Part 25 - The Journeyman

The cynical view is that the ‘journeyman’ is a player with just enough talent to eke out a career in the lower divisions – usually involving several clubs, a steady decline in standards, a Meldrew-like cynicism about all modern ideas (expressed through much effing and blinding) and a marked inclination to threaten promising young players with visits to the fracture clinic (if only he could catch them!).

There is, however, a more cynical view still. Another sort of journeyman exists - the ‘de luxe’ version. You can find these as high as the premier league and even as high as the very top of the premier league. They earn an absolute fortune and some have little more to offer than the much prized physical attributes of speed and strength. Ring any bells?

Finally, the good news. Sometimes a journeyman pro turns out to be a really good manager – usually because he’s strong enough to handle even the ‘prima donnas’ and intelligent enough to take the best out of modern thinking. Well done Sam Allardyce.