I agree that one's personal faith should override career matters. No argument there. AESF though, raises a more fundamental (no pun intended) point, in respect of the interaction of Moslem stricture with liberal Western tradition inherited from the Enlightenment, or at least what's left of it in the UK. From the semi-voluntary conspiracy to curtail freedom of expression since the Salman Rushdie affair, cemented by the Danish cartoons debacle; the sordid collusion with Islamic reactionaries from Lockerbie to Afghanistan to the squalid tolerance of polygamy and Sharia law in British inner cities; the civic denial of Christian based faith festivals, our governing elite have met threats of Islamist violence or Moslem recalcitrance with appeasement and denial - rather than challenging it for what it truly is; a strategic menace to our Western values of tolerance and liberty. Mourinho is a brave man for speaking his mind on this issue. If he had he done so in the UK, he would no doubt be facing a barrage of media and political criticism demanding that he either recant or resign. Like the adoption of Sharia law, the publicly funded tolerance of polygamy and the civic disappearance of our Judeo-Christian heritage, it is only a matter of time before the FA are forced to consider demands from self-serving Moslem and human rights groups for a hiatus in the football season, so that Mohammedan footballers are not prejudiced by their obligation to publicly submit to the fasting requirements of their chosen faith.

As previously stated; Newcastle were perfectly entitled to shred Barton's contract the moment he was convicted. The chose not to. They are now bleating about (a) because they realise they made a bad bargain - buyer beware I say and ( they're desperately trying to cut the wage bill - why else flog the their talisman and one of the best GK's in England mid-season and sign a journeyman like Peter Lowenkrands? © Mike Ashley has absolutely no class whatsoever. Any employment contract worth the candle contain such clauses regarding criminal offences and other such behaviour. For a comparison, see how Chelsea behave by terminating Mutu's contract after his flagrant drug abuse and then pursued him to recoup the transfer money outlayed in court. Newcastle simply have handled the matter like rank amateurs.

Don't waste your energy Hughesy. The usual suspects (joined by some unusual ones) have whipped themselves up in to a frenzy of indignation about the latest media w*nk. You'll just have to wait until the smelling salts begin to take effect and they've calmed down a bit.

Apparently Barton's agent, is Willie McKay. Nicko and McKay are big mates by all accounts. Perhaps Nicko might care to share some of the inside information on the latest events up in Tyneside?

Bryan, Newcastle had the opportunity to fire Barton for gross misconduct when he was sent to prison, but declined and chose to reaffirm the contract. That time has lapsed. Regarding gross misconduct at Liverpool. By all accounts Barton reacted in kind to a public reprimand from his boss and both he and Shearer were apparently squaring up to one another. If Newcastle were to fire him, I'd wager Barton would have good grounds for wrongful dismissal. If Newcastle wish to rely on the rules of employment or contract law, they must themselves abide by them. As for the red card; if Newcastle claim that's grounds for dismissal, good luck to them! Alan Smith was a couple of inches away from a far more reckless challenge in the first half abd they shouldn't be surprised to see their players pulling out of tackles and a taking risk avoidance measures (I.E. preserving their employment staus) for the remaining 3 games.

Jimmy Case. Who can ever forget that challenge on Andy King? The tumult of heaven rushed to mmet the earth. 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever'

And I should add; Killer Keeley was released by Newcastle as a red card liability, signed up by us on the cheap and (as is well chronicled locally), was not averse to the odd car park fracas. He and Faz were consistently the best centre-half pairing outside the top division for the best part of a decade. No one's too young for a t****ing.

Well said. Some folk fail to see that you cannot overcome animosity by feeling guilty or by constantly trying to please. I wonder how many of the main complainants used to watch football before Sky and the broadsheets suddenly realised it existed? Not many judging by the tone of most of the recent posts.... "...If Allardyce/Diouf/Barton (delete as appropriate) comes here it will be the last time I set foot in Ewood...there will be a boycott etc...Yours Sincerely, Mr. Permanently Outraged from Loserville, Suffolk (on behalf of all permanently outraged football fans)..." The premise is laughable. Rovers are not liked by the media and never will be, no matter who we sign. Stop trying to be loved and get over it. Who cares what other fans think of us? Who gives a rats a*** that the press and media hold us in utter disdain because we don't shift newspapers and we don't attract decent viewing figures? Too many of you by the looks of it! We appoint the first black British Premier League manager and draw unprecedented accusations of racism. None of those sports writers would have dared attack one of the so-called bigger clubs in the manner which they did us. I assume most complainants would have never seen Glen Keeley in action. He was big, ugly and brutal. In a Rovers shirt however - as his elbow swivelled to almost decapitate his opponent or defying gravity to literally launch himself at the ball, flying horizontally in mid-air before before landing on both ball and strikers knee - he was truly majestic. So Joey Barton slapped a teenager and some gobby posturing French non-entity who apparently squared up to him...gosh! I can think of plenty teenagers in the town that would benefit from being slapped and of several players in our current squad who might benefit from a training ground rumble, just to shake them out of their complacency. This isn't some sort of government sponsored 'progressive enterprise' insisting on the secularists Holy Trinity of Diversity, Inclusion and Equality before releasing further funds. It's about winning. Nothing else. The club should be bold, not show any sign of weakness as it simply provokes futher resentment and emboldens the snipers. Rovers should hire people who will win us football matches, not pander to a bunch of vapidly fashionable, self-serving posters lining up to to congratulate themselves on being so morally superior.

Far be it for me to question such an authority as the main cheerleader of the Tony Adams School of management - but whilst there are reasonable arguments being put forward why Rovers shouldn't sign the cloven hoofed one; this isn't one of them. Joey Barton did not get Sam Allardyce the sack. Sam Allardyce was fired because he was appointed by Freddie Shepherd's ancien régime. His persona suited neither the corporate image of Sports Direct nor the style of football to which the Toon faithful were accustomed and demanded(losing mainly). Kevin Keegan chose to keep Barton long after Sam had been shown the door. There was no pressure for him to sell from the fans apparently. Keegan made a footballing decision and the same board that fired Allardyce was obviously happy to acquiesce to that decision. Joe Kinnear's subsequent (truncated) incumbency was further marked by a reluctance to sell Barton. The decision to sign Barton was way down the list of reasons why those self-deluded zealots of the Geordie Nation wanted BFS out: David Rozenhal, Geremi and the hornless rhino that is Mark Viduka are just three other good reasons. As soon as the crowd started to vent its frustration, the writing was on the wall for Sam. The decision thereafter to axe Allardyce was an easy one for a populist like Ashley. His subsequent appointments say it all: 2 Geordie Messiahs and arch henchman of the Cockney mafia.

Oh oh, I sense a facebook petition coming on... People said the same when 'arry signed Di Canio and he did alright. Faced with a choice of playing it safe and buying cheap, worthy losers of the likes of Keith Andrews or taking a risk with a discount, damaged goods talented nutter of the likes of Barton, I'd go for the latter. All Sam has to do is get Blackburn Mags to slap a restraining order on him from going within 50 metres of MacDonalds or Xabi Alonso and hide the cigars. Sorted.

With Smith, Barton and Butt in midfield, there's always going to be feisty two-footed lunges. Sad to see Nicky Butt's become such an irrelevance that refs don't even bother booking him anymore.

Great post as usual AESF, but on this occassion I beg to differ. In a minority of one and it won't happen, but I would be happy to see JB playing midfield in a Rovers shirt next season. He's far and away better than anyone we've got. Having sold our soul already for Premiership survival, we might as well go the whole hog and sign the cloven hoofed one. Talking of which, with darkness about to descend, Colin's probably preparing his ritual response already. Don't forget the garlic.

Perhaps we can have a post of the month award?

Sorry to be slightly off topic. On a similar theme however, the bias against Rovers referred to by Darth Paul seems to replicate itself on the local BBC Radio Lancs. It's as if they feel they have to over compensate for the fact that we over shadow our neighbours in relative terms of success and therfore feel they are obligated to give more coverage to our rivals. I also notice a bias generally toward PNE, over and above any shown toward both Rovers and BFC.

'Whore' is a fair way of putting it in writing; but I hope of it would be verbalised as 'hoo-er' in the proper patois...