Saturday must’ve been bittersweet for Joey Barton.
On the one hand, he was part of the Rangers team stuffed 5-1 by Celtic, but at least he witnessed his boyhood club thump their bitter rivals.
Of course, that’s a joke, and Barton made it clear before the Old Firm derby, or Celtic v Sevco, or whatever you choose to call the clash of the Glasgow clubs, that he never supported Celtic despite tweets from 2012 suggesting otherwise.
“I don’t think I’ve ever supported Celtic,” the Rangers midfielder told Four Four Two magazine.
“I’m a born-and-bred Evertonian, I’ve not met any true football fan who supports two teams.
Barton also said that Celtic captain Scott Brown is “nowhere near the level of player I am”, and that Brendan Rodgers is experiencing a “mid-life crisis.”
“I know the places he goes and the places I go probably differ with the tan and the teeth and that kind of thing,” the 34-year-old said about the Celtic manager.
The problem with making such statements, is that when things go wrong – like when you’re part of a team that loses 5-1 to your most bitter rivals, play poorly and end up filling in at centre-half – sympathy is in short supply.
Barton tweeted on Sunday morning for the first time since Rangers’ crushing defeat, and offered no excuses for the poor result or his own performance.
But Celtic fans couldn’t resist mocking the midfielder.
No excuses. Nowhere near good enough for our football club yesterday.
— 👑 Joey Barton 👑 (@Joey7Barton) September 11, 2016
@Joey7Barton fair play.did u have a ticket or did ye watch it in hoose?
— Dom1983 (@dommclaughlin83) September 11, 2016
@Joey7Barton but you were going to run this league? Hahahahahahahahaha
— Jack Le Maitre (@jacklemaitre) September 11, 2016
@Joey7Barton pic.twitter.com/A8sWgHGSiF
— Celticbhoy188867 (@celticsplnews) September 11, 2016
@Joey7Barton morning! I take it Scott Brown just released you from his back pocket just now has he?
— Dony™ (@AllanDonaldson) September 11, 2016
@Joey7Barton so we can take these down now then ???????? pic.twitter.com/ug38Nz1mHm
— tak1888 (@tak1888) September 11, 2016
@Joey7Barton Come and sign for sevco they said…..it’ll be fun they said ?????
— Good Cat (@cambyfreespirit) September 11, 2016
@Joey7Barton agent Barton return to base mission complete
— paul the tim (@paulthetim) September 11, 2016
@Joey7Barton some centre half by the way
— Craigy Craigy Whyte (@craigytomwhyte) September 11, 2016
@Joey7Barton Past it mate. Underestimated Scottish football and you’ve been found out. pic.twitter.com/7dnGgaU1hK
— Fidel Gastro (@Gastro_Haggis) September 11, 2016
@Gastro_Haggis @DBestseventy2 @Joey7Barton I don’t think he’s a bad player but he’s carrying a lot of passengers! #agentbarton ?
— ابن أندرو (@sonofandrews) September 11, 2016
@Joey7Barton in fairness I think Warburton should of brought you on. You deserved a run out in a big game after all your talk
— Brendan Rodgers (@Fenian_Rodgers) September 11, 2016
Don’t be so downhearted @Joey7Barton It’s only your club’s third game against Celtic, a massive club with a massive history#rangers #sevco
— Fact Check (@IrelandUncut) September 11, 2016
@EoinCarroll10 @Joey7Barton better of with joey the lips fagan#the committments
— Paul Donnelly (@donno1976) September 11, 2016
@Joey7Barton @CaolanDoherty pic.twitter.com/wAuxaXu8Pj
— Andy pingu (@andypingu67) September 11, 2016
You ok?@Joey7Barton
— Harry Galloway (@HarryGalloway4) September 11, 2016
@Joey7Barton we’re all lighting candles for you today Joey, head up. #prayforJosephAnthony
— StMiley (@StMiley) September 11, 2016
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