akd545
NormMoore Sense Needed!
October 5th 2006 12:40
As the soccer now takes the title of the only football code still playing until next year, it seems that they are not attacking this opportunity ideally. Not only has the A-League lost their marquee player with Dwight Yorke, as well as their founder and chairman, but now the Socceroos, and more specifically potential skipper Craig Moore cannot seem to get it together for a number of small Asian Cup qualifiers being played in the next week.
Moore has certainly put his foot in it this week. Down in the Illawarra region in NSW on Tuesday to hang out with a few teammates, Moore did seem to have too much of a good time, and as a result had to take a sleeping tablet to sleep, which meant he slept through his flight to Brisbane. From this Moore missed out on a lunchtime clinic, a early evening training session, and from what it seems, the chance to ever skipper the Australian side.
As Moore is indeed a veteran player of the squad, FFA chief John O’Neill decided to suspend him from the friendly against Paraguay on Saturday night. A fair call I believe, and essentially a minor rap on the knuckles for missing training due to sleeping in.
However, Moore did not simply take this suspension laying down, but rather requested to be released from the game against Bahrain on Wednesday, so he is able to fly back to England to prepare for his next Premier League match. The FFA had no real option but to allow him to catch his flight, ironically enough, back to the motherland.
This is what is unsettling me. Moore released a statement that he believed it would be easier for the squad and the fans if he went home instead of sitting out the game on Saturday and automatically having a space ready for him for Wednesday. As a fan of the sport, its not making it easier, but rather sees like he is running with his tail in between his legs.
I for one can personally vouch for what it is like to sleep through an important deadline or meeting. Its not great, and you do feel like you have let everyone down because you couldn’t simply wake up. But this is not the issue. Rather the issue at hand is that Moore could not simply take his one game punishment and square up for the next meeting. True he would be disappointed he has missed out skippering the side in a important match, as a number of veteran Socceroos have made it their final appearance, not too mention missing out acting captain in front of his home crowd, but asking for the only other game this month to prepare for the English comp is simply ludicrous.
Personally I think it would show more character if Moore put his hand up, admitted his mistake, served his punishment and vowed to make it up in the next game. But rather it seems that after he slept in after a day at the races, he has done the equivalent of taking his bat and ball and going home. For me, it is not something that a potential skipper of the squad should have even considered, and for one it should show the real strength of his character to the squad selectors. After this little stint I would not be surprised if we do not see Moore in the green and gold for some time, and I for one would not be that fussed if it took a little while longer after this current charade.
Until next time, sports minds.
Moore has certainly put his foot in it this week. Down in the Illawarra region in NSW on Tuesday to hang out with a few teammates, Moore did seem to have too much of a good time, and as a result had to take a sleeping tablet to sleep, which meant he slept through his flight to Brisbane. From this Moore missed out on a lunchtime clinic, a early evening training session, and from what it seems, the chance to ever skipper the Australian side.
As Moore is indeed a veteran player of the squad, FFA chief John O’Neill decided to suspend him from the friendly against Paraguay on Saturday night. A fair call I believe, and essentially a minor rap on the knuckles for missing training due to sleeping in.
However, Moore did not simply take this suspension laying down, but rather requested to be released from the game against Bahrain on Wednesday, so he is able to fly back to England to prepare for his next Premier League match. The FFA had no real option but to allow him to catch his flight, ironically enough, back to the motherland.
This is what is unsettling me. Moore released a statement that he believed it would be easier for the squad and the fans if he went home instead of sitting out the game on Saturday and automatically having a space ready for him for Wednesday. As a fan of the sport, its not making it easier, but rather sees like he is running with his tail in between his legs.
I for one can personally vouch for what it is like to sleep through an important deadline or meeting. Its not great, and you do feel like you have let everyone down because you couldn’t simply wake up. But this is not the issue. Rather the issue at hand is that Moore could not simply take his one game punishment and square up for the next meeting. True he would be disappointed he has missed out skippering the side in a important match, as a number of veteran Socceroos have made it their final appearance, not too mention missing out acting captain in front of his home crowd, but asking for the only other game this month to prepare for the English comp is simply ludicrous.
Personally I think it would show more character if Moore put his hand up, admitted his mistake, served his punishment and vowed to make it up in the next game. But rather it seems that after he slept in after a day at the races, he has done the equivalent of taking his bat and ball and going home. For me, it is not something that a potential skipper of the squad should have even considered, and for one it should show the real strength of his character to the squad selectors. After this little stint I would not be surprised if we do not see Moore in the green and gold for some time, and I for one would not be that fussed if it took a little while longer after this current charade.
Until next time, sports minds.
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