The thing about Barton is, at least he's honest. Given the banal shite that comes out footballers mouths these days at the behest of their clubs, he's at the very least a bloke who speaks his mind. He doesn't conform to fuck all, which in a way I kind of respect. Did he act the c*nt today? Yeah he did. Admitting that he tried to get a Man City player sent off with him was perhaps a tad tactless. But fuck me, it would be a tad "high horse-ish" of us to think that none of our players go in the dressing room at half time and say stuff like "see that fucker who put his studs down my shin, I'm gonna clump that c*nt in the 2nd half". Of course it goes on, it probably goes on in every dressing room. The only difference between Barton and the rest of todays footballers is that he doesn't give a fuck about publically admitting to partaking in dark practices of cynicism, which are (always have been and always will be) a part of football.
Barton overall, aint the worst bloke in football. And those of you knocking him are pretty quick to forget just how vociferous he was when he was doing his utmost for the petition relating to the government files and Hillsborough. Dare I say it, even more proactive than some currently associated with Liverpool FC. Give him a break. He's ok in my book to be honest