Did Bellamy.....

[crowie]

actually get stuck into John Arne Riise with a golf club?

Or has this Liverpool story grown arms and legs?

If he did, then Liverpool must surely look to bin him in the summer.

Mind you, you get the impression Riise winds people up quite well. Did he no have a fight with Carew at one of the Norwegian squad get togethers? I can think of better people to have a fight with than the 6ft 7" brick outhouse centre forward to be honest.

[all_funkt_up]

Bellamy back in spotlight after karaoke flare-up
Telegraph
By Tim Rich
19/02/2007

The biggest row Rafael Benitez had with his players when at Valencia was over whether they should eat ice cream made with skimmed milk. Yesterday the Liverpool manager attempted to defuse lurid allegations that Craig Bellamy had attacked John Arne Riise with a golf club by threatening sanctions against any player found to have stepped out of line at their training camp in Portugal.

Reports yesterday stated that Bellamy had attacked his team-mate because the Norwegian defender had not wanted to join a karaoke session at the Vale do Lobo resort in the Algarve, where Liverpool were preparing for Wednesday's Champions League encounter with Barcelona.

The argument escalated and Bellamy is alleged to have returned to his room, picked up a golf club and aimed it at Riise's legs. Yesterday the Norway manager, Age Hareide, confirmed he had spoken to Riise about the incident. He said: "Things in general are not good, but John Arne is OK and escaped without injuries."

Benitez felt strongly enough to issue a statement reminding his players of their responsibilities. "I met this morning with the entire first-team squad and made it absolutely clear the responsibilities that come with playing for this club and the way they are expected to conduct themselves on and off the pitch," he said.

"The players worked extremely hard at last week's training camp but we will take disciplinary action and fine any of them who have breached club rules during our stay in Portugal. I have told the players this and they understand and accept the decision I have taken."

For Bellamy, the timing could hardly be worse. Not only has he risked his place at the Nou Camp, the Welshman has put his own off-field behaviour that dogged his time at Newcastle once more at the top of the agenda. On Tyneside he managed to survive throwing a chair at Sir Bobby Robson's assistant, John Carver, in the departure lounge at Newcastle Airport, and a host of dressing-room confrontations.

It was only when he called Graeme Souness, Robson's successor as Newcastle manager, a liar that he was forced out of St James' Park.

Bellamy already faces greater competition at Anfield next season. Liverpool's negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen to bring in the Ukraine centre forward, Andrei Voronin, are well advanced. Voronin would replace Robbie Fowler, who is leaving Anfield, probably for America, in the summer. However, although Bellamy's scoring record at Liverpool is better than it was at Newcastle, where he managed 27 Premiership goals in three-and-a-half seasons, he is not indispensable.

Neither is Samuel Eto'o. The Barcelona striker, who has made a series of inflammatory remarks at team-mate Ronaldinho and refused to play as a substitute against Racing Santander, was again left out against Valencia, although this was ostensibly to rest a knee injury.

[all_funkt_up]

Benitez vows to act over Bellamy 'golf club attack'
Independent
By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent
Published: 19 February 2007

The Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, last night promised an internal club investigation and potential disciplinary action after their preparations for the Champions League tie against Barcelona on Wednesday suffered a serious setback with allegations that Craig Bellamy attacked John Arne Riise with a golf club at a training camp in Portugal.

Last night, Liverpool tried to reassure supporters by releasing authorised pictures of Bellamy and Riise training together yesterday in what looked like amicable circumstances. It would appear Benitez is determined not to allow anything to affect his preparations for the game at the Nou Camp, although Bellamy's long-term future at the club is by no means certain. The Spanish manager also called a squad meeting to remind all the players of their responsibilities towards the club.

The alleged attack took place while Benitez's squad took advantage of a week without any fixtures by training at the Algarve Vale do Lobo resort for five days. Bellamy is alleged to have attacked Riise after the Norwegian international's refusal of his offer to join in a karaoke session at a bar escalated into a full-blown argument. The News of the World alleged that Bellamy mulled over the slight before seeking out Riise, 25, and struck him about the legs with a golf club.

In a statement released yesterday, Benitez said that he would be investigating the events of that night and promised punishments for those involved. It is also alleged that Jerzy Dudek was involved in a separate incident; the 33-year-old goalkeeper is out of contract at the end of the season.

"I met this morning with the entire first-team squad and made it absolutely clear to all of them the responsibilities that come with playing for this club and the way they are expected to conduct themselves both on and off the pitch," Benitez said.

