http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/09/1...ind-his-way-to-the-britannia-stadium-this-se/ For a player who has admitted that he still has aspirations of playing for England again, it begs the question as to why Peter Crouch joined Stoke. While he maintains that his time with the Three Lions is far from finished surely moving to the Britannia Stadium has killed off those hopes for good when you consider the damning evidence of the last 18 months. Crouch only needs to look around his new dressing room at the likes of Ryan Shawcross and Matthew Etherington to discover that playing in the red-and-white of Stoke appears to render footballers invisible to Fabio Capello. The England coach has continually overlooked Tony Pulis's clearly unfashionable club and probably has an excuse to never pick Crouch again after the striker moved from Spurs to the Potteries. Capello's visits to Stoke can be counted on the fingers of one hand and his comment at the weekend regarding Manchester United's Ashley Young was an horrific indictment of how he views English football and the clubs not fortunate enough to be in the elite. His claim that Young's recent form was down to the fact that "he is now playing with a really important team" will only have increased the frustration for Shawcross, in particular. The Stoke captain's continued exclusion from England squads will hurt more than the 'thug' taunts he has endured ever since the infamous incident with Aaron Ramsey in February last year. Shawcross was excellent against Liverpool on Saturday but must know he is never going to get picked while Capello sees out his contract with England. He has seen Gary Cahill move way ahead of him in the pecking order while United's Phil Jones also seems to be inching his way further into the reckoning. Etherington was always a unlikely shout for Capello due to his age but even still, surely after a consistent last 12 months he was more deserving of a cap than, for example, Jay Bothroyd. It will be interesting to see if Crouch ever does receive international recognition again after completing his club record £10 million move. Stoke are fashionable all of a sudden and some pundits are even tipping them to knock on the door for a Champions League place so, perhaps, they might be seen as a "really important team" by Capello before too long. But Crouch, who won the last of his 42 caps in November, will have to do more than hit the ground running to force the England coach into asking his chauffeur to navigate the M6 and find a route to the Brit. Crouch reckons the best years of his career will be at Stoke. But will it be enough for Capello?
"Stoke are fashionable all of a sudden and some pundits are even tipping them to knock on the door for a Champions League" I'm not having this. We've got siege mentality and I'm not up for popularity!!!
Sgt I didn't even take the time to click that link and here's why I didn't.. 1. Crapfello should be given the boot, ASAP. 2. I "think" he was quoted a whle ago as saying something along the lines of.." I will pick those player's who are playing well, not those who we're playing so well" 3. I do feel it for Ryan and I really do rate him and, let's not forget he's still young in terms of experience. BUT.. 4. So is Young, so is Cahill, and Co.. Jones now playing with utd and of course Jack Wilshere from Arsenal, I really rate that lad to be honest. I don't like Crapfello, never have. And, that performance last week by England was not far from Pathetic seen as we've changed the team around, or HE has. As for Crouch, maybe he doesn't play for England again. Personally the ONLY thing I care about is that Crouch and of course Ryan do well for OUR CLUB. I'm sure that, Ryan will eventually get his chance as injuries etc will no doubt dictate that he will at some point represent England. My mate who is always honest has tel since the Liverpool game his words were.. Ryan Shawcross playes as well as ANY centre half I've seen for ages, he was that good... Sooner or later the penny will drop and IF Liverpool we're interested in signing Ryan let's face it... Kenny D knows a good player when he see's one. The sooner Crapello's contract is up the better. Let's do what Wales are trying to do. BUILD a team of younger player's for the European Championships.. NOT think about, Lampard, Terry and those who we know will not last more than two or three years before they are past their best. As for Stoke gaining a top six spot... erm NOT YET... not even close but, from what Ihave seen so far this season.. IF Crouch and Palacios do well for stoke this season.. I really don't give a monkey's WHAT Crapello thinks or does. Top half yes we can, Top 4 nope because the WUM'S would not like to see a team that can hold Chelsea and beat Liverpool doing well would they.. We are Stoke so, Crapello and the rest who don't recognise WHAT we have achieved can... Jog off! His oppinion to me means nowt. WHAT Stoke City do means everything and some. Ryan, KEEP doing what you are doing and the rest will come, eventually.
Spot on Potts!!!! You only had to gauge the lack of atmosphere at Wembley last week (compare it with our semi and final). People just don't give a monkeys about England at the moment and I lay that squarely at Capello and the FA's door. We need a passionate English manager full stop to look after our national side. Bobby Robson for me was the classic example of a true gent who gave it his all and his players performed with passion too. (Who can ever forget Gazza in 1990?). The sooner we get rid of the Italian waste of space the better! Anyway, like you say, 'We are Stoke so, Crapello and the rest who don't recognise WHAT we have achieved can... Jog off! His opinion to me means nowt. WHAT Stoke City do means everything and some.' Dead right Potts, says it all in my book.
To be honest, I bloody hate the man's blatant selection bias. What the hell is he doing picking 7-Goal-Stockdale, Frankie Fielding (who I do rate, but he's still playing in the Championship -couldn't get a game at Blackburn) instead of John Ruddy (Norwich). Ruddy is playing in the Prem, is 23 and has played more Prem games than Fielding. Capello is shocking.
