We can't spot the difference, Craig

Feb 21 2007 Red Watch by Andy Proudfoot, Liverpool Daily Post

THEY say a leopard cannot change its spots, but at least it doesn't pose for photographs in the Daily Spot or hand out business cards saying Spotty the Leopard, the Spottiest Thing on Earth.

This admirable restraint seems beyond our own Craig Bellamy, whose early season assertions that he was a changed man, anxious to prove that he was merely misunderstood at Norwich, Coventry, Newcastle, Celtic and Blackburn, are beginning to look pretty sick following his alleged transgression on the club's short break in Vale do Lobo.

Now I confess that I've been tempted to have a go at Riise with a golf club myself at times this season, and the peculiar symmetry of attacking someone with a golf club in a golf club is not lost on me either.

But wouldn't you have thought that the saintly Craig would have had enough sense to keep a low profile on tour, having already started his Liverpool career with a court case arising from an incident in a night club?

Maybe I'm being too harsh. After all what man worth his salt could tolerate the huge insult bestowed by a refusal to join in a karaoke session? What exactly did John Arne refuse to sing? I Left My Right Foot in San Francisco? Norwegian Wouldn't?

Heavy provocation indeed, and worth a sound thrashing in anybody's book.

And who else should find themselves receiving unwelcome publicity? Why it's our other reformed bad boy, Jermaine Pennant, who is now so confident of his place he sees no harm in disrespecting his manager's trust, abusing the latitude offered him by a man who preferred to give him the benefit of the doubt that he was a mature professional who could be relied upon to unwind responsibly, not unravel altogether.

Still, maybe I'm expecting too much that players being paid ridiculous sums of money to play football should act responsibly just days before they play the most important match of the season so far, against probably the best side in Europe; they're just young lads after all, letting off steam.

And of course, all will be forgotten should they achieve a creditable result this evening.

So why do I feel that the bond between players and fans is just that little bit weaker after last week's events?

You'll never walk alone boys, but you may have a few less companions if you blow it tonight.

A load of old Tosh? >>>