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Andy Carroll has been on a rollercoaster ride this season and on Saturday night he received his first call up for the senior England squad. His off-field problems warrant no sympathy, a classic case of too much, too soon and, no matter how many goals he scores, unless he sorts his personal life out he will not fulfill his potential.

So how can Newcastle get their prize asset back on track? Perhaps some mentoring from a proper centre forward, the greatest footballer the city has ever produced and a gentleman to boot, Alan Shearer. No, that's not how things work in football; Carroll has been getting advice on how to control his emotions from none other than Joey Barton.

Seriously, you couldn't make it up. It's like Adolf Hitler taking anger management lessons from Hannibal Lecter! Barton missed Newcastle's home draw against Fulham yesterday after receiving a three match ban for his assault on Blackburn's Mort Gamst Pedersen.

A punch is a punch no matter where it lands and assault is assault no matter where it takes place. Barton displays the self control of an alcoholic at a beer festival yet time after time he is forgiven his sins because he can play football.

Where is the justice? Why was the punishment only the default three match ban? A late tackle is often deemed as violent conduct and is punished in the same way. There is a massive difference between a late tackle and throwing a punch, although the premeditated ones - like Roy Keane's on Alf Inge Haaland - are equally as sickening.

There is also the question of repetitive crime. If Barton was plying his trade in some Redneck Southern State in the good old US of A with a three strikes and you're out policy he would probably be sitting on death row! Yet still the club defend him, Chris Hughton said after the incident had come to light "he has worked so hard on his game this season ." Who cares? It's not his game that needs addressing, it's his personality disorder.

Serial offenders should be treated differently to other players. Barton has had enough chances and final warnings and could have been charged by either the FA or his club with bringing the game into disrepute and in the case of Newcastle United, tarnishing the club's reputation. Of course, if Newcastle were to sack him his lawyers would ensure that the club would have to pay him every penny of his contract and there would be a host of clubs ready to sign him on a free. That's footballing justice for you!

Wouldn't it be great if the club made a stance and said, "Let's go to an employment tribunal and see who really is the guilty party." Sadly, it'll never happen because football has gone absolutely bonkers. There are more and more people out there, normal supporters, who continue to love the game but loathe the industry.

Newcastle supporters are divided over Barton. Starved of success for decades there are some who quite frankly couldn't care less if the team had Colonel Gaddafi and Robert Mugabe in the centre of midfield as long as they brought some silverware to St James's Park. Others have higher standards and accept the club they love is no longer the force it once was but still want the players to be role models for their kids both on and off the park.

Newcastle have been traded as short as 3.6 to be relegated but due to their reasonable start they can now be backed at 12.0 to implode and end up back in the Championship next season. For some Geordies that would be preferable to seeing the good name of their football club being dragged through the mud.


By Frank Gregan

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