Jack
Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick
*Work
it out yourself, with apologies to Don McLean and our own master songwriter
Baggy*
The John
Hartson Transfer
"Hartson
to fire Dons into Europe", screamed the headlines as I stared open mouthed
at my PC screen in Boston. That was the one story that dominated my
day. World War Three could have been starting elsewhere. But for me,
Wimbledon had just joined the transfer "Big Boys". I had wondered when
we were going to start to close the gap that was opening between the
"big boys" and us. Even the Americans around me sensed something sensational
had happened in English football, as I replayed Eyal Berkovic flying
through the air once more, on the Real Player. Wimbledon were parting
with Seven and a half Million Pounds to West Ham for the services of
John Hartson. For the second time in the history of WFC we were breaking
the bank to push the Dons into uncharted waters. Two days later, there
I was in the Irish Embassy in Boston (just for a change!) [a fine
establishment even if I do say so myself - SW19], to see his debut.
Peering through the darkness there he was; John Hartson really was wearing
a Wimbledon shirt!
So there we were the firebrand striker who started his career at Luton,
before being taken to Arsenal by George Graham, was ours. His departure
from West Ham was inevitable. Anybody seeing the Berkovic incident would
know that West Ham would not put up with that kind of publicity, (provoked
or not). His form after the Berkovic incident suffered. We ended up
picking up a player who was off form and lacking fitness for 7.5 Million.
So has he been worth the money? Not yet in my opinion. In fact I think
we have had better value from players who have cost us only a one hundredth
of that massive sum.
John struggled at first, his suspension from the Berkovic incident was
handed on to us by the FA (has any other club ever been treated so badly
by the FA since we became a top flight club?). As the 98/99 season dragged
to a close John managed two goals. Overall the form of the team, and
much was hoped of the next season. However his arrival is one of the
turning points of our downfall. At that time I was inclined to wonder
if his wages and contract as a "big time Charlie" would not stir up
resentment amongst the rest of the squad. Indeed the drinking sessions
and lack of interest at the end of that season, tells us that the seeds
of unrest had been sown before a certain Egil Olsen flew in.
Whilst allowing John the grace of the tail end of that season, to settle
in (tolerant aren't I), the start of the next season was one that required
the repayment of some large slices of that fee. Enter Egil Olsen. Well
Egil never really waxed lyrical about John did he? I think he would
have rather outed him, but the word from above, due to the large fee
was "he stays". We would have lost money if he had been sold. Perhaps
John should have changed his name to Johan Hartsen. Still John turned
out to be one of Olsen's better performers. Slipping in 8 goals before
the famous knee injury. One of the turning points of the season. Without
John we began to tumble, not helped by Olsen's handling of the situation
for a replacement.
Then came the big one, dear old loveable Sammy trying to sell John to
Spurtz behind our backs. I doubt he was going to object to the transfer.
I think he is as mercenary as the best of 'em. No doubt our other great
friend Mr Barnett was most encouraging in this area. As you know the
transfer collapsed on a medical, and John went back to the treatment
room.
3 games to go and dire straits (yeah! Money for Nothing, does come to
mind). WFC need a hero. Step forward a half fit John Hartson for the
Bradford game. I won't repeat the story but John did do some damage
that day, sent off, suspended for the Southampton game and the linesman's
eardrums. Things were more sensational than that. In his after match
interview, he came out for the first time, publicly, against Olsen.
Next morning Olsen is gone. Now hold on a minute, Now, it looks like
Hartson got Olsen sacked, speaking up for the others. How brave, the
big star stands up to the man in charge of the sinking ship. How brave
was he really. When that interview was made he must have known that
Olsen had had it! Olsen was fired right after the game! [I think
Drillo was given his marching cards before the Bradford game - SW19] Get the timeline! It was hardly a secret that he was in hot water for
the whole of the preceding week when Terry Burton was made his "Assistant".
If he ever really was the assistant, more in name only. Nice (non) publicity
stunt (Mr Barnett).
The Villa game, and the saviour does his bit at the last. I wish he
hadn't. Why? Simple, that goal made the laziest most complacent bunch
for miles around think, "Well, Liverpool will beat Bradford, so nothing
much to worry about". I think, now, that it would have been better if
he hadn't scored "that goal". Then we would have had to go to The Dell
with a target.
So to Southampton, Big John traveled with the team. To keep up what
morale was still there. Little more can be said.
So since then rumour after rumour has come out (thanks Mr. Barnett).
Does any Premier club want him right now? Few if any until that knee
is proven, and they see a good few goals going in. We need a fit John
Hartson for that Premier push, he is after all the most expensive striker
(player) in the First Division, so why can't he be top scorer. If John
wants to make a career again in the Premier, I think we are his only
chance. Fail with us and it's a slow decline and we will be stuck with
him, he has the class to hit 30 goals, but another injury torn season
with a few goals that's it. A new season beckons, one to eradicate the
pain of the last. So John its up to you…………..
