but he is certainly a pitbull when he needs to be one.