Should ‘King’ Kenny Bow to Bellamy?

The chances of Kenny Dalglish losing it on camera are approximately equal to that of seeing Roberto Mancini accompany Mario Balotelli on his outlandish off-the-field antics.

But the Liverpool manager’s reaction to his team’s performance after their 3 – 1 loss to Bolton at The Reebok Stadium suggests that his temper is currently being tested. 

In his post-match interview he stated, "If that's the level they [Liverpool’s players] expect this football club to play at, they won't be here long,” and described the performance as his “worst” since he returned to manage the five-time European champions. 

Dalglish’s comments, though, were as hypocritical as they were surprising: 8 of the 18 players in Liverpool’s squad for the game against Bolton were players that he had bought.

Dalglish, in total, has spent over £130 million on bringing in young, supposedly talented players with the intention of building a squad that can reach the zenith of English football: winning the Premier League.

But most of Dalglish’s expensive signings, far from justifying their price tags, have seriously underperformed this season. Endless articles, for instance, have been written in regard to ‘The Andy Carroll Conundrum’; whilst Stewart Downing, signed to Liverpool from Aston Villa for £20 million, has been a shadow of the player that was one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers last season.

Luis Suarez, on the other hand, arguably a player now renowned more for the racial abusing of Patrice Evra than his excellence on the ball, has been in a minority of Dalglish’s transfers that have exceeded expectations since he signed from Ajax last January for a reported £22 million. 

The Uruguayan has often left defenders searching behind their shoulders with his sudden change of pace and deft skills. There is no doubt that he has managed to fill Liverpool’s Fernando Torres-shaped hole. 

José Enrique has also been sensational with his rushing runs down the left-flank but it is Craig Bellamy, the player, ironically, that Dalglish paid nothing for, who has arguably been the most valuable this season since he signed from Manchester City in August 2011.

The 32-year-old Welshman is currently Liverpool’s joint-top scorer and has been the instigator of several attacking plays that have ensued in either created chances or goals for the team he supported as a boy.

Knee injuries, which have also forced Bellamy to step down from the Welsh captaincy recently, unfortunately prevent him from playing successive games.

But he is clearly buoyed and flourishing at the fact he feels wanted and more importantly respected at his former club, evident when he says: "This now feels right, this is everything I wanted from the first time I was here."1

His passion and combative style of play were the two characteristics that were lacking in Liverpool’s passive performance against Bolton.

His experience has also brought a patent maturity to his game that ensures he strives to make a positive impact whether he starts the game or not – an attitude that was far from evident in his performances ten years ago.

Could a free transfer really earn more success for Liverpool than the £55 million pair of Carroll and Downing, though?

If that is the case at the end of the season, Liverpool’s transfer tactics of generally buying players for their potential ability will need to be seriously scrutinised.

With Craig Bellamy only really ripening as a complete player past 30 and Andy Carroll still a mere fledgling at the tender age of 23, moreover, Liverpool fans could be in for a long and frustrating wait for Kenny’s big-spending signings to fulfill their potential.   

By Ben Stupples – Co-Sports Editor: The Drop

Published in The Exeter Drop

References

Quote taken from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/nov/26/craig-bellamy-liverpool-manchester-city

Photo courtesy of Reuters & Daily Mail