That momentum is often the biggest game changer in sport is surely indisputable at this stage. Just ask Josh Keeley. What doesn’t seem like all that long ago, the Dunboyne lad was on the bench with Leyton Orient and had, as a result of same, lost his berth between the posts with Jim Crawford’s Republic Of Ireland U-21 side.
I’m not sure what happened to put Keeley back in favour with Orient, but what does it matter? What counts is that he has grabbed the opportunity and slapped a vice grips on it which gloriously shows no sign of easing up.
All that would be a spectacular enough turnaround on its own merits, but just throw that he has made a habit of making history along the way for good measure.
Whether that was by breaking Orient’s record for cosecutive clean sheets or being only the third goalkeeper I can remember scoring from open play in soccer – after Peter Schmeichel and Jose Luis Chilivert – when heading a sensational winner against Oldham Athletic to put the Os through to the 3rd Round of the FA Cup.
On foot of all the above, it was no surprise to see Josh nominated for the League One Player Of The Month for December, but to witness one of our own actually win the award at this early stage of his career is not only an immense tribute to the young man himself, but a source of glowing pride for the rest of us.
And, whoever adjudicates on these things may as well pencil him in for a shot at it again.
Reason being that, as well as Orient making stealthy ground up the table, big Keeley only went topped his Cup heroics in Round 4 when stopping Derby County’s sudden death spot kick as Richie Wellens’ team secured the plumb draw of a trip to Eastlands to tackle Man City.
What a stage for the young man to put his undoubted talents on show. Regrettably however, you get the sense that Ange Postecoglou will continue to look at other netminders.
As evidenced by his asinine decision to hand Antonin Kinsky – only signed yesterday – his debut in the cauldron that is a North London Derby. Other than Viccario however, Josh would appear safe enough, because the boyo tonight (Wednesday) looked closer to Krusty The Klown than a vice grips!
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