Freedman: No point in keeping unhappy Blackburn striker here (From News Shopper)

Freedman: No point in keeping unhappy Blackburn striker here

3:31pm Thursday 18th October 2012 in Sport By Paul Green

PALACE boss Dougie Freedman says there was no point in keeping an unhappy David Goodwillie at Selhurst after allowing the striker to return to Blackburn earlier this week.

The Scottish attacker joined the Eagles on deadline day in a loan deal which was set to run until January.

However, his arrival coincided with Palace’s resurgence and he only ended up making one appearance before both parties decided to cut their losses after the 23-year-old failed to adapt to living in the capital.

Freedman explained: “We had a chat with David over the last couple of weeks and he was just finding it difficult to settle in London.

“He is a bubbly character and a good guy but together me and him just felt he wasn’t settling in London.

“There is no use in keeping a young guy in London if he is not happy.

“Of course I’m guessing if he was playing and scoring goals he might have been a little bit more happier but the simple fact is living in London away from his family he is not the first or won’t be the last not to settle.

“So we just felt for everybody’s sake he is better going back to Blackburn and being around one or two people who he is familiar with and being a lot happier because an unhappy player will never really be able to perform.”

With Goodwillie off the wage bill, Freedman denied it would now provide an opportunity to bring someone else in straight away.

He said: “It doesn’t really work that way where because you let someone go you are going to replace him.

“I think it gives us an opportunity to have a look around and see whether we need somebody in certain positions.

“I feel we are strong and we have a good squad with everybody playing to their potential right now.

“You can look at it two ways, you look at if you bring in someone it might upset the group.

“I will take my time, have a look around and if I feel that I can strengthen and bring in the right kind of player and character who is hungry and has a desire to play football I will do that.

“But I won’t just rush out because the situation has come up.”

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