It has emerged that Southampton have offered a trial to ex England international Michael Ricketts in a bizarre attempt to boost their ailing attack. Are you as confused as me? The words ‘Ricketts’ and ‘goals’ havn’t been used together for years!
Perhaps this is just one last chance for Ricketts to regain a few ounces of dignity, after he became a free agent in January. His contract was cancelled by world football big guns Oldham Athletic.
The big striker famously made his England debut against Holland back in 2002, but I think it’s fair to say that he didn’t exactly kick on from that achievement.
He made his name at Bolton, and under the guidance of Sam Allardyce he actually looked a good player for a while. But his £3 million pound move to Middlesbrough proved to be his downfall. Four goals in 38 matches showed the football world that he wasn’t actually so great after all.
Since then Ricketts has spent time at Leeds, Stoke, Burnley, Cardiff, Preston, Oldham and Walsall.
Saints boss Nigel Pearson has said that ‘it never hurts to look at a player with his track record’. I would probably have to disagree with that statement on that basis that he is now 29 years old, which in football terms may not be that old. In fact some players are just reaching their peak at that age, for Ricketts though, i’m afriad his peak was a long time ago.
Posted by stepney88 