Ex-Premier League footballer defends Joey Barton and blasts ‘f*** do you know’

Former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has jumped to the defence of old pal Joey Barton.

Barton 41, has been heavily scrutinised this week after making disparaging comments about female football pundits on Twitter and during an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored. The ex-Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder – who was sacked by League One outfit Bristol Rovers in October – said he "cannot take a thing they say seriously" and compared women commenting on men's football to him talking about "knitting or netball."

Despite the wide-sweeping and prejudiced remarks, Barton insisted his opinions didn't amount to sexism. And although many clearly don't agree with that statement, former Queens Park Rangers team-mate Kenny was quick to stand up for his old colleague amid a sea of push-back.

READ MORE: Joey Barton says 'I'm no sexist' as he rants about female pundits and calls England boss 'Sandra'

READ MORE: Laura Woods 'ruins' Joey Barton with 'no testicles' reply to anti-women in football rants

The seven-time Republic of Ireland international replied to one social media user who labelled Barton an "average player" and "average manager," who held ideals that belonged in 1840. And Kenny was staunch in his rebuttal.

"Average player?? What the f*** do you know you helmet," raged the ex-Sheffield United veteran, who spent two years at Loftus Road, only the second of which overlapped with Barton's tenure. "Played with Joey and he was a top top player and for you to say that shows you know s***e about football."

Does Joey Barton's career as a footballer qualify him to comment on the sport? Let us know in the comments section below.

Kenny's comments appear to be in the same realm as Barton's belief that one has to have played at a certain level to fully comprehend the game. That would, however, contradict the work of many managers who thrived despite not playing at an elite standard, such as Jurgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho and Julian Nagelsmann, to name a few.

Many have been quick to ask the question as to whether Barton himself is as qualified as he suggests, with Opta pointing out he had more cards (84) than Premier League wins during his career. Others laughed off his former team-mate's involvement as one social media user wrote: "At least he’s got Paddy Kenny on his side."

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Barton – who managed Fleetwood Town for two-and-a-half years prior to his 20-month spell in Bristol – has also been dubbed a hypocrite in the wake of this week's backlash. A picture has recirculated showing the ex-hard man posed with a cut-out that reads "Her Game Too," helping to promote Bristol Rovers' women's players in an image that's aged terribly.

There are bound to be those who agree with Kenny that Barton – who was promoted from the Championship three times as a player – did enough during his career to be considered better than average. But then that's the beauty of opinions – everyone's allowed to have one.

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