Sometimes as a weaker county i suppose I look at other players reputations and go ...are they really that good.Personally I think this player is way over rated.He looks like a decent bloke but put him up against a half decent full forward and he would get destroyed.5 minutes of Denis Glennon would have freancie on the bench

footiemad (Westmeath) - Posts: 733 - 21/07/2008 15:12:04    52957

Dream On, he was outstanding yesterday. He got beated once for the goal but, he had already blocked one player from getting in, but one went in behind and scored the goal.

Farney (Monaghan) - Posts: 815 - 21/07/2008 16:48:10    53115

he was a better corner back than he is full back.

howshecuttin (Longford) - Posts: 376 - 21/07/2008 16:48:29    53118

Thought he had a great game yesterday. Even drove forward a few times and I remember him delivering a gret ball into one of the full forwards. He's a class act.

RMDrive (Donegal) - Posts: 2202 - 21/07/2008 16:57:01    53133

A good footballer, but over-rated by a lot of people. Physically very strong and with excellent positional sense, but is (increasingly) very slow on the turn and not a great high fielder. I think he has benefited from playing in a very strong defensive unit, and has often had a sweeper playing in front of him to cut out the low short ball to a quick forward.

At his best, and I do think he is past that, I'd rate Bellew as a good footballer, but not at the level of a Darren Fay or Barry Owens.

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 21/07/2008 17:16:12    53163

Don't under estimate him, he's class. Best way to beat Armagh is to take your points from out around the 40 yard area. The crowded defence is energy sapping, especially if you are going for goal nad trying to get past Bellew. Take your points out at the 40 and avoid the energy sapping tackles. Fermanagh copped on to that in the second half and it paid off

RUBADUB (Dublin) - Posts: 477 - 21/07/2008 17:17:01    53164

Hear hear Farney and RM Drive
Francie (except for McDonnell and Clarke) was one of Armaghs best players yesterday. How many scores did his player get??

I admit he's not the classiest or fastest player in the world but he does the job he's put on the pitch to do, does it effectively and very rarely slips up.......and he certainly doesn't give up either.
Also had a great game against Down. it was his solo up the field that lead to the Stephen Kernan goal!.

Mac32 (Armagh) - Posts: 10 - 21/07/2008 18:33:54    53242

Footiemad, I dont think Dennis Glennon would worry Francie one bit. Francie played well yesterday and Glennon plays well only when given plenty of room. I have seen him have stinkers too especially in tight games with not much room.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 21/07/2008 18:49:30    53258

bellew gets alot of criticism but the only time i can ever remember him getting a real roasting was against stephen oneill in the drawn ulster final of 05.

orange and blue (Tyrone) - Posts: 1080 - 21/07/2008 18:53:17    53266

Donaghy gave him scars that will never go away...

Skillachi (Tyrone) - Posts: 328 - 21/07/2008 19:44:22    53294

legend, as usual he was one of armaghs better players on sunday

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 22/07/2008 12:30:10    53749

Bellew looks good as mentioned above because Armagh play a very strong defensive system with normally a sweeper in front of him...put him one on one with a decent forward and he is in big trouble... and not conceeding much to a Fermanagh forward doesn't say much as they have a very poor forward line when it comes to scoring.

Dubsforsam1 (Dublin) - Posts: 164 - 22/07/2008 12:43:20    53760

The blinkered eyes people watch games with is unreal. He had a stinker on sunday. Looked completely off the pace of the game. Was the sole cause of the goal conceded. I think he might be finished. Too many miles on the clock

whiterbannnas (Mayo) - Posts: 2441 - 22/07/2008 12:48:52    53769

he was at at fault for the goal but he did not really do anything else wrong, overall he did very little wrong.

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 22/07/2008 12:57:37    53777

Are yee joking?! Every time Fermanagh put a high ball in he struggled to even get a touch!!!!! He was very beatable...

TheRevolution (Mayo) - Posts: 487 - 22/07/2008 13:12:53    53792

Here here Skilachi ... that was an absolute pleasure to watch!!

Down Exile (Down) - Posts: 214 - 22/07/2008 13:29:36    53816

I think we all found out how good Bellew was when he ATTEMPTED to mark Kieran Donaghy 2 years ago !!!!

Ciarrai Abu (Overseas) - Posts: 1050 - 22/07/2008 13:34:27    53824

I agree he had a good game on sunday, but fitness was the downfall in the end, not only for him, but quite a few of the armagh players.

ErneFox (Fermanagh) - Posts: 9 - 22/07/2008 13:45:54    53836

Let me ask you a question samin10, is there anyone else that you would want at no.3 on Sunday?
I can tell you that Dublin and a host of other counties would love to have a full back as good as Francie regardless of being guilty for the goal

holymoly (Dublin) - Posts: 757 - 22/07/2008 13:55:18    53848

ciarrai abu

roasted him in the first half and untill donaghey finally conned the ref into booking bellew with his constant whining he hardly touched the ball. Once again francies reputation went before him. i wonder if donaghey would have danced around him for that goal if francie wasnt afraid of actually laying a hand on him. Doubt it. Also the clown who said he stuggled to get a touch on any high ball that came in. Cant remember seeing any fermanagh player catching a high ball ahead of him. yes there was a fisted goal, big deal they got one against mccloy the current allstar fullback. it happens, does not suddenly make them bad players. other than oneil in 2005 ulster final and donaghey for 30 mins in 2006, who else has got the better of him. Nobody thats who. obviously alot of people who continuosly claim that francie is too slow and he is dirty and all the rest just cant wait to see him have a bad game and try and criticise everything he does in order to prove themselves right, but continously he proves the doubters wrong.

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 22/07/2008 14:27:59    53889