Bellamy on Newcastle fans, Sir Bobby and why he would never return.
Posted on August 7th, 2011 | 43 Comments |
Given while Bellamy was in Orlando, Florida last month, coaching the youngsters at the 2011 Disney Soccer Academy, it covers quite a few topics from Bellamy’s time in the game. This included recollections of his five years at Newcastle (including a spell at Celtic on loan), and working with then manager, Sir Bobby Robson. This section has been transcribed for your reading pleasure below. As usual, Bellamy pulls no punches, accusing the Newcastle United fans for playing a big part in the Sir Bobby’s exit from the club, and saying that there is “no chance” he would ever play for Newcastle again because “there is no one else to play for up there”.
EPL Talk: “Lets talk about Newcastle United. What was was your greatest memory of playing there?”
Craig Bellamy: “My greatest memory there was Bobby Robson, playing for Bobby Robson, so you know that was it really. I was lucky he signed me and just to be involved with him, because he understood the club and you know he knew what the club was, he knew what the people were, which I think was key to going into a new club. You have to understand who you represent and who you are trying to play for, and he made it clear to us. we had a good team, we had a really good team, we were young, alot of athletes and we finished third, fourth and fifth. The year we finished fifth I could just sense it wasn’t, a few of the fans were expecting more they were expecting league titles. Newcastle united win league titles? I don’t think so! And I just thought they expected and things started to turn alittle bit and I just felt we didn’t start the season well particularly like we didn’t start any season well to be honest but we always came back with a late run you know, and just got there. We didn’t start one season too well and I can just remember, alot of fans were turning and booing and Skysports would be outside the ground and Newcastle fans would be moaning about this and that, and it just led to the manager getting sacked, which was just a complete shock and was embarrassing really when I look back on it now, how he can get the sack, but I also thought the crowd played a big part of in that as well, and for me I’ve had options to go back up there since and I wont! no chance! because I played for him and there is no one else to play for up there.”
EPL: “Yeah, there is no one else to play for once you’ve played for Sir Bobby maybe. Period.”
Craig Bellamy: “Well there is, but not at Newcastle!”
So I don’t think that was a come and get me to Pardew then?
When I think back to those seasons mentioned, my recollection is of the crowd getting upset was not because expectations were too high, but more than that we had a very talented bunch of players who were acting like spoilt kids and not fulfilling anywhere near the potential which we had witnessed in previous seasons. Players like Bellamy, Dyer, Jenas, Bramble, Bowyer, Carr to name a few were all either brought in by Sir Bobby or championed by him and had received massive contracts at the club. They should have sweat blood for the man! Bobby Robson getting sacked falls squarely on the shoulders of these players in my opinion (and Freddy Shepherd for his treatment of him should never be forgotten) but for Bellamy to call Newcastle fans just goes to show how out of touch the modern day footballer is when he can ramble on and quite happily forget he was a major factor in his own and Bobby’s downfall at NUFC.
Was this the same Craig Bellamy that was begging to come back to Newcastle after Sounness sold him the little prick I actually thought he would be good coming back because he used to have a bit fire on the pitch even though he was a crap goal scorer. It was all down to players like him that Robson got the sack I seem to recall him fighting with John Carver, Dyer refusing to play on the wing and all the players disrespecting Robson. One things for sure I bet he wouldn’t be welcome in Newcastle city centre any more and if he does play in the premier league imagine the reception he will get at St James’s