Return of the Native

There are so few good heart-warming stories in the world of professional football, so it was delightful to read earlier this week about the return of Robbie Fowler to Anfield. As readers of this blog will know Robbie ticks all the boxes for his new club captain Stephen Gerrard - he's a scouser - job done and doubtless with the wave of misty eyed sentimentality will drag the kop faithful along in the wake of the rosy red glow of times gone by.

But let's look at the facts here, is this the same Robbie Fowler I watched playing for Liverpool some many August Bank Holidays ago at Leeds. A belligerent aimless 90 minutes of lethargic activity he meted out in the name of professionalism. Wouldn't run for balls that weren't "platini-inch" perfect. Quite Frankly (phrase used under license from Alan Green Enterprise Plc) here was a man who couldn't be arsed (and I don't mean that in the Graeme Le Saux sense of the word).

It is an interesting move: less petrol to the training ground (check) Still getting the cheques from Leeds (check) roomier bench (check) but in this world of gimme gimme gimme surely the media and the Liverpool fans can see through the spin and hype.

Ello Ello City Reject City Reject!!!