Oh dear, Lloyd, that puts me in something of a dilemna. Thanks, by the way, for your first contribution, but the last time we had some insider rumour like this published, it caused a bad reaction from those who doubted the veracity of the underlying story... so beware! The first tendency is to jerk the knee and fire off a round or three in the direction of the messenger... who in this case is you!

'Tis an intruiging story... but raises many questions: Do the sources know for sure they were discussing a potential transfer? And not merely dropping by as a courtesy, with some closeout items from the Megastore, plus a copy of James Corbett's Everton tome to wile away the small hours in his new (ahem!) "tight-knit community"?

Given the shortage of playing staff and shortage of cash, I can see some advantages: day-release to attend training and play in matches... he'd probably pay us for taking him on! And perhaps what he really needs for full rehabilitation into society is the strong hand and tough love of a proven man-manager like Moyes.

I?d have him for free or a million, if he fucks about get rid.

Probably only DM or ferguson could keep him under control.

In terms of drive and dare i say it "aggression" he?s got what we need, although he is a cunt.

If this is even remotely true, I will be utterly devastated and ashamed of our great club for even talking to a guy who is quite frankly, a complete lunatic. How he gets away with a suspended sentence, when he’s already serving time for a similar offence, is also beyond me! I assume that by pleading guilty he’s saved the taxpayer the cost of a trial etc...
I cannot even begin to understand why the Barcodes have not simply sacked him. I can only guess that they must be hoping for a transfer fee which no matter how small, they can offset against their initial outlay.
If it was me, I’d ban him from the professional game for life.
I’m all for giving people a second chance, especially when they show remorse but this guy has had more chances than most.
If he signs for us then I would expect a massive public outcry!

Where do these "facts" come from ? This one is almost libelous !! If there was even a serious consideration of taking him on I and I think many others would say enough is enough and GOODBYE for ever.....

Everton to employ filth?

No. This is metacrap.

Also I know he didn’t do it, but his brother killed Anthony Walker. It’s just the whole horrible family isn’t it. Christ they make the Rooney’s look like The Walton’s

Don’t worry Lloyd they were probably just checking out the rest of the Walton select XI as we need a hardman for midfield & Blue Bills been told we could have some cheap on day release. I have some ’insider’ info’ that the only stumbling block is that they’d have to play Dayglow orange,Black & white strips or black arrows over white. I beleive Bully beef is onto JJB as we speak.
Watch what you say about Joey, He’s out in a week fella !

If he comes to my Everton then I?ll cut my nose off to spite my face and return my season ticket. There are still things more important than football. And integrity is one of them.

But even Everton will not stoop that low?

I hope we are above even contemplating a move for Barton, the man is a complete nutter. Can we not just deport him to Aussie like in the good old days?

That seems like a fair trade Roy, we get Cahill and the Aussies get Barton!!!!!!!!

We could rant on for ever about Barton and his character or the lack of it, but I am not sure that Toffeeweb is the forum for that sort of discussion. Bottom line about Barton, regardless of his out of hours activities, he is simply not a good enough player to be a part of an Everton team shooting for a top 4 spot. Barton?s not disciplined enough to be a defensive midfield player like Carsley & going forwards he is a poor imitation of Gravesen. If Moyes even so much as thinks about signing Barton, I will eat my keyboard!

