Joey Barton has provoked the wrath of the West Ham fanbase — and they’ve let him know exactly what they think after his latest controversial comments.
There is never a dull moment where Joey Barton or West Ham are concerned.
Now their two worlds have collided – although not for the first time – and it’s not ending well for Barton.
Controversy has followed Barton around like a bad smell throughout his career.
Nothing has changed since retirement with the man who came close to joining West Ham almost 10 years ago now a self-styled social media shock jock pundit.
After taking flak for telling newly-crowned Masters champion Rory McIlroy to ditch his caddie Harry Diamond, Barton turned his attentions towards West Ham this week.
And it may be a decision he is already seriously regretting.
For those who may have missed it, Barton has dug up the past by going in on West Ham and legend Mark Noble over his collapsed move to east London.
Barton picks on wrong club as West Ham fans unleash
Many Hammers fans were vehemently against Slaven Bilic’s plan to sign a 32-year-old Barton on a free transfer back in 2015.
There were social media protests against West Ham signing Barton, who had been released by QPR and had even completed a two-day medical with the club.
West Ham were gearing up for what would be one of the most memorable and emotional seasons in their history – the Farewell Boleyn campaign.
Supporters were concerned about signing a player with such a chequered history, on and off the pitch.
The move was cancelled and even Barton at the time declared there were ‘no hard feelings’.
Fast forward nearly 10 years and there certainly is now.
But Barton has picked on the wrong club as West Ham fans unleash and they’re all saying the same thing.
The former midfielder was taking questions on his Common Sense Pod With Joey Barton when a West Ham fan asked him how close he really came to joining the club a decade ago.
Joey Barton launched into an unprovoked attack on Hammers legend Mark Noble – now the club’s sporting director.
He not only accused Noble of scuppering the move but claimed to be the far superior player, referring to the former West Ham captain as a ‘soft lad’ he ‘eviscerated’ every time he played him.
Barton also claimed he did the same to another ex Hammers ace, Scott Parker, before posting a series of expletive-laden messages about Noble and goading West Ham fans.
Hammers fans saying the same thing to Barton after Noble attack
The Hammers faithful have rallied around their former skipper, though, swarming all over Barton’s posts in a bid to set him straight.
One West Ham fan responded to the post highlighting that ex Hammers boss Sam Allardyce – who had managed Barton – said his former club were right not to sign him.
“Ah yes an over the hill already on his decline 32 year old Joey Barton was going to come in at take the spot of 27 year old club captain Mark Noble on the season he was named captain it was definitely noble that hounded him out, nothing to do with the fans not wanting him,” the supporter said.
Another Hammer added that fan power was the reason Barton wasn’t signed – and said he was delusional to think he would take Noble’s place.
“Joey mate I can tell you exactly why you didn’t sign for West Ham… Us. The fans. We know a wrongen when we see one and as for taking Nobles place? Cuckoo land.”
A third West Ham fan accused Barton of being controversial for clicks, saying: “Geezers baiting for his podcast… he knows he wasn’t better or technically nowhere near as good as Noble.”
Fan account West Ham images stated: “We as a fan base were up in arms about you signing for us. No one here wanted you.”
Using a GIF of Noble laughing, another Hammers fan said Barton was rewriting history in his favour.
“The author is always the hero of their story. Noble was better on AND off the pitch.”
‘Just when I thought Noble couldn’t get any better’
One West Ham supporter then stated that Noble went on to have a season that eclipsed Barton’s entire career.
He said: “Noble had a better individual season in 2015-16 than your entire career in full. Let alone that season when you were in the champ.”
Another Hammer pointed out Barton hasn’t even got his story straight, saying: “1. No, you demonstrably were not better than Mark Noble, don’t be silly.
“2. It’s telling that you go to town in the “soft lad” and how you’d have replaced him etc, then admit it might not even have been him. All that vitriol and you’ve not even got your story straight. Classic.”
‘Barton not fit to lace Noble’s boots’
A West Ham fan said if the story is true then respect levels for Noble were even higher.
“Just when I thought Mark Noble couldn’t get any better. He saved West Ham from the disgrace.”
Another Hammer was one of dozens telling Barton he was not fit to lace Noble’s boots.
“Not one West Ham fan will mourn you not signing. A loyal club man who made 170 more appearances in the premier league than you. A man who has legendary status in east London. Not fit to lace his boots.”
And another pointed out that Barton inadvertently proved Noble was held in a much higher regard than he ever was at any of his clubs.
“Noble is such a “soft lad” that the club supposedly listened and valued his opinion on you.”
Final word to one honest West Ham fan who accepted that while Noble was not the greatest to grace the Premier League, he was still far superior to Barton.
“Joey… Mark isn’t the best player ever to play the game but I promise he is 10x the player you were.”
Interestingly fans of many of Barton’s former clubs – such as QPR and Newcastle – also jumped into the responses to state Noble was the better player.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
