february 10th
08.59 – It is funny the way people see things differently eh? Bobby Robson has accused Dennis Bergkamp of unsporting behaviour and deliberately kicking the ball against Laurent Robert to get him sent off. Dennis says he was trying to pass to Thierry Henry. Alan Shearer says Robert ‘couldn’t get out of the way.’
Some points. Robert could easily have got out of the way, Dennis tried 3 times to take the free kick and each time Robert deliberately got in the way. Not only did he did he get in the way, he then attempted to boot the ball as far down the field as he could, only for it to hit Lauren. So, not only did he prevent the free kick being taken, he was also guilty of kicking the ball away. That’s two yellow card offences, just minutes after getting his first yellow card. That’s not harsh, it’s sheer stupidity from a player who should know better.
I understand Newcastle feeling aggrieved at having such an important player sent off. God knows it’s happened to us plenty of times, but Sir Bobby and Shearer have a bit of a cheek trying to blame it on Dennis Bergkamp when it was entirely Laurent Robert’s fault. Maybe they’re trying to protect a player who for all his talent and skill has found himself on the wrong side of the Geordie fans more than once. Arsene Wenger is on Bergkamp’s side, naturally enough.
Still, 1-1 seems to be have been the scoreline of the weekend, with Liverpool held at home by Boro 1-1 and Fergie is fuming as the blue half of Manchester nicked a point, and could very well have taken all 3, in the Manchester derby.
Gerard Houllier was missing from the Liverpool game at the weekend, and if rumours are to be believed, he’s totally lost the dressing room at Anfield. Hamann wants out, he’s looking at a move to Bayern Munich – and the other players are most unhappy with Houllier’s threats and moodswings. An article in the News of the World yesterday revealed there had been a team meeting after Liverpool’s game against Middlesboro earlier in the season. Jerzy Dudek made a mistake which allowed Boro to score the winner. In the team meeting Houllier told him in front of all the other players “You know what happened to Westerveld, so watch out”. You might remember Sander Westerveld was sold to Real Sociedad after making one error too many for Houllier’s liking, despite being the keeper for Liverpool’s great trophy winning season (spit). Also, I have heard rumours of a serious dressing room incident which is being kept hushed up big time. So, all is not well at Anfield, either on the pitch, in the dressing room, or ‘on the terraces’. Which is funny.
