David Bellion thread

[listen_up_fergie]

I searched for one, but couldn't find one. I can understand why...but just thought it would be er...interesting...to bring him up.

What the hell was Fergie thinking?

Future Thierry Henry...you're having a laugh!

I see there's a Kleberson Fan Club, and I agree that Kleberson is a great player, but is there anyone out there who's a Bellion fan? I personally am not too keen on keeping Bellion for too long, but could there be something special about him that Fergie is waiting for, hoping that with time he will develop into a star? I was only slightly impressed with him at the start of the season after he scored four or five goals for the the first team. Apparently he does pretty OK for the reserves. But then again, we saw how ineffective he is as a lone striker against the likes of Fenerbahce and Exeter.
Does anyone see Bellion improving beyond his current level, or will he just be like Djemba-Djemba? Frankly, with four strikers above him in the pecking order, I think it would be best to let him go and free up some space in the squad for some of our teenagers.

[johno]

please don't start another thread this week... u've gone through your quota already... sheesh... but in response its pointless to sell Bellion... he might not be a superstar but he's cheap and when we had 1 fit striker other than Smith it was him... and he scored goals here and there where we needed them... iirc he's got more goals than Kezman... keep the lad. I'd like to see him as the wide man in our 4-3-3 sometimes... he's got so much pace that it could be an asset.

[omar_mufc]

i think, if i remember correctly, fergie said, when we signed bellion, that it would be two seasons before we really see the real bellion, this is his second season, he's improved year on year aswell, so next season may well be bellion's brekthrough year....

[billyireland]

please don't start another thread this week... u've gone through your quota already... sheesh... but in response its pointless to sell Bellion... he might not be a superstar but he's cheap and when we had 1 fit striker other than Smith it was him... and he scored goals here and there where we needed them... iirc he's got more goals than Kezman... keep the lad. I'd like to see him as the wide man in our 4-3-3 sometimes... he's got so much pace that it could be an asset.
Aahhh, Mateja Kezman... the benchmark for every European striker.

[United Forever]

Aahhh, Mateja Kezman... the benchmark for every European striker.

Dont be so hard to diss him. He is only player with a thread with more posts than the Cristiano Ronaldo Thread [R]. (Courtesty of the Pres of the CR7 Council) ;)

[Achtung]

I don't know that Bellion will ever get the chance to truly breakthrough at this club, with four world-class or near-world-class strikers ahead of him. I can see him becoming a squad player though, like Fortune or Phil Neville. One who is capable of playing several positions, and who doesn't start very often but still gets fairly regular shots in the team. His speed could really prove to be an asset late in matches.

[johno]

I don't know that Bellion will ever get the chance to truly breakthrough at this club, with four world-class or near-world-class strikers ahead of him. I can see him becoming a squad player though, like Fortune or Phil Neville. One who is capable of playing several positions, and who doesn't start very often but still gets fairly regular shots in the team. His speed could really prove to be an asset late in matches.


You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Achtung again.

[Leto]

I don't know that Bellion will ever get the chance to truly breakthrough at this club, with four world-class or near-world-class strikers ahead of him.

That's a very liberal interpretation of "world-class". Smith? Saha?

[Dark Savante]

I'll be the first to admit that in the past Bellion has annoyed me. His blind-alley running and complete lack of understanding of how to use his own stunning pace frustrate, highly.

He has a huge problem at United. The level of play of our attacking players is at a much higher bar then the cover for our more defensive positions. Fergie seeks a very high quality for attack and that in turn means Bellion will rarely get a chance to play - like Achtung said.

The emergence of Ebanks-Blake and Rossi in particular only make it worse for him. Rossi is looking like something very special indeed...the kind of special that forces the manager to play him despite his years. Tha forces Bellion even further down the pecking order. Even worse, it pushes him out of the striker roster altogether and has him playing out of position on the wings. Bellion doesn't think like a winger so he oftern makes mistakes out wide which in turn make him look worse than he is and causes a collective groan from the fans - that can't do his confidence any good and it's not really fair on him.

Bellion needs to be loaned out for a long period, we'll then see if he has what it takes to make it in the Prem. let-alone at Man Utd. It is the only way for him imo. He's soon to be our 6th choice striker...make of that what you will.

[Achtung]

That's a very liberal interpretation of "world-class". Smith? Saha?

Which is why I said "near-world-class" to describe those two afterwards, if you'll take a closer look.

[The Devil is in Me]

I'll be the first to admit that in the past Bellion has annoyed me. His blind-alley running and complete lack of understanding of how to use his own stunning pace frustrate, highly.

He has a huge problem at United. The level of play of our attacking players is at a much higher bar then the cover for our more defensive positions. Fergie seeks a very high quality for attack and that in turn means Bellion will rarely get a chance to play - like Achtung said.

The emergence of Ebanks-Blake and Rossi in particular only make it worse for him. Rossi is looking like something very special indeed...the kind of special that forces the manager to play him despite his years. Tha forces Bellion even further down the pecking order. Even worse, it pushes him out of the striker roster altogether and has him playing out of position on the wings. Bellion doesn't think like a winger so he oftern makes mistakes out wide which in turn make him look worse than he is and causes a collective groan from the fans - that can't do his confidence any good and it's not really fair on him.

Bellion needs to be loaned out for a long period, we'll then see if he has what it takes to make it in the Prem. let-alone at Man Utd. It is the only way for him imo. He's soon to be our 6th choice striker...make of that what you will.

Good post DS. I was going to say pretty much the same things as you until I got lazy and just decided to quote your post. :D

I remember earlier in the year when Bellion actually came on as a sub for a number of games. He had AMAZING speed, but went absolutley nowhere with the ball. Frustrating indeed.

[Rei de Boston]

The emergence of Ebanks-Blake and Rossi in particular only make it worse for him. Rossi is looking like something very special indeed...the kind of special that forces the manager to play him despite his years. Tha forces Bellion even further down the pecking order. Even worse, it pushes him out of the striker roster altogether and has him playing out of position on the wings. Bellion doesn't think like a winger so he oftern makes mistakes out wide which in turn make him look worse than he is and causes a collective groan from the fans - that can't do his confidence any good and it's not really fair on him.

Bellion needs to be loaned out for a long period, we'll then see if he has what it takes to make it in the Prem. let-alone at Man Utd. It is the only way for him imo. He's soon to be our 6th choice striker...make of that what you will.

I agree wiht you completely here. It is beginning to look like Bellion is at a turning point at the club. He is in a position where possibly the only way he will get substantial minutes is if he goes on loan. It has seemed to really help Richardson (but that is another thread).

Comparing the Bellion from last year to this year's model shows dramatic improvement. His first touch, though still rough, is far better than last year. He looks to have added some muscle without losing any pace. He has scored more goals this year. This thing about that is that when he was getting playing time he did score.

I think Bellion still could be a good player for United. He will probably never be a star and will probably suffer from the fans who see the pace and want so much more out of him. I can see him ending up as a solid squad player and this will be a bigger possibility if he can figure out how to be a decent cover player on the wing. He definitely has the speed for it.

[Leto]

Which is why I said "near-world-class" to describe those two afterwards, if you'll take a closer look.

Yes, I noticed that. What I was getting at was that I wouldn't really class either of them as "near world-class" either, but that's just MHO.

[Montréal United]

He's Sir Alex's answer to Wenger's Jeremie Aliadiere.

A young frenchman with lots of promising talent, but no playing time...

With Man U's standard for a striker, he just won't cut it.