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Liverpool: Why Kenny Will Succeed With Bellamy Where Rafa Failed
If managed and used correctly, the signing of Craig Bellamy could be a masterstroke by Kenny Dalglish. But can the player and his boyhood idol gel to propel Liverpool towards the title?
In the summer of 2006 Liverpool signed the volatile pair of Craig Bellamy and Jermaine Pennant to add a bit of nastiness and Premier League guile. Both allegedly ‘boyhood’ Liverpool fans, Rafa signed them on the back of good seasons with Blackburn and Birmingham respectively and both of them failed massively. Bellamy was shipped out after a season and Pennant played less and less until he ended up at Stoke, via Spain, and re-ignited his reputation as an English winger who could run and cross at the same time (Lennon, Walcott, take note).
The problem with the pair of them, and why they couldn’t gel with Benitez, was that they are both maverick, instinctive, players. And not nice mavericks, like Luis Garcia, who probably popped round to Casa Rafa twice a week to cook Paella, but nasty mavericks who want to go out on the pitch every week to prove that they were as good as their early career promised. I’m not here to slate Rafa, but it was clear with both of these players that he filled their heads with so many tactical instructions that their natural games suffered. I can’t be alone in thinking Pennant would’ve flourished under Kenny, who would surely have simply told him to ‘beat the man, put the cross in, help the fullback out when you can.’
With Bellamy the instruction will be even simpler, wherever he plays on the pitch. “Go and terrorise them.” For my money there is no better player in the Premier League when they have a point to prove. His first 12 months at Manchester City showed that when he is played in a fluid front three and allowed to pop up all over the pitch, Bellamy is a royal pain in the harris for any defender, just ask Rio Ferdinand, who he memorably roasted in the derby.
Personally, I’ve got a slight lump in my trousers at the thought of a fluid front three of Bellamy, Kuyt and Suarez at home
With Carroll looking worryingly ineffectual / not bothered / not fit / lazy / whatever at present, it has been clear that we need another striker who can play in a variety of positions and we couldn’t have signed anyone better on a free transfer. Stoke have spent £12 million on Crouch, who dictates a certain style of play, Bellamy can play up front on his own, on either wing where his searing pace and good crossing ability makes him a danger and wide or central in a front three.
The telling thing about last night was that no-one mentioned the baggage of Bellamy, or the need to keep him in check, and this is because of Dalglish. A man manager on a par with Ferguson, he will know exactly what to do with Bellamy and anyone who reckons he will merely be an impact player should think again. Personally, I’ve got a slight lump in my trousers at the thought of a fluid front three of Bellamy, Kuyt and Suarez at home. Can you imagine marking that? Three players who work twice as hard as most, boast pace, trickery, a never say die attitude and are all good finishers.
Mark Bright was moved to say on Twitter this morning that the signing of Bellamy elevates Liverpool to definite title challengers and, though I’m trying to contain myself, I couldn’t agree more. And not just because of his playing ability. The other side of Bellamy, something that Mark Hughes constantly said, is that he is a winner and perfectionist who constantly demands high standards from this around him. I imagine if the player is full of negativity, this is destructive, but with the atmosphere at Anfield and Melwood one of universal happiness, this facet of his personality can only be a good thing.
And boy is he happy. “I’ve grown up with Kenny Dalglish, now to be signed by him is a massive honour. This is an exciting time. When Kenny took over, watching as a fan last season I got the buzz as well and it was great to see Liverpool end the season well. For me, the players they’ve signed this summer, there has been a lot of British which takes me back to when I started watching Liverpool. It looks so familiar to me and to be part of it is such a huge honour. “
Welcome back Craig. Just don’t hit Andy Carroll with your 7 Iron, he’s bigger than you and will probably try and sh*g you with it.
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COMMENTS
Bellamy didn't do badly under Rafa, 7 goals from 27 appearances. 1 goal, 1 assist at the Nou Camp too, so not too shabby. He was sold to raise money for Torres otherwise Rafa would probably have persisted. Also, why slag Carroll only 3 games in to the new season? He's a seriously good player and once his team mates (paricularly Hendo and Stu Downing) realise he's even more lethal off the floor with his left than he is in the air with his noggin, he'll be banging them in left (maybe not right) and centre. Give the lad some time ffs...
Good point Pablo it was our unfortunate sell-to-buy policy that saw Bellamy shipped off. We obviously got the world class upgrade in Torres but then there was no squad depth or second option. Am a bit concerned by Carroll though not only his 4 games (had 70 poor minutes v Exeter even though he took his goal well) but preseason (where he also scored a few) the body language and interaction with his team mates seems to be off. Am more than happy to give him the season but am also happy to have another option for his starting place in Bellamy.
