Cracking bit in the comments section of the Guardian's report on last night's game from a mix of fans. Seems it's not just us that can't understand it. I would also add Routledge to the list of overlooked players, but he's probably not quite as consistent as Nath...although seems to be getting there...
Well after last nights performance, I certainly believe Routs and Dyer should get chances after all Napoli are no Mickey Mouse team.
Swansea players won't get picked for England no matter how well they play. It was the same in cricket. Glamorgan players were ignored for years by the MCC. When I was a kid, I remember that Alan Jones (opening bat) was the most consistent opener in the country for many years. Even experienced England players (some his RIVALS for the position) expressed disbelief at the way he was continuously overlooked. Eventually they threw him a bone against a Rest Of The World 11. Unfortunately, sod's law, he failed in that game which was all the excuse the selectors needed to consign him to the scrapheap. Then some time later, they withdrew caps awarded for that game because it wasn't against a Test team from another country. So poor Alan was never able to say that he represented his country when he absolutely deserved to. Politics? You can stick 'em where the sun don't shine.
At least Alan Jones got to make some Cawl with his "bone",whereas the great Don Shepherd didn't even get that opportunity,and had to be content with "eating cake"!!! Two reasons why I always support any team who plays England in cricket.
IIRC Alan Jones and Don Shepherd were the UK players with the most runs and with the most wickets never to get a full cap.
Can add Steve Watkin to that. Played only three times against tough opposition (W Indies and Australia) averaged 27 and was never on the losing side.
I know that some Glamorgan players went on to gain recognition but I was talking about a particular period before enlightenment set in. Matthew Maynard was given a fleeting chance, Peter Walker, Greg Thomas, Steve James, Jeff and Simon Jones (father and son), Hugh Morris (future selector) and of course Tony Lewis actually captained the side briefly. In the distant past, there was also a guy called Alan Watkins who was a spin bowler and brilliant close in fielder. But I agree with Vetch that the great Don Shepherd's omission was probably the greatest injustice.
"The distant past" you refer to Ivor, also included opening batsman,Gilbert Parkhouse, a team-mate of Watkins',who, in addition to being an amazing fielder, was actually a fast bowling all rounder,by the way. He did the double once,quite an achievement. To be fair to the selector's of the day,Wilf Wooller was offered the captaincy of an MCC tour to South Africa,but declined due to work/financial commitments. The offer was never repeated,so Wooller remained uncapped. It's the treatment of Jones,and Shepherd that really sticks in my craw. And I'm not alone in that.
If England genuinely wanted to change the way they play they could. It would take some balls on their part, but there are the players to do it. In amongst the kick and rush specialists, there are players who are comfortable with the ball. ....................Rooney/Sturridge/Lambert/Welbeck OX/Lallana/Townsend...............................Sterling/Dyer .................................Wilshire/Barkley ......................Gerrard/Carrick/Britton/Henderson Baines/Shaw......Jagielka/Cahill/Jones/Caulker.........Johnson/Jenkinson ...............................Forster/Hart/Ruddy There's an initial 26. The middle 3 could be interesting, Britton holding and recycling the ball, with Gerrard providing probing long balls and Wilshire buzzing about further forward. Inter-changeable wingers with Lallana and Sterling starting, Ox and Dyer coming from the bench. Rooney as the target man but offering movement and maybe swapping with the wingers throughout. There's no reason why they can't do that. It's just, like Man City in the champs league, the team is spoiled by fear. Lambert is a cert for the squad for me - a football target man who is brilliant to bring on with penalties looming. Then you have Baines, Gerrard, Rooney, Lambert (if he comes on), Sturridge (if he comes on), Carrick, Cahill... (ok, the penalties still don't fill me with confidence)
They got the wrong man in Hodgson, and they will go the same way as their Rugby team!................
http://www.footballdirectnews.com/p...-star-pick-dyer-over-johnson.php#.UwhEd-OSy6Q Somebody knows his football !!!
