Shane’s World

I had the pleasure of sitting next to former Cheltenham and Bradford central defender Shane Duff on Saturday who - during the game - was singing the praises of former Robins team mate and current Oxford midfielder Josh Payne. Duff described Payne as “gifted” and his comments made me keep an eye on the lad.
I decided to pay closer attention to Payne and, sure enough, every time he was given the ball in a yard of space he dictated the play and picked out team mates with a variety accurate passing. Nothing fancy, nothing too clever, but very effective. Apparently he’s not afraid to get stuck in either!
While hours of coverage and immeasurable column inches are given over to highly paid stars of the Prem, Duff finds himself in a situation pretty much ignored by football media and fans alike. Still only 29 years old, he turned out in nearly 200 games for Cheltenham before moving to Bradford at the start of last season on a one year contract with the option of another. He played 14 game and scored once but unfortunately a back injury put paid to that offer and he is now working hard to get back in shape having suffered the usual array of surgeries and injections. Ah, the gamourous lifestyle of a professional sportsman.
I can’t help but feel that at some point before Xmas, one club is going to pick themselves up a bargain if they offer him a win-win contract. The sort that offers him first team football and his face in the shop window and in return receive the services of a defender who has proven himself in Leagues One and Two.
Living with the uncertainty of what the future holds isn’t necessarily something a Chelsea or Man Utd player has to contend with these days and talking to Shane made me realize how fickle a business it can be. Having said that, he has managed to retain both his humour and a positive outlook and was an excellent ‘free’ expert summariser for me.