bradley headstone
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Posted: May 24th 2009
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Andy Todd has left British Football.
He’s signed a one-year contract for Perth Glory in the ‘A’ League of Australia. Todd is truly a football enigma, a decent enough central defender who played at the highest club level yet never really emerged from his father’s shadow.
Todd senior appears to have left football with a reputation for being a cultured ball playing defender who never quite hit the heights predicted for him, Todd junior will be remembered as a bit of a nutter who could fill a gap for you but never quite escaped the fact that he hit Phil Brown.
His finest hour in the professional game came when Harry Redknapp, whilst being surreptitiously recorded for the BBC’s sleaze in football expose, let slip that he thought Todd would ‘do a job for you’! The question only remains as to what job you wanted doing, man to man Giggs or lamp Scholes!
Todd for Cahill isn’t a fair swap.
Rafa Benitez, footballing heart of a pea.
It’s not my phrase, I heard a respected Football journalist use it recently and it amused me. The reason I trot it out now is the latest PR gaffe by the potato headed Liverpool manager.
Liverpool’s failure to land the title is being spun as some kind of victory by the Liverpool media mafia. There appears to be a consensus growing that ‘they’ll definitely win it next year’. I rather feel like this is a case of building your own gallows. If Liverpool doesn’t hit the ground running next year then I foresee adios Rafa by October.
I wonder how much sympathy the football public at large would have for Mr Benitez. His largely incoherent rambles against Sir Alex Ferguson appear to back fire every time he launches them. His latest graceless error was to refuse to congratulate Manchester United and to compound this he appeared to suggest that they had somehow bought the title.
This just doesn’t hold water and worse still it only draws attention to his own profligacy in the market. Yes, Manchester United can spend £30 million a time on the likes of Ferdinand, Rooney and Berbatov. While I’d agree that the jury is still out on the Bulgarian Andy Garcia lookilikey you’d have to admit that United rarely overpay for a player. Looking at United’s squad this year it’s remarkable how many players play significant roles having come through the ranks of their reserves. Gibson, Wellbeck, Evans, O’Shea, Fletcher, Silva (both of them) and lest we forget, Scholes and Giggs.
During this fallow period Liverpool has thrown bucket loads of money at trying to get back to the top, Benitez is just the latest in a long line. The difference appears to be that United are adding to a strong squad.
The latest rumour is that Liverpool are keen to buy Tevez. Now I’m sure there’s an element of ‘just to annoy Ferguson’ about this one but does it not strike anyone else that Tevez and Robbie Keane are quite similar players?
United won the league because their squad was of sufficient quality to keep picking up points. That wasn’t purchased overnight and a gentleman would be big enough to say so.
League 2 Play offs.
I didn’t watch the game; I was purchasing a lawn mower! Something I never thought I’d do. I did, however, catch the highlights and I’m glad. I managed a brief glimpse of one of my favourite players.
Paul Murray won’t mean much to most of you. He made an impact with the England Under 21’s and caught the eye of one or two of the big spending top flight clubs, but a succession of broken legs put paid to any hope of a glorious career.
He’s into his 30s now and anchored Shrewsbury Town’s midfield at Wembley. Unrecognisable as the impish swashbuckling midfielder I remembered.
I saw his debut for my team, he looked about 12 years old but the next two seasons he proved to be a top quality player.
Given the injuries he’s had I’m glad he’s managed to keep playing for so long and it’s great that he still gets great days out like today, despite the result.
I’m going to bed now, I’ll be dreaming of a 4 all draw at Port Vale.