" LATEST ON CRAIG BELLAMY " CARDIFF CITY WARNED

Bluebirds warned over wrecking Bellamy’s big Wembley dream.


CARDIFF CITY have been warned they risk ruining Craig Bellamy’s Wembley dream if he plays against Reading this week.

The Wales star and Bluebirds talisman underwent scans on his hamstring yesterday after pulling up just 17 minutes into Friday’s first-leg play-off stalemate with the Royals.

Cardiff remain hopeful Bellamy will be fit to fire the team’s Premier League dream in Tuesday night’s return clash in the Welsh capital.

But Wales assistant manager Raymond Verheijen, the fitness guru whose expertise has been credited with getting the best out of Bellamy’s battered body, has expressed his fears the Cardiff captain will break down and miss any Wembley promotion decider if he returns too soon.


Verheijen, who has worked closely with the Wales striker since first pairing up at Manchester City, spoke highly of Bellamy’s decision to call time on his appearance at the Madejski Stadium after complaining of a tight hamstring.

But he emphasised it was a “clear signal” that Cardiff will have to tread carefully if they want to make sure their star man is available for any Wembley date of destiny.

Verheijen took to twitter to make his comments, writing: “Smart move by Craig to get off as a precaution because of a tight hamstring. But even if he can play next Tuesday, tonight was a clear signal.

“Explosive players accumulate extreme fatigue during two games in three days, or three games in seven days. It’s impossible to recover fully before next game.”

Verheijen has previously sparked controversy by commenting on players’ fitness and injury issues, most notably when he started an awkward stand-off between Wales and Tottenham when Gareth Bale was forced out of March’s clash with England through injury.

But he has also been credited as one of the major factors behind Bellamy’s ability to play a vital role in Cardiff’s push for promotion, despite a career plagued by injuries.

Verheijen tweeted again afterwards, offering hope Bellamy could play in the second game.

This time he wrote: “Although Tuesday is still a question mark, it looks like a lucky escape. But we should still learn our lessons.”

Cardiff manager Dave Jones is ready to give his highly-paid loan star every chance of making it for Tuesday’s sell-out clash at Cardiff City Stadium.

“It’s a shame he came off on Friday but we haven’t given up hope that he can play again for us yet,” insisted Jones. “Craig is a quality player so he would make a big difference for us but we will have to wait and see how he is.

“He came off straight away but he is an experienced player who knows his body. He has missed games during the season and we have players who can replace him.”

But Jones has previously admitted that he and Bellamy have gone against Verheijen’s advice.

Speaking after last month’s draw with QPR, Jones said: “He is a high-impact player and he uses a lot more energy because of what he does. The time when he picks up injuries is because he is tired, tries to go again and then pulls something.

“It’s OK in the Premier League because you may only play every 15 days but at this level it’s every three days.

“The football club and medical staff have done absolutely brilliant with Craig.

“He has his own fitness guru in Raymond. Craig wants to do a little bit more, Raymond said no but players know their bodies so we gave him a little bit more.”

Away goals will not count on Tuesday so in the event of a draw the game goes to extra time.


http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -28694957/?

if he`s fit for tues, he has to play.imo.
resting him for wembley is ridiculous, if theres no wembley game to play.

if he`s fit for tues, he has to play.imo.
resting him for wembley is ridiculous, if theres no wembley game to play.

Agreed...he will have two weeks to get fit IF we do make it as well.

Worth the risk he can always come off again , would rather team went to wembley because he plays then not He knows his own body

Worth the risk he can always come off again , would rather team went to wembley because he plays then not He knows his own body

I agree, totally, if he is Fit, we have to play Bells, no point trying to keep Bells for Wembley.

If we don't win he won't live his Wembley dream anyway. I'm sure I saw this same 'fitness guru' saying he wouldn't be able to play 1/2 of this season if we kept playing him as often as we did so I'm not really paying much attention to this interview. If he's fit, play him. We get to Wembley first, then we see who we have to put out for the game.

If we don't win he won't live his Wembley dream anyway. I'm sure I saw this same 'fitness guru' saying he wouldn't be able to play 1/2 of this season if we kept playing him as often as we did so I'm not really paying much attention to this interview. If he's fit, play him. We get to Wembley first, then we see who we have to put out for the game.

And we then started playing him less after that advice.

Sure, Bellamy wants to play, but that 'fitness guru' as you want to daub him in a somewhat disrespectful manner has extended Bellamy's career.

I'd trust his opinion over Jones every single day - especially since Bellamy's fallout with Mancini came from Mancini wanting Bellamy to workout twice a day...

That 'fitness guru' works for the best interests of Craig Bellamy, not Cardiff City. His priority is the health and career of his client...

