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‘We wouldn’t hire any of their players… we have a game of mortgages at stake, real men’s football’: Joey Barton spits out the standard of Crystal Palace’s U21s and admits ‘surprise’ after confronting Bristol Rovers
- Bristol Rovers defeated Crystal Palace under-21 in a friendly on Tuesday
- Joey Barton was far from impressed with what he saw from the opposition
- Rovers manager said they were an example of what is wrong with youth football
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Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has blown up the standard of Premier League 2 football after his side’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace under-21 on Tuesday.
It was a comfortable win for Barton’s men, but he was far from impressed with what he saw from the players on the opposition team.
“I thought they (Crystal Palace) were the problem in the modern game, an academy side that is miles away from producing people who can play in the league,” he said. “They’re so far away, let’s face it, so it kind of makes a mockery of what Premier League 2 is to me.
Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has blown up the standard of Premier League 2 football
“You hear me talk all the time about these big clubs that are signing players and which player for them today… We wouldn’t bring any of their players, we just wouldn’t, they are so far away. It’s a good opportunity for us to look at that because we like to tap into the credit market, but I was so surprised to see them.
“It’s easy for them because their games don’t matter. Their matches are irrelevant and nobody cares about them, but we have a good match on Saturday when there are mortgages at stake, real football, real men’s football.
“So to let a team of kids go out and leave late challenges to you is bizarre. The competition is about developing younger players.’
Barton was far from impressed with what he saw of the players on the opposition team