So you don’t accept that they dealt with poor behaviour in the same way? I.e. played them without hesitation in the next game. Well that’s just denial. You have clearly spent too much time on the Sunderland board. You’re developing similar abilities to deny the undeniable
Genuine point though regarding Gareth Barry. Around 7 years ago the journalist Giles Coren revealed that Barry had one, or many, extra-marital affairs but that no-one was allowed to talk about it due to an injunction. He was then threatened with jail time if he didn't delete his stories (and tweets) which he reluctantly did but it's a well known matter in journalistic circles that Barry is not only not squeaky clean but that he is highly litigious! Still though, as regards football matters he's had little of issue to compare him with the likes of "court case pending" Bellamy.
Classic quote on BBC website "Just as well Sturridge didn't join the WBA 4, or they might have stolen an ambulance"
Extremely good trainer was Bellamy. Could be a bit whingey but a good pro generally. Golf clubs aside. Then again Shearer levelled Gillespie outside a bar in Dublin for working his ticket. He also kicked Neil Lennon in the head and threatened the FA into getting off with it. He was considered a good pro despite the assaults. Nile Ranger wasn’t a good pro. I’m not a fan of hypocrisy is all. I don’t mind how Rafa dealt with Bellamy, nor Sir Bobby. It just doesn’t sit right to then use a similarly unprofessional act dealt with in the exact same way as some sort of stick to hit Pardew with. Just because it suits some warped conspiracy and vendetta against Ashley, Pardew and the rest of the “cockney mafia” our fans like to portray them as. It makes the fans look a bit thick. Then pretend it’s somehow different because the RHC don’t like how it’s making their messiah look. I mean if people thinks it’s despicable to play the guilty parties in the next game, at least the courage of your conviction and condemn Rafa and Sir Bobby too.
I sense a lot of this argument isn't levelled at me, or even this conversation. However, what I see both Bobby and Rafa as doing is taking a risk on their own reputation within both the group and the media. If it doesn't work for Pardew, it is a foolish risk on his part.
When they go down I’ll miss those massive sheesh kebabs at the vine on away days. Plus the takeover of the cricket clubhouse. Decent fans the baggies.
Think there is a big difference between what Bellamy did and what the WBA four got up to. Bellamy and another player had a set to. Sort it out internally and move on. (as Rafa did). The WBA four broke a curfew imposed by their manager and committed a criminal offence. Presumably Pardew thought he needed them for the cup to bring a bit of cheer to the fans and possibly keep him in a job. Backfired on him though and he now looks weak and indecisve. He has actually Pardewed WBA here.
Assaulting someone with a golf club is a criminal offence. Riise could easily have pressed charges. There really is no difference in how managers have dealt with the situation or the severity of the offence. If anything Bellamys is worse because someone was actually injured and ended up with a Srixon sized lump on their back. Also it was an act which actually involved actively being decisive among teammates. The only difference is Bellamy was good enough to pay his manager back.
I would say the WBA offence was much worse. Bellamy just used 7-iron while the WBA four used (and abused) a Driver.
Quick one for you. Did anyone outside of LFC know about the golf club incident at the time? Or did it come out much later? Seems to me the critical issue is the WBA incident was in the public eye immediately, which is entirely different from your points. There is likely incidents happening daily but if none get out then the club can deal with them as they see fit. The other difference is the manager immediately got the best out of the player as shown in results. Pardew lost. Again.
Straw clutching stuff. It was in the News of the World before the Barca game - it was public knowledge straight away. On the same camp I think 3 others were arrested for drunken antics. Sure the police announced at the time. I think it was Fowler, Pennant and one other. Pennant played in the game against Barca too off the bench. All these incidents are public eventually anyway and covering up is hardly a moral gold star for the ones that don't make the press immediately. Rafa knew about them all. I think Bellamy even celebrated with a golf swing... As I say I don't have a problem with Rafa and Bobby handling these things exactly the same way as Pardew. The try to use these things to their advantage and are incredibly ruthless/selfish. Sometimes it comes off like Bellamy against Barca. Other times it doesn't. I can give you examples where Rafa has played players after an incident and the it hasn't resulted in a good result. Like Gerrard after the DJ incident. They didn't win for 3 games after as he continued to pick Gerrard. The theme is simple, the likes of Bellamy, Gerrard, Barry, Evans are senior pros and important players. Managers just get on with it and make football decisions because their success depends on it. So really on both counts, your argument is flawed
Free-dor is correct. Players fighting and messing amongst themselves on a camp is exactly the same as theft of the livelihood of a member of the public, forcing their hand to report it to the police. Motor theft is a much more minor crime, especially when drunk in which case it's just a minor jape. Bellamy should have had a ban for a full year or 'Fore'.
Yes I’m sure Bellamy was just messing when he, in his own words, lost it and went to confront Riise. He proceeded to assault him and was admittedly, again in his own words, grateful that Mr Riise decided to not take it further. So we have a premeditated assault or some high jinks after a few drinks which could have resulted in a very bad situation. Neither is particularly good is it really? Both you’d expect stern punishment for in the real world. In the world of football however they just play the next game... What about Shearer kicking Lennon in the head? Was that just messing about? Was it Dalglish who decribed him as a good guy after? Or maybe Sir Alex with Cantona? He bollocks the rest of the team for being **** but simply says to Cantona for kicking the fan, “Eric you can’t go round doing things like that son” Was it Ancelloti who played Ashley Cole after he shot a student with an air rifle. I’m sure messing around with a weapon which left him with a weeping wound is just good fun and not a serious offence. I’m sure you think there was no real risk there either. There is a theme with all these managers, great or otherwise. They don’t give a **** what the public think. They care about winning matches and having their best players onside. If that means ignoring what the average man sees as standard punishment, then you best believe they will. Honestly football is littered with criminal behaviour off the pitch and on it. The law doesn’t apply in the eyes of the manager it seems.
