Anfield legend Kevin Keegan has called for Craig Bellamy to be rewarded for his excellent performances this season with a place in Liverpool's starting line-up for today's FA Cup Final against Chelsea.
In an interview with ESPN earlier in the week, Keegan - who won the two FA Cups during his time at Anfield - argued:
"The one player who I think really secured his place in the cup final is Craig Bellamy, who was outstanding against Norwich. He [Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish] took him off after 60 minutes, and that told me he's not going to play him on Tuesday [Which he didn't] and he'll save him for the cup final".
It would be cruel to deny Bellamy a starting place, especially after he's already been cruelly snubbed in two cup finals during his LFC career:
* 2007: In an inexplicable decision, Rafa Benitez left Bellamy on the bench for the Champions League final against AC Milan. The Welshman later admitted that his omission was one of the main reasons he's left Liverpool at the end of that season, and that the snub left him 'at his wit's end'.
* 2012: Dalglish leaves Bellamy on the bench for the Carling Cup final against Cardiff, a particularly cruel snub given Bellamy's history with the Welsh team.
Bellamy has done more than enough this season to warrant the reward of a place in the cup final starting line-up, and if he's snubbed for a third cup final, I can't see him being at Liverpool next season. Why would he hang around if he's constantly kept out of the biggest games?
My team for today:
--------------------------- Reina
Johnson ------------- Agger ---- Skrtel ------------ Enrique
----------------- Spearing ----- Gerrard
Kuyt -------------------- Bellamy ------------------- Maxi
------------------------- Suarez
Wishful thinking - it will be a cold day in hell before Dalglish leaves his expensive flops on the bench for a Cup final, so we'll probably see the following instead:
--------------------------- Reina
Johnson ------------- Agger ---- Skrtel ------------ Enrique
Henderson ------- - Spearing --- Gerrard ------------ Downing
-------------------- Carroll -- Suarez
Jaimie Kanwar
In an interview with ESPN earlier in the week, Keegan - who won the two FA Cups during his time at Anfield - argued:
"The one player who I think really secured his place in the cup final is Craig Bellamy, who was outstanding against Norwich. He [Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish] took him off after 60 minutes, and that told me he's not going to play him on Tuesday [Which he didn't] and he'll save him for the cup final".
It would be cruel to deny Bellamy a starting place, especially after he's already been cruelly snubbed in two cup finals during his LFC career:
* 2007: In an inexplicable decision, Rafa Benitez left Bellamy on the bench for the Champions League final against AC Milan. The Welshman later admitted that his omission was one of the main reasons he's left Liverpool at the end of that season, and that the snub left him 'at his wit's end'.
* 2012: Dalglish leaves Bellamy on the bench for the Carling Cup final against Cardiff, a particularly cruel snub given Bellamy's history with the Welsh team.
Bellamy has done more than enough this season to warrant the reward of a place in the cup final starting line-up, and if he's snubbed for a third cup final, I can't see him being at Liverpool next season. Why would he hang around if he's constantly kept out of the biggest games?
My team for today:
--------------------------- Reina
Johnson ------------- Agger ---- Skrtel ------------ Enrique
----------------- Spearing ----- Gerrard
Kuyt -------------------- Bellamy ------------------- Maxi
------------------------- Suarez
Wishful thinking - it will be a cold day in hell before Dalglish leaves his expensive flops on the bench for a Cup final, so we'll probably see the following instead:
--------------------------- Reina
Johnson ------------- Agger ---- Skrtel ------------ Enrique
Henderson ------- - Spearing --- Gerrard ------------ Downing
-------------------- Carroll -- Suarez
Jaimie Kanwar
Why does Maxi deserve a start?
ReplyDeleteAnd Andy Carrol hasnt earnt his place?? Forgetting who got the winnwr against Everton??? You are the worst LFC fan ever!! I'm sure you are a secret manc!!! Keep your negative points to yourself. REAL Liverpool fans get BEHIND their team... the whole team!! Its the Liverpool way but you wouldnt understand that! People like you run Rafa for playing Lucas and look at him now, how much do we miss him? If one of the 'expensive flops' as you say score the winner today do me a favour... Go support Utd or City!!!
