KARMA AT ITS FINEST...
In recent years, my beloved Saints have had a few employees who have caused a bit of trouble either by behaving like a twonk, as in the case of Dani Osvaldo, or expressing a desire to leave the club for a bigger stage. Kenwyne Jones went on strike and refused to play for Southampton in order to facilitate a move to Stoke, of all places.
Most players who have `moved on` have done so with good grace and an understanding on the part of the club and the supporters that it was in everyone`s interests for them to leave - Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ricky Lambert among them. Last year saw the departure of Luke Shaw to Manchester United, Calum Chambers to Arsenal, both departures being met with a collective shrug of the shoulders. Adam Lallana`s move to Liverpool was tinged not only with regret but also with a feeling of desertion by a player who just a few weeks earlier had vowed his intention to remain.
But the case of Dejan Lovren stands out because he announced his determination to leave by declaring that his "head was already at Anfield" and sure enough his £20 million move to Liverpool was concluded shortly afterwards. His time there so far has been mixed, not just through the occasional injury but he seemed to be out of favour when it came to team selection.
Last night in Turkey, however, he played in Liverpool`s Europa League encounter with Besiktas. The game went to extra time and then penalties, the first nine of which, including those from Lambert and Lallana, were unerringly dispatched beyond the despairing clutches of the Besiktas custodian. So the whole game and Liverpool`s continued interest in European competition all hinged on the final penalty. It was taken by Lovren, who smashed the ball over the crossbar and away into the Turkish night.
Sometimes, all you have to do is sit back and watch as karma produces its finest and most satisfying outcome.
In recent years, my beloved Saints have had a few employees who have caused a bit of trouble either by behaving like a twonk, as in the case of Dani Osvaldo, or expressing a desire to leave the club for a bigger stage. Kenwyne Jones went on strike and refused to play for Southampton in order to facilitate a move to Stoke, of all places.
Most players who have `moved on` have done so with good grace and an understanding on the part of the club and the supporters that it was in everyone`s interests for them to leave - Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ricky Lambert among them. Last year saw the departure of Luke Shaw to Manchester United, Calum Chambers to Arsenal, both departures being met with a collective shrug of the shoulders. Adam Lallana`s move to Liverpool was tinged not only with regret but also with a feeling of desertion by a player who just a few weeks earlier had vowed his intention to remain.
But the case of Dejan Lovren stands out because he announced his determination to leave by declaring that his "head was already at Anfield" and sure enough his £20 million move to Liverpool was concluded shortly afterwards. His time there so far has been mixed, not just through the occasional injury but he seemed to be out of favour when it came to team selection.
Last night in Turkey, however, he played in Liverpool`s Europa League encounter with Besiktas. The game went to extra time and then penalties, the first nine of which, including those from Lambert and Lallana, were unerringly dispatched beyond the despairing clutches of the Besiktas custodian. So the whole game and Liverpool`s continued interest in European competition all hinged on the final penalty. It was taken by Lovren, who smashed the ball over the crossbar and away into the Turkish night.
Sometimes, all you have to do is sit back and watch as karma produces its finest and most satisfying outcome.
1 comment:
Thanks, Ray - I got there in the end, unlike our departed Croatian friend.....
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