Lee Bowyer

[Bilko]

Never thought the day would come when l would applaud Birmingham City fans but their stance on Lee Bowyer was spot on. Although he is no doubt a good player he represents the seemier side of the modern game, in my eyes he is a thug in a football shirt with money but no morals, intelligence or sense of responsibility.

That the Brum fans did not want their club associated with him is laudable. The reaction of Birmingham's owner (former soft porn magnate) David Sullivan and their Manager, Steve Bruce, said it all about the modern game. They were disappointed and frustrated by the action of the fans...so forget the culture and repuatation of the club then...at least some Brum fans care about that!

Thing is what would we have done in a similar situation, we know about our club being dragged through the mud (La Manga) but would we have tolerated it? Would be interesting to hear your thoughts?

[Katy]

I believe we have a bad enough reputation as it is (doesnt matter how many times you try and explain La Manga to people, they still assume 'we' are all rapists) I would hope that we as fans would do the same as the Brum fans, ok, hes a good player but his reputation goes before him and has had countless chances which he has thrown in various peoples faces. The club needs to keep it's nose clean for a bit I think, being associated with him would only fuel what people think towards us.

[Ricey]

I think like Birmingham the views of fans would be split, aome against it because of us thugish reputation and some for it due to his undoubted talent.

I wouldn't want al that bagage that comes with him but I would want his skills on the pitch.

[davieG]

He needs to redeem himself in the eyes of all football fans, an offer to play for free for the first year of any contract, with an instant dismissal if there was any repeat might show he does have some remorse over his previous behaviour.

[dan_84]

id have him here! Yes he has a reputation, and yes he has done things that are wrong but didnt Collymore? So anyone who says they wouldnt have Bowyer in our team are a hypercrit.

[surrifox]

the reason he's not already a Brum player is that he refused to join a club where he's not wanted ( or maybe he didn't fancy a paycut of £17k a week who knows.

As the original posting makes clear this is a stance by fans that prompted this outcome ( after all they already have Pennant on their books and probably didn't feel that success on the pitch was a price worth paying for filling the side up with thugs and ex-cons)

We can hardly expect a higher standard of behaviour from players when they can escape the consequences of their actions and get a rich contract from another prem side. Unfortunately there will always be sides prepared to turn out other club's dustbins and keep these people in the headlines. Just when it looked like the disgusting diouf was on his way out of the prem and good riddance Bolton go and sign him on a permanent deal

[BartonFox]

Never thought the day would come when l would applaud Birmingham City fans but their stance on Lee Bowyer was spot on. Although he is no doubt a good player he represents the seemier side of the modern game, in my eyes he is a thug in a football shirt with money but no morals, intelligence or sense of responsibility.

That the Brum fans did not want their club associated with him is laudable. The reaction of Birmingham's owner (former soft porn magnate) David Sullivan and their Manager, Steve Bruce, said it all about the modern game. They were disappointed and frustrated by the action of the fans...so forget the culture and repuatation of the club then...at least some Brum fans care about that!

Thing is what would we have done in a similar situation, we know about our club being dragged through the mud (La Manga) but would we have tolerated it? Would be interesting to hear your thoughts?

124170[/snapback]

Are you able to earn £50,000 a week? Seems quite clever to me, perhaps we should look at our levels of intelligence and ask why some us won't earn in a year what he earns in a week.

[Thracian]

the reason he's not already a Brum player is that he refused to join a club where he's not wanted ( or maybe he didn't fancy a paycut of £17k a week  who knows.

As the original posting makes clear this is a stance by fans that prompted this outcome ( after all they already have Pennant on their books and probably didn't feel that success on the pitch was a price worth paying for filling the side up with thugs and ex-cons)

We can hardly expect a higher standard of behaviour  from players when they can escape the consequences of their actions and get a rich contract from another prem side. Unfortunately there will always be sides prepared to turn out other club's dustbins and keep these people in the headlines. Just when it looked like the disgusting diouf was on his way out of the prem and good riddance Bolton go and sign him on a permanent deal

124198[/snapback]

Some really interesting angles in the comments so far.

As a former manager I would have sacked Diouf on the spot for any one of his much publicised misdemeanors but what a pity there are always clubs out there waiting to offer another chance.

The man was a disgrace, he disgraced football and he should have been shown through a self-locking door by his club and by the football authorities both here and worldwide.

Bowyer, is not much better. He has shown himself to be an objectionable thug but there's a part of me that MIGHT have taken him on.

