Welcome back Bellamy

[dom9]

Erm, do you post this everywhere?

Just where it matters.

[Mostar]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/carra-reacts-to-bellamy-deal

Carra reacts to Bellamy deal

Jamie Carragher hopes Liverpool will benefit from Craig Bellamy having unfinished business at the club.

Carragher believes the Welshman will be out to show his best form after being disappointed with how his first spell on Merseyside ended after just a year in 2007.

"It's a great signing," the vice-captain told Liverpoolfc.tv. "I kept in contact with him when he first left. The longer it goes the less contact you keep with former players so it'll be great to see him again.

"As a kid he always said he was a Liverpool fan and I think he was quite disappointed with how it finished, with how he left. He'd have liked to have done a lot better and hopefully this gives him the chance to do that.

"I don't know if it's a free transfer or whatever it may be, but for the last few years at Man City he has been excellent, not just as a striker but as a wide player. In the squad we've probably only got Stewart Downing as an out-and-out wide player. I think Craig prefers to play as a striker but he could certainly do that job for us."

Another of Liverpool's arrivals late in the transfer window was Sebastian Coates, a centre-back who impressed during the Copa America and who at 6ft 6 becomes the second tallest player in our history below Peter Crouch.

Carragher welcomes the additional competition.

"I haven't seen a lot of him - little bits of highlights from the Copa America," he said. "For Uruguay to win it was a great achievement with the other nations who were in it, and I think he got Young Player of the Tournament. That shows he's got great quality and I think it's going to be a great addition to the squad.

"You can't think of yourself, you have to think of the club. One centre-back went so we needed another. Time will tell how good the lad is but his pedigree looks fantastic.

"Also, it doesn't look too big a price when you look at some of the prices for defenders now."

While Carragher could be expected to offer advice to a player who doesn't turn 21 until next month, our veteran defender predicts he might be the one doing the learning.

"He's probably been brought up playing a different type of football than I have, a South American style - so maybe I can learn from him as well," said the 33-year-old.

"It's not always about the older players helping the younger - it can work vice versa. You're always learning from different people."

[Norbs]

Bellamy: Why I came back

Craig Bellamy claims playing for the manager he grew up idolising was an offer he couldn't refuse.

The Welshman was the subject of interest from clubs around the country on transfer deadline day but no one could compete once the chance arose to help Kenny Dalglish roll back the years at Anfield.

Bellamy now begins his second stint playing with a Liver bird on his chest having scored nine goals in 42 appearances under Rafael Benitez.

And he does so with a real belief that major honours are within Liverpool's grasp following a period of rebuilding overseen by Dalglish, Director of Football Damien Comolli and owners Fenway Sports Group.

He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I've grown up with Kenny Dalglish, now to be signed by him is a massive honour.

"This is an exciting time. When Kenny took over, watching as a fan last season I got the buzz as well and it was great to see Liverpool end the season well.

"For me, the players they've signed this summer, there has been a lot of British which takes me back to when I started watching Liverpool. It looks so familiar to me and to be part of it is such a huge honour.

"To every Liverpool fan, Kenny is probably the best player ever to pull on the red shirt so that speaks for itself. He was the first player-manager to do the double and just how he conducted himself really.

"I know we've had bits of success since then but the club hasn't been the same since he left, so to come back in and be a part of this with the players who are here - it's a good time.

"The Liverpool team when I first signed is a lot different to the Liverpool side of the last couple of years so we need to get back into the Champions League and look to push the club on from there again."

With Dirk Kuyt, Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll all vying for places, Bellamy knows getting his name on Dalglish's teamsheet every week won't be easy - but he thinks the opportunity is there to show Liverpool fans his best form.

"I get this opportunity again for Liverpool fans to hopefully see a real good side of me on a playing level," the 32-year-old added. "I know what I have to do to play in this team, so this should be a good time.

"I can play on either wing as well, like I did at Manchester City.

"We're not in Europe so it gives us a great opportunity to concentrate on the league.

