Ah Jack, you are an enigma in many ways. When I read that Smoulds has recognised his form of late and has hinted toward the affirmative in the new contract stakes, I was pleased. It’s true that Jack has been on fine form, he has been a catalyst for many of our attacking moves – providing that elusive link from midfield to attack and has generally rolled back the years with a number of fine performances. And he deserves the credit that’s coming his way for that.
Indeed, back when Smoulders was ready to offload him to anybody that would take him, I remember reading comments from Lester that he was going to buckle down and work his arse off to force himself into the team – and whilst injuries have no doubt played a part in this, there’s no denying his workrate and effort has been top drawer – so perhaps at 31, Jack has mellowed a little from the firey character we’ve come to both love and be frustrated by. Perhaps he’s also spending less time in Tantra too?
But I can remember last time Jack was almost out of contract – I recall Paul Hart rather losing favour with him, but throwing him on during the playoff semi second leg, when Jack attempted to single-handedly save the day – and whilst my memories of that night are clouded with misery, I seem to recall he wasn’t that far away from doing so on that day. It’s amazing what the threat of imminent unemployment can do to motivate people – particularly when you’re probably earning more that you could attract realistically from another employer.
That is quite cynical though – the coaching staff will have a good idea about whether the more irritating tendancies of Jack’s on and off the pitch antics are indeed improved, and I think the league in which we find ourselves will be pivotal to whether or not we see him back again next season. If the unthinkable happens and we remain in League One then he’d be a good person to keep on board – I think it’s debateable whether or not he’d still cut it in the league above – but then, how many of our squad would?
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