Nicky and Siddy sat on a bench

[TBM]

Michael Mancienne being a case in point. FFS he's awful in the championship. Also what the hell is Capello doing calling up Richards and Lescott - their own fans admit they have been sh*te this year!

Dont underestimate what an England call-up can do to a player - it may just kick them into form again......plus its only a friendly and he probably knows what they CAN do and is hoping to bring that out of them.

[Archie's penalty]

Michael Mancienne being a case in point. FFS he's awful in the championship. Also what the hell is Capello doing calling up Richards and Lescott - their own fans admit they have been sh*te this year!

Dont underestimate what an England call-up can do to a player - it may just kick them into form again......plus its only a friendly and he probably knows what they CAN do and is hoping to bring that out of them.

Yeah I just think the Mancienne call up is a weird one. I know that Richards and Lescott can be good. Tbf they have been in teams which have had topsy-turvy seasons so far...

[Bill Oddie's Beard]

Lescott was getting slated on 5 live, good centre half, but a shite full back.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Why are people whinging about fringe squad players and young new caps being called up? I think it is a great idea and about time an England manager used these friendlies to try and fast track up upcoming English talent. Gives him the opportunity to see how they react outside of their club comfort zone

[Archie's penalty]

Why are people whinging about fringe squad players and young new caps being called up? I think it is a great idea and about time an England manager used these friendlies to try and fast track up upcoming English talent. Gives him the opportunity to see how they react outside of their club comfort zone

I've just never been impressed by Mancienne when I've seen him. He seems clumsy and mistake prone, although so was Rio at the beginning...

[Alan Partridge]

Why are people whinging about fringe squad players and young new caps being called up? I think it is a great idea and about time an England manager used these friendlies to try and fast track up upcoming English talent. Gives him the opportunity to see how they react outside of their club comfort zone

Like Sidwell?

[TBM]

Why are people whinging about fringe squad players and young new caps being called up? I think it is a great idea and about time an England manager used these friendlies to try and fast track up upcoming English talent. Gives him the opportunity to see how they react outside of their club comfort zone

I've just never been impressed by Mancienne when I've seen him. He seems clumsy and mistake prone, although so was Rio at the beginning...

Thing is, he wont play or even get on against Germany - it just gives him an insight into what international football is about, to train with the squad and hopefully give him the determination to earn himself a full cap. Its good for young players to see what they can have if they work hard(er)

[Hoop Blah]

Why are people whinging about fringe squad players and young new caps being called up? I think it is a great idea and about time an England manager used these friendlies to try and fast track up upcoming English talent. Gives him the opportunity to see how they react outside of their club comfort zone

I've just never been impressed by Mancienne when I've seen him. He seems clumsy and mistake prone, although so was Rio at the beginning...

Thing is, he wont play or even get on against Germany - it just gives him an insight into what international football is about, to train with the squad and hopefully give him the determination to earn himself a full cap. Its good for young players to see what they can have if they work hard(er)

Not sure they need to be an active member of the squad for that though.

I'm sure when El Tel or Hoddle took Rio along for the squad experience he was just taken as a guest and not part of the playing squad. I like that idea, it's a bit like Reading taking some of the kids to away games every now and again.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Why are people whinging about fringe squad players and young new caps being called up? I think it is a great idea and about time an England manager used these friendlies to try and fast track up upcoming English talent. Gives him the opportunity to see how they react outside of their club comfort zone

Like Sidwell?

He is a long way down the pecking order, hence why Parker and Bullard have been called up to replace Lampard and Gerrard

[Barry the bird boggler]

Lescott was getting slated on 5 live, good centre half, but a shite full back.

That is true. Couldn't believe it when plonker McLOLaren chose Lescott ahead of Shorey as a left back.

[Victor Meldrew]

Why are people whinging about fringe squad players and young new caps being called up? I think it is a great idea and about time an England manager used these friendlies to try and fast track up upcoming English talent. Gives him the opportunity to see how they react outside of their club comfort zone

I've just never been impressed by Mancienne when I've seen him. He seems clumsy and mistake prone, although so was Rio at the beginning...

Isn't this a case of promoting from the under 21s rather than showing outstanding club form?
By the same token I expect now that he is over age and with so many dropping out Lita to get that call-shame is he will be using his mobile phone already so Fabio won't be able to get through.

[Forbury Lion]

Still earning more money than you or I could dream of earning though - so they've had the last laugh really.

Depends really, if their dream was to play football or have a big bank balance.... understandably they want both, but getting the balance right is key. They would probably take less pay for more games.

[Dirk Gently]

Still earning more money than you or I could dream of earning though - so they've had the last laugh really.

Depends really, if their dream was to play football or have a big bank balance.... understandably they want both, but getting the balance right is key. They would probably take less pay for more games.

But no player ever moves expecting to sit on a bench -they all move feeling they're good enough to get a run in the first team - and that there's an opportunity there to be grabbed. As Kevin Doyle said in January, better than looking back at your career at the age of 35 and wondering what might have happened if you'd made that move when it was offered.

[philM]

Shorey thread from Villa_talk forum...

http://www.villatalk.com/index.php?name ... ic&t=46746

[Archie's penalty]

Shorey and Sidders starting tonight at Hamburg in the UEFA cup. Villa are down 1-0.

[Ginger Ninjas]

Shorey and Sidders starting tonight at Hamburg in the UEFA cup. Villa are down 1-0.

Sidwell sent off (two yellow cards)

[papereyes]

Shorey and Sidders starting tonight at Hamburg in the UEFA cup. Villa are down 1-0.

Sidwell sent off (two yellow cards)

Played alright, really. The second yellow was a bit meh.

Shorey was awful.

In fact, the only Villa players who played with any level of spark were Gardner, who got crippled, Delfonso(?), who was played out of position and that tiny lad who came on at the end, Bannan.

Harlon Marewood was perhaps the worst.

[Archie's penalty]

Shorey and Sidders starting tonight at Hamburg in the UEFA cup. Villa are down 1-0.

Sidwell sent off (two yellow cards)

Played alright, really. The second yellow was a bit meh.

Shorey was awful.

In fact, the only Villa players who played with any level of spark were Gardner, who got crippled, Delfonso(?), who was played out of position and that tiny lad who came on at the end, Bannan.

Harlon Marewood was perhaps the worst.

Shorey did look terrible but the whole Villa backline was abysmal. The Centre backs were by far the worst and hadn't ever played together before I think. Difficult to blame Shorey when the other defenders were also terrible and Villa didn't have a proper defensive midfielder.

Harewood is absolute toss - so toss in fact that I am a bit worried that O'neill will make a move for Doyle (although have heard that Heskey may well be off there).

[Victor Meldrew]

I have thought for a while that we might become involved in a Doyle/Harewood deal -don't want it but could see it happening.
Player exchange plus about £5million might appeal to our hard-up chairman.

[papereyes]

If we sign Harewood, I might cry.

According to popbitch, he sometimes needs to be told his left from his right.