Craig Bellamy surprised a lot of viewers with his recent Sky Sports interview, revealing that he would consider retirement if he was left out of Manchester City’s squad for the new Premier League season.
The interview was interesting and very honest, as you would expect from the hotheaded Welshman, but at the same time it made me wonder if it could be seen as an opportunity for us. As I mentioned in my last blog about Shaun Wright-Phillips, with this new 25-man rule coming into effect there are going to be quite a few unhappy Man City players looking to move on during the season.
It’s earlier than expected but we have now already heard the first of what will be many admissions by Man City players that they may have to search for a new club. Craig Bellamy’s words did make me think though: would I be happy with him being given a chance to make up for his disappointing season with us?
I’m sure many people’s initial reactions would be a resounding “no”, with his disruptive behaviour and average form during his time with us giving them good reason to oppose to him wearing the red shirt again. On the other hand, at times last season for Man City he was simply outstanding. I often try to keep en eye on certain ex Liverpool players and having watched Bellamy’s performances throughout the season I must admit I was impressed and somewhat surprised. As with many other players who leave big clubs, I thought his sale to West Ham from Liverpool would signal the end of his best days. It didn’t happen that way though, and he managed to make himself one of Man City’s key players, contributing to their best ever Premier League finish last year.
I’m torn over whether his signing would benefit Liverpool though. A year ago following the magnificent season we had I wouldn’t have wanted a former Liverpool flop like Bellamy anywhere near our mega confident squad. A year later though, and I would see re-signing Bellamy much in the same way I saw our appointment of Roy Hodgson: a good acquisition by the club considering the terrible state it was in.
At 31 he would be more accepting of his role as a squad member and would bring pace along with Premier League experience to our striking department, which was frustratingly poor last season (whenever Torres was injured) to say the least. Also, because of his age and him seemingly being surplus to requirements at Man City, it would enable us to benefit from his last couple of years of top-level performances for very little money. He’s also showed that he’s a hard working footballer when he’s out on the pitch and would help to actually make us dangerous on the counter attack (where we’ve been far too wasteful in recent seasons).
The downside to signing Bellamy as we all know though, is his reputation for being a bit of a troublemaker, with his attempted golf club attack on John Arne Riise especially still fresh on the minds of reds fans. He also has a long list of controversial bust ups and is no stranger to making the headlines for the wrong reasons. So it brings me back the question I asked earlier: would you be happy with Craig Bellamy being given a second chance to prove himself at Anfield? I myself am 50-50.
What do you fans think?
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first crouch, then bellamy, who next? baros???????????
onwards and upwards ffs!!!
Personally i think Woy would get more out of Bellamy than Rafa ever did, its just his temperment he needs to control, but maybe we can get him on loan for the season. Its only Spurs in our way really but their trying to sign Ashley Young, then theres Fulham. Mark Hughes and Bellamy have a good relationship but Liverpool and Spurs are bigger clubs besides hes a LFC fan and would love to set things straight with the fans if he came back……YNWA
Please get better players and not this used old players
no chance just ask jon arne risne
yes. i tink 2geda we can make history with craig u no
Anyone for golf ??
I’d snatch your hand off for him. He’ exactly what we need at the moment – a wing/centre-forward. With Torres playing the role he plays, we never play with 2 strikers and it is incredibly hard to sign another centre-forward who is going to be happy to play second choice. But when you can play on the wing (as Bellamy did most of last season), there are enough games. He is good enough at both positions. He’s fast, aggressive, has the work rate of Kuyt and I bet no fecker likes playing against him. We certainly could have done with him last season. Not one for the future, but if we can sign him for 6-8m I’d be perfectly hapy.
why wood we want dem 2 bck der not good enough,dat was proved already,10 to 15 mill for a good striker thats what we need
I think he would probably start for us from the left wing where he was fantastic all last season and behind Tevez he was probably City’s best player, I can’t believe he might be left out of their 25-man squad , with our budget he is a realistic target and I would prefer Bellamy than Wright Phillips I think he would offer more to our squad and both are available for around £7m
No honestly, all of you learn to type words fully please. I mean dat?!
Please god no, a talent without a doubt but a flawed one and we really need to move on to something better
Bloody laughable this lot! I suppose though we could put him down as the target for a week next Friday as the next several days are undoubtedly already booked for targets…. Can’t wait to hear what will happen when October comes and we are still not sold.
do you think the reason he didn’t look great for us was maybe down to how the tactical genius used him?
i like craig bellamy, he’s an honest, hard-working pro, but that’s ON the field!
off it? well i don’t know, it does appear that he’s been a disruptive influence wherever he’s been, i would love to hear the personal view from some liverpool players as to whether they would welcome him back!
from a purely footballing point of view, i think he would be a great signing coming off the back of probably his best season in the PL.
but team morale and harmony is also a vital part and, if he were to rock the boat, then we should probably look elsewhere.
shame though, i like the player a lot!
If we had the choice of Bellamy or Djibril Cisse I’d go for the Cisse. Great pace and wants to come back and play for us. Plus, he’s only 28 so has a few good years left in him 😉
No not a chance. Old & he complained of feeling sore after consecutive games last year. Move on, especially from bad news like this. Blood the youngsters.
Carlton Cole?
did you see him for wales tonight? outstanding. get him back even if its just to strengthen the squad. Although id rather see some 1 like young danny pacheco starting before him. the future looks bright for lfc
Bellamy is a player who will always
pass a good ball into the box he
is not selfish and yet a great
striker, at this moment I SAY (YES)
Alfred Wynne.