"Cup competitions speak for themselves and obviously we want to do well in cups, but this gives us the opportunity now to go week by week and really concentrate on our league position and get back into the Champions League.

"I'm very happy. It's been a long couple of months, I had to be patient and believe something like this could happen. It has so I am over the moon."

As well as relishing the chance to work under Dalglish, Bellamy is keen to reacquaint himself with several other members of Liverpool's coaching staff.

He said: "I am coming into a club not just with Kenny, but with Clarkey (Steve Clarke) and Kevin Keen, people who I have worked with really closely and who know me inside out. I'm coming to a Liverpool where the people here know what I need to do to play in this team.

"It was a good end to the season, but it was the manner of how they played with high intensity and the movement when they had the ball and when they didn't have the ball which was key.

I'm not a fan of Bellamy the man, just something about him, but he's really pressing the right buttons here.

[Mostar]

I am a big fan of his and I respect that he came here to fight for the place in the first team.

Clearly he thinks he's still good enough to play regular football cause there was plenty of interest in his skills and lot of clubs wanted to get him on a loan or sign him and he could have gone to any of them and would have been a starter.

He threw all that way (including his wages with MCFC that could have stayed intact until the end of his contract) just to come back here and I for one appreciate that.

I think he'll do well for us and I really would like to see him and Luis on the pitch at the same time.

[lickedlollipop]

I am a big fan of his and I respect that he came here to fight for the place in the first team.

Clearly he thinks he's still good enough to play regular football cause there was plenty of interest in his skills and lot of clubs wanted to get him on a loan or sign him and he could have gone to any of them and would have been a starter.

He threw all that way (including his wages with MCFC that could have stayed intact until the end of his contract) just to come back here and I for one appreciate that.

I think he'll do well for us and I really would like to see him and Luis on the pitch at the same time.

he was often motm in cardiff apparently (it's according to wikipedia, but still), he might surprise a few

[Paddy]

Supposedly was wearing his old LFC shirt when he arrived.

[Kenneth]

Supposedly was wearing his old LFC shirt when he arrived.

That's got to be made up. Too cool to be true.

[Le Chef]

I am a big fan of his and I respect that he came here to fight for the place in the first team.

Clearly he thinks he's still good enough to play regular football cause there was plenty of interest in his skills and lot of clubs wanted to get him on a loan or sign him and he could have gone to any of them and would have been a starter.

He threw all that way (including his wages with MCFC that could have stayed intact until the end of his contract) just to come back here and I for one appreciate that.

I think he'll do well for us and I really would like to see him and Luis on the pitch at the same time.

City paid up 80% of his basic contract and didn't request a fee

[Kenneth]

Interesting what he said about Liverpool buying British and how the current squad feels more familiar, reflecting the team he grew up supporting. I have to be honest, I have a bit of that feeling too. Nothing against signing foreign players of course, but there's a bit of me that thinks it will feel a little bit more special if a team with a more British feel can really challenge.

[Cormack74]

Supposedly was wearing his old LFC shirt when he arrived.

Thought he was wearing welsh training kit but I could be wrong.

[topscorer]

We've got English, Welsh and Scots in the team now and Scandinavians but we haven't got any Irish yet. Then it will be like the good old days

Maybe the Irish can adopt Flanagan

[Neil Young]

We've got English, Welsh and Scots in the team now and Scandinavians but we haven't got any Irish yet. Then it will be like the good old days

Maybe the Irish can adopt Flanagan

Bellamy's OK but if this is a clumsy attempt to start a Bring Back Robbie Keane Campaign then you can consider yourself banned with immediate effect.

[Kenneth]

He scored for us at the Nou Camp. He'll do me.

[Kenneth]

Bellamy that is.

[topscorer]

Bellamy's OK but if this is a clumsy attempt to start a Bring Back Robbie Keane Campaign then you can consider yourself banned with immediate effect.

No thank you.

I was thinking more like Houghton, Lawrenson, Aldridge, Beglin, Whelan and Heighway (one of my all time favourites).

And I'm not Irish, but all the great teams of the 70's and 80's had an Irishman and a Scot in them.