THE FUTURE’S BLEAK on why John Ruddy isn’t in the England squad, and the trouble with Leon Barnett.
The other day I wandered into McDonald’s and saw the back of page of a local paper weighing up why John Ruddy isn’t over at London Colney or wherever they all meet up right now.
There are a few reasons as for why, one being he isn’t quite there yet. Yes, he’s had a few memorable games this season and last but he juxtaposed them with fumbles and errors and had memorable games for the wrong reason – rule them mistakes out, or tone them down a bit and he (and we) is onto a good’un.
Now I’m not Ruddy-bashing. I’m just attempting to give a little balance. He mixes brilliance with barmy too regularly for my liking, but being a goalkeeper is putting yourself on a pedestal to be shot down from. Make a mistake and the world ends.
And all this clamouring is really a result of premature retirements; Paul Robinson would be a dead cert for the England squad. And, for all we know the guy from Fulham, who’s apparently on loan at some club near here, could be in the form of his life. We see highlights at gone midnight. Not ideal viewing, eh?
Ruddy has split fans bang down the middle. No-one says ‘he’s alright’. It’s either ‘I rate the guy’ or ‘I don’t trust him and he can’t kick.’ You’d think we were used to rubbish-kicking-keepers by now but it seems not.
I also differ with many-a fan about Barney. I hear he’s our best defender, something I’m not au fait with.
To me, he looks like he does a lot because he is prone to errors and is blessed with pace to catch back up with play to clumsily win the ball back. Sure, in the air he’s a different beast. I know I’m not alone in this opinion, but among Norwich fans I seem to be.
So shoot me (figuratively speaking)…
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