Bellamy the scapegoat
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:08 pm
I've read a very interesting article online from the Liverpool Echo, that suggest that Bellamy's name was leaked out by someone in the club to the press to divert attention from other players in the squad who broke certain club rules.
Bellamy is an easy target due to his reputation and it make sense. After all the main talking point of the whole fiasco in Portugal has been Bellamy and Riise. Not Jermaine Pennant,Robbie Fowler and Jerzy Dudek and others [6 players were fined in all for breach of club rules] for their behavior even though it was reported.
What really happened, we don't know as Rafa's statement didn't clear up anything. However it did let us know that things despite the reports are good in the locker-room chemistry wise.
It's fair to say that things have been exaggerated by the press and it isn't the first or the last time. We all know that far too well and recently when Keegan was England's manager, a story broke out that some members of the national team were getting drunk late at night and causing problems. Eventually that story was retracted by the paper that published it, but it's far too easy to make a storm in a tea cup these days.
And isn't it a bit suspicious considering that this happened days before our match with Barca? Is it not interesting how Barca were also supposedly having a bust up that was too blown out of proportion.
Is it not interesting that the following day both clubs released pictures of players hugging one another?
The fact remains that Bellamy was only fined 80,000 pounds which is two weeks worth of wages. Surely if it was more serious he would had gotten a heavier punishment? And how is that someone who gets attacked by a golf club suffers no bruising and no injuries and is fit for the match on Wed.?
Here's the article:
Reds fracas: Bellamy a 'scapegoat'
Feb 19 2007
Exclusive by Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo
Craig Bellamy(158)
LIVERPOOL'S under-fire striker Craig Bellamy may have been made a scapegoat for the Reds stars' Algarve rumpus.
Sources within the club suggest the 27-year-old Welsh international was exploited as an easy target to deflect blame from a large number of players involved in breaches of discipline.
Other players said to have been involved include Robbie Fowler, Jermaine Pennant and Jerzy Dudek.
Today the club was continuing an investigation into how details of the incident were leaked to the media amid concern Bellamy may be the victim of deliberate attempts to further damage his name.
Reds manager Rafa Benitez is understood to regard Bellamy as no more or less guilty than any of the players involved. Up to six players have now been fined by the manager, most for breaking curfew.
While Bellamy WAS involved in a dust-up with John Arne Riise, the ECHO has learned that it was far less serious than presented by Sunday newspapers.
Claims have been made that Bellamy repeatedly swung a golf club at the 26-year-old Norwegian’s legs, yet Riise is fit and likely to start Wednesday night’s game with Barcelona.
Bellamy is also likely to start, while all other fined players will at least be in the squad for the Champions League tie.
The pair clashed after Riise apparently refused to join in with a karaoke sing-song during the party last Thursday.
When they returned to the team’s hotel a brawl started with Bellamy attacking Riise with a golf club.
The squad, including Riise and Bellamy, were back in training yesterday at Melwood after the five-day break.
Manager Rafa Benitez said today: “I met with the entire first team squad yesterday morning and made it absolutely clear to all of them the responsibilities that come with playing for this club and the way they’re expected to conduct themselves both on and off the pitch.
“The players worked extremely hard at last week's training camp, but we’ll take disciplinary action and fine any of them who are found to have breached club rules.
“Despite reports to the contrary, the spirit among the lads is very good with everyone looking forward to the game against Barcelona on Wednesday.”
Punishment can take the form of a fine of up to two weeks’ wages.
Bellamy is an easy target due to his reputation and it make sense. After all the main talking point of the whole fiasco in Portugal has been Bellamy and Riise. Not Jermaine Pennant,Robbie Fowler and Jerzy Dudek and others [6 players were fined in all for breach of club rules] for their behavior even though it was reported.
What really happened, we don't know as Rafa's statement didn't clear up anything. However it did let us know that things despite the reports are good in the locker-room chemistry wise.
It's fair to say that things have been exaggerated by the press and it isn't the first or the last time. We all know that far too well and recently when Keegan was England's manager, a story broke out that some members of the national team were getting drunk late at night and causing problems. Eventually that story was retracted by the paper that published it, but it's far too easy to make a storm in a tea cup these days.
And isn't it a bit suspicious considering that this happened days before our match with Barca? Is it not interesting how Barca were also supposedly having a bust up that was too blown out of proportion.
Is it not interesting that the following day both clubs released pictures of players hugging one another?
The fact remains that Bellamy was only fined 80,000 pounds which is two weeks worth of wages. Surely if it was more serious he would had gotten a heavier punishment? And how is that someone who gets attacked by a golf club suffers no bruising and no injuries and is fit for the match on Wed.?
Here's the article:
Reds fracas: Bellamy a 'scapegoat'
Feb 19 2007
Exclusive by Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo
Craig Bellamy(158)
LIVERPOOL'S under-fire striker Craig Bellamy may have been made a scapegoat for the Reds stars' Algarve rumpus.
Sources within the club suggest the 27-year-old Welsh international was exploited as an easy target to deflect blame from a large number of players involved in breaches of discipline.
Other players said to have been involved include Robbie Fowler, Jermaine Pennant and Jerzy Dudek.
Today the club was continuing an investigation into how details of the incident were leaked to the media amid concern Bellamy may be the victim of deliberate attempts to further damage his name.
Reds manager Rafa Benitez is understood to regard Bellamy as no more or less guilty than any of the players involved. Up to six players have now been fined by the manager, most for breaking curfew.
While Bellamy WAS involved in a dust-up with John Arne Riise, the ECHO has learned that it was far less serious than presented by Sunday newspapers.
Claims have been made that Bellamy repeatedly swung a golf club at the 26-year-old Norwegian’s legs, yet Riise is fit and likely to start Wednesday night’s game with Barcelona.
Bellamy is also likely to start, while all other fined players will at least be in the squad for the Champions League tie.
The pair clashed after Riise apparently refused to join in with a karaoke sing-song during the party last Thursday.
When they returned to the team’s hotel a brawl started with Bellamy attacking Riise with a golf club.
The squad, including Riise and Bellamy, were back in training yesterday at Melwood after the five-day break.
Manager Rafa Benitez said today: “I met with the entire first team squad yesterday morning and made it absolutely clear to all of them the responsibilities that come with playing for this club and the way they’re expected to conduct themselves both on and off the pitch.
“The players worked extremely hard at last week's training camp, but we’ll take disciplinary action and fine any of them who are found to have breached club rules.
“Despite reports to the contrary, the spirit among the lads is very good with everyone looking forward to the game against Barcelona on Wednesday.”
Punishment can take the form of a fine of up to two weeks’ wages.