Liverpool’s £20 million Xabi Alonso replacement, Alberto Aquilani, started nine Premier League games in his first season at Anfield, was loaned back to Serie A with Juventus for the current campaign and his limp performances when called upon reflected the rapid transition Liverpool were experiencing from title challengers to Europa League drop-outs. Aquilani’s impact at Anfield is generally considered minimal, but imagine how severe an appraisal of him would be if his delayed debut was postponed a total of 15 months, he headed his first goal in front on the Kop against his own goalkeeper and was sent-off for two bookings just after the hour before embarking on a further lengthy injury absence.
That fateful scenario describes Jonathan Woodgate’s first appearance for Real Madrid following a move to Spain that initially seemed to vindicate the maturing career of one of England’s finest defenders. Although Aquilani could soon be returning to Merseyside, principally due to his parent club’s intention to recoup a healthy amount of the Italian’s original fee and a subsequent lack of willing suitors, his once promising career presently hangs in the balance. Woodgate, however, was able to complement his devastating debut with a standing ovation from the Bernabeu crowd at the time of his dismissal. The Middlesbrough born centre-back’s deteriorating physical condition then provoked a return to his home-town club in an effort to rebuild his faltering reputation and he quickly sealed a further move to Tottenham, scoring the decisive goal in a man-of-the-match winning performance against Chelsea in the League Cup Final a month after his arrival.
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Woodgate actually recorded 113 appearances overall between his return to England in 2006 and the culmination of the 2008/2009 season but has featured on just three occasions in the League since, during a period in which Spurs have transformed in to a Champions League outfit. Although he was employed as a late substitute in Spurs’ recent away trip to the San Siro, the former Leeds and Newcastle player’s latest injury setback must surely indicate an impending conclusion to his time at White Hart Lane and encourage him to seriously contemplate retirement, a consideration Harry Redknapp suggested during pre-season.
His wages are believed to be in the region of £3 million a year so a departure would signify a considerable easing of Tottenham’s accounts. What’s more, Spurs have recently strengthened their defence with the January signing of Bongani Khumalo and although the Lilywhites have been unfortunate with injuries this term, they can still boast an expansive, experienced and reliable assemblage of defenders when fit. Ledley King’s frailties are well known, but Harry Redknapp retains the services of William Gallas, Sebastien Bassong, Younes Kaboul, Vedran Corluka and Michael Dawson who each represent a more dependable short, medium and long-term option than Woodgate.
The 8 times capped former England International has been fortunate that the ability he demonstrated at the dawn of his career and his personable attitude have got him this far. The Madrid fans’ encouraging reaction to Woodgate’s debut over five years ago mirrors the support he has received from each manager he has worked under. It is unlikely that Woodgate’s next move will intimate anything other than the overdue acceptance of his career’s twilight, the alternative being the acceptance of his career’s termination. His footballing archive describes a depressing series of events peppered with momentous highlights, but now is a good time for Tottenham to release the player whose days in football are numbered.
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