"The players worked extremely hard at last week's training camp, but we will take disciplinary action and fine any of them who are found to have breached club rules during our stay in Portugal. I've told the players this and they understand and accept the decision I have taken.

"Despite reports to the contrary, the spirit amongst the lads is very good with everyone looking forward to the game against Barcelona on Wednesday. We remain totally focused on what will be a very tough game against the defending European champions."

Allegations that Liverpool players caused damage to the hotel they were staying in, the Barringtons Centro Desportivo are, it is understood, completely unfounded. The club had gone there at relatively short notice after their elimination from the FA Cup by Arsenal gave them a clear run without any fixtures between the defeat to Newcastle on 10 February and Wednesday's game.

Bellamy joined Liverpool in July after Benitez exploited a buyout clause in his Blackburn Rovers contract that allowed the player to leave if a club involved in the Champions League made a bid for him. Paying £6.5m for the Welsh international with a history of violence on the pitch, and a controversial life off it, Benitez said that he was satisfied that Bellamy was sufficiently reformed as a character to play for Liverpool.

Benitez said at the time he had spoken to different people about the player, a childhood Liverpool fan, and satisfied himself he would not be a risk. "We know about the past, but we think the future can be very good, for him and us," Benitez said in July. "We analysed his background and talked to him clearly and honestly. He's more mature."

Reports of an attack on one of his key players prompted the Norway manager, Age Hareide, to ring Riise, 26, to check on his physical well-being. Hareide told Norwegian journalists: "John Arne is fine. He escaped without injuries."

[all_funkt_up]

Player told police he 'loved them'
Our Correspondent on eyewitness accounts of the Liverpool fracas in Portugal
The Times
February 19, 2007
James Ducker

Craig Bellamy was not the only member of the Liverpool squad to disgrace himself in Portugal but it might have always been asking too much to hope that, if controversy ever flared at the club, he would have nothing to do with it.

How BenÍtez must be regretting allowing his players to go out last Thursday night. The manager had been persuaded by some of the squad to allow them to enjoy a meal and some drinks out before they flew back home from their five-day training camp in the sun-baked Algarve resort of Vale do Lobo the next day. It was a reasonable request that drew an equally fair response – yes, but remember who you are, where you are and that you have your biggest match of the season so far against Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.

What ensued was an insult to BenÍtez, who had treated his players with the respect they expect only to have it thrown back in his face by one or two miscreants. No wonder the manager will think twice the next time his players ask to go out when overseas.

The evening had started well enough and in good humour at Monty’s Restaurant and Bar, but alcohol changed all that. Bellamy is alleged to have got involved in a drunken row with John Arne Riise when the Norwegian – who was not said to be drinking – declined the opportunity to take part in karaoke.

Others, including Jerzy Dudek, Jermaine Pennant and Robbie Fowler, are also alleged to have got involved in a row of their own and, despite the best efforts of Steven Gerrard, the captain, and Peter Crouch, the forward, to keep the peace, the police were called. Enough to persuade the troublemakers to calm down? Apparently not.

Trouble flared again when the party were escorted back to the Barringtons Club and Barringtons-Centro Desportivo hotel, and even though no one was charged or arrested, the noise was such that June and Peter Lover, a retired couple from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, were woken up at about 1.30am and watched in despair from their apartment as armed police, some from Portugal’s riot squad, attempted to restore order.

“There must have been at least five police vehicles and a dozen police under our window,” Mrs Lover said. “The noise was terrible and we simply couldn’t sleep through it. At first it sounded like late-night revelry and we knew the Liverpool squad were downstairs. But then things seemed to get out of hand and the police arrived.” Mr Lover said one player with an Eastern European accent, thought to be Dudek, the Poland goalkeeper, was handcuffed by police before eventually being released. And only when a member of Liverpool’s management team arrived did things calm down.

“He kept telling the police how much he loved them, as if he was pleading to be allowed to go free,” Mr Lover said. “At one point, the police seemed to be slapping him around the face, trying to bring him round and sober him up because he was so drunk. He kept apologising over and over again but the police didn’t want to know. It was only after a while that the police found someone from the Liverpool management, who managed to calm things down and talk quietly. Eventually, the police let the player go after some negotiations and he seemed very relieved indeed and kept thanking them.

