CRAIG Bellamy says that the sacking of Mark Hughes has again proved that the only loyalty in football belongs to the fans.
And the disarmingly honest Welsh striker indicated that it is for the City fans that he wants to stay and help to drive the club forward.
Bellamy was upset by the departure of Hughes but has since dismissed reports that he wanted to leave and rubbished talk of a bust-up with new boss Roberto Mancini.
He emphasised his words with another fiercely competitive performance in the 3-0 win at Wolves on Monday night. And then he reflected on the events of the past 11 days with a bold statement of the fact that there is no room for sentiment in top-level football.
"As far as loyalty is concerned, the only loyal people are those who turn up and watch - our fans," said Bellamy, who admitted he has great affection for Hughes.
Challenge
"You just have to get on with it and do as well as you can for the real people, who are loyal."
Bellamy, one of the star turns for the Blues this season, said that Hughes had set the team the challenge of winning all three of their festive matches and his abrupt departure had not changed that.
City rose to the challenge, edging past Sunderland 4-3 in Hughes' last game in charge and then efficiently seeing off Stoke 2-0 and Wolves 3-0.
"Before the appointment and what went on, we set the target of nine points over the Christmas period and we have got it," said Bellamy.
With those points in the bag, Mancini will now turn to the task of deciding who he wants to come in during the transfer window - and whether he wants anyone to leave.
Javier Garrido and Martin Petrov have both been given fresh hope that they still have careers at City, but their future - along with that of Benjani - will be clearer by the end of the week.
But Mancini admitted his priority is to draft in a defender with Kolo Toure now in Angola with his national team Ivory Coast for the African Cup of Nations.
City have already been linked with Inter Milan's Colombian veteran stopper Ivan Cordoba, Juventus hard man Giorgio Chiellini and Bari's promising young stopper Leonardo Bonucci.
Mancini was reluctant to discuss the transfer window, preferring to concentrate on getting his squad ready for Saturday's FA Cup trip to Middlesbrough, but did say: "With Kolo going away for one month, we have a big problem."
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I don't think you'd have found many City supporters a year ago that would have believed Craig Bellamy would become a hero at City but the guy keeps going up in my estimation. Opposing supporters will continue to hate him but anyone watching the Wolves game could not fail to have been impressed by his sportsmanship when Berra injured himself and it was good to see Big Mick's assistant Terry Connor shake Beller's hand as he went off at half-time.
Hope those knees hold up.
Player of the Season. Make him captain, Bert.
OB1,
30/12/2009 at 13:49
I agree but I have to say that I was saying that a year ago. I probably got everything else wrong though.
Bellamy has been surrounded by this myth that he is nothing but a trouble maker. I think the press can probably shoulder the blame for most of it. Yes he has a big gob and yes he puts himself about but he seems to me to be fair minded towards his fellow professionals and those around him. I think he is a rare beast in football. At the end of the day he produces magic and quality on the pitch. He can say what he likes, as far as I'm concerned. If only those that moan about not being picked could produce such quality when they play.
I don't miss MH but I would miss this guy if he became a long-term injury. The clean sheets with a make-shift defence show what is possible and sadly Hughes never did it at City.
The final straw for me was the lack of plan B, C or D at Spurs. Why did we even bother with Silvinho when we had Garrido in the wings? It is not the points but the way that the team seems to be playing like a team that is the real positive.
maturity is a wonderful thing , really liking the reborn craig bellamy , long may the knees hold up
ctid
No there weren't OB1. I was one of the few and I went on here and said sign him at any price. He was West Ham's best player by a country mile and him and Tevez are the two stand outs this season up front with Given also exceptional in goal. I would think, with his attitude, Bellamy could well be the player of the season for the fans. He is superb.
I'd put Craig in the hall of fame now after his antics at the swamp. We all knew he was a speedy skillful player but after him being here now for nearly a year we know about his professionalism, drive, honesty and work ethic. Lets hope we get another two or three playing years out of him and then keep him involved within the club. His attitude will rub off onto others.
A true gent - make him captain immediately.
Top man is Craig. Forget Cook, Marwood and Kidd they won't survive. Gus and Jose still top 2 targets. Manchini holding the fort.
Bellamy and Tevez without a doubt the best players so far this season.
Craig puts 20 year olds to shame.
I have been very, very impressed by Craigs attitude and commitment to Manchester City and the fans. I personally would like to see him as captain because he is a leader on the pitch and doesn't let his team mates get away with giving less than 100% ie Robinho, Petrov. I have to admit I wasn't keen when it was first mooted about City's interest in Bellers last year but it has proved be an inspired signing and I am happy to be proved completely wrong. Well done Craig Bellamy, I take my hat off to you.
Like many Blues, I was not happy when Bellers signed, as his 'previous' did not make good reading.
Just goes to show how jaundiced press coverage can be so misleading!!
CB has been a revelation & an inspiration, both on & off the pitch. His attitude is spot on & you always know he will perform! I dont mind him winding up refs, the opposition & even his team-mates. Take that spark away from his game & he will not be anywhere near as effective!
