Slaven Bilic is as good a man manager as we’ve had at this club – he takes full responsibility for the bad times and makes sure he doesn’t hog the headlines in the good.
His interview with Sky Sports at the weekend was an excellent study in the way the man operates …he’s an engaging character who in general terms says the right thing at the right time.
So I have to say I was disappointed that he chose to single out Andy Carroll for special and favoured mention on Saturday morning ahead of the Sunday game at Goodison.
He spoke of how special he was – that he ‘loved’ Andy Carroll and couldn’t wait for him to return to the team.
Now, before we go any further, this is not a “let’s knock Carroll” piece – enough has been said and written about the bloke’s abilities to last a lifetime.
But I do wonder when there is absolutely no sign of him being fit to play why Slav should have made such a big deal out of him.
And given that Diafra Sakho is on the same comeback road as AC I also wonder exactly what he made of all the “I love Andy ” stuff.
Sakho was dropped, had a fall out on the training ground, failed a medical at West Brom and is now apparenty determined to prove himself all over again for the Irons.
A word on his behalf would have been wouldn’t it because he may feel that there’s not too much point if as far as the boss is concerened it’s all about the Geordie when they are both fit.
Maybe something’s been lost in translation but as it stands this feels like an uneven playing field. I hope to God I’ve got this wrong because for me Sak remains the best striker at the club.
Sakho seemed to have made the choice himself that there was no point, maybe he needs to prove to Slav that he does want to play for us still
I have not read anywhere, other than this site, the story that Sakho is trying to prove himself and wants to play for a new contract. I have felt for quite a while that the purpose of getting Sakho fit is to sell him in January. Maybe bigging Carroll up is a PR job to convince other managers he’s still worth taking off our hands?
Yeah I think your right Thiucgshaun. The board can surley not fall for the “what if he can stay fit” one anymore surely! Need to try our hardest to get him a loan deal like I think Leroy said on this site. Cover half his wages and just hope we can sell him at the end of it. Sak all the way for me.
Well let me answer that for you Thiucgshaun. It’s been on the official updates from the club’s physios regularly and I think it’s highly unlikely any other club would pay for a player who hasn’t played since last season. AC meanwhile is n precisely the same position so whilst PR can be useful would in no way be responsible for sellling him
The thing is was Slav asked about Carroll?? I didnt see this interview so i dont know myself.Was he asked a specific question that involved only the China Doll.If so i guess he wouldnt talk about Sak.
Anyway something aint right with either situation as far as im concerned.It is a bit fishy i think.Im well sceptical about the whole situation involving the oair of them lool
Has Sakho withdrawn his transfer request?
Gives Sakho an even greater incentive to try harder. Also maybe Slav’s trying to level the playing field against Carroll knockers.
Be surprised if anyone buys Sakho in January as if he is fit , he will go off to the AN Cup.
It does have the feeling that something is going on that we are not fully aware of doesn’t it, I guess we will find out in time. The one thing I will say having had experience of it myself that when you have a significant back injury whether muscular or with the spine itself the back rarely fully recovers and when you put that in context with the demands of modern day footballers training methods, really Sak should be given a special training programme with substitute activities for those that can inflame and aggravate his injury. For the rest of his life he will suffer with that and if like me will have to manage it every day of his life. I hope it is the case that his return is slower because they have had to amend his programme and that he will be back at some point, rather than he has thrown another tantrum or screwed up off the field again…