“We have many teams around the complex and there is usually no trouble at all, but this was not a very pleasant experience. It was thoroughly shameful and brings a terrible name to a club like Liverpool. These players get paid so much and are often so young, but for something like this to happen is awful.” Where Bellamy was at this point is unclear, but the forward, still angry with Riise, had allegedly made a beeline for his teammate back at the hotel and hit him around the legs with a golf club. Age Hareide, the Norway manager, seemed to confirm the alleged incident yesterday when he said that Riise was “fine” and “escaped without injuries”.

All of which provides an unnecessary and unseemly pretext to Liverpool’s first knockout round, first leg clash with Barcelona at the Nou Camp and has left a bad taste in the mouths of the club’s new American owners, George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks.

BenÍtez had been encouraged to hear of dissent in the Spanish team’s camp last week, but, depressingly, the situation has been turned on its head. Only time will tell whether it adversely affects Liverpool’s hopes of progressing in the competition.

Bellamy will still be around, then, but it is unlikely to be for much longer after that.

[all_funkt_up]

Well I think it is safe to say there was definitely an incident. What happened and exactly how bad it was - we dont know. It was the NOTW yesterday that actually broke the news of the golf club incident. How serious it was and how much malice is involved is debatable. That f*cking Murdoch rag would jump at any chance to put us down.

I think Liverpool will get rid of Bell-end at the end of the season. They will manage to recoup at least the initial outlay of £5million and if he has a decent second half - they may even make a profit on him.

[all_funkt_up]

[crowie]

Love the Jerzy "Brown Bottle" Dudek bit. Tries to stick the head in the police man and then when handcuffed starts with the "Hey, tell you what kidda, I luv ya, I really do, your me best fucking mate you are...."

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by all_funkt_up

They will manage to recoup at least the initial outlay of £5million and if he has a decent second half - they may even make a profit on him.

Do you really think they'll get their money back, AFU? Bellamy has caused trouble wherever he's gone, he does OK on the pitch, but any club knows they're going to get at best about 18 months out of him before he fucks up again and makes his position at the club untenable. The only clubs I can imagine being interested at that kind of price would be the desperate ones down the bottom end of the table (or if we're talking the close season, then teams expected to be struggling).

[Winrew]

Great headline in one of the papers today " The nutter with the Putter "

[all_funkt_up]

here's always one though - someone's bound to pop for him out of desparation. Each manager thinks that they can be the one to redeem him and turn him around. History shows us that managers are inherently stupid and have too much faith in their own ability and man management skills. F*ck me, Collymore got enough chances. Lee Sharpe was another loser as well. *ahem* George Best anyone....

[rcgills]

Fair enough with the Collymore and Lee Sharpe comparisons, but that's got to be the first (and hopefully last) time Craig Bellamy is ever compared in that way to George Best

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Seen on the early news today that the Liverpool Echo are claiming its a conspiracy to oust Bellamy from the team and to move him on.

I think he is a smashing player and causes problems everytime i see him. His behaviour is questionable of course. I mean at Newcastle we all know what went down there but he didnt seem to get into any bother at Celtic. Saying that he was only here about 5 months so maybe dindt have the time too

Was he a troublemaker at Norwich?

Seems to have been pretty trouble free for Wales too. I think a lot of people just try to stir up shit with him to be honest. Dont get me wrong he is no angel but not as bad as made out to be.

Wouldnt surprise me to see O Neil take him to Villa at the end of the season as like AFU mentions, O Neil will think he can control him after his stint at Celtic.

Would love to see him back at Celtic actually. Him and big Jan would work well together.

[all_funkt_up]

The annoying thing is that Bellamy's performances this year havent exactly been shit hot. You can forgive a dick head when they put in a decent show week in week out, but Bellamy has been rather wasteful and ineffective so far IMO.

[crowie]

Think when he arrived at Celtic, Hartson took him aside pretty quickly and told him not to fuck about or he would "get it".

He really needs some pyschological help IMO, he has total anger management issues by the sounds of it. He has caused problems most places he has been. He made some comments about Coventry when he was there, and they went down, along the lines of he was too good to play in the Championship. Pretty sure he was quite narky at Norwich as well.

[kompressaur]

'I HATE THE WAY FOOTBALL IS NOW'
CRAIG BELLAMY EXCLUSIVE LIVERPOOL'S JEKYLL AND HYDE STAR SPEAKS OUT IN THE MOST OPEN, HONEST INTERVIEW YOU WILL READ ALL YEAR

'I HATE GOING OUT. I HATE LEAVING MY HOUSE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN OUT IN LIVERPOOL.. I DON'T EVEN GO TO THE SHOPS. I REALLY HATE THE WAY FOOTBALL IS NOW'

from the mirror

He's worse than me