Having squared up to Alan Shearer, calling him a terrible manager and a pr*ck and openly admitting to despising him, it's not surprising that Joey Barton hasn't always been a beloved figure at Newcastle. During the relegation season, the former Man City midfielder clashed with caretaker manager Alan Shearer and Ian Dowie after being sent off against Liverpool, and Shearer admitted it was a mistake to have returned him to the first team. He was suspended indefinitely by the club and looked to be on his way to Blackburn. But then, as beggars can't be choosers, Barton was returned to the first team in the Championship and though he was injured for most of the season, he played a big part in the first-team throughout the 2010-11 season, despite Shearer's angry criticism. Thanks to some all-action displays and a refusal to lie down, Barton won the fans back, but he ruffled a few too many feathers and found himself basically given away to QPR.
