Scottish Mag 3 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Craig Bellamy comes across as the most irascible of individuals, but the Welshman clearly feeds off his role as the anti-hero of a Premiership which loves to hate its feistier characters. Whether goading Newcastle's giant central defender, Oguchi Onyewu, catching United's goalkeeper, Steve Harper, with a late tackle, or cheekily wiping his greasy palms on the bald head of the Magpies' long-serving physiotherapist, Derek Wright, there was no escaping the impact of the former enfant terrible of St James' Park upon a game of unrelenting action. Bellamy opened the scoring against his former club within six minutes and yet, from that moment on, confidence visibly drained from the focal point of Liverpool's attack. By the time the referee, Mark Halsey, signalled the end of a thrilling first half, Bellamy had wasted the opportunity to register a rare hat-trick and finish the match as a contest. After the break his afternoon got worse. "I didn't think the occasion affected him, he was trying to do his best and mentally he was fine," said the Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez. The forward Dirk Kuyt said: "Craig was a little upset. He was desperate to win the match. The only thing he wanted to do was beat Newcastle and we didn't do that." Bellamy, although he would bitterly dispute the assertion, had indeed let the occasion, as well as a formidable opponent, get to him. On the day when the Reds entered a new era under the ownership of George Gillett Jnr and Tom Hicks, it was another American who was central to the former Newcastle favourite's demise. Onyewu, the US international who is on loan from Standard Liège, offered a fascinating insight into the Bellamy psyche following a faultless home debut. "My size and strength are big assets and I don't think he liked that too much, being half my height," said the 24-year-old. "He never shuts up. When you come across players like him you just have to laugh at them and smile and that's what I did. There was a moment when he was complaining that I elbowed him in the head, but I responded by saying, 'Look at where your head is. I can't help it if you're so short you only come up to where my elbow is'. "My team-mates warned me that he was a very fast and skilful player and if you let him get in your head he'll affect you and your performance. I did my best to not let that happen." Until Saturday a Benitez-managed Liverpool side had not lost a League game after taking the lead, but Newcastle recovered from an abysmal first half to dominate after the break. The forward Obafemi Martins capitalised on a Jose Reina error to equalise after 26 minutes and the midfielder Nolberto Solano scored from the penalty spot 20 minutes from time, after John Arne Riise had tripped the advancing Newcastle defender Steven Taylor. "There are reasons we lost that game, but I cannot go into them now," said Benitez, prior to the club's week-long training camp in Portugal. Bellamy was undoubtedly one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themags 0 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 He's a dwarf, a dwarf it's plain to see to see.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 He's a dwarf, a dwarf it's plain to see to see.......... Just thinking of the Juninho / Albert incident. If you could call it an incident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themags 0 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 i remember that, Juninho squaring up to him, how Albert didnt start laughing I remember Dennis Wise getting the same abuse when we played Chelsea years ago in the League cup happy days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jigsaw's Juggernaut 0 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 'Look at where your head is. I can't help it if you're so short you only come up to where my elbow is'. Amazing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jusoda Kid 1 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 That comment would have left Bellamy seething Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 13881 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoggeordie 0 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Gooch's accent would have made it all the more funnier, because there was probably a few "Dude" etc thrown in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 13881 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Nobody got any pictures of the Gooch and that Little Welsh Prick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 13881 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Nobody got any pictures of the Gooch and that Little Welsh Prick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themags 0 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 under the sub title of 'Craig Bellamy challenges Oguchi Onyewu' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoggeordie 0 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 "challenges"? Looks a non contest to me tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 13881 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Im liking Gooch like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 34606 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Looked like he has a calm head on him (which for a Newcastle centre half is all but unheard of) and was never seriously outpaced by Bellamy. Let's hope he keeps it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 13881 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 I was liking him just shifting Bellamy off the ball Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themags 0 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Bellamy, looking a bit down hearted leaving the pitch at full time, yes my camera work isnt great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 34606 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 I feel you really captured his down-heartedness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaser 1055 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Clearly got small mans syndrome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinofbeans 86 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 gooch looks like he learns quickly, and because of his speed, which seems fairly rapid he seems to be able to cover for others (fatty bramble take note). wonder how much he'd cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMoog 0 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Long live the Gooch! He's got the potential to be a fan's favourite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Providing we actually sign him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinofbeans 86 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 so far he seems like he wants to play for us and has enough talent ( i think) to definitely do a job for us. what are other peoples opinions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 1 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 I feel you really captured his down-heartedness. You can almost hear his sobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 14060 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 He's a dwarf, a dwarf it's plain to see to see.......... Just thinking of the Juninho / Albert incident. If you could call it an incident. I remember some Smoggie mong writing into the Sunday Sun after that to complain about us chanting "He's a wog, a wog" at Emerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zathras 234 Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Looked like he has a calm head on him (which for a Newcastle centre half is all but unheard of) and was never seriously outpaced by Bellamy. Let's hope he keeps it up. That's my concern, like. Boumsong was pretty good in his first half-season IIRC. As much as I want Gooch to be terrific and blossom into a world-class center half, I have concerns about Bramble and/or Taylor being the right person to pair him with to that end! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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