In September 2002, and after a one long season sitting on the bench, Murray grabbed his first long-awaited opportunity to shine away to Wimbledon after Michael Oakes failed a fitness test on a rib injury. I remember listening to the game on the radio and as the game progressed I was more intreagued by his ability, reading glowing reviews from newspapers, even more so on the second visit to Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace. I finally got to see Murray in the flesh at Molineux in a defeat to Reading, a game renowned for it's dire performance, but I was in awe of this gigantic, lean figure who made jaw-dropping saves and had amazing control of his penalty area, and from there on in that season, despite the big signings of Paul ince and Denis Irwin, I declared Matt Murray my favourite Wolves player at that time and hoped Oakes wouldn't get a look in. And he didn't as Murray played the remainder of the season and playing a big role in us getting promoted via playoffs. I remembered that penalty save at Cardiff very fondly, he left a big gap of the goal to his right and Michael Brown fell for it hook, line and sinker. If I have a chance to meet him in person, I have to ask if he meant to do that, but I'm sure did.
After conceding five in our Premiership game, Murray sustained the first of what would be a long list of injuries and setbacks whilst on duty with the England Under-21 squad and I was convinced to this day that had he and Joleon Lescott had been fit for that season, we would've stood a better chance of staying up. Murray briefly came back to show more glimpses of potential only to break down again shortly after and did not see any action until he was farmed out to Tranmere on loan on the back end of the 2005/06 season, before returning to us to play the last game of the season.
Murray was the same as we always knew him as he completed his comeback in Mick McCarthy's first season, which had a sense of overachievement about it and Murray played an instrumental role in that with stand-out performances including victory at Leeds and that all so memorable win against Sandwell Town. His displays looked as though caught the attention of newspapers cross the country, even England goalkeeper coach Ray Clemence took the time to observe his raw talent, but it was the closest he would get to the England squad. On the eve of the playoff semi-final, he broke down again and it was the last that we would see of him in action. He made a few more apperances as he was farmed out to Hereford in late 2008, where he broke down again taking a goal kick andmy head just conceded to the fact that he would never have a long successful career, but my heart was clutching at straws.
Matt Murray might be filed under 'England regular had he stayed fit' by some fans, but that will be overshadowed by the sensational displays he had given us in the gold and black. But 29 is no age for a phenomenal talent like him to retire. So young, too damn young.
'Grobs'
No comments:
Post a Comment