Of the autumnal fall-outs between manager and players at Hull City under the previous regime, the only one that a cleansed club hasn't seemed to heal is that between Phil Brown and Daniel Cousin.
This is a waste, a pity and wholly unnecessary. But it seems almost definite that Cousin will not play for the Tigers again and has the suitcases down from the loft ready for when January ticks into the calendar.
Yet as we approach games against Arsenal and Manchester United, it is hard not to wonder how the big game performer like the Gabonese centre forward might make a telling contribution to these seemingly unwinnable encounters. After all, last season these occasions brought out the best in him.
His first goal for the club was the winner at the Emirates at the end of September, a goal which will keep his name alive in the annals of City history long after he has trousered his final mega payday in the Middle East and retired with his savings.
He also scored against Manchester United at Old Trafford and then Arsenal again at the KC Stadium. The Tigers still lost these games but heroically so. Cousin's aptitude for hitting the target against the best defenders available was both handy and vital. We seemed to have found a centre forward who, if not absolutely prolific, certainly was able to pick his moments.
Cousin scored only two other goals - against Manchester City in a 2-2 draw at the KC and the winner in the FA Cup third round replay win at Newcastle United - before injuries and accusations of troublemaking began to dominate his existence at the KC. He didn't have a great summer, with moves to Qatar (and then Burnley) regularly bandied about but not being sealed, and this season he fell out with Brown quite quickly.
Of course, George Boateng and Craig Fagan also had differences with Brown and were removed from the first team picture but, upon the return of Adam Pearson, wielding a large broom designed to sweep away egos, each were restored to the reckoning and both have started games in the last half-dozen. Cousin hasn't been seen since coming on as a substitute at Liverpool late on, where he happened to demonstrate exactly how to shrug off defenders in aerial duels and win plenty of the ball.
The arguments may continue about Cousin's willingness to chase everything, which seems to be the main stick the Tiger Nation's less forgiving element still use to beat him, but the lad can score goals and has done so at the top club level. Jozy Altidore might do so, but hasn't yet. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink might, but hasn't yet. Fagan simply never will and, after his diabolical display against Blackburn Rovers, shouldn't play centrally for the club again. But if we now have a situation where a failed centre forward like Fagan is regarded as a better tactical option in the Premier League than someone like Cousin, then it seems Brown hasn't learned after all.
Caleb Folan is coming back from his loan at Middlesbrough soon, which is as futile an action as any the club could take when goals are needed. So four players - Altidore, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Fagan and Folan - seem to be more preferable to a centre forward who has actually proved he can score the biggest of big goals in the City shirt. The first two have hope and make worthwhile contributions, of course, but the other two are being deluded by themselves and others.
Arsenal away, Manchester United at home. Oh, then in January, throw in Chelsea at home, Tottenham Hotspur away and Manchester United away. The one centre forward who would put away the odd solitary chance City will create in each of these games simply isn't any of those currently being allocated match day pegs in the dressing room. And yet his manager seems to have forgotten he exists.
Cousin will go in January. Pearson needs to cut costs and there's no doubt Cousin is a high earner. But given that he is the most likely to do the unlikely when the elite of the Premier League show their faces, he might still be worth the wedge - especially when one considers the alternatives.
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