Ready, Freddy….Go!

By: Matt | May 12th, 2008

Picture the scene. Its very tense at Molineux, five minutes before half-time, Wolves are level, pushing for a breakthrough goal. Twenty two year old striker Andy Keogh has been giving everything, he receives the ball just inside the box, turns sharply and hits a shot that goes narrowly past the wrong side of the post, hitting the side netting. He looks towards the sky briefly, before running back into position, hoping another chance will come soon. He hears the crowd behind the goal chanting “Freddy, Freddy, Freddy”. He looks to the ground in disappointment, his confidence takes a knock. The fans want him off and Freddy Eastwood on.

Who is this Freddy Eastwood you ask? Goal scoring legend? The star striker who has been out with injury but now back on the bench, waiting for his chance? A player who works tirelessly for the team who always changes games? No. Unfortunately, Freddy Eastwood is none of these. He is the Freddy Eastwood who has scored 3 goals all season, the Freddy Eastwood who complained to the press about lack of opportunities, and the Freddy Eastwood who often goes missing for long periods when he does play. He is the Freddy Eastwood of formerly relegated Southend.

Of course the chants are not Eastwood’s fault. They have probably hindered him more than helped him, albeit indirectly. The truth is that Eastwood is probably a very decent striker. Given a run in most Championship teams he will score goals when played with a complimentary partner. Is he better than Ebanks-Blake? No. Would he make a better partner up front with Ebanks-Blake than Andy Keogh? Probably not. However, we’ll never find out because he is now on the transfer list and likely to move on in the summer. Why has he become a cult hero amongst certain sections of fans at Molineux? I really don’t know. Maybe he is a tool to use against Mick McCarthy, for those who are desperate to see the manager out. I was excited at the prospect of seeing Eastwood upfront for Wolves. I thought he could be the 20 goal a season striker we had been looking for.

In this video Mick says its nothing personal. I believe Mick. I also believe Mick could have handled the situation better earlier in the season when he openly criticised Eastwood in the press but I also believe that Eastwood could have handled himself better. I think McCarthy was trying to develop a talented player by putting a stronger work ethic and determination into his game. I don’t think Freddy was up to it. McCarthy made a mistake when he signed him, he is not his type of player. He thought he may have been. Freddy is what he is, a reasonably gifted footballer who will never have the determination, passion, commitment or desire to rise to the very top. Sure he’ll score goals, and probably in the Championship next season but he won’t score more than Ebanks-Blake, even if he played twice as many games. He would have been great squad player, particularly as back up for SEB. Freddy doesn’t do squad member though, so its best he moves on.

I genuinely wish Eastwood all the best. Maybe he will prove McCarthy wrong but I suspect that he won’t.