Kitson for England

[Pseud O'Nym]

Or, our Nicky wasn't the player he was last season and when push came to shove McClaren opted for Lescott.

Quite probably the stupidest thing McClaren did too! If he'd played a left back at left back, rather than playing a centre back and leaving the left back on the bench then maybe:

1. Joe Cole could have done his job instead of having to keep helping the defence out.

2. Lescott wouldn't have had a horrible debut playing out of position.

3. As pointed out by Alan Hansen, Rooney mightn't have felt the need to rush back and concede a penalty.

Growl, growl, grumble.

[Woodcote Royal]

McClaren got a lot wrong but Shorey was playing sh*te at the time.....................I wouldn't have picked him either.

In fact, it was probably the kick up the @rse he needed because he's looked a lot better recently.

[Pseud O'Nym]

McClaren got a lot wrong but Shorey was playing sh*te at the time.....................I wouldn't have picked him either.

In fact, it was probably the kick up the @rse he needed because he's looked a lot better recently.

Shorey looked okay in the England friendlies, not great, but okay and was beginning to get an understanding with Cole. How was it reasonable to play Lescott, whom he'd never tried in that position, in an important game? Lescott was dreadful, no fault of his own he shouldn't have been put in that position on his debut.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Shorey looked okay in the England friendlies, not great, but okay and was beginning to get an understanding with Cole.

the "understanding" being that Shorey would lay the ball off to him, run into space for the overlap, and watch Cole fart about trying to dribble through the entire defence on his own.

[Pseud O'Nym]

Shorey looked okay in the England friendlies, not great, but okay and was beginning to get an understanding with Cole.

the "understanding" being that Shorey would lay the ball off to him, run into space for the overlap, and watch Cole fart about trying to dribble through the entire defence on his own.

Well, yes, now you come to mention it. Also fall flat on his face whilst trying some really clever stepover thing. Even if Cole was playing like a complete tw*t at the time, England would still have been better off without him covering for Lescott.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

I think he's the sort of player that would relish playing for England rather than daunting. I truely hope that he gets a call for England's sake.

[Woodcote Royal]

McClaren got a lot wrong but Shorey was playing sh*te at the time.....................I wouldn't have picked him either.

In fact, it was probably the kick up the @rse he needed because he's looked a lot better recently.

Shorey looked okay in the England friendlies, not great, but okay and was beginning to get an understanding with Cole. How was it reasonable to play Lescott, whom he'd never tried in that position, in an important game? Lescott was dreadful, no fault of his own he shouldn't have been put in that position on his debut.

Shorey was lucky to get selected for Reading in the first 3 months of the season (would have prefered DLC at the time) when his head was still at Upton Park.

I doubt McClaren wanted to play either of them and probably opted for what he saw as the lesser of 2 evils.............................there was nothing in Shorey's form at the time to suggest he would have done any better.

Reading fan in "Shorey can do no wrong" shocker.

[Alan Partridge]

That's a different arguement. That's a 'should Shorey have been in the England squad' which is almost certainly a no for me. I've been critical of him alls eason for his defensive work which has been on existant at times. However once Shorey had been selected for the England squad as the number 2 left back, when the number 1 left back was injured, he HAD to play. McLaren's problem was selecting him in the first place.

[Woodcote Royal]

I agree he should never have been picked for that squad and it goes back to players being picked on current form rather than how they were playing nine months earlier.

However, if McClaren had spent a few days watching Shorey in training and thinking "sh*t" "I've got this wrong" he was fully entitled not to pick him.

As I said, there was nothing about Shorey's form at the time to suggest he would have done any better than Lescott.

[loyalroyal4life]

Coppell's views


http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11673_3085203,00.html

[The Cube]

Shorey was lucky to get selected for Reading in the first 3 months of the season (would have prefered DLC at the time) when his head was still at Upton Park.

You'd think that a medical where the player had forgotten to bring his body would be over pretty quickly, wouldn't you?

[The Cube]

There can't be many players out there that started at a non-league club and went on to win England Caps, can there?

Ian Wright and Stuart Pearce are two that immediately spring to mind.

Les Ferdinand as well I think.

Cyrille Regis ?

There have been quite a few in the not-too-distant past. Apart from those mentioned (all of which are correct), there's Dave Beasant (Edgware Town), Chris Waddle (Tow Law Town), Kerry Dixon (Dunstable), Kevin Phillips (Baldock), David Platt (Chadderton), Stan Collymore (Stafford Rangers), Gary Pallister (Billingham Town).

Most recent one I can think of is Ben Foster who started at Racing Club Warwick and has played on loan at several other non-league clubs.

[playoffs or layoffs]

By the way, would Sainsbury do anything if Kitson actually become England International?

Not a lot...

There is no doubt that working for Sainsbury's as a teenager has also coloured his approach to football. "I never understood because I was wearing the Sainsbury's clip-on tie with that uniform and the dodgy waistcoat, why somebody in a black suit could talk to me the way they did," said Kitson. "They treated you monstrously. You were abused every single day. It hardens you a little bit and I won't take any nonsense from anyone to this day."

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Sto ... 02,00.html

"Some of those players were 10 times the player I was. I got lucky. If I went back into my neighbourhood in a Porsche or a Bentley there would be hell to pay. That's just cars. I have no jewellery. I don't wear any chains or any watches. I wear plain clothes, no logos. I don't have a boot deal - I refuse to have one. I am just happy going along and being me and I really don't want to be that fella what I see every day. I really want to avoid it."

[Victor Meldrew]

If you do get called up Dave stay away from the little runt from Chelsea who might be playing left-back or else you could get into some real trouble.

[TFF]

If you do get called up Dave stay away from the little runt from Chelsea who might be playing left-back or else you could get into some real trouble.

What with Capello's reputation as a man who expects a certain standard of behaviour on, and off, the pitch there could be few people in England more pleased when reading the Sunday papers than a certain Mr Shorey.

[brighton_royal]

If you do get called up Dave stay away from the little runt from Chelsea who might be playing left-back or else you could get into some real trouble.

What with Capello's reputation as a man who expects a certain standard of behaviour on, and off, the pitch there could be few people in England more pleased when reading the Sunday papers than a certain Mr Shorey.

Closely followed by Cheryl Cole I'd imagine.

[Hahnemann's Hairdresser]

Thought I'd bring this back to the top as the preliminary squad is announced today at 15:30. Early rumours are that Beckham will not be included, Agbonlahor, Kitson and Bentley will be in and there may well be a permanent change of captain, Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard are the two front runners.

[West Stand Flash]

Owen Hargreaves Captain for me.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Prelimenary squad being announced as I type, Beckham not included but no news on Kitson yet

[starbug]

Shorey in but no Kitson