Saturday, January 07, 2006
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
3 pieces of significant news hit the headlines in the first week of the new year: one good, one bad and one... well, ugly is a bit strong, but it is a shock!To concentrate on the positive first (and boy do we need to do that) wonderboy Stewart Downing is back in full training and due to start in the reserves this weekend. The knee ligament damage that has kept him out of the squad since the England trip to America in the Summer has been operated on and has recovered well. Now our best player of last season can concentrate on his general fitness in a bid to regain form before the final world cup selection in a several months time. It will be a massive boost to the first team if he can come back in with anything like his best form and here's best wishes and fingers crossed on that one.
All the more important to have Stew back when you consider the bad news: Franck Queudrue is out for up to 2 months following the Man City game and a knee injury of a slightly different nature. The left side will now be very stretched without Downing, and even though Franck has been responsible for some real howlers in recent months his spirit has never been in question, giving the impression anything can still happen with him on the pitch. He will be much missed and wishes of a speedy recovery go out to him.
And finally: WTF? Mark Schwarzer wants away...! OK we knew there was interest in him before the season and it was a stroke of luck to get him to sign on the dotted line for another year. We saw that he was slightly distracted by the run of his national team's efforts. And we have certainly seen his form dip in recent games, with more than a few schoolboy errors creeping in. But where did he come up with the idea of getting out mid-season? He has been a loyal servant for 8 years since signing from Bradford City in '97 and has seen the ups and downs out with great resilience. So why now? Surely his current form is not the best advert for potential buyers, but even if he is forced to stay it now becomes impossible to play him knowing his heart is no longer with the team! More on this as it becomes apparent what the reasons are behind the decision. Enough to say for now that it is a massive shock and a real burden the team does not need as it teeters on the brink of crisis.
