" Bellamy Talking Football "

Very insightful read into his footballing mind and not full of tired old cliches that gets spouted by the dinosaur.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/ ... y-forwards


The former Newcastle, Manchester City and Liverpool attacker joined Jamie Carragher and Ed Chamberlin on Monday Night Football to discuss the challenges facing a modern-day striker in England's top flight.


Jamie Vardy, the league's top scorer and a player of a similar style to Bellamy, is currently enjoying great success with table-toppers Leicester City and broke Ruud van Nistelrooy's record of scoring in consecutive games last month.

However, with many Premier League teams favouring big, powerful centre-forwards in a 4-3-3 formation - a tactic made famous by Mourinho's Drogba-inspired Chelsea - attackers in the style of Vardy are facing a battle for game time at many clubs.

Here, with the help of Carragher, former Wales captain Bellamy explains why small, pacey goal-scorers still have their place in the modern game, how they may have to adapt if they play for a top team, and why managers must avoid becoming obsessed with strikers who can only hold the ball up…


Leicester's Jamie Vardy has 14 goals this season
Jamie Vardy thrives on space…

"As a forward like myself, he's been a pleasure to watch," Bellamy says of Vardy. "How intense he is, how aggressive he is closing down but also always playing on the shoulder, always looking to go in behind. He's always a threat.

"I played for a lot of teams who were similar to Leicester, always on the counter-attack. There was plenty of space for me to go in behind; I suited the team and they suited me. I felt there were always opportunities for me to attack space, and that is where the similarities are with Vardy at Leicester. There's always an opportunity to break."

But when you move to a big team, that space dries up…


"When I was at Liverpool, away from home it wasn't too much of a problem for me. But at home, I found it a different game," said Bellamy. "Teams would come to Anfield and sit back. Rafa Benitez always wanted me on the last man, trying to create space, always looking to go in behind but at different times, especially at home, there wasn't space. I'd sometimes only get space if I went wide. If Jamie Vardy did go to a top club, I feel he'd get the same problems.


Teams would come to Anfield and sit back. I'd sometimes only get space if I went wide. If Jamie Vardy did go to a top club, I feel he'd get the same problems.

Craig Bellamy
"Two weeks ago, I'd have said it would be very, very difficult [for Vardy to play for a bigger team] because there wouldn't be the space in behind. But over the last couple of weeks, even his last goal against Swansea, he's showing signs and bits of awareness that I wasn't sure about."

Jose Mourinho changed the profile of Premier League forwards...

Didier Drogba changed the way a Premier League striker played, says Bellamy
Didier Drogba changed the way a Premier League striker played, says Bellamy
When asked by Carragher the stage in his career at which he had to adapt his game, Bellamy said: "2005. When Jose Mourinho and Didier Drogba came in.

"It changed the game. He went 4-3-3 with a big, strong target man. Even my manager at the time said to me, 'to be a modern day striker, you have to be 6'3, 6'4, strong…' Everything I wasn't! The game shifted for me. It was a difficult time."

Like I said on another post, I think he's an articulate & intelligent guy and a deep thinker when it comes to football.
But then there's idiots on here that just say he's gobby!

didn't watch MNF, but seen the repeat this morning. Vert interesting, Bellers is one of the better ex-pros to become pundit. Very interesting to hear the roles of players like Defoe, Bellers has changed since the Owen era where 2 out-and-out strikers up front was the norm.

Bellamy says in an ideal world he would play 2 pacey strikers, made referance to troy deeney and ighalo at watford it works there.

I agree with him and thats why i mentioned playing watt and saadi together yet some people say you need a big lumper there like kenwynne, read this article you might change your mind.

Also bellamy says 442 isnt dead,newcastle leicester and watford the only teams to play with 2 strikers on saturday in the premiership on saturday and guess what they all won.

Bellamy says in an ideal world he would play 2 pacey strikers, made referance to troy deeney and ighalo at watford it works there.

I agree with him and thats why i mentioned playing watt and saadi together yet some people say you need a big lumper there like kenwynne, read this article you might change your mind.

Also bellamy says 442 isnt dead,newcastle leicester and watford the only teams to play with 2 strikers on saturday in the premiership on saturday and guess what they all won.

Selective reading at its absolute finest

He says lone forward with runners off him is the way to go but if he had a small packet striker of Defoe or Fowlers quality he would accommodate.

Like I said on another post, I think he's an articulate & intelligent guy and a deep thinker when it comes to football.
But then there's idiots on here that just say he's gobby!

