Glen Roeder Speaks about Bowyer
By Matthew Jones
July 31 2003
Glenn Roeder, Lee Bowyer's manager at West Ham, has said that his former player will give Sir Bobby Robson no off-the-field problems. He is convinced that he will do well at St James' Park, despite the hostile welcome he recieved when taking a penalty in the Asia Cup final.
Glenn Roeder, Lee Bowyer's manager at West Ham, has said that his former player will give Sir Bobby Robson no off-the-field problems.
Lee Bowyer is a controversial signing at St James' Park (Re-Uniting him and Woodgate), and Robson's only signing of the summer. The 26-year-old was booed by sections of the crowd in Kuala Lumpur when he stepped up to take a penalty in the FA Premier League Asia Cup final on Sunday, but Roeder, who bought the midfielder from Leeds last season, is convinced that he will do well at St James' Park.
"I had absolutely no trouble at all with the lad," he told the Evening Chronicle.
"When we decided to go for Bowyer, I never suspected that he would cause any trouble and I was right.
"He used to come in, do his training in a professional manner and then head off home. He's a keen fisherman and that's where he used to normally go after training, and I must say, I found him to be a very mature player to deal with."
Bowyer was impressive in Newcastle's Asia Cup game against Birmingham.
"Now that he has had an operation, I am sure Bowyer will be a success in the team Sir Bobby has fashioned at St James's Park," he added.
"Everybody knows he can run all day and he is what I call a low-maintenance player, in contrast to someone like Freddie Kanoute, who I see as a high maintenance player because there is always something wrong with him.
"He will make great runs all day for Newcastle and get behind the opposing back fours, and someone like Laurent Robert should be able to pick him out and give him the sort of chances he usually puts away."
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