ReplyDeleteI think we will be seeing Carragher instead of Skrtel....hopefully this will kds last game for us.
ReplyDeleteI shall return!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCarroll will come good. he only had 11 premier league games or so for newcastle in premier league before we prised him away. So he is building up his experience this season and trying to settle down under our very high expectations. No where to hide when you play for LFC, unfortunately. That goes for Adam, Henderson and Downing too in a way. Carroll will be very useful when defending and attacking set plays/corners. He is a handful for any defenders, and if they are pre-occupied with him, it will benefit Suarez as Carroll will open up space for him, for his mazy dribbling skills. Tactically we should start them both.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if we had Lucas I would go with him along spearing. Gerrard up behind Suarez. Bellamy starting on left wing. Downing on right, inter-changing.
Hit the nail opn the head mate! I like some of JK's blogs but they are always negative! I think he is one of those glory hunter types that just support the team when they are winning! Maxi and Kuyt....Really? He thinks he knows better than Dalglish but what has he ever done in football??? NOTHING!!! Easy to talk bad about signings in hind-sight and easy to pick out potential signings that would never join Liverpool... Slightly over opinionated I think!
ReplyDeleteRemind me again, how many goals has Carroll scored this season compared to how many starts?
ReplyDeleteBe careful Kopite345276, he will ban you from his site like he has me.
ReplyDeleteCarragher didn't play on tuesday, I think he will play along with Agger. I think kenny will go for the same everton backline.. Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel and Agger.
ReplyDeleteGod I hope not, he's a liability! Good against minnows but past it now I'm afraid. Skrtel is probably our player of the season?!
ReplyDeleteJaimie does talk some waffle lol He'll be gutted if Suarez scores the winner againts Chelsea haha
ReplyDeleteHe hasnt been abusive so what can he do. Kopite has a very valid point this dude is very negative aginst Liverpool. He never gets behind the team. I think he supports another club too but not united, maybe city? lol
ReplyDeleteI'll be gutted if Suarez cheats to get the winning goal.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Galaxy Note
-------- Original message --------
Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: Play him! Keegan demands cup final place for cruelly-snubbed star. Agree? | Liverpool-Kop.com
more than you, remind me again... would we be in the final without his goal against Everton?? Has he not played well recently?? Obviously you are a typical armchair fan!! Get your silly self up to Anfield and watch him in the flesh... He's improving game by game you fool! Dirk Kuyt has scored two league goals in 26 apps yet he deserves a game right??? M.U.G!!!
ReplyDeleteDirk kuyt has 2 league goals in 26 games yet he's doing well right?? Hush ya noise ya mug you know nothing! remind me again, would Liverpool be in the final without Carrols goal against Everton??? What a man you are!
ReplyDeleteWhat a doughnut! Carolls goal got us in the final you fickle mug!
ReplyDeletechris go back to bed you wolly ha ha
ReplyDeleteWill you be more gutted if Torres cheats to get the winner? Lol
ReplyDeletecouldnt agree more with kevin, i hope bellamy starts but kenny never starts him in big games if you noticed it, he only plays him vs average team, bellamy didnt even start in carling cup final cant see him starting today either, kenny prefers hendo downing and tbh downing been good in big games like at cc final and vs everton but hendo is still the same sh.ite but i expect him to start 100%, and no bellamy, who knows maybe kenny will change his mind in the final minutes but i dont believe so hes well stubborn
ReplyDeleteThe only reason to play ANY player should be due to quality and form. Liverpool fans should know better.
ReplyDeleteWait and see. We cried for dalglish to come, he came, we played better attacking football than when woy was in charge and the youth players got a chance. Fast forward £100 million later and the team seems worse and youth not given a proper chance as expensive flops have to be played in the hope they get better. Get behind the team even if they are crap - we are liverpool!
