The Ballad of Paul Robinson

When Gary Neville rolled that football back towards Paul Robinson during a rainy night in Croatia in October 2006, the former England number one could never have predicted what was about to happen.

The bobble that nicked the ball over the Yorkshireman’s boot not only dismantled the nation’s European qualifying campaign but set the wheels in motion to send a promising career into a nosedive.

The Three Lions’ struggle to find a suitor for the gloves has continued ever since.

When our ponytailed, mustachioed shot stopper retired to sell Mark One Escorts and sovereign rings for a living, the only man to come close to filling his sizable frame was Mr Robinson.

And where does he find himself now?  Staving off relegation at Blackburn Rovers.

With just two appearances in an England shirt since that fateful night, the 30 year old maybe forgiven for thinking what he once had, was lost.

Two successive seasons with Spurs pushing for a top four place, an excellent World Cup in Germany and a League Cup winner’s medal came easily after his £1.5million move from Leeds United.

The once confident, shot stopping, penalty area powerhouse, recoiled back into his shell and was never seen again. Until now.

It took just £3.5million to prize the formerly indispensable keeper from the North Londoner’s last season but a rocky start to life in Lancashire did nothing for Robbo’s form.

Ince out and Allardyce in. That was all it took.  Suddenly coming and claiming catches was easy and lightning reaction saves were back on the menu.

Never one to hide how he feels, Big Sam has ‘bigged up’  his goalkeeper’s performances of late and is rumoured to have at least left a few post-it notes on a certain Italian’s desk last time he was at the F.A. headquarters.

David James has arguably been the next best performer in the number one shirt but his advancing years and amazing ability to go from the sublime to the ridiculous in a matter of seconds have seen him fall out of favour. His current injury crises are casting doubt over his seat on the plane to South Africa.

The most recent keeping newcomer, Ben Foster, has taken up the mantle, but his poor form for Manchester United has led to Edwin Van Der Sar reclaiming his spot between the sticks.

Finally, Eastender, Robert Green has also contested the shirt, but for some reason or another is yet to be allowed a decent run in the side.

It is true that Mr Capello has only called Paul into one of his squads since arriving on the scene but with only a handful of friendly matches to go before the final World Cup cut is announced, Robbo might just be in with a shout.

With a few more high class performances this season, good old Robbo might once again be allowed to feel what it is like to handle a football on a world stage. Or I suppose he could just ask Thierry Henry.

Joseph Bill

November 25, 2009