When he took charge of Vfb Stuttgart in January Feargal A Hickey appointed some of his countrymen to key positions in his back room staff . Jerry "the gloves O'Reilly" became goalkeeping coach .O'Reillys work with Ospina and Caballero has paid dividends with both showing marked improvement in form since the start of the season.
In defence Hickey hired Bertie "The Bus" Butler as coach. Once again the results have been immediate,with Stuttgart boasting on of the meanest defences in the devision,despite having to replace the veteran central defensive partnership of Mario Yepes and Gareth McAuley .
Larry "Lefty" Lawlor became midfield coach with the task of bringing discipline and focus to the Reds engine room . Upfront the Irishman chose Andy "The afterburner"Byrne , famous for his lightning speed when bearing down on terrified defenders , when he lined out for Bray "Unknowns"in the mid seventies.
With all the coaching roles filled, Hickey in an effort to ingratiate himself with the Stuttgarters , made his most controversial appointment. The club were on need of a new physio so Feargal A chose none other than alpine skier and winter Olympic champion Fannie Chemeler as club physiotherapist.
Fannie's work with the squad has been outstanding with players reporting that their spirits are lifted and other members are stiffened in their resolve to perform better following sessions with Fannie , You dear reader would be forgiven for thinking that life at Vfb is one never ending virtuous circle of pleasure, but you'd be wrong.There is one player who's form has suffered under the new regime, suffered so badly that he has seen his career at Stuttgart nose dive ,as it were. That player, now departed for Aston Villa,is Didier 'Bentekers ' Drogba.
The Ivorian has long been associated with simulation and diving throughout his career, but the effect Fannie has had on him has brought him to newer depths on the pitch. I caught up with him after a recent session with Fannie at Stuttgarts training complex. I asked him about the perception among some of his teammates that his diving is costing the team vital points at a crucial time in the season .
In broken English the beanpole striker explained "wen ze ball she comes across I like to dive into ze box.Wen I dive I like to have my tongue out coz it 'elps me come into ze box quicker..Wen I touch ze box my tongue is ticketed by ze short grass on ze pitch. He continued, "It is den that I hear ze mowenz and as I slide deepeur into ze box ze mowening becomes louder, but it is not ze gid mowening, it is ze crowd mowenig 'coz I have missed my balls in ze box .
Needless to say his manager is having none of it, Hickey says "I've sold him on because he contributes sweet Fanny Adams to the cause.So Didier has moved on to pastures new at Villa Park . Let's hope his career reaches new heights at his new home .After all this excitement I think Need a quick massage myself , later!
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