I was criticised on here a couple of days ago for praising CB, whilst comparing his attitude with Petrov & Robinho! Don't mind criticism at all, but my God I'll stand by my comments cos if those two showed half the commitment of CB we would have 3 top quality players!
Bellers is a professional & certainly knows which side his bread is buttered. He knows that this is his last chance to win something, as his knees will not last much longer (unfortunately!). He knows he is not the most skillful player in the squad & is right to demand more from his colleagues.
Not certain what the Italian for 'new broom' is, but the early signs are very, very promising. RM seems to have most, if not all the squad on his side & that bodes well. Can't wait for a certain midweek cup game!!! Bellers at the double anyone??
CTID
We just have to make the most of Bellamy whilst he is here.
Don't think myself he will be here longer than 12 months ,either because of injuries, or he gets the call again from Hughes, wherever he ends up. You never know it could be Old Trafford!
If Hughes was still around we would have got a point against Stoke at Home and lost away against Wolves. So he would have been sacked anyway. Edksi is never wrong and I called it 100% correct after the Tottenham Shambles....Gary Cook and the shakes read my comments and act upon them.
Can't help but like Bellamy the more I watch him. He gets really into the game and wants every decision, but I'm sure most who've played at any level can see a bit of themselves in that.
He has pace, skill, finishing and bags of energy and commitment. And we saw last night his sporting side too. The guy had gone in elbow first on Bellamy, was not a nice challenge but he came off with a really bad fall. Bellamy could've been almost clear through but he was having none of it just wanted play stopped.
He's right about the fans and it should be no surprise. Every aspect of a club changes -stadium, chairman, owner, manager, players. Even occasionally name. It's the fans that define a club - always has been and always will be.
Bellamy has great character and a winning mentality, but he can actually play as well. He is quick, skilful and very clever. Like OB1 every time I see him play, he impresses me more and more.
He also comes accross as a decent and intelleigent lad. Some nice words for Hughes, but pragmatic about loyalty in football and wise enough to note that it is only really the fans who are loyal. I have been watching City as a season ticket holder for 33 years and I have seen some very poor players and quite a few who have not given their all. Without the fans there would be no ADUG - we have dragged this club kicking and screaming back to where we are now. I remeber York away like it was yesterday.
What I can say about this current bunch is that a sufficient number of them despite the money, do put a shift in. Just look at Bellers, SWP, NJG, Barry, Zab, Given, Tevez, Kompany and to a lesser extent Richards. Sure we have a few cheats like Robbie, Petrov and Ade, but if we sign a couple more winners we can genuinely have a good go at the title this year.
Hughes was awful in my view and his lack of ambition and aiming to finish 4th at best and 6th "realistically" after spending so much money was criminal. He should have gone for spending circa £70m on RSC, Tourre, Lescot and Bridge. Interesting that the new manager without spending a dime yet is ambitious enough and honest enough to say that we have good players who can challenge for the title now. He could have easily lamented the quality of the squad in certain areas and built his excuse bank up, but to his credit he has not done that.
As a final point and I know others on here will say its a ridiculous point to make, but I was never comfortable having a Rag as a manager. It just felt wrong and I never wanted to sing his name. I feel so different about the new bloke because he is pure and untarnsihed by any Rag association.
I've gotta admit that I was hyper ctitical when Beller signed, oh how wrong were we?!
Craig has been a breath of fresh air this season, lively, quick and with a fantastic attitude
I just hope nobody comes sniffing in the window, he might just do one to put one over on the club hierarchy
Hope not.......
like alot of blues i was 1 who thought what the hell are we doing signing bellers like a lot i read the stories in the paper and thought oh no trouble but im not to big to admit i was wrong i was a fool to belive what they wrote about him he has be a true pro since joining us well done bellers i hope you stick around and get the success your play deserves
I agree with OB1 that lots on here didn't want Bellamy due to him being injuryprone, a troublemaker, over the hill, ageing ... Hughes knew him a bit better. Up until now he's one of the best players brought in by Hughes and 12 million seems a bargain, doesn't it? Well done to the player.
Favourite moment during the Wolves-game: Bellamy lost the ball, chased it, disappeared from the tv-screen about 3 times and back again still chasing the ball to finally get it and setting up another attack.
I must admit when we signed Craig Bellamy i thought is was one of our worst signings and was not happy we did sign him.
I am more than happy to admit I WAS WRONG!!
Other players should follow his lead-he has been nothing short of fantastic-long may it continue.
Player of the year ??
Well said Graig and too those of his knockers(who there are few) who call him a journeyman an workhorse type player with no skill,may I suggest a trip to Specsavers in the January sales!!
He's got a great combination of skill and work ethic and guy with such fire in his belly is always a bonus,unlike the enigma that is Robinho.
Edski Vega, Nottingham
30/12/2009 at 15:29
You're fooling yourself.
Andrew Shaw
30/12/2009 at 14:27
I would put Nigel De Jong in the best player category as well
I said at the time, we had to trust Hughes' judgement as he knew the lad. But I didn't for one second realise what a terrific player he was when he signed, he really is priceless to our side and should be wrapped in cotton wool and used when it matters most.