Well said Chuckles, completely agree.

Calls for Saadi to play up front in a 442 instead of KJ are a bit daft considering he's injured.

Bellamy says in an ideal world he would play 2 pacey strikers, made referance to troy deeney and ighalo at watford it works there.

I agree with him and thats why i mentioned playing watt and saadi together yet some people say you need a big lumper there like kenwynne, read this article you might change your mind.

Also bellamy says 442 isnt dead,newcastle leicester and watford the only teams to play with 2 strikers on saturday in the premiership on saturday and guess what they all won.

Selective reading at its absolute finest

He says lone forward with runners off him is the way to go but if he had a small packet striker of Defoe or Fowlers quality he would accommodate.

Selective posting more like, you only posted parts of the article and left out half the stuff.

Just giving my opinion on what i agreed with in bellers article not selective reading. He didnt say thats the way to go lol he said thats the way modern managers have gone and says there is still room for 442 and two strikers playing alongside eachother.

Why would he say given the choice he would play with 2 pacy direct STRIKERS if he was on about playing a 4 3 3 and why would he make referance to vardy uloha deeney and ighalo when they play as 2 strikers up there together not a 4231 or a 433, id say selective reading on your behalf mate

After listening to him speak there, I think he'd definitely be worth a shout. He does always come across as articulate when speaking about the game, he is Welsh and could easily strike up a rapport with the fans, he has the hunger, love and passion required that could be transferred to the players to galvanise the team and he probably has a few mates in the business, experienced veterans of the game, who could actually come in and give us exactly what we need alongside youngsters like Ralls to go up.

Having thought about it, why not give him a chance? Also, its refreshing to hear someone want to play two quicker players up front. The best ever duo in the Premier League were Yorke and Cole. They linked up well, were a nightmare for every defence and scored important goals. I'm personally not a fan of a big man up top because it makes you very one dimensional in your attack. If you have smaller forwards with pace you can stretch play by them making runs wide, you can play them in behind or you can play intricate football off them centrally and get your attacking midfielders breaking free.

Formations like 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 do work if you have a world class striker up top that is multi-dimensional like Drogba, Lewandowski, Suarez, Messi, Benzema, etc. - these players drop deep and effectively link up with the creative midfielders to make things happen. Its actually getting really boring now seeing manager after manager try to come up with the next big thing that apparently revolutionises the game. Leicester City are just sticking with what they know best and its paying dividends.

Bellamy says in an ideal world he would play 2 pacey strikers, made referance to troy deeney and ighalo at watford it works there.

I agree with him and thats why i mentioned playing watt and saadi together yet some people say you need a big lumper there like kenwynne, read this article you might change your mind.

Also bellamy says 442 isnt dead,newcastle leicester and watford the only teams to play with 2 strikers on saturday in the premiership on saturday and guess what they all won.

Selective reading at its absolute finest

He says lone forward with runners off him is the way to go but if he had a small packet striker of Defoe or Fowlers quality he would accommodate.

Selective posting more like, you only posted parts of the article and left out half the stuff.

Just giving my opinion on what i agreed with in bellers article not selective reading. He didnt say thats the way to go lol he said thats the way modern managers have gone and says there is still room for 442 and two strikers playing alongside eachother.

Why would he say given the choice he would play with 2 pacy direct STRIKERS if he was on about playing a 4 3 3 and why would he make referance to vardy uloha deeney and ighalo when they play as 2 strikers up there together not a 4231 or a 433, id say selective reading on your behalf mate

What?!???!?!

I posted the link I didn't mis anything out ?!?!?!??

He doesn't even mention Ighalo and Deeney so selective reading again

Bellamy says in an ideal world he would play 2 pacey strikers, made referance to troy deeney and ighalo at watford it works there.

I agree with him and thats why i mentioned playing watt and saadi together yet some people say you need a big lumper there like kenwynne, read this article you might change your mind.

Also bellamy says 442 isnt dead,newcastle leicester and watford the only teams to play with 2 strikers on saturday in the premiership on saturday and guess what they all won.

Selective reading at its absolute finest

He says lone forward with runners off him is the way to go but if he had a small packet striker of Defoe or Fowlers quality he would accommodate.

Selective posting more like, you only posted parts of the article and left out half the stuff.

Just giving my opinion on what i agreed with in bellers article not selective reading. He didnt say thats the way to go lol he said thats the way modern managers have gone and says there is still room for 442 and two strikers playing alongside eachother.

