Joey Barton, known for his controversial remarks, didn’t hold back in his criticism of a Bristol Rovers player following their 2-0 loss to Peterborough.
Barton, the manager of Portsmouth, singled out winger Luke Thomas for his role in the second goal and called him an ‘idiotic young boy.’
He criticized Thomas for pressing too high and leaving his teammate exposed at the back, despite Thomas struggling with a hamstring injury.
Barton expressed his frustration, stating that Bristol Rovers wouldn’t achieve promotion in League One until he could remove what he described as ‘weak, feeble-minded individuals’ from his squad.
How #Pompey are likely to look tonight v Wycombehttps://t.co/ernEfV87Fl
— Pompey Live (@pompeylive) October 3, 2023
Luke Thomas was signed by Barton during the summer as a free transfer, having spent the previous season on loan at the Memorial Stadium.
Regarding the match, Barton mentioned that the first goal was a deflected shot that their goalkeeper had no chance of stopping. He emphasized the need for his team to become mentally stronger and make better decisions on the field. He was disappointed with Thomas’s decision to continue playing despite reporting a tight hamstring just before the match.
Thomas has made 12 appearances for Rovers in the current season, scoring twice and providing one assist. The Gas are currently 10 points behind the league leaders, but Barton believes they have the potential to perform better.
Barton was absent from his team’s season opener due to a three-match stadium ban following an incident after a previous match against Sheffield Wednesday. His previous remarks criticizing Pompey’s tactics and their former manager’s credentials had also stirred controversy.
Portsmouth is scheduled to face Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day.
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