I'm still not overjoyed about the signing, but there were some interesting statistics on SkySports.com TV earlier today.

They were comparing Bellamy to Cort and Shearer, and apparently, Bellamy's shooting accuracy is the same as Shearer's and better than Cort's.

He has remarkably had about the same number of chances as Cort and scored about the same number of goals (albeit a few penalties as well)

Could his lack of a decent strike rate be down to a lack of chances? I know he's not brilliant, but Cort must have only played less than half the games Bellamy did last season, yet they had the same number of chances.

He's obviously looking forward to it as well. He is quoted as saying that the move to Newcastle is the best thing that has ever happened to him in his career and he can't wait for the new season to begin.

At least things are starting to look up now.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2001

Answers

Oh Lordy, if he is as good as Shearer with tendonitis and in need of urgent surgery at the age of 21 I can't wait to see what he'll be like at 30 :-)

The problem with shooting accuracy stats is that a limp tap straight at the keeper is a shot on target whilst an exquisite lob which just comes back out from the inside of the post is a miss. It's number of goals per game that matters.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2001

Only time will tell - at least he seems injury free, which is good. Having said that Bassedas was never injured til he joined us.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2001

well Bellamy can only be a MAJOR improvement over what we did have last season....

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2001

He is quoted as saying that the move to Newcastle is the best thing that has ever happened to him in his career and he can't wait for the new season to begin.

Bless him. It's a good job he obviously doesn't see this web site isnt it?

:-)

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2001

True Johno but then again there is the argument that if they are paid loads of money then surely they're there to be shot at. Doesn't convince me but in the words of Destinys Child "My momma taught me better than that"

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2001

if they are paid loads of money then surely they're there to be shot at.

They're there to be shot at IF THEY'VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG. I doubt if he has received his first paycheque from US yet, and he certainly hasn't kicked a ball for us.

It can be debated whether a player deserves a SECOND or THIRD chance. But surely to goodness everybody deserves a first chance?

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2001

Softie you make some good points, but I was getting at the fact that they had a similar number of chances. Maybe his bad goal record is down to lack of chances created by his Coventry team mates rather than him not putting them away all the time.

Solano had about 10 assists this season and with a left winger next year we could ass a further 10, so there should be some chances. If you are making loads of chances you don't necesssarily need the best strikers in the world to get some goals.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2001