- Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:42 am
#171729
written just after he transferred to newcastle in 2003
Columnist Mark Deeks writes his views on the Lee Bowyer Transfer. It is a bit controversial, but what is written here is soley Mark's view and may not reflect on the view of the rest of the site.
There has recently been a lot of speculation about the possible transfer of Lee Bowyer from West Ham to Newcastle, and infact, it seems that yesterday (Friday 23rd May) it went through. I have been waiting for the result of all this speculation before making my comments known, but now I feel I must join the discussion.
I have never wanted a player to not sign for Newcastle for anything other than football reasons. Until now. This is a transfer which I feel very strongly about. I even worry that this espisode may have tainted my love for the club permanently. It has certainly taken the edge off the love and respect I have for Sir Bobby.
Lee Bowyer is someone I would never have wanted even to be linked with my club. Quite simply, he is bad press waiting to happen. And I don't care what propaganda the club puts out publicly, the majority of Newcastle fans agree.
NUFC has always been a people's club. We have a high standing of respect in the footballing community both in this country and around the world. Not just for our style of play, but for the loyalty, passion, and good behaviour of our fans. Quite why anyone would think to risk all this, especially given our current level of success, to sign a proven thug with a hefty racist tendency is beyond me.
"Bowyer will further heighten Newcastle's Champions League ambitions." (The Sun on Tuesday)
Will he hell as like!!! He has an outstanding SIX game European ban for stamping on an opponents head!! Put simply, trouble has, and always will do, follow Lee Bowyer around. He has a conviction following an incident where he threw a chair at the head of a young (incidentally, Asian) McDonalds assistant who wouldn't serve him after midnight.
And then there was the infamous Bowyer / Woodgate court case whilst the pair were at Leeds. And before you say anything, no I didn't protest at the sigining of Woodgate in January. And there was one very simple reason for this. Woodgate showed remorse, looked positively ill during the trial, lost loads of weight, and couldn't play during the period. Bowyer on the other hand has never shown an ounce of misgivings over his actions (despite being called a liar by the judge even though he was found not guilty), never made any effort to apologise for this earlier conviction, and has continued to go round like the thug that he is on the pitch (see his European ban).
And then, he had the gall to sign for his supposedly "beloved" home town club West Ham, but had a clause inserted into his contract that said if they went down, he'd be off!! What sort of loyalty is that to your childhood team? Can you imagine Alan Shearer doing the same? No!
And my final point is this. He simply isn't a good enough player to get into our midfield! Are you seriously telling me that Dyer, Jenas or Solano should makeway for Bowyer? The guy hasn't done anything of note for the last couple of years other than get himself into more trouble. And now I read in today's papers that it's "Bow In Nobby Out"!!
If that is true, it is nothing more than a disgrace! I know little Nol Solano didn't have the finest season just gone, but he still made a hugely valuable contribution, and has been a loyal servant over the last few years and deserves his place in the team. He is also a fans' favourite, and for him to be replaced by someone the fans' plainly don't want is, considering our standing as a fans' club, simply wrong. I can only hope that this part of the story doesn't pan out.
Sir Bobby claims that "surely everyone deserves a second chance". I'm sorry Bobby, but this guy has had far more than a second chance. And he's blown every one. Why taint your immense standing in the game by risking having a known trouble maker around the team?
I will still be renewing my season ticket for next year. But I can assure you that this whole episode has taken the edge off an otherwise hugely enjoyable season. If and when Bowyer turns out at SJP next season, I'll tell you this. He will not get my applause, he will not get my loyal cheers or adoration like the rest of the team will. My support for the club will remain strong, but it will be tinged with regret that our club has seen fit to tip my season ticket money straight into the bank account of pretty much the last player in the world I would want to pull on my beloved black and white stripes.
I can only hope he fails his medical.
(Try to) keep the faith.
dave benson phillips
chrismoyles.net
