Is Bellamy worth another punt?

[Red Sauce]

I'm sure it's been discussed before, but anyone else feel Craig Bellamy would be worth bringing back?
I'd prefer him ahead of some of the names linked..Cisse, Beattie. He's a proven premiership striker, pacy, still got some ability, passionate and committed and probably cheap.

[Smithy]

Like him as a player, but seem to recall reading somewhere that he thinks he's only got another year or so left in him because of his dodgy knees.

Not sure if he's worth £7m to be honest. A good player, and definatley a better option than most who have been linked to us.

[stevie harkness]

Yes.

I like Bellamy, i'd much rather have him than Cisse or Beattie!

Defenders don't like playing against him, he scores goals, has fire in his belly, he loves a battle, and doesn't hide, which are all qualities we need next season. Okay he's no spring chicken anymore and i'm not sure if he's a 'Roy' kinda player but i'd take a punt on him if the price was right.

[Theschultx]

The guy has a heart of gold, but a short temper. Only downside would be that I would be concerned about disruption to the squad if someone pisses him off...

[nickJFT96]

He'd improve our squad no doubt about that but he's not worth silly money.

[South African]

at the right price yes.

will give us options on the left and back up to Torres

[Leviathan]

If it was just a matter of ability, yes!

As there is a history of attitude, hmmmmmm not so sure.

Besides... Agger, Skrtel, Torres, Bellamy... the 'who's got the most tattoos' competition might become a bit excessive ;)

[ger_ryan22]

He had a good season last year, I particularly enjoyed his goals against the rags at Old Trafford but as a man, I can't stand him. I think we should look elsewhere.

[Thomas18]

If we get enough t money for Babel (brum or rumoured to be interested again) then I'd def like to see him on the left for us

[Racing_in_the_Street]

I'm sure it's been discussed before, but anyone else feel Craig Bellamy would be worth bringing back?
I'd prefer him ahead of some of the names linked..Cisse, Beattie. He's a proven premiership striker, pacy, still got some ability, passionate and committed and probably cheap.

Surely everybody knows that Beats only scores goals when playing for a team that plays in Red and White stripes!

[Red Sauce]

I did enjoy his John Terry comments. I can't help feel he's just misunderstood at times. A bit of fight and attitude wouldn't go amiss at the moment.
I would imagine Harry 'i don't like to talk about other players but I'd love to have him here' Redknapp will be sniffing round.

[redsam]

Bellamy is about 30 now and is surplus to requirements at Man City.

He should be available for a reasonable price. I'd have him back if we could pick him up for around £6m.

[duncmac]

I agree that Bellamy might be an ok option but would prefer Lennon or Navas. More expensive in know but why are we seemingly backtracking with ex-players, rather than looking to alternatives.

[duncmac]

I did enjoy his John Terry comments. I can't help feel he's just misunderstood at times. A bit of fight and attitude wouldn't go amiss at the moment.
I would imagine Harry 'i don't like to talk about other players but I'd love to have him here' Redknapp will be sniffing round.

First, agreed. We need fight and second - he is, or so Ive read.

[vin]

No thanks.

[fuzzball]

if bellamy is going for handy money then i'd be happy enough to get him back , he's still pacey

[gazza447]

I liked him as a player and thought we could have got more out of him then we did. I ws happy with our strike force back then. Crouch as the tall target man option, bellamy the pacey striker who would play in the channels and get in behind, fowler the experienced and lethal finisher and i forget who the fourth striker was at the time. 4 strikers though......those were the days!! lol

[duncmac]

I liked him as a player and thought we could have got more out of him then we did. I ws happy with our strike force back then. Crouch as the tall target man option, bellamy the pacey striker who would play in the channels and get in behind, fowler the experienced and lethal finisher and i forget who the fourth striker was at the time. 4 strikers though......those were the days!! lol

Did we know how fortunate we were:) Ridiculous that we cant expect to have 4 reasonable strikers at the one time:(

[stevie harkness]

I liked him as a player and thought we could have got more out of him then we did. I ws happy with our strike force back then. Crouch as the tall target man option, bellamy the pacey striker who would play in the channels and get in behind, fowler the experienced and lethal finisher and i forget who the fourth striker was at the time. 4 strikers though......those were the days!! lol

I seem to remember Roy Evans (or was it Houllier? or both?) being slated for having 4 strikers at the club, Evans had Rush, Fowler, Collymore plus one... ...until it was pointed out that that's what you need if you play 2 strikers, so if one is injured there is still competition for places. You're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't. But i'd rather have four strikers myself like

[tk2010]

surely wed have to have a go at him for this price?

"Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp wants to do a bargain deal for Manchester City's Craig Bellamy - after backing out of the Joe Cole chase.

