Next Chapter In Chimbonda's Tale Is A Sorry One

For a player who was once deemed such a valuable asset that Tottenham Hotspur signed him twice, the news that Pascal Chimbonda has been told he can leave Blackburn Rovers in the January transfer window is the latest instalment in what has been a career of unfulfilled potential.

Sam Allardyce, a man who hasn't exactly shown himself to be in possession of the league's greatest defence after the side slipped to a devastating 7-1 defeat last weekend at the hands of a rampant Manchester United, revealed that both parties have apparently agreed it is "better" to let the player "see what he can get in January", with the defender's contract due to expire at the end of the current season. However, the rumour mill has not yet come up with a solid suggestion of where he will head next.

Chimbonda arrived at Blackburn last summer after a second spell with Spurs, but was unable to make his mark and was quickly moved on again.

Once described by Martin Jol as a player who embodied the fighting spirit and character that resulted in a Spurs win over Chelsea, the player has since failed to show the sort of hunger, desire, and consistency needed to make it in the English league. Some people have made Blackburn betting tips for relegation, and if he can't make it there, it's hard to imagine him moving on to a better club.

Ultimately, an infamous incident with Nicky Butt in a game against Newcastle, in which Chimbonda slapped the Newcastle man, and a number of other petulant displays on the field of play combined with high-profile errors in crucial games will, unfortunately for the defender, be the memories that stick in the minds of most Premier League fans, rather than any stunning performances on the pitch.