I used to imagine what a fine forward line England would have if Craig Bellamy could partner Michael Owen. This was before Wayne Rooney arrived, obviously.
August 19, 2010 11:05I used to imagine what a fine forward line England would have if Craig Bellamy could partner Michael Owen. This was before Wayne Rooney arrived, obviously.
Back then, England struggled with a succession of foils for their main goal-scorer. Owen and Sven Goran Eriksson loved Emile Heskey but nobody else did, Darius Vassell was a whole-hearted channel-runner and little more, but Bellamy?
He was everything that England lacked as a second striker. Quick, inventive, hard working. We all envied Wales the presence of Ryan Giggs on the left, but I envied them Bellamy equally (the way I now envy the presence of Darren Fletcher in the Scotland team). He would have walked into that England side.
And now he has gone to Cardiff City, and many are mystified. Tottenham Hotspur would have taken him, albeit on loan, and according to his friend Robbie Savage who I saw in the Manchester United press room on Monday night, in the days before the move several leading clubs made enquiries.
So good luck to Bellamy on his mission. Football is not always about dead-eyed professionalism or the accumulation of money. There should be a place for dreamers and darers, people playing for the fun of it, or because it means more to pull on a particular shirt.
Matt Le Tissier, one of the finest talents of his generation, devoted his life to keeping Southampton in the top division. Steven Gerrard made a similar choice when he stayed at Liverpool rather than signing for Chelsea.
Alan Shearer chose Newcastle United over Manchester United, even though he must have suspected Bellamy's passion for Cardiff more than Cesc Fabregas's incessant bleating about Barcelona. It would be interesting to see if Fabregas would be as determined to return to his spiritual home if they were sitting mid-table in La Liga, or beyond it in the lower leagues.
Bellamy did not spend a summer posturing. He has always talked about wishing to finish his career at Cardiff and, when he thought the time was right, made it happen.
It is a great deal for the club, too. He will be a class above any player in that division, and could make the difference as immediately as this season. Bellamy's previous transfers have too often ended in acrimony and rancour.
He is a good player, but is high maintenance and can be a distraction at a top team: this is why Tottenham only wanted him on loan. Cardiff should make him happy; and he can certainly do the same for them.