Woodgate faces crucial operation

[BBC Sport]

Tottenham centre-back Jonathan Woodgate may be forced to retire unless he undergoes surgery on his injured groin, according to Spurs boss Harry Redknapp.

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[Redrup]

Even if he undergoes the op, he'll be on the pitch for a minute before his leg falls off.

Such a shame considering his obvious talent.

 

[Irish Scouse]

Who saw that coming?

 

[IanC]

Must be frustrating for Woody. Top defender yet never seems to be able to overcome his injuries. Last ditch attempt to get back but will pick up another if he gets back.

 

[Billy]

To say they have an idea of the problem is just them clutching at straws. This will be exploratory surgery, in that they will hope to find the problem while he's on the operating table, and hopefully fix it.

Problem is, nobody can work out what is wrong with him at all. He's been to a load of specialists and it hasn't helped so far, so I imagine this'll end in failure.

I hope he'll consider a coaching role. I think he has plenty to offer in that regard.

 

[CJACKO11]

you what...Woodgate....injured well i never. Huge shame this lads carear because when fit he is a solid centre back.

 

[JP Woody]

Give it up Woodgate, stick to what you do best, snorting charlie. Just hope Spurs insured him when they bought him.

 

[Carine]

Such a shame - probably the most naturally talented English defender of his generation.

 

[Mike.]

Such a shame - probably the most naturally talented English defender of his generation.

sadly he is done, cant see this being a success at all

 

[Carine]

sadly he is done, cant see this being a success at all

Unfortunately I'd have to agree with you there m8 -- I think we've seen the last of him as a professional footballer. I often wonder how good Tottenham could be if our first-choice CBs weren't injury prone. King and Woodgate would be formidable and probably the number one choice for England if fully fit. On the downside, they'd probably both be playing for a different club(s) now though.

 

[Kylo]

Very sad news

This must be such a rare injury though, and was such a suprise when I heard this!

 

[GodCubed]

Unfortunately I'd have to agree with you there m8 -- I think we've seen the last of him as a professional footballer. I often wonder how good Tottenham could be if our first-choice CBs weren't injury prone. King and Woodgate would be formidable and probably the number one choice for England if fully fit. On the downside, they'd probably both be playing for a different club(s) now though.

I wonder how good ENGLAND would have been if key players hadn't been so injury prone. Think Woodgate, King, Hargreaves, Owen. We'd be a **** sight better with two quality centre backs competing for places alongside a true defensive mid and one of the finest strikers of his generation.

 

[Mike.]

I wonder how good ENGLAND would have been if key players hadn't been so injury prone. Think Woodgate, King, Hargreaves, Owen. We'd be a **** sight better with two quality centre backs competing for places alongside a true defensive mid and one of the finest strikers of his generation.

i'd like to add dean ashton to that, he had the ability to be a true number 9 for us.

carine, do you think he will take up coaching badges niw?

 

[Carine]

i'd like to add dean ashton to that, he had the ability to be a true number 9 for us.

carine, do you think he will take up coaching badges niw?

Dean Ashton had bags of potential and could possibly have filled the void left by Shearer given time. One player I always remember (due to the excitement of watching him in his early career) was Gianluigi Lentini -- a young lad who many thought would become the best winger of his time. A car crash put paid to that though -- forcing him to retire from professional football.

With regards to Woodgate, I hope he does move into coaching -- his reading of the game, defensive qualities, ability to play the ball out from the back and all-round european style of play (mixed with a bit of English fight) could prove inspiring to a whole new generation.