ReplyDelete2 cups isnt bad but not the goal at the start.
We need champions league for the money and we should be there.
Jamie cockwire benitez had us there year in year out so jog on and shut up.
think downing will start on the right with bellamy on the left, ye hoping the reds get beat jamie?
ReplyDeletecarragher is well past his best the back four that served us well up till the new year should start
ReplyDeleteMaybe you don't know what fickle means, let me explain, it means to change ones mind constantly, Carroll's inability to hit that target has been consistent this season, thus is the exact opposite.
ReplyDeleteWhat has Kuyt got to do with it?
ReplyDeleteNo you won't. You'll be delighted as it'll allow you to write yet another "I top you so" type article, which is clearly more important to you than a Liverpool win.
ReplyDeleteAnd what if they play badly today like they have for almost the whole season. Will You admit they are crap. Jaimie is right Carrol has not earn his place and one goal against everton does not change that.
ReplyDeleteChelsea will play One up front in drogba I thin and that is what we will do with Suarez. Wont be surprised if KG plays spearing, henderson and Gerrard in the middle with Bells and downing on wings.
ReplyDeleteBut I think we would be stronger with Catrol up front and Suarez playing deeper with henderson and Gerrard in the middle. Kuyt on the right for his work rate and Bells on left. Can always change it depending on score.
Maxi's form against Chelsea should be enough of a reason, he scored more goals with less games played then Downing and because Liverpool are blandly predictable with the line up
ReplyDeleteBellamy has always deserved being in Carrols place.
ReplyDeleteRubbish! "REAL" fan crap won't wash. If you can't see that Suarez plays better when Carrol isn't in the team that's your problem. But don't claim better fan status just because people have a different point of view. It is not the "Liverpool way" to accept mediocrity,and to want better for the team is not disloyal.The player with the best passing,shooting and scoring stats at the club struggles to get a game (Maxi), and players that are average at best,(Henderson,Adam,Carrol and Downing)get played cos Kenny bought them! THAT'S OUR PROBLEM.
ReplyDeleteYes, compare Carrol's stats as A STRIKER, to Maxi as a wide midfielder or Kuyt at 2nd striker. Your lack of respect is only suppassed by your ignorance about football. Carrol would suit Stoke, he doesn't suit the Reds.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree with your starting lineup, unfortunately though, I agree with your actual predicted lineup too! :)
ReplyDeleteYou forgot Carrager. He'll start as well. I think Bellamy should start too. I hope he does.
ReplyDeleteDid you not see him play against Fulham? Do you think his performance against Fulham was good enough for a start against Chelsea?
ReplyDeleteDuring Bellamy's first stint at the club he tactically indisciplined with great individual flair. That's the reason why he was benched more often than he wanted under Rafa. So it's not inexplicable at all. Rafa saw his potential more as a wing forward, which Bellamy didn't see at the time. Eventually other managers saw the same and look at where Bellamy uis most effective today - as a wing forward. Anyways, Bellamy is a much more mature and intelligent player now than he was then. If it wasn't for his knees...
ReplyDeleteJaimie i'll go for a 4-2-3-1 with maxi on the bench, Downing in.
ReplyDeleteBetter let Carragher on the bench, not sure he will cope with the pace of chelsea Armada
ReplyDeletesame :(
ReplyDeleteLook at who he was playing with. Whenever Maxi is in the side he is in the side that fields a B team.
ReplyDeleteFor f---s sake, bring back the tactical genius, RAFA. If he,d been in charge we would have done Chelsea today. I love Lenny, but he just can,t cut it.
ReplyDeletereina suck..he didn't even save 2 goal from Chelsea..damn..
ReplyDeleteSkartel for Player-of-the-Year
ReplyDeleteNo ways are we going to stand by KD's flops, which 2 cups are you on?
ReplyDelete