Beckford's body language is bad news

I am never one to encourage fans to boo their own players. However, as Jermaine Beckford was substituted, to be replaced by Steve Howard this afternoon, I confess to joining in the cheers at his withdrawal. Listless, passionless, not sticking his foot into the tackle, not chasing down lost causes, not getting involved in other areas of the pitch, not jumping for headers, not getting stuck into his team mates or showing the passion needed to turn around the team's fortunes. Instead, the enduring memory is of Beckford stood, hands on hips on the half-way touchline, a disinterested and withdrawn spectator. Not good enough in anyone's books, especially when you have shelled out millions of pounds to have him in your team. Pearson's "Get him off" comment to his assistant when Beckford failed to chase Abe's through ball towards the end of the game was very telling and may well signal 'decision made' from the manager's point of view. On today's evidence, let's hope so...