Redknapp is keen to land long-term target Bellamy and hopes City will let him go on the cheap, possibly as little as £3million, after replacing him with Spanish star David Silva."

[Leviathan]

surely wed have to have a go at him for this price?

"Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp wants to do a bargain deal for Manchester City's Craig Bellamy - after backing out of the Joe Cole chase.

Redknapp is keen to land long-term target Bellamy and hopes City will let him go on the cheap, possibly as little as £3million, after replacing him with Spanish star David Silva."

ha ha ha, that's complete crap, Harry!

Whether Man City want him or not, or can afford to lose him for a cheap price or not, you've got to be looking at £6-8m minimum for Bellamy, surely.

[Leviathan]

And in answer to the original thread:

There's only 1 club he's played more than 50 League games for in the last 10 years :eek: ... doesn't that tell you something about Bellamy?

[South African]

surely wed have to have a go at him for this price?

"Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp wants to do a bargain deal for Manchester City's Craig Bellamy - after backing out of the Joe Cole chase.

Redknapp is keen to land long-term target Bellamy and hopes City will let him go on the cheap, possibly as little as £3million, after replacing him with Spanish star David Silva."

I agree, when he got Kranjar for 2m, I was p*ssed off as I think he was worth a punt at that price.

[LIVERPOOL6]

I agree, when he got Kranjar for 2m, I was p*ssed off as I think he was worth a punt at that price.

definetly i said that last year as it was happening kranjar is a far better player than 2 mill, wasnt a risk at all everyone could see it but premier league managers.


I would take Bellers back for anything under 8 mill, great option always gives his all and seems to have a bit of an x factor. i like him

[fiordearg]

redknapp is linked with him for 3million. perhaps for that fee he'd be worth a return. he'd add to the squad certainly. think he has grown up a bit also.

[fowler]

redknapp is linked with him for 3million. perhaps for that fee he'd be worth a return. he'd add to the squad certainly. think he has grown up a bit also. if it was 3m i wouldnt hesitate, personally i think his worth abt near 5m

[andypandy]

Does he bring his own golf clubs?

Not one for me given his attitude and he is a bit past it now.

[rixf666]

although i wasnt keen on him when he was here, he was probably man city's best player last season so i'd take him back if the price was right.

[RedWanderer]

Unless Bellamy is an unknown whizz at LB I wouldn't take him. He's a good player, and a great value at that price, but where exactly does he fit? We're looking at a lineup of something like:

Maxi/Kuyt Gerrard/Aquilani Jovanovic/Babel/Riera

Torres/Remy

This is assuming the Remy thing is true. Given that Remy can also play that LW/ST position, and we possibly have Joe Cole coming in who can also play any of the 3 behind the striker, what exactly are we to do with Bellamy? Take over the 3rd role in the Torres position from N'Gog? We have bigger problems than that right now.

I know, we could get shut of one or two of these players, and if we were to drop two of them (say Babel and Riera) then it might be worth thinking about. However, as things stand it doesn't make a lot of sense. He might not have a big transfer fee, but his wages won't be negligible and if we add Cole there won't be a lot of room there.

Just because someone is a good deal doesn't mean he's a good deal for all clubs. We need to take that transfer/wage money and apply it to getting a starting LB.

[South African]

Unless Bellamy is an unknown whizz at LB I wouldn't take him. He's a good player, and a great value at that price, but where exactly does he fit? We're looking at a lineup of something like:

Maxi/Kuyt Gerrard/Aquilani Jovanovic/Babel/Riera

Torres/Remy

This is assuming the Remy thing is true. Given that Remy can also play that LW/ST position, and we possibly have Joe Cole coming in who can also play any of the 3 behind the striker, what exactly are we to do with Bellamy? Take over the 3rd role in the Torres position from N'Gog? We have bigger problems than that right now.

I know, we could get shut of one or two of these players, and if we were to drop two of them (say Babel and Riera) then it might be worth thinking about. However, as things stand it doesn't make a lot of sense. He might not have a big transfer fee, but his wages won't be negligible and if we add Cole there won't be a lot of room there.

Just because someone is a good deal doesn't mean he's a good deal for all clubs. We need to take that transfer/wage money and apply it to getting a starting LB.

Based on the players you mentioned there, he would be my first choice left wing / left striker and second choice striker.

Remy is unproven in the Premiership and you cannot say Jovanovic/Babel/Riera is better than Bellamy IMo of coure

[SteelWool]

If we're talking about the Craig Bellamy who played for City last year then maybe.

But if we're talking about the Craig Bellamy who played for us then no.

[RedsLFCStevieG]

With Maxi going... I think Bellers would make an ideal replacement. He can play on either side and could be signed for cheap as City need to rid of him due to the 25 man rule.

