Craig Bellamy has had a spectacular fall-out with manager
Alan Curbishley only a month into his West Ham career. Bellamy
slipped back into his old ways in the wake of West Ham's opening
day defeat to Manchester City and exchanged harsh words with his
new manager.
Curbishley is believed to be infuriated by his £7.5million
striker's latest show of petulance, having earlier insisted the
time had come for Bellamy to do his talking on the pitch. This
latest rant is just another in a long list of controversial
incidents involving the Wales captain.
Bellamy famously fell out with his former manager at Newcastle,
Graeme Souness, over his unwillingness to play on the right wing, a
dispute that saw him farmed out on loan to Celtic. While at Celtic,
Bellamy is also alleged to have sent Alan Shearer abusive text
messages following Newcastle's loss to Manchester United in the
semi-final of the FA Cup, prompting the former England skipper to
threaten to 'knock his block off'.
In February this year, while with Liverpool, Bellamy threatened
team-mate John Arne Riise with a golf club at a training camp in
Portugal. Kieron Dyer will make his debut for West Ham today after
Freddie Ljungberg dramatically pulled out of the squad to face
Birmingham through injury.
Midfielder Ljungberg, surprisingly made captain for last week's 2-0
home defeat by Manchester City, did not travel with the team
yesterday after damaging his ankle in training. It means Dyer who,
like Ljungberg, is on £70,000 a week after signing from Newcastle,
will make his first start for the Hammers against Steve Bruce's
side on the right of midfield. Lucas Neill will be skipper at St
Andrew's. Ljungberg made only 25 appearances for Arsenal last term,
many as substitute.