I've been told that he won't play on Tuesday.

If we don't win he won't live his Wembley dream anyway. I'm sure I saw this same 'fitness guru' saying he wouldn't be able to play 1/2 of this season if we kept playing him as often as we did so I'm not really paying much attention to this interview. If he's fit, play him. We get to Wembley first, then we see who we have to put out for the game.

And we then started playing him less after that advice.

Sure, Bellamy wants to play, but that 'fitness guru' as you want to daub him in a somewhat disrespectful manner has extended Bellamy's career.

I'd trust his opinion over Jones every single day - especially since Bellamy's fallout with Mancini came from Mancini wanting Bellamy to workout twice a day...

That 'fitness guru' works for the best interests of Craig Bellamy, not Cardiff City. His priority is the health and career of his client...

Yes, I agree with this - I would be careful of playing him if we could wreck him for the final.

It's getting up that's key - for that we have to win 2 games - if we don't, personally I'd rather lose on Tuesday than at Wembley, as that heartache is too awful to contemplate 2 years in a row!

My feeling is that, if we are to win at Wembley, we have to have Bellamy there - especially is its against the Jacks, as they have pace in abundance, and we don't apart from Bellamy.

It may be a risk if he doesn't play on Tuesday, but if we do get through, then at least we should definitely have him for the final - I, for one would take that risk, unless he's 100% fit obviously.

As a compromise, I think we could put him on tye bench and bring him on if we needed to towards the end - at least that way, if we went to penalties, at least his mental strength would be available at that stage - wheeras I can't see him playing a full 120 mins if it came to that if we played him from the start.

I know its tricky, and I obviously want him to play as much as anyone, but we have to look at this holistically and not having him at Wembley would be a bigger miss in my view.

I'd say he'll be on the bench at worst.

The problem is Bellamy is a competitive guy, will want to play every minute of every game. Jones will want him to play every minute of every game.

His fitness coach is the only person looking at it from the perspective of Bellamy's health and career.

I'm sure people will cheer should Bellamy take us into the Prem. Should his knee suffer worse damage in that process, in my opinion, that isn't a price worth paying.

I would start him against Reading, go all out attack, positive minded, try and play what we can through Bellamy. the key will probably be the first 30 minutes IMO. If we can somehow nick a goal or even two going into half time, we consider bringing him off then and changing the we play. Depends how the game pans out really, but IF Bellamy is fit, and IF Bellamy wants to play, then I'd say Start him.... and see how the first half goes.

We didnt have Bellamy against Leicester last year and made it - Just, - but I think Leicester were a stronger side then than what Reading are now....

Besides, The clairvoyant told my mrs a day trip to London was on the cards for me soon??? (serious) and there's no other reason for me to EVER go to London!! Maybe that means Jones can play anyone he likes then!!

So Wembley here we come!

Would hate to see the title - What if Bellamy had have played " - team will just have to play out f their skins to teir full potential

Personally, if he's touch and go it's not worth the risk. I think we can beat Reading without him. I'd go with Bothroyd up front with five in midfield. Whitts and Burke wide with McPhail, Oli and Koumas as the central three. Koumas could have a free role just behind Jay where he could cause maximum damage with his ability to pick a pass and shoot. If McPhail isn't fit I'd put Whitts in his position with JET playing wide. Simples!

i think we should start with craig on the bench ,i cant see how a player who tweaks a hamstring could possibly be fit for a highly competitive game 3 days later,im very confident we can beat reading with chops and jay up front,they still have that great understanding of each other.

Definitely have him on the bench.if we are struggling bring him on for the last 20-30 mins. I can see another tight game with both sides cancelling each other out. I hope robson kanu is out for reading though

At 9am this morning heard on Rdaio Wales that Cardiff would discover later in the day whether Bellamy would be fit for Tuesday. It is now almost 10pm and the latest news is the same as it was 20 minutes after kick-off on Friday!!!! He won't be fit for Tuesday.

not sure folks, i dont know weather to risk him, maybe if about 20 mins to go and we are 1 down then play him

I'd def have him on the bench. If we're struggling late on we have nothing to lose.

It's a no win situation in some ways, that's the gamble though.

I love how Wales Online creates "interviews" with Twitter.

That Jay apoligises for the Boro loss, on Twitter.

Now Bellamy's fitness coach, that he might no play.

Non-journo's who don't deserve a wage.

not sure folks, i dont know weather to risk him, maybe if about 20 mins to go and we are 1 down then play him

or we could start him, get in the lead and take him off second half as a precaution

I would put Bellamy on the bench so he can come on if we need him. I personally think we have a good enough squad to start without him.

He'll be on the bench tomorrow (from a very good sauce) - chop and jay up front.
Havent heard anything re Heaton though