 TONGUES have been wagging since Joey Barton was linked with Everton last week and opinions are split as to whether he would be a good signing. A few years ago, if a player had a reputation similar to his, very few top clubs, if any, would go near him, but the shortage of available talent now means that is no longer the case. If someone like Barton is available, you really have to be interested. He is a terrific player and I think he would be a super signing if Everton could get hold of him, but I can fully understand why some supporters are apprehensive. When a player has a habit of attracting negative headlines, caution has to be the watchword. The only time I found myself in a position similar to David Moyes was when I wanted to sign Pat van den Hauwe. When he was at Birmingham, he was in a dressing room that was full of dubious characters and Ron Saunders, his then manager, had lots of trouble. But I had the feeling that if we could get Pat away from Birmingham and into a club that had plenty of top-class professionals, who wouldn’t stand any messing, we’d have a good chance of turning things around. There were times, of course, when he stepped out of line and there was one instance when he had disappeared for a couple of days, only to turn up on match day and ask Kevin Ratcliffe for a couple of complimentary tickets. Kevin, understandably, was not impressed and let Pat know that in uncertain terms. With this being a family newspaper, let’s just say one of the words he used was ‘off’ but that was typical of ‘Rats’ and he was someone who would not let you down. So if you look at Barton, I don’t think he’d go far wrong on Merseyside especially when he would be coming into a dressing room that houses exemplary professionals such as Alan Stubbs, Lee Carsley and Phil Neville. I honestly don’t think, though, that he would be anywhere near as much trouble as people are expecting – maybe some Liverpool fans felt the same before Craig Bellamy’s arrival? If Barton did come, Everton would be getting an outstanding footballer. | 
Article
HAVE your say on our Blues Messageboard - click 
