FM16 - How Craig Bellamy would fair as Cardiff City manager?

On the 7th December, Craig Bellamy featured on Monday Night Football, and the fixture was Everton vs Crystal Palace.
It started off with Jamie Carragher jokingly introduced Bellamy as "The only man we could find that was more unpopular than Gary Neville" after Neville departed the punditry scene for a managerial stint at Valencia. “Ed Chamberlin asked Bellamy if being a manager was still the main aim for him, to which he replied yes. Ed quizzed him further on what club would be ideal to kickstart his managerial career. Bellamy initially replied with ‘Man City’, joking of course, but then said in a serious manner said that working”. Former striker Jay Bothroyd wants the Welshman to be given the opportunity now. Craig Bellamy was present at the 2-0 victory over Reading was rumoured to have said “Theres only one man in my way” when a fan asked whether he was taking over as manager. Whether that was Vincent Tan or Russell Slade it remains to be seen. But what if he was made manager now? How would Cardiff City pan out under the management guide of Craig Bellamy? I'm going to provide you with Sports Interactive's Football Manager 2016 intake of how would Craig Bellamy fair as Cardiff City manager. Outspoken fitness coach Raymond Verheijen had a close relationship with Craig Bellamy and was assistant manager of the Welsh national team under Gary Speed, Cardiff City fans are quick to assume Raymond would serve under Bellamy, so I've placed Raymond Verheijen as Bellamy's assistant.


So I simulate to the day after the final game of the normal Championship season which is the 8th May 2016. Cardiff record a 3-1 home victory over Birmingham City. The media prediction was a 6th placed finish. They get knocked out in the FA Cup in the Fourth Round, being knocked out by fellow Championship side Hull City. In the Capital One Cup they get through to the Third Round but are knocked out by Premier League side Arsenal.




Now we move onto the statistics of goals scored and goals conceded. Cardiff City finish with fourty seven goals to their name, finishing joint 16th in the goalscoring charts. Surprisingly under Craig Bellamy, Cardiff have the best defence in the Championship, conceding only thirty nine goals in the process, ironically that was Craig Bellamy's shirt number during his player stint here! The closest team to Cardiff in terms of best defence who conceded six goals more than Cardiff.


In all competitions, Joe Mason ends up being the top goalscorer of the Bluebirds, with 13 goals to his name in 22 appearances. In previous years Cardiff goals have been spread around the team and things have not changed in this case. The closest to Mason was midfielder Aron Gunnarsson with six goals.


We look to the tactics Craig Bellamy deployed throughout the season, with his preferred formation being 4-5-1 and his secondaryformation being 4-4-2. It seems that Craig Bellamy favoured having the midfield packed.


The transfer window wasn't of any use to the former Welsh international. With his only signing being right back Garry Bocaly, a free transfer. He did however allow numerous youngsters to depart the club on loan.

So the Bluebirds finish three places off where they were predicted to be, they’re knocked out of the FA Cup and Capital One Cup at the mid way point, they don’t score many goals in the league but have the best defence throughout the season. So what did you make of Bellamy’s season as Cardiff manager?

Its a game. Grow up.

Its a game. Grow up.

A game that many of clubs have used as a resource for research.

Why would anyone want to grow up Balkan.

Let's all wear khaki trousers and moan about the weather till the day we ALL die.

What is the point in trying to impress anyone.

It's quite funny how judgemental people are when there really is no correct way to live.

The game that has all the answers.

Its a game. Grow up.

More than a game.

On my current game, it's 2018 and Peter Whittingham is manager of Bolton

Im the king of the game

Dear god

Clubs have used it as a scouting resource as it's essentially the biggest free library of players and their stats in the world. However clubs have never used it to see how a managerial appointment will pan out and they never will.

Clubs have used it as a scouting resource as it's essentially the biggest free library of players and their stats in the world. However clubs have never used it to see how a managerial appointment will pan out and they never will.