by Stuart Moriarty-Patten
At the time of writing there are a sizable number of professional footballers that, as the transfer window gets ready to shut, may be looking through the situations vacant columns in the local paper during the next few weeks. In fact, if the Jobcentre decided to put out a team of players who they may be signing in the next few days I reckon they could make a decent Championship side, slightly aging but with loads of international experience.
The Job Seekers Allowance XI could well look like this.
1/ David James (last club played for – Bristol City)
Age 42; 53 appearances for England
2/ Michel Salgado (Blackburn Rovers)
Age 36; 53 appearances for Spain
3/ Lee Naylor (Cardiff City)
Age 32; 3 appearances for England U-21
4/ Daniel Gabbidon (QPR)
Age 33; 46 appearances for Wales
5/ Steve Gohouri (Wigan)
Age 31; 13 appearances or Ivory Coast
6/ George Boateng (Nottingham Forest)
Age 36; 4 appearances for Holland
7/ Lee Bowyer (Ipswich)
Age 35; 1 appearance for England
8/ Papa Boup Diop (West Ham)
Age 34; 63 appearances for Senegal
9/ Michael Owen (Man United)
Age 32; 89 appearances for England
10/ Emile Heskey (Aston Villa)
Age 34; 62 appearances for England
11/ Darius Vassell (Leicester)
Age 32; 22 appearances for England
To be serious though its no fun watching anyone slip into unemployment, so good luck to all those footballers looking for work in the next 24 hours, although Michael, you may have to take that pay cut, and lower your sights slightly.
Great read. Some of these players deserve a club lee Bowyer in particular I’d like.
Unfortunately footballers do reach the end of playing careers as much as its sad the contracts they have been on they have no excuse for not being set up for life in either savings or investments.
Micheal Owen has infuriated me with his comments. He is too confident in his own lack of ability. He at best could play for a championship club. Turning Stoke down will be his worst decision and I do think many Championship clubs may overlook him as he has gave the opinion he is better than them.
With St George’s Park up and running im sure he could get a position coaching young talent if or the national team.