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Of course, he couldn't walk out without achieving his lifelong dream of playing for Hull City in the top flight. He's just about managed that, although a substitute appearance in the 0-5 defeat against Wigan is hardly how he'll have dreamt it. Will he get to do it again in better circumstances or is the dream over?
I thought before the start of the season that Deano could still do a job for us and if we give him the right service, he's capable of putting the ball in the net. However, after Sunday's game I feel that the quality of players we've brought in - Cousin, King, Halmosi - is a million miles from what we've ever had before.
When Deano made his appearance against Wigan he looked so off the pace of the game and the only way he'll get there is if he plays games to get match fit. Obviously we can't play him to get him fit - it's hard enough to compete with eleven players, never mind carrying an unfit passenger. The alternative is to send him out on loan to play some games and get match fit. We could do that, but wouldn't it be a sorry sight, especially if he comes back and still can't get in our team or make a difference from the bench?
I would love nothing more than to see a fully fit, goal-scoring Dean Windass leading our attack, but the hope of that seems to be getting slimmer. The last thing I would want is Deano's Hull City career to end in an undignified way. He's a Tigers hero and always will be but there's a danger that our final memory of him will not be as happy as all those that precede it.
I hope that whatever he does is the best thing for Dean Windass and that his heart doesn't rule his head. I do actually believe he's still capable of scoring goals in the Championship or even the Premier League if given time, but should he really keep chasing that carrot, whether it's going out on loan to try and fight his way back into Phil Brown's team or starting afresh at another team? Does this highly experienced footballer really want to have to prove himself all over again? Is that the dignified, respectable thing to do?
He wants to become a manager one day. Now might be a good time to do that (and there's even a job opening just over the Humber Bridge). At least then he'd be able to pick himself in the team! The easiest start he could make to management in the lower leagues is to manage a team with Dean Windass playing up front. If he proves to be a good manager, maybe that will be his next significant contribution to Hull City (when Phil Brown has been appointed as Fabio Capello's successor, of course). I'd normally say 'never go back' but this is Deano, the antithesis of that motto.
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