CLOSE! Real Madrid 0-1 Atletico Madrid Posted at 76 mins Like a Uruguayan Ryan Shawcross, Diego Godin has been magnificent in the air tonight, beating Karim Benzema again and again. But there's another chance for Gareth Bale! Brilliant pace and power to skip away from a man on the right, but he shoots when this time the cross was on and he fluffs it wide. Above is a quote on the BBC website, Champions League Final, text commentary. At last someone outside of Stoke recognises his quality.
Wow, must've missed that! Didn't know we would be referred to in the Champions league final! now that someone has mentioned him in the same conversation as the Champions League I think he will try his hardest to put him in the England squad
It's ridiculous how Shawcross is viewed by the 'big' media. I streamed most of the games this season, and for most of them, I don't know who the commentators were, but half the time they were raving about Shawcross, "he's first to everything back there", "Shawcross mopping up everything that's thrown at him" etc, etc. Yet watch a match on Sky Sports, and he's lucky when he wins tackles, or the strikers not are good enough. I'm sure Hull fans have seen/ heard the same regarding to Curtis Davis. And along with the rest of us, I'm sure there are United fans that think "who the **** is this clown?" when they look at Smalling. But Woy knows best. Apparently.
And...since January?? he has done it all, without Huth!! Dare I say it...we have looked a better footballing outfit at the back, without 'The Wall' Great post Sandor
I've been impressed how well we've done without him. I think it's helped having Wilson next to him, he had a shakey start at CB, but he an defend, and even after playing on the left for so long, I think he still sees himself as a midfielder, and hasn't forgotten how to pass. Shawcross has said before, playing with Faye and Huth helped him mature and be a better player. It's probably a bit late for Huth to drastically change his game, but perhaps now he can learn a little from Ryan.
I think it's a little hard to infer that we would not have played as well with Huth as we have done without him - but I do take people's points that our form has been at its best without him. I actually think Huth is the better player and as a pair they have to be one (if not the best) of the better CD pairings in the league. I hope that we will be a better team next season with both of them playing.
I hope so too Smithers. I know the two of them can stop the ball going in, but I'm not sure of Huth's distribution, and we all know both of them can be a liability when it comes to shirt pulling, and it stands to reason that there's more chance of getting caught.
I was not inferring that at all Smithers. Only that without Huth at his side Shawcross has held the back four tigether magnificently...playing better football as a unit. Of course Shawcross and Huth ARE arguably the no2 combo in the league behind Terry and Cahill.
Sorry mate...it was like catching one's willy in your zip But he is a ghastly human being but still is a top quality centre half.
Imo Shawcross ball distribution is much worse than Huths, and thats what will prevent him playing for England
I'd have said that last season, but he's got a lot better this season, and he's had more (recent) experience trying to play it out.