The Craig Bellamy Mystery - MCFC | Manchester City Fans

Manchester City have joined the long line of clubs to be taken by Craig Bellamy’s battling qualities. That Mark Hughes knows the player is undoubtedly of some benefit, as long as Mark Hughes remains manager. But he remains a player that fans of most clubs would rather not have in their side. £43m has now been spent by clubs buying him during his career. Does City’s £14m share of that make sense? What impact will he have on the dressing room?

Bellamy on the move, "They (Hughes and his coaching team) know me better than anybody-else in the football game, and they are people I completely trust in.

"They have progressed me massively, and I owe them a lot. The added bonus is that it's Manchester City and the way it is going at the moment with possibly one or two more players coming in over the top of me.

"I'm fortunate that this opportunity has come along, and I am grateful. I feel I am at my peak and I hope over the next few years to perform really well here."

Bellamy on his move to West Ham, "I want to put down club roots and produce the best football of my career." Hmm.

As Danny Pugsley from Bitter and Blue points out, “I still find it difficult to see quite how he fits into our formation - something I will follow with interest, as I don't believe he has ever had much success as a lone striker and surely we would benefit far greater from a striker with a real presence to lead the line.”

Of our three transfers so far this one seems to make the least sense. More worryingly one has to ask if we are actually building a team. This strange mix of alienated Eriksson-era players, players thriving, new Hughes signings, and Robinho plus any future mega stars doesn't really feel like a cohesive unit. As it stands the best option is surely to see out the rest of the season and hope Hughes pulls off a decent finish.

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Comments

written on 22-Jan-2009
thrillhammer says:
Maybe he will give better options for other formations, unlike sven
written on 22-Jan-2009
Tslater says:
we need strikers, because most of our goals are coming from midfield, not up front
written on 22-Jan-2009
Erik the Blue Yank says:
Hughes loves players that will work their tails off, both in training and on the pitch. Bellamy has that work ethic. Bellamy also has pace, there is no doubt. We lack pace up top for the most part. Nery Castillo showed he had pace to burn last year but had no "touch" with the ball so was ineffective. Bellamy might not be a meastro up top compared to the likes of Torres etc, but he can finish nicely with good service from his midfield and wide defenders. Our current team is supplying good service to the strikers so here is a chance to take advantage of that. If the service to him it quality, he should capitalize. His pace makes him dangerous. Teams already know that and will try and respect that. In theory, it should help creat space for otehrs to creat and attack. It isnt' my favorit signing but I don't think it will be a bust either. We now have what appears to be a deep workable defensive line-up to choose from at the back... I like our chances to move up intot he top half of the table and strike a good finish by the end of the season.
written on 22-Jan-2009
Mike says:
Our midfield has been pretty good all season. It's the strikers and Dunne and Richards who have let us down so far. I honestly believe Dunne feels he will be going soon so isnt bothered when he plays, which in turn is having an effect on Richards. Jo looks the part on youtube, I can't understand what has happened there.

Bellamy will hold the ball up for Robbie to feed off.
written on 22-Jan-2009
malcylon says:
Thanks for the good comments chaps much appreciated. We need firepower no doubt about that. Interested to see how he fits in.
written on 22-Jan-2009
El Caco says:
I dont think Bellamy is for the future.. He might help us til the end of the season, but in the summer his gone. Anyway, I hope the team will be like this:
Hart
Zab Richards Kompany Bridge

De Jong
Ireland
SWP Robinho
Sturridge
Bellamy

Perhaps Elano should be there, but in that case, where?
written on 22-Jan-2009
Mac says:
Hmm I was thinking of a similar formation only more like

away:

Hart
Richards Dunne Kompany Bridge
Zabaleta De Jong
Swp Ireland Rob
Any striker*

Home:

Hart
Zabaleta Dunne Kompany Bridge
De Jong
Swp Elano Rob
Ireland
Any striker*

* = ok Sturridge or Bellamy
written on 23-Jan-2009
Zammospider says:
Talk to fans of any club that Bellamy has played for and they love him. He will get a really good recpetion from Newcastle fans next Wendsday. He will do really well for us. Let's be a bit more positive lads.......
written on 23-Jan-2009
roop says:
Bellamy has one of the worst goals to games record in the premiership bar Alan Smith.

Spending 14M on a 30 year old has been who has flattered to deceive at every big club he has played for and has only shown any signs of form at a minnow like West Ham (he also still only scored 3 goals this season despite starting almost every game so even that kind of form doesn't cost 14M

To the bloke who said that all clubs who have had him loved him that is only true in part, they loved him initially because he looks so threatening with his pace and dynamic runs with the ball however they also got increasingly frustrated with the total lack of end product and often exceptionally poor finishing from him.

I also don't think many Wales fans, Blackburn or Liverpool fans would agree that he was an iconic player for them in any way

He is a little like David Bentley, an undeniable talent who never quite uses it to his full potential.

In other words good luck city, you will need it as Bellamy isn't going to win you anything or make the club seem credible in any way, an utter waste of money on a player with an ego the size of the moon.
written on 23-Jan-2009
Cities Going Down With A Billion In The Bank says:
Where's Robhino - He's f'd off, probably didnt realise the magic that Craig Bellamy is. I see the galactico era has started already!

Where's Kaka - i thought if I filled up my car he would buy you Kaka? Did he realise that he just doesnt want to be involved in a relegation battle, or that there is only one club in the whole of England he would actually consider playing for!
written on 23-Jan-2009
dazmcfc10 says:
CGDWABITB Grow up city are building there squad we wont be a great team over night Nigel De Jong was wanted by Real,Barcolana and Arsenal so it proves we can compete with the major clubs in the transfer market. Wayne Bridge could walk into nearly all premier teams and we will see at the end of the season

my team
Hart
Zabaletta Richards Kompany Bridge

SWP De Jong Robinho Ireland
Bellamy Drogba
written on 23-Jan-2009
Blueski says:
Keep dreaming Cities Going Down With A Billion In The Bank.

It's nice to know that you cry yourself to sleep each night worrying about us. Shame that you don't have the guts to state your own allegiance.
written on 23-Jan-2009
jay says:
Its 15 billion.
written on 23-Jan-2009
malcylon says:
We'd like to point out that since publishing the above article we have been in contact with the Craig Bellamy Foundation, which is a charitable foundation setup to provide footballing roots in war-torn Sierra Leone. We hope that Mr. Bellamy recognises the separation of our editorial work from our charitable work and wish him all the best at Manchester City. We'll be at the game to welcome him onto the pitch against his old club.
written on 24-Jan-2009
common sense says:
Bellamy has pace - for a game or two then he's on the injury list for the next six weeks. He's a good finisher...if finishing one of every TWENTY chances is considered 'good' - and I won't even bother mentioning his habit of ignoring teammates who might be in a better scoring position. And he must be a fun guy to play with...as long as you don't find yourself on the wrong end of a golf club (remember John Arne Riise a couple of years ago?) or don't mind constant whining on the pitch (and I'd imagine it'd only be worse in the dressing room). West Ham are the winners in this deal!
written on 03-Mar-2009
LUKE says:
COMMON SENSE U R A FOOL BELLAMY HAS BEEN AMAZING 4 US ISTANBUL ISTANBUL WE R COMNING
written on 04-Mar-2009
JimmyGrimbleallgrownup. says:
Hope you are right Luke!

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