First training session would have been down at the local boxing gym where I would have ensured he got a bit of a belting and, more important, learned some of the respect (for himself and his opponents) that is sacrosanct in boxing circles.

Then, I would have explained precisely what was wanted and expected of him and made sure he had a captain like Roy Keane who could have flattened his facial features should he have stepped out of line.

Football attracts a spectrum of personalities and rightly so - you'll never win championships with a team full of fairies - but a team is a clan and any splits in resolve should never be in public.

Verbally, I always preached against the notion that a leopard could change its spots and asked why take such an unnecessary risk?

In reality I signed the good, the bad and the ugly and have to admit that not one of em, apparent thug or otherwise, ever gave me cause to regret my decision or failed to do me proud.

Perhaps good luck. Perhaps spotting trouble early enough to de-fuse it and refocus the individuals concerned.

So maybe I'd sign Bowyer, because maybe he shows the passion I believe might help win a championship. But if he ever, ever, squared up to a team-mate in public, I'd have had him kicked black and blue on the training field, and then let him live a forgotten existence on the reserves' bench for a long, long time without ever saying a single word to him about why.

Only when he worked out the reasons, acknowledged he was wrong and promised he had the discipline to put things right would he get his shirt back. Other players would notice so even if Bowyer wasn't in the team he be an ever-present warning to others about what happens to people who let the club down.

[Bilko]

Interesting comments, guess it is nieve in this day and age to expect high standards in the game...and l do recall some right royal punch ups in the 70's (any one remember Frannie Lee and Norman Hunter). However l just thought good on the Brum fans...you get the feeling that although the game has never been more wealthy (for some) there is an increasing dissolusionment among many fans with the excesses of behaviour and wealth (look at Van Persie).

[Nationwider]

...But if he ever, ever,  squared up to a team-mate in public, I'd have had him kicked black and blue on the training field, and then let him live a forgotten existence on  the reserves' bench for a long, long time without ever saying a single word to him about why.

Only when he worked out the reasons, acknowledged he was wrong and promised he had the discipline to put things right would he get his shirt back. Other players would notice so even if Bowyer wasn't in the team he be an ever-present warning to others about what happens to people who let the club down.

124215[/snapback]

You've hit the nail on the head there. Two days after the incident, Souness, Dyer, Bowyer and Sheppard are all back in bed together as if nothing ever happened. Exactly what kind of a message does that send out?

I'm sorry if I sound a bit sanctimonious about the issue, and in particular, that club, but they are run by some of the most odious, dislikeable, blood-sucking, morally corrupt vermin in football EVER. I have a degree of sympathy for the ever-loyal Toon fans. The rest can go and rot as far as I'm concerned, Sheppard especially.

[Thracian]

...But if he ever, ever,  squared up to a team-mate in public, I'd have had him kicked black and blue on the training field, and then let him live a forgotten existence on  the reserves' bench for a long, long time without ever saying a single word to him about why.

Only when he worked out the reasons, acknowledged he was wrong and promised he had the discipline to put things right would he get his shirt back. Other players would notice so even if Bowyer wasn't in the team he be an ever-present warning to others about what happens to people who let the club down.

124215[/snapback]

You've hit the nail on the head there. Two days after the incident, Souness, Dyer, Bowyer and Sheppard are all back in bed together as if nothing ever happened. Exactly what kind of a message does that send out?

I'm sorry if I sound a bit sanctimonious about the issue, and in particular, that club, but they are run by some of the most odious, dislikeable, blood-sucking, morally corrupt vermin in football EVER. I have a degree of sympathy for the ever-loyal Toon fans. The rest can go and rot as far as I'm concerned, Sheppard especially.

124347[/snapback]

I suppose if Sheppard's carrying the flag we shouldn't be surprised at the company that follows him. PS Don't think you altogether disguised your contempt for the Magpies!!! .

[Nationwider]

Newcastle fans deserve better. I'm not sure they'll get it with Sheppard and Co. around. I do get a bit heated when it comes to that lot!

[Bilko]

Just for a moment l thought the fans were rebeling against the way the owners and players behave but it appears that Brum may sign Bowyer after all...apparently they've had lots of letters and e-mails from Blues fans saying they should sign him...looks like it was a moral minority. Bowyer is a thug in a Porsche and sums up the modern game.

[Scow]

If we were ever in contention to sign Bowyer, then understandably there would be a mixed reaction. Everyone recognises that Bowyer has undoubted talent, however, the risk attached to him is too great.

[Cobbo]

He's a ####.