we've dropped our arse with Barton (from various sources)... Joey Barton will be granted a stay of execution at Newcastle after a crisis meeting with the club chairman. Barton had been heading towards the exit door after at St James' Park after an X-rated challenge on Xabi Alonso angered Alan Shearer into admitting the midfielder had let the entire club down. Shearer reportedly became embroiled in a heated showdown with Barton, who told the Newcastle boss that he did not rate his tactics. However, a crunch meeting – arranged by chairman Derek Llambias – has seen a calming of the waves, with Barton revealing: “The meeting went fine. I can’t say too much.” Newcastle have decided that the three-week fine dished out to Barton, on top of the suspension, was fair punishment and they will now give him the chance to prove himself over the summer. Saturday’s news is unlikely to guarantee Barton’s stay at the club however, with Newcastle most likely putting on a show of unity in a bid to retain some of the midfielder’s value.
