YOU pretty much know what your getting with Joey Barton and it came as no surprise as the former Man City, Newcastle, QPR and Burnley brought his brief but predictably eventful stint with Rangers to an end this week.
It was time for the Gers to wake up and smell the coffee, except they couldn't because Joey had legged it with the coffee machine from the first-team canteen after being escorted into Ibrox one last time to clear out his stuff.
Barton probably discovered his penchant for a nice hot cup of Joe while he was busy cultivating his faux French accent during his incongruous spell in the south of France with Marseille.
Generous Joey had bought the coffee machine for his team-mates earlier in the season, but things turned bitter very soon and after getting a roasting from manager Mark Warburton, Barton had real grounds for complaint. The club tried to keep the row under wraps, but eventually someone spilled the beans. Well he is always stirring up somebody.
A club source told the Daily Record: “A few weeks before his bust up with the manager Joey bought a coffee machine and had it put into the first team dining room. It was a gesture of good will.
“But after all the humiliation he was put through on Thursday he decided to take it back. It was clear at that moment that he would not be returning. The next day he was signed off with stress and he’s not been seen at the training ground since.”
Rangers have put Barton an espresso train back down south with former club Burnley and Aston Villa among possible destinations. There was cetainly know cries of 'Thanks a latte' from the Glasgow club. But whatever manager takes a chance on Joey, remember, just like too much coffee, he can keep you up all night.
BRADFORD City certainly got their money's worth from goalkeeper Colin Doyle recently. The Cork-born stopper was named to start for the Bantams' recent Checkatrade Trophy match with Bury, but played just three minutes before being substituted.
However, considering Bradford paid just a quid for Doyle to move from Blackpool in the summer, it seemed to be money well spent as he kept a clean sheet for the 180 seconds he was on the pitch.
Bradford were trying to get round EFL rules which dictated that five first-team players (in other words, players who had started the previous league match) should be selected for the Checkatrade trophy match
Speaking about the price tag, 31-year-old Doyle said “It was one of those clauses where they said, ‘If we get relegated, you can go on a free’. But because I had signed a two-year deal, the FA wouldn’t let me go on a free, so there had to be some sort of fee.
“We just said £1 and they agreed to it. I think they paid it, so I’m still waiting for my 10 per cent. I must chase that up.”
Don't bother Colin, you don’t get much in a 10p mix up these days.
