Old boy Woodgate on the mend?
Posted on November 22nd, 2010 | 47 Comments |
So with little news about, I thought I’d take a slightly different angle.
Many of you will read this article and ask why? Why the hell is Mark writing about someone that doesn’t even play for us anymore?
I chose to cover this story because, as Toonsy can confirm, Woody was a player I greatly admired during his brief stint at Newcastle. He set the standards at Newcastle and was fantastic during his time with us.
Jonathan has been injury prone throughout his entire career though, but he quickly became a fans favourite as he put in some excellent defensive displays. At times he even made Titus and Andy O’Brien look half decent!
I for one was devastated when he was sold to Real Madrid for £13.4m in 2004. Jonathan did however reject the chance to re-sign for United on a few occasions, prefering moves to the Smoggies and Spurs after Madrid, though the player still has great affections for our club and fans.
Does anyone remember after we lost to Spurs in the Carling Cup at St James’ Park a couple of years ago? A lot happened in that game and both teams were in turmoil. Hughton was in temporary charge of us and Woodgate actually cleared the ball off the line from a Damien Duff effort if I remember correctly.
Woody was interviewed after the game that night and had great things to say about Newcastle United. I remember he commented on the fans being great.
Woody’s Spurs career has also been hampered by injuries. He has been out with a ‘chronic’ groin injury since Novemeber 2009 – a persistent groin problem that has threatend to end the 30-year-old’s football career.
Suprising news today though that the defender maybe in line for a return to top flight football, with Saggy face Redknapp revealing that Jonathan has stepped up his fitness and that we may see Woodgate playing again sometime soon.
I wont bore you with direct quotes from Redknapp, I just think it’s great Jonathan could still have a couple of years left in him. I thought it would be jolly to talk about something a bit different on the grounds Jonathan was a bit of a hero of mine!
What are your opinions on Woodgate? Bitter he didn’t re-sign at any point? Angry he chose the dirty inbred Smogs or Spuds ahead of us. Or remember him for his brief yet successful (when he played) stint with us?
Which past players do you guys love?
As my memory serves me, his last words after leaving the toon were, :I will give Newcastle first refusal if anything goes wrong at Madrid: .Once a smoggy , always a smoggy. Did,nt miss him.