Ex-Mag Kieron Dyer has shared a brilliant story about a dressing room altercation between Sir Bobby Robson and Craig Bellamy, revealing just how the former NUFC manager shot the Welshman down after complaining about being subbed early in a game.
This comes from Dyer’s latest latest piece for the Daily Mail, with him having shared several fascinating stories about his time at Newcastle over the past few days – and this one’s right up there.
Here’s what he had to say about the pair’s amusing spat in the dressing room following a league game that the Welsh striker wasn’t happy to have been subbed early in:
‘There was a lot of talk about the brats at Newcastle, but Sir Bobby Robson — the best man-manager I ever worked for — knew how to put us in our place.
‘There was one game where he brought Craig Bellamy off early because he thought the game was won and he wanted to save Craig’s legs.
‘When we got back to the changing room, Craig was cursing about how he was always the first one to be hooked. Sir Bobby grew exasperated and said: ‘Will you shut up.’
‘Craig kept jabbering away about the injustice and finally Sir Bobby snapped. ‘I’ll squash you, son, like an ant.’
‘Craig looked a bit taken aback but after a brief pause, started complaining again.
‘Who are you?’ Sir Bobby said. ‘Ronaldo, Romario, Stoichkov, Hagi, Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Gascoigne: these are the people I deal with. And who are you?’
‘The changing room went quiet. Even Craig went quiet. And then Craig looked over at me and said: ‘He’s got a point, hasn’t he?’
What a bloke Sir Bobby was. And what a moaning old so and so Craig Bellamy was too – although he clearly had nothing to say back to Bobby’s brilliant response!
He must’ve been a difficult player to handle, but this is a fascinating tale which gives a real insight into Robson’s style of man management, showing that he would be more than willing to put a player in their place if need be.
Sir Bobby really was one of the all time greats. An incredible bloke and inspirational manager whose dearly missed by us all to this day.