@ Ste Kenny..... I have to confess Ste, I laughed out loud at how you used the slang for the fairer sex’s genitalia to describe Joey Barton. The reason for this is due to a little gem of a story told to me my Melvyn Duffy - who used to play guitar for (amongst others) Robbie Williams. I thought I’d share it with my fellow Toffees - if only to lighten the mood a little and also to reveal why I can never be offended by this particular word! As with many musicians Melvyn has had his ups and downs and related this story to me on a tour bus, how between music jobs - he often made ends meet by doing some labouring work on a building site. This particular job was at a country estate - very much English Gentry - where the building company, foreman et al, had strict codes of conduct to work under - rigorously enforced by the owners/clients, if anybody erred out of place! Most of the rules were reasonably common sense, to respect the property, only use a certain outdoor loo, definitely don’t interfere or damage the immaculately coiffured lawns, hedges etc. However the absolute ?No no? was there couldn’t be any swearing whatever. The lady of the manor was a God-fearing Christian of pious background and the understanding, almost apologetic husband was convinced any such blasphemy would send her into apoplexy! Of course this created an incredible amount of stress for the foreman who reiterated every single day that any form of swearing on the job would mean instant dismissal, Melvyn told me how the foreman would completely panic when any of the clients would come out to inspect the work ? which was often. I?m not sure about you, but hardly a day goes by when I don?t swear about something ? I can only imagine the duress inflicted on the poor guy trying to manage a bunch of labourers on a building site! Melvyn proceeded to relate how many workers came and went on the job (naturally) whilst the foreman visibly grew older in front of them all with the stress! Anyway the job was nearing completion and all was going well, the clients were happy not only with the standard of work but by the behaviour of all concerned. Then Melvyn told me the sub-plot of how a very gentle giant (called Paddy, who was perhaps not the brightest) had somewhat adopted Melvyn and shown him the ropes (at this point I should point out that I?m half Irish, as is Melvyn, so this is certainly not meant to antagonise anybody from the Emerald Isle). Melvyn went on to say how this guy was really respectful and well meaning but had struggled from day one with controlling his swearing. In fact he had been only one of a few who had been allowed to carry on after letting the odd swear word out ? as the foreman realised he was basically a very decent guy, though a little slow. [Cue: punch line - eventually]??. Anyway one day the Lady of the manor came out to complain that a lorry had reversed over a couple of roses at the end of a flower bed ? she wasn?t too angry ? but wanted to express her disappointment to somebody? Sure enough there was Paddy (with Melvyn standing next to him), so she walked over to him and proceeded to flex her lexicon with plummy tones to our erstwhile worker. Melvyn describes how (like a rabbit in headlights) Paddy looked mortified, struggling to find an appropriate response ? mindful of the foreman?s warnings and desperately wrestling to respond correctly. Melvyn describes how he saw Paddy?s face relax and drain of tension as the most respectful, apologetic, proper and fitting reply came to him ? one truly worthy of aristocracy. Paddy stood up straight, bowed his head and tugged at his forelock. Adopting his best noble tones, he looked her straight in the eye and retorted (truly believing this to be a gracious and well mannered response) ?I?m terribly sorry Madam..... that?s absolutely cuntish?!!!!!!!!

If you?ve managed to read this far ? you?re probably thinking WTF has this got to do with football? The answer is bugger all! But then half the posts on TW at the moment seem like they?re the consequence of heavy narcotic or alcoholic abuse ? so I?d argue this has as much place as anything in this silly season time of year? Personally I can?t wait for some real news as reading speculative and inaccurate rantings are just sooooooo boring.

On a footy-related issue I?m going to Willy Sagnol?s wedding on Saturday ? now he?s a decent right back ? and wants a move away from Bayern Munich!!!! ;-)

What a load of shit. To cut a long thread short, Barton is a twat, always will be and will NEVER don an Everton shirt. Look at his history FFS.

@ Peter Stone

Fair enough but would you have Barton or not?

I like the way a lot of people on here say "I'm all for second chances but........." This clearly means you're not for second chances, it?s not a problem just say so.

Big Dunc is my all time greatest Everton player (I'm 24) and to most of my mates he is our hero. I'm sure not everyone feels the same but a lot of people will, but is he any better than Joey Barton?

I don’t believe for one second that we would consider taking him on after his recent convictions for assault but I did have it on good authority that DM met him last summer to discuss a move to us but we couldn’t match Newcastle’s £50k a week - thank god!

I agree with you Lloyd. I think the worst thing is to agree to do a job and then leave your employers in the lurch... right?

@Ste Kenny--Good point about Ferguson. Would also like to ask if others would have taken players such as Roy Keane or Tino Asprilla ?

It wasn’t long ago that Barton was Man City captain and destined for the England team. Obviously he has self destructed though has the potential to be a very good player.

For a cheap fee it would be a good bit of business with a clause in the contract stating he would be fired with no compensation in any further trouble ensued.

