Joey Barton took aim at the “Neville myth” following England’s exit from Euro 2016.
While he could just as easily criticised England’s inability to adequately pass the ball, the muddled ‘tactics’ of Roy Hodgson or the cinder block that Wayne Rooney calls a right foot, the new Rangers midfielder laid part of the blame for England’s loss to Iceland at the feet of Gary Neville.
Barton, in a series of tweets following the 2-1 defeat, cited Neville as an example of a culture that rewards reputation rather than ability, a culture that he seems to believe has cost the English team. He claimed the former Manchester United defender shouldn’t have been appointed England coach.
As far as Barton is concerned, there is no correlation between being a good player, or a good football pundit, and being an effective coach.
We get the sense Barton has been waiting for a while to get this off his chest.
Hodgson will get the bullet 100%. But Lewington and Gary Neville have also got to be binned. Think the Neville myth has exploded anyway!
— 👑 Joey Barton 👑 (@Joey7Barton) June 27, 2016
That's a WC as a coach, a Euro's and the Valencia job are huge myth exploding failures. Think a huge clear out is needed.
— 👑 Joey Barton 👑 (@Joey7Barton) June 27, 2016
Hire the best available if you are serious about winning. Encourage a coaching culture from grassroots level.
— 👑 Joey Barton 👑 (@Joey7Barton) June 27, 2016
Stop giving jobs to ex top players, they might have been great players but coaching is a totally different skill set, it requires expertise!
— 👑 Joey Barton 👑 (@Joey7Barton) June 27, 2016
An expertise that has to been learned by doing the time and apprenticeships away from the pressure and spotlight of big jobs.
— 👑 Joey Barton 👑 (@Joey7Barton) June 27, 2016
This culture of entitlement has to stop. Anyone can tell you what goes wrong afterwards on the tele/radio it requires very little skill.
— 👑 Joey Barton 👑 (@Joey7Barton) June 27, 2016
Media. It's a reaction industry. Being a great coach is about a proactive skill set. Seeing what will come before it happens.
— 👑 Joey Barton 👑 (@Joey7Barton) June 27, 2016
Most struggle with the ability to put themselves in other people's shoes. They see the world from their perspective.
— 👑 Joey Barton 👑 (@Joey7Barton) June 27, 2016
That is a huge hindrance in trying to be a great coach. The cultural aspect has to change. We won't be successful until it does.
— 👑 Joey Barton 👑 (@Joey7Barton) June 27, 2016
