Rangers midfielder Joey Barton believes he would be a better manager for England than current boss Sam Allardyce or Roy Hodgson. Barton was suspended by the Scottish club for three weeks yesterday, following a training ground row which occurred just after their humiliating 5-1 defeat to rivals Celtic in the Glasglow derby.
Known for his explosive nature, Barton has just received an international call-up once in his national career. Calling it unfair, the midfielder who is now undergoing his coaching qualification feels he would manage better than any of the two England bosses.
Big Sam, who signed the England man when he was still in charge of the Magpies, got the Three Lions job after a disastrous Euro 2016 tournament under Roy Hodgson.
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"Let's look at who is doing the key roles. Sam Allardyce is England manager. Well, am I a better player than Sam? Well, yeah, of course,” said the 34-year-old.
"Do I believe, if Sam can get to be England manager then I can? Of course, I do. What's Sam got that I haven't got? "I look at Roy Hodgson in the England job and look at the way he handled it. Surely even you think you could have done a better job.”
The outspoken midfielder also took the opportunity to blast former QPR manager and current Stoke City boss, Mark Hughes.
"Mark Hughes is a terrible manager. Stoke are bottom of the league. "I thought his people skills were really, really poor.”
"My trade is football. All I've ever known is football. I watch as much football as anybody. I care about football as much as anybody.”
"And I might fail. I could dip my toes in the water and go 'f**k this'. But the pressure? If anything I believe I'm better suited to it than anybody else. Do you think when I walk around Glasgow there is no glare?”
"Because of everything that has gone before, there is a spotlight on you. People are going to judge me now, just based on performances."
Barton also revealed how he was close to joining Liverpool in 2004 under manager Gerard Houllier. But the Reds sacked the Frenchman and replaced him with Rafa Benitez who brought Xabi Alonso to Anfield.
Sam Allardyce has managed more than 950 games in his 24 years as manager, while former England boss Roy Hodgson has been in charge of more than 1000 games with 15 clubs and 4 national teams. Barton, though, seems to believe he is better suited to the role despite not even having his coaching license.