Nice piece...Bellamy was a no brainer.....not only do Scouser's love him for scoring in the Nou Camp.....teeing off on John Arne (he did have one of those faces and was a ging) as well as roasting Rio like a leg of lamb in the manc derby....he's probably the best player around at winding up the opposition, being a general irritating f@cker and pissing all over John Terry in public (10 bonus points) From start to finish he's in the ear of anyone that comes close enough to get a portion of his welsh wit...Stevie was even quoting as saying "he's one of those players you want to play with rather than against" for this very reason and it's no lie that there is a place for at least one of these characters in your team...it's essential. Ability and pace in abundance.....he'll be as good as gold for Kenny...no bother there. Just a quick note on Carroll, yes he needs time but the jury is very much out...he looks like he's put on a pound or two....is blowing after 25 minutes and is a good few yards off the pace (did you watch the Arsenal game?).....Yes he's only played a handful of games but we did play £35m for the boy...for that alone he should of been fit and firing on all cylinders by now not just swinging that axe of a left boot at any sniff he gets as a get out of jail card. I think he'll come good though...Kenny will perhaps take him to Westlife this time to cheer the jygarmiester up!
"front three of Bellamy, Kuyt and Suarez at home. Can you imagine marking that? Three players who work twice as hard as most, boast pace, trickery, a never say die attitude and are all good finishers." That will be the key to Liverpool-hard work,I heard on the transfer dealine day bullshit that Liverpool were offering Dirk K about I thought "Kenny would rather pull his own knackers off than get rid of DK(cos of his dogged workrate)". So I knew to dismiss it as bollocks-and I was right.(wish the Villa had signed him!)
The Nutter with the Putter has a point or two of unfinished business at Anfield. On his day, like all strikers, he's a pain. But with Taffy there's an added edge that's been missing from Anfield until the arrival of the Anfield Man Eater - Luis Suarez. They are both ultra competitve and bring fire to their game. They seem not only to want to beat their opponants but to really piss them off along the way. If both can keep their temper, and so far Luis has (Taffy please take note) then LFC's front men are going to cause absolute uproar in the EPL. As for instructions... Don't think either of them speak Kenny. Then again I'm reminded of the first game Keegan played for us. He asked Shanks what he should do and got the reply *Just go and throw a few handgrendades out there son." I think Mighty Mouse got the message. So will Taffy and Luis. Looking forward to see how United's defence will cope with these two. If they didn't like our former number 9... Fernando something or other - they are going to bloody HATE these two. Should be fun.
I think Bellamy will be a useful addition but i have concerns about his influence in the dressing room, particularly on Carroll, who may have attitude problems already. I hope Kenny does know how to manage the two of them. It would be a shame if poor discipline upset our momentum later in the season.p
yknow, this is why kenny is "king" Trust me you wont dethrone a team that has owned the top (read man united) with pussies and tactical crap. You will do it the hard way. Thats what even the Lakers out here in LA have learned. sure you need your stars, but you need the bad-asses to hold them up so they can do their stuff. And trust me all great franchise teams have had players like that, no matter what the sport.
Bellamy "is a winner"? What has he ever won? It's like people claiming Joey Barton is a winner, realistically they've both won f-all.
"During his career, Bellamy has won the Scottish Cup and FA Community Shield. He has also been criticised for his behaviour both on and off the pitch, but has accumulated thousands of pounds for various charities and has also established a football academy in Sierra Leone" WINNER!
@BigRed1 - I think it's Fernando Borres......certainly is now anyways!
Eh up Kenny, towards the end many on the Kop regarded him as El Sulkio... Guess he needed the money though.
Pennant would not have flourished under Kenny because he would never got near the first team. The adjectives you use to describe Carroll are perfect for pennant except you could have added shitbag. Carroll's 3 games into the season and you're slating him while gushing about a 32 year old journeyman who may or may not be a winning free bet.
Chris, I'm not slating him fuck me. Just echoing what a lot of supporters have said. He needs a kick up the arse ad to realise who he is playing for. I bet if I had a go at Phil Babb you'd get your arse out. Wise up, people are allowed to love the club and criticise.
Eh up Owen, agree with the last bit - you can love and winge. Andy does seem to have a bit of a monkey on his back at the present. He seems fitter than before (not too difficult I must admit) but something is missing. Probably good performances week in week out. It's just not clicking for him - but if and when it does he's going to be a handful. The Nutter with the Putter also just might prove a lot of people wrong and show that there's life in the old maniac yet. Got booked for the Taffs again tonight so there's still life in the old dog yet.
So suggesting he's lazy, not bothered, ineffectual or unfit isn't slating him? Obviously it is, whether you want to justify it by claiming other fans are saying the same thing is irrelevant. I agree that fans will love the club and still criticise, what I'm suggesting is you at least give the lad a chance, maybe it's you who needs to wise up.
Simon Jordan, in one of his great Observer columns, called Bellamy "an imbecilic little gobshite". Nothing I've seen in his career since has changed my mind that Jordan was right. He's a narky little git, his off-field antics are allegedly reprehensible. He will have one season in this spell where he has some good games, more bad games where he can't be arsed, then he'll have an off season, then he'll move on. As to Pennant, a friend of mine who owns a Gentleman's Grooming Salon and the blokje who owns the chippie across the road are the only people in Liverpool who miss him. Two goals, one of those a rebound when he was too slow jumping out of the way, a playing pattern similar to Bellamy - it wasn't that Rafa was too technical, it was that he didn't recognise that the two shared one brain cell and that it was usually kept by whichever of the two wasn't playing that day.
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