Blogs

Have Liverpool quietly pulled off one of the signings of the season?

|
Image for Have Liverpool quietly pulled off one of the signings of the season?

Whilst Roberto Mancini’s transfer dealings have generally been commendable, if a little excessive there’s one aspect of his transfer dealings I don’t understand: why have City shown such a willingness to sell or loan their wantaway strikers to teams who could provide them with competition in the coming season? Why did they allow Emmanuel Adebayor to join Tottenham who are currently third in the League table?

Why did they let Craig Bellamy slip away on a free when it was clear that Liverpool were interested in acquiring the player? It can’t have been because they wanted the players off the wage bill at any cost, as they’ve even been willing to pay a significant amount of Adebayor’s wages whilst he’s been at Spurs.

These things often have a way of coming back at you and as fate would have it, it was a Craig Bellamy goal that ensured Liverpool proceeded to the final of the Carling Cup and Man City were sent packing.

But Bellamy deserves to be commended for more than just his goal. He was the hardest working player on the pitch, targeting the witless Savic and fashioning chances for the Reds.

I think it’s fair to say that he was the difference in a tightly contested fixture. To the same degree that Kenny Dalglish and FSG should be commended for making an astute signing, City should be berated for letting a decent player go to a rival without a fight.

Why wasn’t Adebayor sent abroad? I’m sure there are plenty of top teams in Serie A and La Liga who would have taken him, especially with City footing some of his exorbitant weekly salary.

Whilst there was little they could do to keep hold of Bellamy, the way they handled the Welshman whilst he was at the club made it clear that he wasn’t welcome. It meant that it was easy for Bellamy to move on, join a club like Liverpool and go on to provide the impetus for a Carling Cup win over City. A situation which could have easily been avoided.

Liverpool have had a knack for overvaluing players in recent times, but getting Bellamy on a free represents a genuine bargain. It’s clear he has still got the ability and the passion to perform at a club competing at the top of the Premier League. At the moment he’s putting Andy Carroll to shame and Carroll cost the Reds £35m.

Could Bellamy have been one of the signings of the summer? Which other contenders are there?

Follow @ThePerfectPass on Twitter for details on all the latest updates and various football-related musings.

Introducing the neat little app that’ll pay you to view content tailored to your interests:

ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.

Share this article

Editor-in-Chief at ThisisFutbol. Please feel free to get in touch if you have question, queries, comments or just fancy having a rant.

Our email address is: thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com, if you don't fancy getting stuck in in the comment's section.

0 comments

  • m kop says:

    Maybe those players don’t want to play abroad or no one abroad offers them wages as City did.

    They forced themselves into these transfer dealings.

    They will be capable of maybe getting Tevez out of PL.

  • philC says:

    My money for the buy of the season is definitely on Enrique for all the obvious reasons

  • Alphie Izzett says:

    Perhaps City considered the history of Bedlamy, who has a history of great starts at clubs which deteriorate into acrimonious and morale damaging warfare with colleagues and managemement alike, and took a decision that his season limiting damaged knees, enormous ego, argumentative nature and his penchant for using his golf clubs on colleagues heads, was just too much trouble for too little return. Let’s withhold judgement on the best signing of the season comments pal and wait to see if it all ends in tears like every other move he’s made.

  • clevblue says:

    Craigo’s great, but didn’t like Mancini’s methods, same with Adebayor, but Mancini has gone on record many times saying they are good footballers, and need to be playing, and he would never stand in their way – same with Shay Given. He even said the same of Tevez. Why don’t people listen to him? Because we aren’t used to managers who simply tell it like it is – the truth

  • CiTyBlUe says:

    You muppet, Craig Bellamy was a free agent and was released by City due to the fact he was:

    1. Too Old
    2. Too Expensive
    3. Injury Hit
    4. Only turns up on Big game
    5. A whining little baby when he is not picked

    Other than that he is a good player, how many players through the years have come back once or twice to haunt their previous owners?

    Millions is the answer but that does not make them anywhere near a league of champions club player.

    • Honest says:

      “anywhere near a league of champions club player.”

      Are you joking mate? Are you really in a position to know what it takes at a Champions League Club? You’ve had a total of 20 weeks, 6 games in that competition so do you really feel qualified to comment – don’t get carried away mate.

Comments are closed.