If I thought he had the talent and drive to become a star player I wouldn’t mind him coming to us. But I’m not sure he would be more than a good squad player and to take on a squad player with the risk of unsettling our team while our team spirit is one of our strengths...

Let’s put it this way: if Cristiano Ronaldo behaved the same way as Barton I’d still like him here. You need to have something special to get away with it.

My Nan was on Jury service last month a Liverpool Crown Court and people were saying that there was a case regarding one of Joey?s family members. The jurors from the City refused to sit on this case in fear of redemption by the rest of the family.

Says alot about them all really.

No way should Barton be at Everton.

"The jurors from the City refused to sit on this case in fear of redemption by the rest of the family"...??? What are they? A bunch of mad evangelists or something???

The way Barton laid into that lad after he?d gone done, something?s not right there. cannot be condoned. When he gets out, you?d imagine he?d have to attend anger management and psychologists and all that, any contract would have to have very strict and probably unacceptable (to him) conditions and instant termination clauses. Really not worth the disruption!

BTW, nice story Peter Stone!

As a previous poster has already said, it was not so long ago that Barton was on the verge of an England breakthrough. The talent he has could be developed but he needs somebody strong to keep him in line (Dunc for a minder?). I have heard this week that Megson is trying to get him to Bolton on a season long loan so perhaps that’s what the EFC contingent have in mind too.

LOL.

What makes you think us Aussies want him.

I’ll move country then.. lol

Whats with all this Big Dunc as a minder etc ?
Anyone who has met the lad will tell you that off the pitch he was one of the nicest, curtious people you would like to meet.
Yes, he had his breaking point. But a thug he was and is not.
Barton is at best an animal. If he comes to us then like a lot of people.
I will not go anywhere near a match while he wears the blue shirt.

"2nd chance"? I?m all for giving someone a 2nd chance but this would be Barton?s 7th or 8th wouldn?t it?

Off the top of my head he?s been in court 3 times this year alone, 2 for assault and 1 for damaging a taxi. Then there was the incident some years back where he stubbed his cigar out in someone?s eye, and the time when he got into a bar fight with Richard Dunne over comments he made to 15yr old Evertonian (well in Dunney). That?s not to mention pulling his shorts down and showing his arse to the Park End.

Not only should Everton never ever sign this little arrogant, overrated shit, but everyone else in football should should follow suit. Or has football finally sold all its morals?

Paul ; Re your last line.
This happened when Sky got involved.

4 worst sportsmen to spend a night out with:
1) Joey Barton
2) Andy Murrey
3) Mark Lawrence
4) Lawrence Dallaglio.

I give Joey 1 pint before he’s put Murrey in hospital.

We can’t sign that piece of shit.

Dave, how you doing?

We should never take Barton, there’s more chance of Andy VDM to getting fit/head right/stopping drinking.

Re Peter Stone: when anyone calls me either a cunt or a twat, I simply reply "You are what you eat". Shuts ’em up.

Or in her ladyship’s case, ’One is what one eats’.

I’m good Kieth.
Good to hear from you.

A story done the rounds a couple of weeks ago in the media that Barton was in fact beginning his rehabilitation (ahem) in an open prison down sarf, so I find it hard to believe that he was seen in Walton nick.

With our record of transfer fuck-ups, we won’t get Barton but WILL end up giving a seven year contract to the fat scrubber who was throwing the chips.

@ Keith Harrison : That, mate.... is pure genius!! :-D
To everyone else, sorry if I bored the arse out of you with that story - but really, come on, can anybody really see Moysey desperate enough to take Barton on? I don’t want to knock Lloyd on his first contribution, but I just get fed up with reading posts where the vaguest rumour gets extrapolated into a full-blown story about us signing someone - especially when underpinned with the classic inside information/"reliable source" teaser.
@ Ste Kenny - fella, there’s more chance of me licking piss off a stinging nettle than endorsing EFC employing Barton!
@ Pete Bridson - cheers - it’s better heard in the flesh than read though!

"The jurors from the City refused to sit on this case in fear of redemption by the rest of the family."

