Frustrating, but Caulker can be a star
Matt Lockwood has revealed how Ian Holloway poured his heart out to him about Dundee new boy Steven Caulker – but believes Dens Park is where he can finally find his feet again.
Lockwood sat down with Queens Park Rangers manager Holloway before Caulker’s former club took on Newcastle at St James’ Park just over a year ago in his role as a radio pundit.
Ex-dundee defender Lockwood recalls listening to Holloway, his old Bristol Rovers boss, airing his frustrations about the controversial 26-year-old former England ace who joined Neil Mccann’s Dark Blues earlier this week on an 18-month deal.
Holloway knew what Caulker had to offer on his day but being blighted by off-field issues meant the big stopper could never fulfil his potential at Loftus Road, leaving his manager to think only of what might have been.
Now, though, Lockwood reckons Caulker can show his true worth by becoming a star in the Scottish top-flight with the Tayside club.
Lockwood said: “I’ll never forget Ian that day.
“We sat down for lunch in the same hotel before the game that night and we must have chatted for hours.
“Put it this way, if ’Ollie had any hair he would have probably pulled it out such was his frustration!
“He’s just so passionate about all his players, especially when he knows something could be better.
“Steven obviously wasn’t playing for QPR at the time and as we know he had a couple of loan spells elsewhere as things weren’t going as planned.
“But Holloway knew what he was capable of and, as a manager, he was well aware of what Caulker could bring if he was fit and right.
“We left no stone unturned that day and it was obvious Ian rated him so highly that he just wanted to get him on the pitch for QPR.
“It wasn’t to be and now he’s gone to Dundee where I’m sure he can really show his true worth.”
Caulker replaces Jack Hendry, who recently clinched a move to Celtic.