Wake up Boo!

By Mat Kendrick on Apr 26, 11 10:10 PM

MICHAEL Bradley reminds me of the Boo Radley character in Harper Lee's classic novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.

To the unitiated, allow me to explain...

Because of past misdeameaours, including a teenage prank and attacking his father with a pair of scissors, Boo Radley, a fascinating character in the sub-plot to the compelling main story, is locked away out of sight.

The more reclusive he becomes the greater the legend grows of how bad he actually is.

Now Boo Bradley, as we shall name Aston Villa's American midfielder, certainly resembles a moody teenager, if not a prankster, around Bodymoor.

And anybody who has seen Bob Bradley's bald barnet would think Michael had attacked his dad (and national team coach) with scissors.

But never mind that. I'm referring more to Boo Bradley's past deeds in a Villa shirt, ie his dodgy debut at Blackpool and struggling start at Man City, both of which have prompted the perception of him as a flop.

And, of course, his subsequent lack of match action - and omission from matchday squads recently - which has only served to add to the legend of a lacklustre loanee.

Like Boo Radley, Boo Bradley's frustrating situation (being punished for earlier errors and lurking out of sight in the shadows) have made it near impossible for him to change his reputation.

Just as the small minded townsfolk of Maycomb, the setting for To Kill a Mocking Bird, come to wrongly regard Radley as a 6ft, scarred, drooling monster with bad teeth, so Bradley has become famed as a 6ft, scared, non-dribbling misfit with a bad touch in the minds of the claret and blue faithful.

I completely understand Gerard Houllier's reluctance to turn to the 23-year-old USA captain at a time when Villa needed experienced Premier League players to get them out of trouble.

But, if the Villa boss is after a great book to pass the time as he wiles away the hours of his recovery in a hospital bed, Houllier could do worse than pick up the seminal tome and substitute Bradley for Radley.

For, while the outside world believe Radley to be evil in T.K.A.M., it transpires that he is essentially good - and on the rare occasions he ventures out of confinement he proves his goodness with a series of heroic acts.

I could be wrong, Boo Bradley could be that 6ft, scared, undribbling misfit with a bad touch after all.

But, before we banish him back out of sight to Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach in a few weeks' time, could an unlikely hero yet emerge from the shadows?

Is Bradley's claret and blue career over before it's started?

Will Villa, as now seems highly likely, pass up the chance to sign him permanently, despite having first refusal and an agreed fee?

Or with just four games left and less and less riding on the results, is there still chance to cheer rather than boo Bradley?