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Frozen out by Manchester City but Liverpool's Craig Bellamy has red hot form in the biggest games
The Welshman will hope to replicate his performances in previous crucial clashes and prove his worth against his former club in Sunday's Premier League showdown at Anfield
26 Nov 2011 09:00:00
Getty Images
PROFILE
By David Lynch
There’s something unjust about the easy cliché regarding Craig Bellamy as a man who is unable to stay out of trouble. That the misdemeanours of youth often frame each and every vicissitude of the Welshman’s career is perhaps unfair for a footballer widely known as both talented and dedicated.
A fact also often ignored in the clamour to highlight a well-documented fiery temper is Bellamy’s predilection to scoring goals on the biggest of stages. Ahead of Liverpool’s clash with his former club Manchester City, the 32-year-old will hope to ensure that post-match scrutiny is focussed on this more positive facet of his rather complex makeup.
The knack of netting in crucial encounters is one that the forward displayed early in his career, as fans of Newcastle United would happily attest. Having thrown away a 2-0 lead in a crucial Champions League clash against Feyenoord, and with Newcastle just minutes away from an exit at the first group stage, a 23-year-old Bellamy popped up to score a 90th-minute winner which sealed their progress at the expense of Dynamo Kiev.
Though Bobby Robson’s side failed to conquer the might of Inter and Barcelona in the following group stage, Bellamy had given Newcastle United the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with such giants of the game.
As he has aged, the former Norwich City academy graduate has made such moments of glory an even more regular feature of his game. Yet this still did not prevent eyebrows being raised upon his move two years ago from West Ham United to Manchester City, a club with money and on the up. He took little time to repay such faith from his former Wales boss Mark Hughes, however, with several virtuoso performances coming against some of the toughest opposition in the league.
Firstly, Bellamy found himself unfortunate to be on the losing side in a famously enthralling battle with Manchester United at Old Trafford. A late Michael Owen goal grabbed the glory for the Red Devils in a 4-3 win that day, and overshadowed the City striker’s spell-binding double – including a 90th-minute equaliser.
City performed as if the whole affair was an affront to the entire club, and nobody embodied that feeling more than Bellamy. Another brace this time brought a win at the home of the eventual champions, and Bellamy's determination was clear even in his post-match interview, commenting "we know what he's like" when asked about Terry.
Despite his fine form in such crucial encounters, Manchester City had decided they no longer wished to retain the services of their striker at the end of that season as they continued to build. A loan spell at hometown club Cardiff offered first-team football and the chance to stay fit – a stint marked by an 85th-minute winner against fierce South Wales rivals Swansea, of course – before a rightful return to the Premier League and boyhood heroes Liverpool beckoned.
Reds fans could count themselves amongst those who knew of Bellamy’s magic touch in big games as well as anyone following his spell there in 2006-07. In a clash at Camp Nou against Barcelona, with the Merseyside outfit far from favourites, Bellamy again turned water into wine.
Once more, the headlines before the match had focussed elsewhere. A pre-match training camp in Portugal had turned nasty when John Arne Riise refused to sing karaoke on a night out, and after Bellamy had squared up to his team-mate, he then tracked him down armed with a golf club and reportedly swung it at the Norwegian.
However, despite the furore and then going 1-0 down thanks to a Deco strike, the Reds fought back through a Bellamy header - followed by a ‘golf swing’ celebration - and then won the match through a Riise strike. Assisted by? Bellamy, of course.
Even Bellamy's short spell on loan at Celtic brought a winner against Rangers at Ibrox in an intense final Old Firm derby of the season billed as a title decider - except that a stunning 2-1 defeat by Motherwell on the final day allowed Alex McLeish's men to overhaul their rivals and deny Bellamy an SPL winners' medal.
Now back at Anfield - a place he never wanted to leave in the first place - Bellamy showed against Chelsea last time out that he can be a key contributor in the biggest of matches, laying on a classy assist for Maxi's opening goal.
Given the way he was frozen out by Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, Bellamy is not short of motivation when his previous club come calling at Anfield on Sunday. A big-game player with a point to prove against the Premier League's last unbeaten team this season - it's an encounter to relish.
By David Lynch
There’s something unjust about the easy cliché regarding Craig Bellamy as a man who is unable to stay out of trouble. That the misdemeanours of youth often frame each and every vicissitude of the Welshman’s career is perhaps unfair for a footballer widely known as both talented and dedicated.
