I was one of those Tottenham fans who rejoiced at the news of Jonathan Woodgate participating in full training. Woodgate is a unique English centre-half; he has pace, ball playing skills, is rugged, he gets his share of goals for a centre-half, and he can also read the game extremely well. I also think he’s less prone to make errors compared to Michael Dawson, Younes Kaboul and Sebastien Bassong.
It’s a real shame he’s missed eighteen months of football because of another niggling injury. He’s now back (touch wood) and everyone at the club has missed him on and off the pitch.
That said, we all know he’s not match fit and a loan deal would suit all parties. That being, Tottenham Hotspur the club and Woodgate as a player. At first, I wasn’t receptive to such a talent going on loan, but then Redknapp claimed Woodgate isn’t against a loan deal either, so who am I to complain? If the player is happy to go on either a short or long term loan, so am I. The only downside would be if Woodgate either breaks down whilst on loan, or picks up a whole new injury and thus setting him further back. Let’s hope neither happens. Also, what happens if he regains his match fitness, but not his form? Then what? We all know he’s a classy centre-half with a unique skill set for someone who operates in that position, but if he is unable to regain his form, would Redknapp be willing to offload such a talent? Redknapp has implied that Woodgate’s actual fitness is fine, it’s his match fitness that needs real work. Perhaps a loan to Championship club will provide the perfect remedy.
In an ideal world, Woodgate will go out on loan to a Championship club during the Winter transfer window, he’ll return at the end of January, and then Redknapp and the club doctors will decide if we can put him in our 25 man squad for the remainder of the season.
If Woodgate can return to the centre of our defence sooner rather than later, then we’ve effectively got a new signing. Never mind, one hell of a player to boot.