Craig Bellamy biography - a little OT

Anyone else read/reading the Bellamy biography?

I'm about half way through and finding it quite enlightening.

I've always rated Bellers, I know he's one of those players that splits the Toon Army in a marmite way, but although there may have been issues off the pitch (which he gives his side of the story on in the book, eg the throwing the chair at Carver airport incident), I rated him for the fact that he always did the business on the pitch.

I found this interesting about Shearer (my bold highlights):

Alan didn't want to know about other people's problems. He concentrated a lot on himself but then a lot of footballers do. That is probably what made him the player he was: he was very single minded. He did only think about himself. That was his only concern. Not the team, not the other players. It was about himself. That is probably his biggest strength

It obviously worked for Newcastle at that time, Shearer being self focussed, but I've always thought that for a team to be successful it needs to be a team, and not 11 individuals. Also interesting that Bellamy saw/sees this as a strength.

Just goes to show ... what do I know

 

Interesting stuff from the little weasel. All great players are that focussed though (relating to what he said about Shearer).
I do disagree with him though.
Shearer would often be back helping out the defense and mastered the art of running the ball into corners to run the clock down (when he could have tried to score).
Bellamy's off the field antics embarrassed our club and his team mates so for him to come out with stuff about teamwork is like JFK giving advice about how to be a classy DofF and make friends around the game.

On the pitch he was a fab little player, really was.
Off the pitch I'm afraid he is an awful little weasel. A mouth as big as anything... but with nothing to back it up at all.

 

Quite liked Bellers, but he wasn't what you could call a good team player himself.

What do any of us know other than what we hear second hand?

 

I think it is just Bellend having a little dig at Shearer out of pure jealousy. He is trying to dress it up saying it is a "strength". For me it is done in a backhanded way to say "Shearer was selfish and not the idol all the fans made him out to be". Unfortunately for Craig, actions speak louder than words. Shearer was an excellent captain and leader of men. Very demanding but then most good captains are. Unfortunately Bellamy's memory is blurred by his falling out with Shearer. Never had much time for him. He was great as a player up here but obviously quite a disruptive force away from the field of play. Speed tried his best with him but even he admitted he was a difficult character.

I just couldn't believe his version of events. He is too far up his own arse, and carring around too much anger. He has a massive chip on his shoulder the whole time. Maybe its little man syndrome?

The team is all important so I don't think you are wrong at all. Shearer undoubtedly could be selfish in some ways because its in a strikers nature. Goals win games and strikers know this. They thrive on the glory of being that guy. We must not forget what Shearer brought to the team game though. One of the best crossers this club has ever had, and one of the best at holding the ball to bring others into play. His work at corners usually goes unmentioned. He did his function as part of the tam to a very very high standard. It is dificult to say what went on around the training ground and dressing room of course. Some say Shearer was an example to all, Bellamy feels differently. Also I can only go off what I've seen myself. Whenever I came across the likes of Shearer, Speed, Lee post match, the were ambassadors for the club. The likes of Dyer and Bellamy couldn't believe they had to lower themselves to talk to us!

 

There's not many of us that didn't think Shearer was a great player and leader. His job was to score goals and that's what he did.

Can't grumble about that.

 

A few words from Bellers after the Wales game.

"I know football can have a cruel ending so I'm delighted to have won. I'm also happy I didn't get booked, I was wary of the referee because he wasn't the greatest in the world.


"It's a great honour to play for your country and to do it 77 times, it's just the greatest thing."

He probably will get booked the next time the same ref has control of the game.