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A fact also often ignored in the clamour to highlight a well-documented fiery temper is Bellamy’s predilection to scoring goals on the biggest of stages. Ahead of Liverpool’s clash with his former club Manchester City, the 32-year-old will hope to ensure that post-match scrutiny is focussed on this more positive facet of his rather complex makeup.
The knack of netting in crucial encounters is one that the forward displayed early in his career, as fans of Newcastle United would happily attest. Having thrown away a 2-0 lead in a crucial Champions League clash against Feyenoord, and with Newcastle just minutes away from an exit at the first group stage, a 23-year-old Bellamy popped up to score a 90th-minute winner which sealed their progress at the expense of Dynamo Kiev.
Though Bobby Robson’s side failed to conquer the might of Inter and Barcelona in the following group stage, Bellamy had given Newcastle United the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with such giants of the game.
As he has aged, the former Norwich City academy graduate has made such moments of glory an even more regular feature of his game. Yet this still did not prevent eyebrows being raised upon his move two years ago from West Ham United to Manchester City, a club with money and on the up. He took little time to repay such faith from his former Wales boss Mark Hughes, however, with several virtuoso performances coming against some of the toughest opposition in the league.
Firstly, Bellamy found himself unfortunate to be on the losing side in a famously enthralling battle with Manchester United at Old Trafford. A late Michael Owen goal grabbed the glory for the Red Devils in a 4-3 win that day, and overshadowed the City striker’s spell-binding double – including a 90th-minute equaliser.
Happier times | But now Bellamy has a point to prove to Roberto Mancini
| BELLAMY'S BEST BIG GAMES |
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| Newcastle 3-2 Feyenoord, 13/11/2002 Scored the opener and the eventual winner for Bobby Robson's men to take Newcastle through to the second phase of the Champions League. Rangers 1-2 Celtic, 24/4/2005 Scored the decisive second goal for Celtic in the Old Firm clash at Ibrox to help move Martin O'Neill's men five points clear at the top of SPL with four games remaining, but Rangers won the title. Barcelona 1-2 Liverpool, 21,2,2007 Was too good for Gianluca Zambrotta and scored a 43rd minute equaliser at Camp Nou. Celebrated with a golf swing after having allegedly attacked John Arne Riise with a golf club days earlier. Man United 4-3 Man City, 20/9/2009 Terrorised John O'Shea in the United defence with a livewire performance at Old Trafford. Lost the game late on but scored twice and was probably the best player on the pitch. Chelsea 2-4 Man City, 27/2/2010 Was near unstoppable on the left flank in the game made famous by Waybe Bridge's famous handshake snub of John Terry. Bellamy dominated Branislav Ivanovic and scored twice to dent Chelsea's title hopes. |
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Despite his fine form in such crucial encounters, Manchester City had decided they no longer wished to retain the services of their striker at the end of that season as they continued to build. A loan spell at hometown club Cardiff offered first-team football and the chance to stay fit – a stint marked by an 85th-minute winner against fierce South Wales rivals Swansea, of course – before a rightful return to the Premier League and boyhood heroes Liverpool beckoned.
Reds fans could count themselves amongst those who knew of Bellamy’s magic touch in big games as well as anyone following his spell there in 2006-07. In a clash at Camp Nou against Barcelona, with the Merseyside outfit far from favourites, Bellamy again turned water into wine.
Once more, the headlines before the match had focussed elsewhere. A pre-match training camp in Portugal had turned nasty when John Arne Riise refused to sing karaoke on a night out, and after Bellamy had squared up to his team-mate, he then tracked him down armed with a golf club and reportedly swung it at the Norwegian.
However, despite the furore and then going 1-0 down thanks to a Deco strike, the Reds fought back through a Bellamy header - followed by a ‘golf swing’ celebration - and then won the match through a Riise strike. Assisted by? Bellamy, of course.
Even Bellamy's short spell on loan at Celtic brought a winner against Rangers at Ibrox in an intense final Old Firm derby of the season billed as a title decider - except that a stunning 2-1 defeat by Motherwell on the final day allowed Alex McLeish's men to overhaul their rivals and deny Bellamy an SPL winners' medal.
Now back at Anfield - a place he never wanted to leave in the first place - Bellamy showed against Chelsea last time out that he can be a key contributor in the biggest of matches, laying on a classy assist for Maxi's opening goal.
Given the way he was frozen out by Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, Bellamy is not short of motivation when his previous club come calling at Anfield on Sunday. A big-game player with a point to prove against the Premier League's last unbeaten team this season - it's an encounter to relish.
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
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