As I am sure you were not surprised to hear, Kieron Dyer is yet again out of action for the season. However much it is a shame for a man of his talent to have to end his career on such a note, the he should just give up. Dyer has not had any kind of form since leaving Newcastle over four years ago, and even there he was so blighted by injury that his wages (and off field behavior) were the cause of embarrassment.
Granted, it could be said that his persistence to continue a top flight career is admirable, but surely this for him has to be the final straw, as to save any credibility he should call it a day before he is seen completely as a mercenary. For me if he wanted to continue his football career should have stayed at West Ham and helped to repay their significant investment in him by offering to play for free, this would show an honourable desire to continue his career, gratitude for the way they paid him ludicrous money for four barren years, and human decency. If Oguchi Onyewu can do it, then money bags Dyer can too.
Dyer is 32 years of age now, and has won 33 England caps. This shows his career has not been a complete waste. Dyer was sometimes a fantastic performer for Newcastle, I remember his withdrawal, after scoring, from a UEFA cup tie at Sporting Lisbon changing a game which Newcastle had previously dominated in Sporting’s favour, and he formed one quarter of a fantastic midfield under Sir Bobby Robson. Since leaving the North East he has been plagued by injury, he failed to score in his 30 appearances for West Ham, and picked up a lot of money on the way for doing essentially nothing. He is also a player who relied on pace, and he will surely have lost this attribute to a combination of ageing and injury.
Retiring now and not taking anymore money from QPR would save his reputation, and allow him to move onto something else. This could save him for being seen entirely as a joke figure, and would be a lot more dignified then continuing to take the money and sit in a treatment room.
