SCOTT BROWN will keep his counsel about Joey Barton’s public taunting of him but will be ready to silence the talkative Englishman when they get to say hello to one another in the season’s first Old Firm game.
This is according to Mark Wilson, the former Celtic player, who has enjoyed the barbs from the new Rangers player, which came out over the weekend, as he believes it adds to the gaiety of Scottish football.
Has there ever before been a player from one of these clubs talk down the captain and manager, Barton also questioned the credentials of Brendan Rodgers, on the other side of Glasgow? Confidence is one thing. Blatant disrespect is something else.
Whether Brown will keep his mouth shut before the derby is debatable; however, given that he has 50 caps, 60 appearances in Europe and eleven major honours to his name compared to Barton who played for big-ish clubs but none which at his time were expected to win a trophy, it's fair to say the Scot has enjoyed a lot more tangible success.
Asked whether, as Barton stated, that he is in a different league to Brown, Wilson said: "Absolutely not. Scott has been playing at the top level for nearly 10 years. He’s played in the Champions League and 50 caps for Scotland. He’s played in World Cup qualifiers, Euro qualifiers. He’s up there. But Barton knows he’s the Celtic leader and is trying to wind him up.
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“It will be interesting when they come face to face on the pitch and let the football do the talking.
“Barton was a really good player at Manchester City but probably didn’t fulfil his potential, which was maybe down to the baggage he carried.
“I’m hearing he’s a bit of a reformed character now. He will probably think he could have done better but he’s more than good enough to do it in this league.
“If Scott had gone to England then I have no doubt he could have played at a high level. I know he got stick last season but he carried injuries.
“I don’t think Scott will react publicly because he doesn’t really say much in the press. But on the pitch, he’ll definitely have it on his mind in the first Old Firm game. Without a doubt.
“He’s played in games like that before against El Hadji Diouf when he was trying to wind him up and Broony dealt with that in the best possible way. I think Barton will be the same.
“It will be great. They are two quality midfielders who’ve got the attitude and the lines – in Joey Barton’s case – which spices the Scottish game up. I can’t wait for the first Old Firm game when they come face to face."
Wilson has seen for himself how some players come from down south thinking Scottish football will be an easy way for them to earn a crust. Only for the intense nature of being an Old Firm player turning out not to be to their liking.
Wilson said: "I’m a wee bit surprised Barton has been so outspoken before he’s played a game but he’s made a career out of his bad boy image. He’ll find it different with the intensity of the Old Firm environment. You could probably get away with it at Manchester City.
"He’ll be surprised at just how big Rangers and Celtic are in Scotland but nobody will tame him and it will be great for the media. It’s just confidence on his part and that’s what you want to hear as a Rangers fan. You want your marquee signing to be brash.
“The important thing is for him to back it up on the pitch. He’s a quality player and I would say he can back it up but how many guys have we seen come up from England and think they can walk this league?
“I played with loads at Celtic who thought it would be a walk in the park and they didn’t make an impact and hardly got played. Barton is slightly different - I think he’ll back it up. But there’s no chance he’s in a different league from Scott."
Barton is clearly at the wind-up, which is allowed, but he may have picked on the wrong guy.
“Broonie has dealt with players trying to wind him up for 10 years because he tries to wind other players up so he knows how to handle it,” said Wilson.
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