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From being described as the best goalkeeper in the Championship to facing a free transfer five months later – there’s no need to remind Andy Lonergan what a strange old game football can be.
At the back end of last year, Lonergan led a slim shortlist of players who had performed anything like their best in the opening few months of the campaign.
The 31-year-old had picked up the gloves from the injured Adam Bogdan during Dougie Freedman’s final weeks as Whites boss and retained them as Neil Lennon led the club towards mid-table.
It seemed Lonergan had finally gained an edge in what had been a hotly-contested battle for the number-one spot at the Macron Stadium and his popularity in the stands was more evident than ever.
Just 132 days ago, Lennon described Lonergan thus: “I haven’t seen a better goalkeeper in this division, or at least one who makes saves as consistently as he has done.
“He must be worth six, eight, 10 points just on those big moments where you need one-on-one saves, or shot-stopping.”
And his performances were held in just as high regard by his team-mates.
“It would be difficult to imagine anyone in the Championship is playing as well in goal as he is at the minute,” said midfielder Neil Danns.
Perhaps no-one suffered more than Lonergan when Wanderers started to lose their way.
Injuries to outfield players started to pile-up and the clamour for Bogdan to regain his first-team position started to gain some momentum when the Hungary international put on a master-class against Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup.
Another badly-timed injury for Bogdan put that decision on hold for Lennon but as the results started to slide so, it seems, did his confidence in the Lancastrian.
Heavy defeats against Rotherham United, Derby County and Watford did not help Lonergan’s cause, nor did the loan arrival of Ben Amos, who would later serve to accelerate his departure.
Lonergan’s Wanderers career came to an ignominious end at the City Ground in February, as Nottingham Forest, led by former manager Freedman, ran roughshod over a Whites side looking horribly disjointed because of injuries.
At 2-0 down, and playing with 10 men after Matt Mills’ dismissal, Lonergan seemed to take a knock from Dexter Blackstock as he dived for the ball, sending the Forest striker sprawling.
He returned to his feet to protest his innocence but ref Carl Boyeson had already signalled a penalty. Many believe Lonergan was lucky to escape a red card. Within seconds he had slumped to the floor complaining of a head injury.
It was a worrying sight at the time and the keeper was taken to a local hospital for scans before doctors confirmed no serious damage had been done.
The concussion did give Amos a route into the side, however, and while little was expected of the Manchester United loanee when he took the gloves against Middlesbrough in the next game, his performance certainly turned heads.
Within a few weeks Amos was centre stage, fans keen to know whether his expiring contract at Old Trafford could offer Lennon a chance to snap up a summer bargain.
Poor Lonergan returned from injury at roughly the same time as Bogdan.
Amos kept both players out of the side until his loan spell expired in early April – but the writing was on the wall for Lonergan once Bogdan was selected at Cardiff on Easter Monday.
Lennon was suddenly talking about a new deal for his number one, who played on to the end of the season.
As ever with Wanderers these days, numbers had to come into consideration when the manager was weighing his options in goal at the start of the year.
Lonergan joined three years ago for a reported £750,000 from Leeds United when the financial landscape was very different. Perhaps the days of two first-class goalkeepers vying for one position have got to come to an end.
Reports suggest Wigan Athletic could be the next port of call for Lonergan, who might take heart from some of the success Ali Al-Habsi had travelling in the same direction, if not the fact they are now in League One.
Whether Lennon gets his wish and ties Bogdan down to a longer deal, or whether he resorts to plan B and pursues out-of-contract Amos, remains to be seen. What is not in question, however, is that Wanderers fans will wish “Lonners” all the best if indeed he does leave the club this summer.
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At the back end of last year, Lonergan led a slim shortlist of players who had performed anything like their best in the opening few months of the campaign.
The 31-year-old had picked up the gloves from the injured Adam Bogdan during Dougie Freedman’s final weeks as Whites boss and retained them as Neil Lennon led the club towards mid-table.
It seemed Lonergan had finally gained an edge in what had been a hotly-contested battle for the number-one spot at the Macron Stadium and his popularity in the stands was more evident than ever.
Just 132 days ago, Lennon described Lonergan thus: “I haven’t seen a better goalkeeper in this division, or at least one who makes saves as consistently as he has done.
“He must be worth six, eight, 10 points just on those big moments where you need one-on-one saves, or shot-stopping.”
And his performances were held in just as high regard by his team-mates.
“It would be difficult to imagine anyone in the Championship is playing as well in goal as he is at the minute,” said midfielder Neil Danns.
Perhaps no-one suffered more than Lonergan when Wanderers started to lose their way.
Injuries to outfield players started to pile-up and the clamour for Bogdan to regain his first-team position started to gain some momentum when the Hungary international put on a master-class against Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup.
Another badly-timed injury for Bogdan put that decision on hold for Lennon but as the results started to slide so, it seems, did his confidence in the Lancastrian.
Heavy defeats against Rotherham United, Derby County and Watford did not help Lonergan’s cause, nor did the loan arrival of Ben Amos, who would later serve to accelerate his departure.
Lonergan’s Wanderers career came to an ignominious end at the City Ground in February, as Nottingham Forest, led by former manager Freedman, ran roughshod over a Whites side looking horribly disjointed because of injuries.
At 2-0 down, and playing with 10 men after Matt Mills’ dismissal, Lonergan seemed to take a knock from Dexter Blackstock as he dived for the ball, sending the Forest striker sprawling.
He returned to his feet to protest his innocence but ref Carl Boyeson had already signalled a penalty. Many believe Lonergan was lucky to escape a red card. Within seconds he had slumped to the floor complaining of a head injury.
It was a worrying sight at the time and the keeper was taken to a local hospital for scans before doctors confirmed no serious damage had been done.
The concussion did give Amos a route into the side, however, and while little was expected of the Manchester United loanee when he took the gloves against Middlesbrough in the next game, his performance certainly turned heads.
Within a few weeks Amos was centre stage, fans keen to know whether his expiring contract at Old Trafford could offer Lennon a chance to snap up a summer bargain.
Poor Lonergan returned from injury at roughly the same time as Bogdan.
Amos kept both players out of the side until his loan spell expired in early April – but the writing was on the wall for Lonergan once Bogdan was selected at Cardiff on Easter Monday.
Lennon was suddenly talking about a new deal for his number one, who played on to the end of the season.
As ever with Wanderers these days, numbers had to come into consideration when the manager was weighing his options in goal at the start of the year.
Lonergan joined three years ago for a reported £750,000 from Leeds United when the financial landscape was very different. Perhaps the days of two first-class goalkeepers vying for one position have got to come to an end.
Reports suggest Wigan Athletic could be the next port of call for Lonergan, who might take heart from some of the success Ali Al-Habsi had travelling in the same direction, if not the fact they are now in League One.
Whether Lennon gets his wish and ties Bogdan down to a longer deal, or whether he resorts to plan B and pursues out-of-contract Amos, remains to be seen. What is not in question, however, is that Wanderers fans will wish “Lonners” all the best if indeed he does leave the club this summer.
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ha!!!!!!