[seamusseamus]

If we're talking about the Craig Bellamy who played for City last year then maybe.

But if we're talking about the Craig Bellamy who played for us then no.

I think Bellamy was just another striker who Benitez didn't know how to utilise, another manager might do better.

Out of all the strikers Benitez managed at the club, only 2 met the grade: Torres and Crouch.

The fact that players of the calibre of Morientes, Bellamy, and Keane failed under him says a lot to me about his type of management. And then you've also got Baros, Voronin, Pongolle, Mellor, Babel, Kuyt, N'gog, Fowler, Cisse who failed under him. We didn't expect great things from all of these but only 2 out of 14 strikers who played for Liverpool under Benitez actually made the grade (at least upfront).

Bellamy would be a good signing, especially if we could get him cheap. He still has bags of pace and trickery, if only we'd use him properly this time.

[SteelWool]

I think Bellamy was just another striker who Benitez didn't know how to utilise, another manager might do better.

Out of all the strikers Benitez managed at the club, only 2 met the grade: Torres and Crouch.

The fact that players of the calibre of Morientes, Bellamy, and Keane failed under him says a lot to me about his type of management. And then you've also got Baros, Voronin, Pongolle, Mellor, Babel, Kuyt, N'gog, Fowler, Cisse who failed under him. We didn't expect great things from all of these but only 2 out of 14 strikers who played for Liverpool under Benitez actually made the grade (at least upfront).

Bellamy would be a good signing, especially if we could get him cheap. He still has bags of pace and trickery, if only we'd use him properly this time.

I don't agree that N'Gog has been a failure, think there's a lot to come from him. The rest of them are up for debate but I think you do have a point in there.

Bellamy? Still no. He did show what he was about in the first half of last season, but I have my doubts about whether he can play with Torres and post city his wages would probably be a bit high to have him as a bit part player.

[nickJFT96]

I think Bellamy was just another striker who Benitez didn't know how to utilise, another manager might do better.

Out of all the strikers Benitez managed at the club, only 2 met the grade: Torres and Crouch.

The fact that players of the calibre of Morientes, Bellamy, and Keane failed under him says a lot to me about his type of management. And then you've also got Baros, Voronin, Pongolle, Mellor, Babel, Kuyt, N'gog, Fowler, Cisse who failed under him. We didn't expect great things from all of these but only 2 out of 14 strikers who played for Liverpool under Benitez actually made the grade (at least upfront).

Bellamy would be a good signing, especially if we could get him cheap. He still has bags of pace and trickery, if only we'd use him properly this time.

Yes it, certainly does.

And the fact that only Rafa has been able to get the best out of the likes of Crouch and Torres says even more.

[stevie harkness]

The point has already been made that Bellamy said he only has one more season in him.

I can't believe people are so ready to fuck off Maxi just because of a rumour.

And even if the rumour is true it doesn't mean it will happen.

It's not the last "Liverpool to sell..." rumour we will hear this summer.

[South African]

I think Bellamy was just another striker who Benitez didn't know how to utilise, another manager might do better.

Out of all the strikers Benitez managed at the club, only 2 met the grade: Torres and Crouch.

The fact that players of the calibre of Morientes, Bellamy, and Keane failed under him says a lot to me about his type of management. And then you've also got Baros, Voronin, Pongolle, Mellor, Babel, Kuyt, N'gog, Fowler, Cisse who failed under him. We didn't expect great things from all of these but only 2 out of 14 strikers who played for Liverpool under Benitez actually made the grade (at least upfront).

Bellamy would be a good signing, especially if we could get him cheap. He still has bags of pace and trickery, if only we'd use him properly this time.

Sorry, but thats just a load of nonsence! end off

[red4life86]

Yes it, certainly does.

And the fact that only Rafa has been able to get the best out of the likes of Crouch and Torres says even more.

Can you explain why it says even more? Surely that would be used as a stick to beat Rafa with as oppossed to proving a positive towards him. I'd say Rafa's strength is how he got the team to be so effective even with players that others deem to have "not made it".

Also

Crouch under Rafa = 1 in 3.86

Crouch under Redknapp = 1 in 3.32 (2.85 if you include his spell as director of football at Portsmouth in 2001/2002)

[nickJFT96]

Can you explain why it says even more? Surely that would be used as a stick to beat Rafa with as oppossed to proving a positive towards him. I'd say Rafa's strength is how he got the team to be so effective even with players that others deem to have "not made it".

Also

Crouch under Rafa = 1 in 3.86

Crouch under Redknapp = 1 in 3.32 (2.85 if you include his spell as director of football at Portsmouth in 2001/2002)

Benitez management was blamed for not being able to produce the expected results with player x, y and z.

