Here are some facts:
(1) We are without our only other senior striker, which could not have escaped the attention of Ade;
(2) Our nominal second-forward, flew from London to the USA and then on to Honduras, where he played on Wednesday (three days AFTER Ade's last action) - and then returned to London. That is an exhausting schedule and it is not as if Dempsey has a lot of pace to spare, to begin with;
(3) Ade was given three days off (Monday - Wednesday) on the presumption that he would front for training at 3pm THURSDAY (didn't make it);
(4) Given a further 24 hours to get to training (by 3pm Friday - the final training session before today's game - didn't make it).
(5) The Toure brothers were also knocked out last Sunday - but managed to make it back by Wednesday, in plenty of time for their match against Southampton, today. Perhaps there's a difference in attitude between players who still believe they can run down a 9 point gap and be champions again, to those who cling to the hope that 4th place won't be snatched away from them by Everton, the scum, or even a resurgent Liverpool.
Ade had been handed the perfect opportunity to come into the First XI and cement his position in place of the injured and recently misfiring Defoe. The ONLY way he'll be starting now, is if Dempsey is too knackered after his midweek travails. It's more than he deserves. If he does play, he owes the Club and fans, such as me, who have stood by him, in the past, to score or assist the winner.
I hope you're right and the Club takes a strong internal disciplinary line with him. To me, the only exception to this line should be if he is in mourning or has a sick note.
COYS!
