One thing you would have to say about Mr Adrianus De Zeeuw is that he's a proper professional. A nice bloke, committed to the cause and not a bad player by any stretch of the imagination either. After all, it was he on Sky Sports News two weeks ago who said he was looking forward to the challenge of fighting for his place this season, what with the arrival of Andy O'Brien.
Which is why it's rather strange these comments starting to come out of Fratton Park now that apparently De Zeeuw is unhappy and wants a move. On the one hand you can understand his thought process; he's 35, he's not got long left at the highest level and so wants to make the most of it whilst he can. But this isn't Amdy Faye, this is Arjan De Zeeuw. He's always come across as a professional and not the kind of guy who's going to start whinging to the gutter press about this sort of thing - he seems like the sort of person to keep this thing "in house" and go and have a quiet word with the manager, rather than blow it up in the press.
So why now?
Personally I think a lot of it might have to do with interpretation. You can picture the scene with ease.
Scene; The training ground, Eastleigh
Cast; Arjan De Zeeuw, Reporter
R: Arjan, Arjan! Any word on your future?
DZ: Well obviously I'd love to play football, especially for the first team. I've told the chairman that at my age I don't want to be sitting on the bench but at the same time if I have to fight for my place then so be it.
R: Ok, let me just write this down... De Zeeuw... Pompey ultimatum... demands to know why... ok, that's great thanks!
DZ: But I didn't...
R: Cheers mate!
Now I love Zoo as much as the next man and in over 100 games for us he's established himself as a true legend at the club. But the fact is that he's not in our top two best centre backs - O'Brien and Stefanovic are better. But defenders are prone to injury and suspension and he will get his chance. Milan has said he will offer him a new one year contract to try and entice him to stay but, at the end of the day, if he's got his heart set on playing first team football regularly at Premiership level then what can we do? It'll be a loss to ourselves but the simple fact, no matter harsh it sounds, is that he just isn't good enough to be one of our first choice defenders as it stands.
Hopefully this whole thing will blow over and he'll stay on to fight for his place. Linvoy has shown that not being rated by the management and not being a first choice means absolutely nothing, as long as you've got the desire to prove people wrong. Hopefully it's just bad journalism but I guess this story could easily run for a while.
I wish I had put a couple of quid on the bet I suggested on here at the start of the summer; De Zeeuw to Southampton by the end of the transfer window. There's a thought to make you shudder.