Why would he say given the choice he would play with 2 pacy direct STRIKERS if he was on about playing a 4 3 3 and why would he make referance to vardy uloha deeney and ighalo when they play as 2 strikers up there together not a 4231 or a 433, id say selective reading on your behalf mate

What?!???!?!

I posted the link I didn't mis anything out ?!?!?!??

Yeh you posted the link. But on your original post youve copied half the stuff thats on the link and the other half like the stuff about watford for example and them having success with 442 and two strikers isnt posted with the other stuff on your original post

After listening to him speak there, I think he'd definitely be worth a shout. He does always come across as articulate when speaking about the game, he is Welsh and could easily strike up a rapport with the fans, he has the hunger, love and passion required that could be transferred to the players to galvanise the team and he probably has a few mates in the business, experienced veterans of the game, who could actually come in and give us exactly what we need alongside youngsters like Ralls to go up.

Having thought about it, why not give him a chance? Also, its refreshing to hear someone want to play two quicker players up front. The best ever duo in the Premier League were Yorke and Cole. They linked up well, were a nightmare for every defence and scored important goals. I'm personally not a fan of a big man up top because it makes you very one dimensional in your attack. If you have smaller forwards with pace you can stretch play by them making runs wide, you can play them in behind or you can play intricate football off them centrally and get your attacking midfielders breaking free.

Formations like 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 do work if you have a world class striker up top that is multi-dimensional like Drogba, Lewandowski, Suarez, Messi, Benzema, etc. - these players drop deep and effectively link up with the creative midfielders to make things happen. Its actually getting really boring now seeing manager after manager try to come up with the next big thing that apparently revolutionises the game. Leicester City are just sticking with what they know best and its paying dividends.

Great post mate agree with everything you say there.

He doesn't even mention Ighalo and Deeney so selective reading again

My bad seems carragher made the comments on watford and bellamy elaborated then i think. But whoever it was they said 442 can work and 2 strikers can work as proved on the weekend. Thats all im saying.

He doesn't even mention Ighalo and Deeney so selective reading again

My bad seems carragher made the comments on watford and bellamy elaborated then i think. But whoever it was they said 442 can work and 2 strikers can work as proved on the weekend. Thats all im saying.

No that's not what you said. You said read that article and you will change your mind about needing a big lumper like Kenwynne.

How you come to that conclusion I don't know as in fact the article is mainly about how it's now difficult for a small striker to succeed in the game because since Drogba come into the game teams have gone with a big lone powerful striker with runners off him.

Like I said on another post, I think he's an articulate & intelligent guy and a deep thinker when it comes to football.
But then there's idiots on here that just say he's gobby!

Well said Chuckles, completely agree.

Calls for Saadi to play up front in a 442 instead of KJ are a bit daft considering he's injured.

I can confirm original grange end blue is not chuckles...

OGEB actually still goes to games whereas chuckles just writes lists on the net about why he's not going.

Like I said on another post, I think he's an articulate & intelligent guy and a deep thinker when it comes to football.
But then there's idiots on here that just say he's gobby!

Well said Chuckles, completely agree.

Calls for Saadi to play up front in a 442 instead of KJ are a bit daft considering he's injured.

I can confirm original grange end blue is not chuckles...

OGEB actually still goes to games whereas chuckles just writes lists on the net about why he's not going.

I thought I'd just leave the guy prattle on & make a fool of himself.

Like I said on another post, I think he's an articulate & intelligent guy and a deep thinker when it comes to football.
But then there's idiots on here that just say he's gobby!

Well said Chuckles, completely agree.

Calls for Saadi to play up front in a 442 instead of KJ are a bit daft considering he's injured.

I can confirm original grange end blue is not chuckles...

OGEB actually still goes to games whereas chuckles just writes lists on the net about why he's not going.

I thought I'd just leave the guy prattle on & make a fool of himself.

Haha yeah should have in hindsight...

Like I said on another post, I think he's an articulate & intelligent guy and a deep thinker when it comes to football.
But then there's idiots on here that just say he's gobby!

Well said Chuckles, completely agree.

Calls for Saadi to play up front in a 442 instead of KJ are a bit daft considering he's injured.

I can confirm original grange end blue is not chuckles...

OGEB actually still goes to games whereas chuckles just writes lists on the net about why he's not going.

Are you two joint at the hip? Forever agreeing with each other on here. I know OGEB is Chuckles, can't pull the wool over my eyes.