Kenny is not “dead”

Patrick (Paddy) Kenny has been with Sheffield United for the six seasons already, the man is a genuine legend and an irreplaceable keeper in their on and off days. When, some time before Christmas, Kenny arrived late to practice, he couldn’t even imagine what was in store for him…

No one actually knows everything that happened between him and Blades’ manager, Kevin Blackwell, but the fact that grumpy Kenny became transfer-listed and, of course, lost his regular first team berth. Before that, he would bring up, from time to time, fact he hasn’t signed the new contract with Bramall Lane club (current expires at the end of season), and that all the uncertainly was “killing him”. Did Blackwell cunningly used his late practice arrival episode as an excuse to back on him for his statememts, we don’t really know…Still, at the end, Balckwell and Kenny wrote a happy ending to this story. After a month of cooling down, manager gave his best keeper a chance discouraged by Ian Bennett’s performances. Kenny replied with the series of great saves particularly away to QPR (0-0) when United Goalie picked up all impossible and impossible balls flying towards his goal. After the game Blackwell stated: “Kenny was brilliant, he is the best goalkeeper in the Championship and he could make a respectable Premier League keeper…” Patrick himself must’ve felt unpleasant because of all the praise he received.

There is a short line between the transfer list and praise talk. We had mentioned the similar case of last year Championship’s best right-back, Bradley Orr. Managers might take care of the things they say about their players. You never know when the “iced” player will be needed again…

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