Curbs happy as Walker fumes

Adrian Curtis13 April 2012
Tottenham 0 Charlton 0

Furious Tottenham goalkeeper Ian Walker today admitted he has no future at the club and slammed manager George Graham over the way he was axed from the team for the second time this season.

The keeper was left fuming when Graham reinstated Neil Sullivan against Charlton on Saturday after the former England international had kept clean sheets in an impressive two-game comeback.

Walker realised he was dropped again only when Graham read out the team to the rest of the squad just hours before the kick-off at White Hart Lane.

Now the 29-year-old, who asked for a move earlier this season, is to speak with his advisors before deciding whether to slap in another transfer request.

Walker fumed: "I know now that I have no future at the club and the sooner I get away the better.

"I will speak to my agent this week to see what the next step is going to be because if there is no competition for places, then there is no point in me staying here. The manager has always gone on about competition for places between us but by dropping me after all my hard work he is basically saying there is no competition.

"Neil Sullivan is his favourite goal-keeper and that is it. I kept two clean sheets and played well but there is no reward at the end of it. It leaves me thinking 'why did I bother?'

"I was told just two hours before the game like everyone else and I could-n't believe it. He never took me to one side or said anything. He never looked at me at all. I don't know any other club in the Premiership where you keep two clean sheets and don't stay in the team. It makes my position impossible."

Graham said: "Neil Sullivan was absolutely outstanding before his suspension so it wasn't a hard decision. Ian has been superb but I've known all along I had two fantastic goalkeepers.

"If Ian wants to have a chat with me today then fine. He's not happy about the situation but I wish I had the same problem in other positions. Before Neil came the competition for places was not there."

Sullivan said: "There is only one person who can play in goal and it is up to the manager to decide. I've been pleased with my form this season until the sending off. Ian came and did well but every professional wants to be playing and I'm no different."

Walker's blast will come as another blow to the beleaguered Graham who could also face a visit from unhappy midfielder Tim Sherwood. He was on the bench for the second successive game and is likely to seek showdown talks this week.

Graham was also forced to endure a chorus of boos from disgruntled fans after he equalled the Premiership record of four consecutive goalless draws that he set while in charge of Arsenal.

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley used to be afraid to praise his players as potential internationals in case other teams pinched them. England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson probably came to Saturday's match to run the rule over Spurs pair Sol Campbell and Darren Anderton, yet Curbishley hopes the Swede noticed Richard Rufus, Scott Parker and Paul Konchesky.

Curbishley said: "Mr Eriksson has seen two of our games and if he is looking for young players for England then Rufus, Parker and Konchesky have been consistent for us.

"I hope he is making a list of all English players and I'd like to think that where we are in the league, one or two of our players will get recognition.

"I am not sure how many young players he will gamble on but he will be naming a certain amount of players and I hope one or two of ours will be in the Under-21s or full squad.

"I never used to talk up our players in case someone came in and bought them but we are in the Premiership now so we are high profile.

"Playing at Spurs is a big game and next week we are on television against Newcastle, so perhaps people are taking notice of our players now."

Curbishley highlighted central defender Rufus as a player he hoped would benefit from that exposure of being in the Premiership and he believes he is a genuine candidate for England.

"Last year Rufus was magnificent, but people said it was only the First Division," said Curbishley. "This year he has done very well too. As a man-marker or a defender it is hard to find someone better. He is not a ball player, he is a defender and he has not come off badly against other players this season."

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