Neil Etheridge. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Azkals drama is not over yet.
After forward Stephan Schrock and left back Dennis Cagara left the Philippine Azkals, head coach Thomas Dooley has his axe set in motion to strike the crossbars.
Dooley said in a press conference Thursday at the Philippine Football Federation office in Mandaluyong that he is not keen on bringing in goalkeeper Neil Etheridge for the upcoming Peace Cup.
“Bringing in Neil as a goalkeeper for the Peace Cup does not make sense,” Dooley said.
On its third reiteration, the Peace Cup would pit the Philippine Azkals against the men’s football national teams of Myanmar, Chinese Taipei and Palestine and is set to begin on September 1 and would end in September 9.
Dooley said that Servette FC goalkeeper Roland Müller deserves to wear the Azkals number one shirt with Global keeper Patrick Deyto as the backup.
“If we here at the PFF are spending thousands of dollars for a third goalkeeper that does not make sense,” Dooley said.
During the conference, Dooley said that he needs players who have performed well and had a lot of experience during the season.
To back up his claims, Dooley said that Etheridge only made three or four appearances for third-level English club Crewe Alexandra on loan from his original club Fulham FC, which now plays in second-level The Championship in England.
In comparison, Müller had 29 appearances for Servette FC, which finished fifth in second-tier Swiss Challenge League during the 2013-2014 season while wearing the club’s number one shirt.
Meanwhile Deyto plays for Global in the Philippine domestic league United Football League wearing the club’s number one.
“Roland is definitely the number one, then Patrick,” Dooley said.
Dooley added that his decision to leave the former Etheridge was released after the 2013-2014 season, started in Maldives during the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup when the goalkeeper was not on a hundred percent and was eventually taken over by the two.
Also, Dooley said that he has been on the receiving end of “disrespectful” rants from his former goalkeeper.
“Neil is talking disrespectful statements on my end,” Dooley said. “I don’t owe anyone a conversation.”
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