But since these players left the club, what exactly have they done? Or are their new managers to blame for that as well?

To answer your question; I think it says more about Rafa that he was able to mould the likes of Torres and Crouch* than his inability to get the best out of players who have since gone on and done very little.

You can certainly question some of the signings he made but I don't agree that his management methods/tactics were to blame for their lack of success.


*With regards to the Crouch stats, I'm quite sure I remember reading Harry saying that Crouch's time at Anfield 'made him' as a player.

[red4life86]

Benitez management was blamed for not being able to produce the expected results with player x, y and z.

But since these players left the club, what exactly have they done? Or are their new managers to blame for that as well?

To answer your question; I think it says more about Rafa that he was able to mould the likes of Torres and Crouch* than his inability to get the best out of players who have since gone on and done very little.

You can certainly question some of the signings he made but I don't agree that his management methods/tactics were to blame for their lack of success.


*With regards to the Crouch stats, I'm quite sure I remember reading Harry saying that Crouch's time at Anfield 'made him' as a player.

I think Rafa thinks of the team as a whole and that's what makes some individuals stand out less and some see their time as a failure. I don't like Bellamy as a person but I'd never say his time here was a failure. I think Rafa can be accredited with increasing quite a few players playing career but we have to be realistic and say that his style certainly didn't help and indeed hampered quite a few.

*With regards to Crouch, his ratio in England was 1 in 3.16 (1 in 3.55 in the top flight) before he joined us, 3.86 with us and 1 in 4 since he left. He actually played better under Redknapp before Rafa took him under his wing so maybe 'arry was just being nice towards us, he genrally does say complementary things about Liverpool. It could also mean that we bought Crouch as he was on a decline but I'm not sure he benefited completely with Rafa as his manager or that we utilized him fully.

[XabiAlonso]

He had a good season last year, I particularly enjoyed his goals against the rags at Old Trafford but as a man, I can't stand him. I think we should look elsewhere.

http://www.craigbellamyfoundation.org/

Nowt wrong with him as a person as far as im concerned.

Football wise, i would snap him up if the price was right, did he really get a good go for us, bit of unfinished business maybe? He's the type of 'rather playing for you than against you' player.

[nickJFT96]

I think Rafa thinks of the team as a whole and that's what makes some individuals stand out less and some see their time as a failure. I don't like Bellamy as a person but I'd never say his time here was a failure. I think Rafa can be accredited with increasing quite a few players playing career but we have to be realistic and say that his style certainly didn't help and indeed hampered quite a few.

*With regards to Crouch, his ratio in England was 1 in 3.16 (1 in 3.55 in the top flight) before he joined us, 3.86 with us and 1 in 4 since he left. He actually played better under Redknapp before Rafa took him under his wing so maybe 'arry was just being nice towards us, he genrally does say complementary things about Liverpool. It could also mean that we bought Crouch as he was on a decline but I'm not sure he benefited completely with Rafa as his manager or that we utilized him fully.

The same can be said about any manager though - countless examples of very good footballers moving to a club and ultimately not fitting in with the manager's philosophy.

Re Crouch: It's not just about his goals though. His overall play/game intelligence/tactical awareness improved when he was with us. To be honest, I think he only started being taken 'seriously' when he played for us.

[red4life86]

The same can be said about any manager though - countless examples of very good footballers moving to a club and ultimately not fitting in with the manager's philosophy.

Re Crouch: It's not just about his goals though. His overall play/game intelligence/tactical awareness improved when he was with us. To be honest, I think he only started being taken 'seriously' when he played for us.

I agree completely that it could be said about any manager which is why i don't understand this comment:

Yes it, certainly does.

And the fact that only Rafa has been able to get the best out of the likes of Crouch and Torres says even more.

To me it says Rafa is the same as other managers as you have indicated in your last post. Why does it say more? Turning a great player into a world class player is certainly an achievment but so is turning an average or good player into a great player.

Rafa's strength was creating a team of okay players around a spine of great players and making it work (last season apart). As you yourself said, none of the other players have gone onto great things, although Bellamy and Crouch were in teams competing for a place in the CL long after we were.

So apologies for being thick here, but the way you've explained it means Rafa's the same not that it says more about his improving Torres rather than failing on numerous others, in the words of Tom Hanks "I don't get it".

Re Crouch: He'd just established himself in the England squad as we signed him so I'd say he was being taken seriously, I'm fairly certain his assist ratio playing alongside Beatie was his best in the prem in a season as well so I think his awareness was okay. Rafa's persitency in playing him until he scored led me to believe he was highly regarded and going to be key to our future success, but again, I don't think he was utilised to the best of his abilities and I don't think left the club with the feeling that Rafa had made him a better player to be honest.