Before the start of the season I was feeling quite depressed. Our two major signings of Bellamy and Elliot didn't inspire me at all!!

In actual fact, Bellamy saved me a s**t loads of money. Living in Leamington Spa, all the Cov fans were so delighted that we'd actually taken Bellamy off their hands and paid 6M to boot that I got loads of free beer in exchange for listening to their gloating. I'd seen him several times at Cov and he was mostly cr@p and I couldn't help but agree with them.

So what happened? I can't ever remember one single player making such a difference to our team (OK maybe Keegean and Pedro). Now the Covvies are all asking the same question and I just say its down to the fact he's got good players all round him now instead of the cr@p he had at Cov, but I'm not sure.

I've seen a few games this season where he's had pretty average players all round him and still had a bl***y good game. In fact he must have been MOM more times than anyone else in the Prem this season.

So is it being in a good team, coaching, playing in the right position or perhaps a combination of all of them.

I'm sure if someone can give me a good answer I might just get a couple more free pints tonight!

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2002

Answers

I put it down to the late night fitness regime based around an assault course.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2002

I saw him at Cov a few times and he seemed to play more of a midfield role. At Newcastle he's an out and out striker, no matter what anyone says. This suits him more because the only thing he has better than most is his pace. IMO his tackling / awareness / heading ability is not as good as most midfielders', so he wasn't playing to his major (only??!!) strength at Cov.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2002

Bellamy himself has complained about being used in midfield rather than a striker(his preferred position).

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2002

Coaching

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2002

Was odds on for PFA young player of the year I think. Blown it now.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2002