LEO'S LONDON: It's hard to show sympathy for sensitive Woodgate

24 February 2010 15:13
Jonathan Woodgate is sensitive about how serious people think his latest groin injury is.[LNB]So much so, in fact, that he went to the effort of correcting a recent report that claimed he feared for his future in the game.[LNB]Now, it is hard not to have sympathy for a player whose talent has been undermined by a fragile physique over the years.[LNB] Down and out: Injured Woodgate is unlikely to kick a ball this season for Spurs[LNB]But if he wants fans to be upbeat about his playing  prospects after only three  appearances this season, he ought to have a word with Harry Redknapp.[LNB]'Finding a cure for his injury is difficult,' said the Tottenham manager last week when he effectively ruled Woodgate out for this  season.[LNB]'Jon is still out in America. He has been out there for six weeks seeing people about his groin and trying to get it sorted out.[LNB]'It is going slowly, but he wants to be over here and is desperate to play.' [LNB]Not only that though, Harry, he is desperate for people to have confidence that he will play too.[LNB] JT puts his PR drive to the testJohn Terry has moved on with frightening pace. There will be no ridiculous Tiger  Woods moment for the former England captain.[LNB]Good to talk: John Terry's PR drive has begun[LNB]The defender wants to win the Champions League for Chelsea and the World Cup  for his country, and he is not ashamed to say it, apparently.[LNB]Good for him, although his rather obvious ambitions for football glory were  probably not what people expected him to be ashamed of  talking about.[LNB]What they might have expected Terry to cover in his first major interview since losing the England captaincy, he skips over.[LNB]He says that nobody's going to knock him out of his stride, as if he has been the victim in the various recent controversies he has sparked.[LNB]However hunted he may feel, the issues surrounding his off-field behaviour will not go away that easily.[LNB]But, with Ashley Cole becoming football's No.1 love rat, the PR campaign for Terry's rehabilitation is already underway.[LNB] 35 offers for Cystal Palace. Seriously...The administrator at Crystal Palace has had 35 expressions of interest in the buying the club.[LNB]No, that is not a misprint.[LNB]The Championship club are struggling against relegation in front of  unimpressive crowds in a dilapidated stadium they don't own.[LNB]They have a manager looking at pastures new and an  £800,000-a-month wage bill,  but they have still attracted significant  interest.[LNB] Up for grabs: There has been a lot of interest expressed to buy Crystal Palace [LNB]Even taking into account the fact that some who have registered interest are just nosing around and others simply dreaming about owning their own club, 35 still seems a large number.[LNB]The administrator has met three of them and claims two are serious, which should give all those struggling in the game a glimmer of  hope.[LNB]The quality and wherewithal of the people trying to get into the game undoubtedly needs greater scrutiny (see Portsmouth), but the lure of it as a business never ceases to amaze.[LNB] Zamora for England? No chance...Bobby Zamora is a good striker who is doing a great job for Fulham this season.[LNB]But the debate about the merits of him going to the World Cup with England in  the summer is a waste of time: it is never going to happen.[LNB] Top form: Zamora has been impressive for Fulham but he isn't England's best[LNB]Zamora isn't even in the top five English goalscorers in the Premier League  this season and trails behind Carlton Cole in the bunch below Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent, Gabby Agbonlahor and Frank Lampard, Peter Crouch, who provides England with a plan B, makes life even tougher for him and that is before Michael Owen or the style of  play Fabio Capello prefers are considered.[LNB] Zola's show of strength is just fineGianfranco Zola chose to field a  full-strength team in Tuesday night's 3-0 defeat at Manchester United.[LNB]The West Ham manager will not be fined for his selection, maintains the respect of the club's fans and has not found himself at the eye of a storm.[LNB]But while Zola has learned from Mick McCarthy's mistake with Wolves this season, he must have been tempted to make changes given  his side's run-in.[LNB] Nothing to gain: Zola saw his side torn apart by Manchester United at Old Trafford[LNB]West Ham's survival depends on their form at Upton Park and the results of teams around them. A clever way of separating the home  and away split in the minds of the players now would be handy.[LNB]For the record, West Ham's remaining games are: Home: Bolton, Stoke, Sunderland, Wigan, Manchester City,  Wolves. Away: Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Fulham.[LNB]  PICTURE SPECIAL: Prankster pokes fun at John Terry after Ashley Cole's split from Cheryl ColeMARTIN SAMUEL: Jowell deserves an Olympic medal in utter madnessTHE LIST: Top 50 English players who should be on Fabio Capello's radar [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail