While Obafemi Martins may have irked Newcastle supporters for his manner at not wanting to leave the pitch at Middlesbrough, Kieron Dyers actions at the same stadium were far more offensive in that he simply refused to even come on. For the former Ipswich midfielder, his prima-donna behaviour was so deplorable that it haunts him to this day, considering Sir Bobby Robson has since passed on. Dyer has since regretted betraying the manager who allowed him to blossom into one of the best attacking midfielders in the country, with Robson ultimately receiving the sack just three games after Dyer refused to play on the right-wing.
''When I think about it now, I feel like I betrayed Bobby. Thats the worst thing about it. He treated me like a son and I let him down. I have to take some responsibility for him getting the sack. He knew I was frustrated from the previous season, but I should have just played the game. He had stuck by me through everything and he even tried to defend me after the Boro game. - Kieron Dyer, June 2007.
Indeed, Robson had proceeded to tell the press that the English midfielder had a tight hamstring in an effort to shield him from the criticism that he would have undoubtedly incurred. Of course, word still got out and the 25 year old was booed heavily by the majority of the crowd during a game against Norwich City at St. James Park the following week.
''Its the biggest disappointment of my career. Ill have to live with that feeling for the rest of my life. I t hurts me. When he got the sack, he told me I was one of the only players to ring and wish him the best. I regret letting him down so much. - Kieron Dyer, June 2007.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
