by JC_81 » Mon Jun 19, 2006 1:27 pm
If anyone has read 'A season on the brink' (which gives good insight into Benitez's management), then they will know that Bellamy is a player who would certainly interest Benitez. He likes his forwards to drop deep when we're not in possession and fight for the ball (something he couldn't believe our strikers didn't do when he arrived at the club), but also to be able to link play well. He also recognises the fact that aggressive players are an absolute must to succeed in the premiership. Bellamy has all of these qualities imo.
My one concern about Bellamy is not his temperament (which I believe the influence of our coaching staff, Gerrard, Carra etc would soon sort out - and also the fact Bellamy is coming to the age where he should be mature enough to avoid that nonsense), but his goalscoring record. One good goalscoring season in the premiership isn't fantastic imo, but you could also argue Norwich and Coventry didn't give him the platform to fully show his talent and that he was badly managed at Newcastle.
He is undoubtedly a risk, but by the sounds of it we have to watch the pennys this summer, so at 6-7 million would Bellamy represent 1) an improvement in our striking department? and 2) value for money? The answer to both is yes imo. However I still think he is only one of 2 signings we need to make up front this summer. Crouch, Fowler, Bellamy and an injured Cisse?? Not enough imo. We need someone else too, which is why 6-7 million for one striker who can do a job is good business imo.
In short, we are in dire need of pace up front (and no, sorry Cisse lovers but the frenchman is not the answer) and Bellamy fits the bill. This situation reminds me of the Crouch signing last summer. Many of us didn't fancy him then (granted for different reasons than Bellamy) but he proved us wrong. I wouldn't be surprised if Bellamy proved us wrong (although I'll go on record right now as saying I certainly don't like the guy).