Joey Barton leaves Newcastle United and joins QPR on four-year deal

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Joey Barton has left Newcastle United and joined QPR on a four-year deal.

The 28-year-old was placed on the free transfer list by Newcastle earlier this month after criticizing the club via Twitter for its lack of ambition in the transfer market.

Alan Pardew had previously stated he intended to keep Barton at St James' Park despite the bust up, but hinted that the midfielder needed to 'buy into what the club are doing'.

But having completed his switch to Loftus Road, Barton has revealed the first impressions at the club were a factor in his decision, as well as the club's  ambition in the transfer market.
"The ambition of the club really impressed me," Barton told the club's official website. "There's obviously a great set of lads here already and that's why they had such a great season in the Championship. The gaffer [Warnock] is talking about adding two or three more bodies and that, combined with the potential of the Club and the new owners' ambitions, bodes really well for the future."
QPR boss Neil Warnock was delighted by the capture of Barton, his first signing since Tony Fernandes' takeover of the club last week, and has dismissed the midfielder's negative reputation as a result of his previous outbursts.
"We've got a very, very good player on our hands," said Warnock. "He's coming here to show people what he can do. He wants to get back into the England team. He's very enthusiastic. People will say one or two things about him, but they've said stuff about me in the past too, so I won't worry about that. He's a winner. Even without the armband on, he's a captain every week."
Warnock was also excited to see a player of Barton's caliber in his side.
"He's a lot better play than people give him credit for," he said. "Hopefully we can harness all his positive characteristics and get the best out of him. I think with Tony's backing and Amit coming back on board this is a really positive step for the football club."

Arsenal’s Alex Song & Gervinho given three-match bans by the FA for conduct against Newcastle United

The Gunners will appeal the length of the Ivory Coast winger’s ban after his straight red, whilst both clubs have been charged with failing to control their players during the game

Arsenal's Gervinho and Alex Song have been handed three-match bans by the FA for their conduct during Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle United. Gervinho, 24, was given a straight red card for slapping Magpies midfielder Joey Barton.

Barton was given a yellow card for his role in the melee, as he had initially dragged the Ivory Coast winger off the ground after an apparent dive from the Arsenal star.
Because he had been dealt with during the game, the controversial midfielder has escaped any punishment in the aftermath of the feisty encounter on the opening day of the Premier League season.
Song, however, has been charged with violent conduct and given a ban for stamping on Barton's leg, an incident the referee did not see at the time.
Arsenal have accepted the ban given to Song but will appeal against the severity of the suspension handed to former Lille winger Gervinho.
Because they are not contesting the ban itself they should avoid being handed an extra game on the player’s ban for a frivolous appeal.
Instead, the club will likely try and argue that Barton himself has admitted publicly that he overreacted to the slap to try and get the number of games the 24-year-old is out for reduced.
Both the Gunners and the Tyneside club also face charges by the FA for being unable to keep their players under control in the game, which carries a £25,000 fine.
Newcastle have denied the charge and their case will be heard by an FA disciplinary commission, while Arsenal are undecided on their course of action.