With the repeated talk of Alan Smith and Henrik Larsson not getting a EPL champion's medal due to the 10 match apperance criteria, I wonder why there is practically no mention of our ever present stand in goalkeeper Thomasz Kuszczak. He has rarely been unavailable all season for all the competitions, has on more than one occasion come on at short notice for the injured Van Der Sar and under limited match time and opportunities and typically unfamiliar backline combinations, performed fairly well to help the team maintain the league challenge as well as fights on other fronts. Yet he has only 6 league apperances to date. Would he not merit a winner's medal, or at the least a replica for his contribution to the team's success? Is there a different criteria for the reserve goalkeeper in terms of match apperances or do they automatically get a medal from the league organisers? To me Kuszczak deserves more sympathy and thought as he was fit, able and willing throughout the season, unlike in one way or another Smith and Larsson. This is not to slight either of these players and their contribution but I think Kuszczak should be the first name that springs to mind on the issue.
i think he gets a lot of unfair criticism but we have to remember he has never played consistently and the defender in front of him have always been different. He was never going to be able to play like VDS simply because he could not form a working relationship in competitions with his defender.
I am sure the club will make replicas to award to all members of the squad that contributed but do not receive a winner's medal from the EPL, as gratitude and acknowledgement to the team's success. There must be many on the coaching staff that won't be getting one from the EPL. Did a quick check of the players and Park Ji Sung who have two horrible prolonged injury spells this season qualifies with 14 league apperances despite the misfortune. He is another player that has been indespensible as an option. Fringe players like Silvestre and Richardson are well within the criteria.
Its rubbish how King Henrik doesnt get a medal, Im not sure if Kuszczak will though but I dont think he should if Larsson and Smith aint getting one.