God does indeed move in mysterious ways!! Redemption delivered by the Barton clan.....

Since when was a player's capacity to do a job for Everton based on their character?

I wouldn?t want him here solely on the basis that he?s a bloody average footballer!

Went to see him in Walton eh?

Well it can’t be that scumbag Barton they went to see cos he’s in Strangeways!!!

He’s in Walton, hes not good enough & thats the reason he’s not coming to Everton.

3 facts right there for ya.

I’d love Barton to be locked in a room with Duncan for a good 20 minutes to teach the little weasel a lesson.

I for one, was very much in favour of us signing the "poor man’s Gerrard" last summer but how wrong I was.

Undoubtedly his is a good footballer, has good abillity and is hard in the tackle.

Unfortunately, the lad is a scumbag and has no respect for himself or seemingly any of the managers, chairmen, players or fans that he has played for. Absolute hot head who despite announcing to the world on an almost monthly basis that he is "a changed man", will go through his entire life bouncing in and out of trouble because he simply cannot control his temper.

Barton cant be compared to big Dunc, Dunc never repeatedly hit anybody - mind you that could have a lot to do with the fact that one strike normally did the trick for him

Keegan went as a character witness when Barton was sent to Jail, he said he would never have done this a few years ago, but he believes Barton is really trying to get his act together
These crimes were commited prior to this effort, the guy will have served his time, he should be given one last chance, if he fucks up again . . . .

Afternoon fellow Evertonians ?
Michael Kenrick, Ste Kenny, Roy Masey, Jimmy Mac, Mike McLean, Marc Williams, Frank Duffy, Roy Coyne, Alex Baker, Colin Smith, Peter Stone, Matt Bone, Steve Templeton, Daniel Job, Mark Cassin, Erik Dols, Adam Cunliffe, Pete Bridson, Monty Carlo, Mike Coates, Dave Lynch, Paul OHanlon, Mike Smith?

Many thanks for your comments & replies, if I missed anyone off, I do apologise
?Courting the Walton Select XI was of the better ones? Cheers Mr. Duffy

The source comes from my father?s brother, who is in fact, 2nd in command at the aforementioned ?Tight Knit Community? so the source is in fact, reliable?.

(Michael Kenrick) I can understand the point that some of our family WOULD give him ago? What to be proven wrong, 2nd chances hurt twice as much? JB has talent, Agreed but that talent seems to be with his fists?. Not his feet or footballing intelligence

As I said, He wouldn?t be welcome at our club by me, and this is MY opinion (only).

We have a great team at the moment, the strongest for some time under our DM ? and I can?t wait for the season to get started?.. To see what little gems DM will pull out of his hat?

Come on Davey Moyes?..show us what we already know you can do?..

Lloyd - apologies accepted.

My concern with your last statement is literally that Davey pulls little gems out of the hat, when we know that this close season we need big brick shithouse gems to protect our little gem over-laden team.

Leighton Baines will have a heart attack if he reads you are advocating signing yet more midgets.

Come on Davey, lets have some HUGE gems to complement the quick feet of Mikky, Leon and Peanuts et al, and finally give Leighton the chance to prove he is an excellent footballer.

Appreciate what you’re saying about Barton, Lloyd, and your credentials seem impeccable, but I feel (and sincerely hope) some misinfo has been relayed to your uncle along the way.

Welcome to the world of posting on Toffeeweb where brickbats and bouquets are handed out in equal measure, unless a tenuous link to DK appears, and then feathers really start to fly.

I would be utterly ashamed of the club if this vicious thug was brought in. Let’s keep our standards reasonably high.

a load of cobbles in the end.

If we sorted out the uncertainty about Moyes and the transfer funds - we wouldnt even be reading nor contributing to this post.

Sorry for the psudenum but you?ll realise why.

As Mr J Barton esq is NOT located at HMP Liverpool, I can safely say that this is total bullshit.

"This information comes from a source inside & a very respectable source within the Prison Services? " Someone is pulling your plonker Lloyd, he is miles away from the big house and has been for weeks.

.... & that my Lord concludes the case for the defense etc......
& hopefully this post.