Comment by Chris Bailey.
KEVIN Keegan woke up on Sunday to news he thought and hoped he would never see again...and now he faces a milestone decision about what to do with a player on whom he took a £6m gamble.
What made the late night drinking antics worse was that only hours earlier Keegan had been praising Robbie Fowler's contribution after the England striker scored a spectacular solo goal to set the Blues on the road to victory against Southampton.
Keegan, who has revitalised the Blues' fortunes, will listen carefully to the explanations of his stars but he will not hesitate to get tough if he is not satisfied with the explanations he receives.
In two and a half years at the helm Keegan has run a club mercifully free from the off the field controversy that dogs others in Premiership but he has shown in the past that he will not shirk responsibility and always makes the correct decision for the club as a whole. The bigger picture is always in focus with the City chief.
Fowler and the other stars who were taking advantage of the cut-priced booze on offer at the Essex nightclub will correctly defend vigorously their right to have a drink and a laugh on what was, after all, a night off after a tough cup tie at Queen's Park Rangers.
'Poor example'
They will claim that they have been the victims of a set up and maintain that stories of their excess revelry have been exaggerated but what they cannot deny, however, is that the pictures printed in a Sunday newspaper bring the club into disrepute and are a poor example to the thousands of youngsters who follow their fortunes.
The players, as professionals earning fat salaries, should also be aware of the recent bright spotlight that has been thrown on soccer stars nationwide and although this latest sorry episode is not in any way a serious enough to involve any authorities outside Manchester City it adds to the general sleaze surrounding the national game.
Keegan will base any punishment on whether or not strict club rules, drawn up by him with the help of the players' committee, have been breached and those players out on the town last Wednesday night into the early hours of Thursday can expect a thorough grilling which is the least they deserve.
Swift action and a decisive end matter is what is needed because it is vital that the Blues regroup for Thursday night's Uefa Cup tie with Groclin.
Keegan's men are up with the pacesetters in the Premiership, in the last sixteen of the Carling Cup and still battling away in Europe and no one wants silly off the field antics to overshadow what could be one of the best season's in the club's history.
What action, if any,s hould Keegan take? Have your say.
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I hope the City players involved in the "events" of last week get the right message from KK. I say "events" guardedly because we all know that in these past few months any sniff of scandal involving football is hot news indeed and it is very easy to make a sensational story out of a few young men letting their hair down. Having said all that of course that is even more of a reason as to why the players should exercise discretion and common sense but they are two of the few things that their obscene salaries can most definitely NOT buy. Nevertheless KK has to be one of the most respected and likeable men in football and is a genuine ambassador for the game. I believe his players know that and will respond accordingly. KK alone of the two Manchester managers will not have to resort to the ranting, raving and bullyboy tactics so often employed by his United counterpart, although that is not meant as a criticism of his team's behaviour, results etc. just his style and personna!
Come on give the lad a break, he had a few beers when given the day off. People need to realise just because these boys earn s..t loads of money, there still allowed to go out and ejoy themselves.
City players setting a poor example to the thousands of youngsters who follow their fortunes eh? Most kids grow up either seeing their parents smoking and drinking or seeing this sort of thing and worse on the TV, in magazines or on advertising billboards. Chris Bailey get a life you joker. Why don't you and your mates at MEN try setting an example by not stirring for a change. And shame on anybody who buys, reads or writes for lowlife tabloid garbage newspapers and then moans when this sort of thing happens.
Chris Bailey, what sort of example are you setting?? Do your children talk utter drivel as well or do they have their own opinions?? As long as this isn't a regular theme, leave the lad alone. Some fool from the News of the World reacts to a phone call and suddenly you're setting a bad example to society for doing what?? Can we not tell the difference from alleged sexual attacks and having a beer, or should we tar them all with the same brush?
Let KK sort it out. I wasn't there and the story could well be blown out of proportions. The pictures are not in Fowlers favour though.
I prefer to talk football and do not bother what players do off the field, as long as it does not interupt their play and they keep to the rules set by the club and manager.
Too bad the Fowler- and Anelka-stories overshadows a very good teamperformance at Southampton. Hope it's the start of a run and some back-to-back victories.
Chris Bailey, do you not think that an article saying thet certain players' actions were wrong would put kids off doing these things? As for Fowler, there's nought wrong with having a few drinks when there's no match, but loads of drinking and smoking shouldn't be allowed. Keep it under control Robbie, do us a favour Chris, have a pint and don't patronise young people.
Who cares? You'd think he shot somebody the way they're going after this.
I think he should be dropped immediatement and I...er..je...er...Anelka should be put back into the side.
Seriously though - why is there no smoke coming out of the "cigarette" in the photo?
Where's the proof that these pictures were taken last wednesday night. O.K so fowlers hammered, but it could have been taken last season for all we know, then it would have made sense for his poor performances.
What's the problem? A good night out three days before a match is well in order.
The NOTW didnt count on Robbie having a blinder on Saturday did they ?
Mr Bailey, how did the city players bring the club into disrepute?
Nothing has been proven. Lets see what comes of it before we go mad making things up and accusing the City team of all sorts. Luckily reading most of the comments here. Most City fans do seem to have taken this story with a pinch of salt.
Shame the MEN havent copped themselves on.
If this is true Fowler has let Kevin Keegan down badly and he should be shown the door,perhaps this kind of behaviour explains his poor form!
When i was a lad, my peers were the likes of Bestie and Marsh. They were the the party animals of the time and i think don't any that of rubbed off me on..........Hic!!
I hate story's like this? Players are on B#B#B#B#B#B#B#B# because they are good at what they do. They are not machines built to entertain us fans, they are human beings being paid to do a job. On a Friday after work 95% of us must rush to the bar to have that first refreshing pint of the weekend so why cant Robbie and the lads? They did us proud against QPR and had a few days to waste whilst stuck down south away from their friends & family before the Saints game on Saturday.
What a rubbish story. K.K should know better. 6 players having 2 drinks each plus some 4 mates 2 drinks each, all of a sudden you have a table full of empty drinks. Scabby photographer snaps off a shot of Robbie infront of all these empties.
The players deserve to relax occasionally, and infact K.K should encourage them to go out as a team occasionally, as long as it is a few drinks and they don't get carried away. Then you won't have any drinking problems behind his back
Knowing the way the press work this is clearly an attempt to jump on the back of the 'football in the gutter' bandwagon that has been rolling for the last few weeks.I really dont think this story would have made page 3 had it been several weeks ago,that said Robbie is lucky to have scored on Saturday as it kind of made the article less of a story,I just hope RF carries on where he left off against Southampton and takes a leaf out of Macas book (Went out with the lads for the crack but didnt get mullered)!!!
Borg, and ted knott you both should go and support the rags, as clearly pictures taken 3 days before a game influence your thinking!, also Borg who said that Fowler was mullered?, as you clearly try to make out.
Both of you two must be angels, who never drink, party, kiss girls, scratch arms, smoke etc...how do you get to be ssssssooooooooo wonderfully well behaved and not get noticed of comics like the NotW?.
Neil - Are you Robbie in Disguise ??? Clearly you have been drinking before you posted .
I have actually said that the article is a bit of a non story but RF is hardly the picture of a world class athlete , maybe you want to be supporting a team full of seventies style players but sorry that doesnt work anymore.Anyway if antone can sort it King Kev Can.
Manc on line - I cannot believe you hacked my post to that degree -
A newspaper knocking freedom of speech , whatever next (sorry mate, but we have to be super careful with comments about people otherwise we could have a libel writ landing on our desk, as we're liable for your comments, rgds, ED)???