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Moore gives backing to globetrotting Goodison
Nov 16 2007 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post
RONNIE MOORE saluted the powerful influence and enduring commitment of Ian Goodison as Tranmere’s defensive strongman prepared for a daunting schedule of club and international football over the next eight days.
The centre-back undertakes two Atlantic crossings next week to fulfil obligations to Rovers and the Jamaican national team.
Skipper Goodison will be at the heart of the Tranmere defence in the testing League One encounter at Doncaster tomorrow.
Then the 34-year-old jets off to the Caribbean to answer a call up from former Prenton Park team-mate Theo Whitmore, who is now in temporary charge of the Jamaican national team.
Goodison is expected to play in the friendly international against Guatemala on Wednesday. Then he will return to the UK in time to lead Rovers into a Prenton Park showdown with fellow promotion hopefuls Swansea City a week tomorrow.
The schedule was agreed after Goodison discussed his international recall with Moore this week.
The Jamaicans originally wanted Goodison to play in a friendly against El Salvador on Sunday but that would have forced him out of the Tranmere’s game at Doncaster – a scenario Moore was anxious to avoid.
Moore said: “International call-ups are an honour for the player and his club but they can cause big difficulties for club managers. We could have done without this situation, especially as Jamaica’s two games are friendlies.
“Ian sees this as a chance to get back to playing international football.”
Goodison’s long international career looked to be over after director of football Velbor Milutinovic put the selection emphasis on Jamaica’s young, developing players. But the Serbian was sacked last week and Whitmore, who coaches Jamaica’s leading club side Seba, was named interim coach by the national FA.
Whitmore quickly recalled a number of the old guard who helped Jamaica reach the 1998 World Cup finals in France – although not all the players currently plying their trade in the UK were released by their clubs.
Whitmore, who made 44 appearances for Tranmere between 2004 in 2006, is keenly aware that Goodison has been playing some of his best football for Tranmere over the last season and a half, revelling in a return to his favoured centre back spot under Moore.
Earlier this week Goodison was voted League One player of the year in the Northwest Football Awards, an internet poll of fans. He collected the Tranmere player of the season award from supporters for his efforts in 2006/07.
Moore said: “Ian deserves the awards. He was magnificent for us last season, leading the team by example. Some of his performances were unbelievable.
“Some people might say his form dropped off towards the end of last season but he was playing with an injury that would have kept more than 90% of players out altogether.
“This season he is leading by example again and playing as well as ever but now he has found a voice as well. He is talking and shouting the odds. He is a Lionheart and I’m proud of what he has achieved for us.”
Rovers could scarcely afford to lose Goodison’s services tomorrow when suspensions and injuries bite into Moore’s selection options.
Left-back Shane Sherriff misses Tranmere’s first-ever trip to the new Keepmoat Stadium while he serves a one match ban for collecting five yellow cards. Carl Tremarco, the obvious replacement, is doubtful because of a stomach strain.
With Ben Chorley sidelined for up to a month by a calf injury, Antony Kay expects to continue at centre-back, alongside Goodison.
Moore may have to dip into his less experienced reserve squad to provide cover on the bench.
Further forward winger Chris Shuker could be doubtful after aggravating a thigh injury while Craig Curran also misses out through suspension.
The teenager was sent off for two bookable offences in the FA Cup win at Chesterfield last Saturday.
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Nov 16 2007 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post
RONNIE MOORE saluted the powerful influence and enduring commitment of Ian Goodison as Tranmere’s defensive strongman prepared for a daunting schedule of club and international football over the next eight days.
The centre-back undertakes two Atlantic crossings next week to fulfil obligations to Rovers and the Jamaican national team.
Skipper Goodison will be at the heart of the Tranmere defence in the testing League One encounter at Doncaster tomorrow.
Then the 34-year-old jets off to the Caribbean to answer a call up from former Prenton Park team-mate Theo Whitmore, who is now in temporary charge of the Jamaican national team.
Goodison is expected to play in the friendly international against Guatemala on Wednesday. Then he will return to the UK in time to lead Rovers into a Prenton Park showdown with fellow promotion hopefuls Swansea City a week tomorrow.
The schedule was agreed after Goodison discussed his international recall with Moore this week.
The Jamaicans originally wanted Goodison to play in a friendly against El Salvador on Sunday but that would have forced him out of the Tranmere’s game at Doncaster – a scenario Moore was anxious to avoid.
Moore said: “International call-ups are an honour for the player and his club but they can cause big difficulties for club managers. We could have done without this situation, especially as Jamaica’s two games are friendlies.
“Ian sees this as a chance to get back to playing international football.”
Goodison’s long international career looked to be over after director of football Velbor Milutinovic put the selection emphasis on Jamaica’s young, developing players. But the Serbian was sacked last week and Whitmore, who coaches Jamaica’s leading club side Seba, was named interim coach by the national FA.
Whitmore quickly recalled a number of the old guard who helped Jamaica reach the 1998 World Cup finals in France – although not all the players currently plying their trade in the UK were released by their clubs.
Whitmore, who made 44 appearances for Tranmere between 2004 in 2006, is keenly aware that Goodison has been playing some of his best football for Tranmere over the last season and a half, revelling in a return to his favoured centre back spot under Moore.
Earlier this week Goodison was voted League One player of the year in the Northwest Football Awards, an internet poll of fans. He collected the Tranmere player of the season award from supporters for his efforts in 2006/07.
Moore said: “Ian deserves the awards. He was magnificent for us last season, leading the team by example. Some of his performances were unbelievable.
“Some people might say his form dropped off towards the end of last season but he was playing with an injury that would have kept more than 90% of players out altogether.
“This season he is leading by example again and playing as well as ever but now he has found a voice as well. He is talking and shouting the odds. He is a Lionheart and I’m proud of what he has achieved for us.”
Rovers could scarcely afford to lose Goodison’s services tomorrow when suspensions and injuries bite into Moore’s selection options.
Left-back Shane Sherriff misses Tranmere’s first-ever trip to the new Keepmoat Stadium while he serves a one match ban for collecting five yellow cards. Carl Tremarco, the obvious replacement, is doubtful because of a stomach strain.
With Ben Chorley sidelined for up to a month by a calf injury, Antony Kay expects to continue at centre-back, alongside Goodison.
Moore may have to dip into his less experienced reserve squad to provide cover on the bench.
Further forward winger Chris Shuker could be doubtful after aggravating a thigh injury while Craig Curran also misses out through suspension.
The teenager was sent off for two bookable offences in the FA Cup win at Chesterfield last Saturday.
Keep up to date with the news. Receive our free E-Newsletters