Barton's 'Pig's Heart' Award Should Go To Luque
Last updated : 23 July 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
Warren Barton once gave our former defender Allesandro Pistone a pig's heart as a Christmas present, saying "I've given you a heart ... because you don't have one".
Just to remind you, the Italian was a superb full-back on his day, but that day was never often enough. Always injured, and never justified his £4.3m transfer from Inter Milan.
When the going got tough ... Pistone got going ... into the treatment room!
Sir Bobby Robson sold him to Everton and ... guess what ... he was immediately injured for 6 months!
Then we signed Marcelino, and he was out six months with a broken finger! The most spineless 6ft 4" defender ever to set foot on the turf at St James' Park.
And now we have Albert the "Not So Great".
BUT ... Albert says he has redoubled his efforts to impress Big Sam by training on his days off.
However, the Newcastle United boss insists he isn't ready yet to figure in his pre-season programme.
Allardyce: "Albert is still quite some way off because he missed the Austria trip.
"We will now start seeing more of James Milner and Geremi but not Albert.
"In Albert's case, deconditioning players throws their injury risk right up.
"We will monitor his fitness on a daily basis, and the medical team and sports science team come along and override you as a manager in terms of their expertise.
"That's why you must bring them in and listen to their advice. Otherwise you could throw a player in and they could have a 45% chance of getting injured.
"So an injured player just goes backwards, which has been one of Albert's problems over the last two years.
"That extends back to the first few days of his career here when he severely tore his hamstring.
"Even two years on he doesn't feel like he's at the level he was in Spain before he arrived.
"I have to be patient and get him first to the physical level and then the mental level to see if he can adjust to the Premiership."