On the Spot by Cindy Jefferies Page A

restart, and waited as Marcel walked slowly across from the other pitch. TheCharlton keeper was third choice behind Tom Larsson and Dij Anichebe, who was playing in goal for the shirts, but the Frenchman didn’t seem very keen to grab this chance of making an impression.
    â€œCheer up, Marcel,” Roddy muttered.
    â€œHe got very moody last term, and things obviously haven’t improved over Christmas,” said Geno, as he lined up beside his friend for the kickoff. “I don’t think he’s very happy here.”
    Roddy shook his head. “I can’t believe
anyone
would be unhappy at Stadium School,” he said. “It’s football heaven! We were all so lucky to get in. And now we’ve got a chance to go to the top, with the best coaching and…”
    â€œOK, I know
you
love it,” laughed Geno. “And I do, too. But poor Marcel is struggling. Didn’t you realise? He can’t stand grumpyMr Roberts, the goalkeeping coach,
and
he has to share a room with Jack Carr. How would you feel if your roommate was the school bully, and your coach couldn’t take a joke?”
    Roddy thought about it as the game got underway. If he didn’t get on well with his coach, it
would
be a bit of a damper on the fun. And Roddy could see that Jack would be even more of a problem. He was a talented footballer, but he liked to throw his weight around, on
and
off the pitch. Roddy had assumed that Marcel got on OK with Jack, but maybe he didn’t. After all, they hadn’t
chosen
to share a room.
    But whatever was up with Marcel, Roddy had to stop thinking about it on the football pitch, even if it
was
just a practice session. He pushed a pass out to Ashanti on the wing, and started to focus fully on the game.If Marcel wasn’t playing to his best, it would make it much easier for Roddy to score.
    Temperley is on in place of the injured Larsson, and he is immediately under pressure. Bullard, Perotti and Marek Dvorski are wreaking havoc in the box, and Temperley is throwing himself around to keep the ball out. A cross comes in from the left, and Temperley makes a half-hearted attempt to punch the ball away. It drops to Dvorski, who has no trouble blasting it home.
    Keira jogged back to the centre with a smile on her face. As captain of the first team, she might be worried about Tom Larsson, but today she was also captain of the attacking side, and she was never happier than when her team was winning.
    â€œMarcel never told me that he doesn’t get on with Jack,” Roddy told Geno, once they were both ready to kick off again.
    â€œMaybe not,” said Geno. “But yesterday he told me that he asked to be moved last term. Only Mr Clutterbuck said there are no spare beds. Poor Marcel’s got Brett Wilson and Andy Thirwell in his room, too. Sharing with those three would make
anyone
miserable.”
    â€œThat’s tough,” said Roddy. “I wish there was something we could do to help.”
    He looked over to the goal again, where Marcel was standing with his arms hanging limply by his sides. The goalie was filthy from the dives he’d been making, and looked seriously hacked off.
    Marek stood a little closer to join in the conversation while they waited for the ball to get back to the centre circle.
    â€œI hope Marcel is more up for it next week,” he said. “We’ve got a house match against Stiles.”
    Most of Roddy’s friends were in Charlton House, and they could see their healthy lead in the competition disappearing without a motivated goalkeeper.
    Roddy groaned. “Oh no! That means we’re going to be playing against Jack. I bet he tries to wind Marcel up.”
    â€œI bet he tries to wind us
all
up,” said Marek.
    â€œWe mustn’t let him get to us,” said Geno. “We’re a better team than Stiles. If we keep our concentration, we can win easily,
and
keep ahead of Moore and Banks as