10 Nov 2016 12:46:16
Re Luke Shaw / Smalling saga - couple of points :
I remember reading Louis Saha on the morning of the game v Everton at Goodison going to one of the backroom staff and saying he didn't feel 100% . Fergie apparently went nuts . anyway some days later in France he told a journo "Saha s injuries are mainly in his head" or words to that effect. No big deal made of that at the time.
6 weeks or so ago in the 2 England games . Shaw was sent home to UTD as not being 100%. with the report not specifiying any injury. seems odder now that it did then.
Lastly, Gordon taylor - having a pop at Jose s handling of Shaw and smalling yet says "both have personal problems I don't need to go into " What? hello? both have personal problems? well we didn't know that before but we do now Mr Taylor. well done . what a very odd thing to say, could it be that Shaw in particular isn't as well as we think he is?
10 Nov 2016 15:10:17
boyfromburrenway-
If the above is true (and i don't doubt you) then it sheds a little light on the "poor" handling of Shaw and Smalling.
There are arguments for and against how JM has handled this BUT nobody knows what has been said to these players and how many times before the public dressing down was given by JM.
if a player is deemed fit to play but then pull out of his own accord with whatever reason then it will raise questions.
i still think Shaw has massive potential with UTD but this has been said before about him so is it his doing?
i am a mere mortal who has no involvement with these issues so i HAVE to leave this in the MORE than capable hands of the manager. (Smalling i'm not bothered either way as i think he is a liability for us going forward in our chase for the title) .
10 Nov 2016 18:11:29
Evenzidane. Southgate has said over the last few days that the England medical staff know Shaw is still feeling pain from his injury because he told them about it - Shaw was picked for the squad for those 2 last England games but came home pretty quickly and was said not to have an injury at that time - Gordon taylors quote from only 48 hrs ago was that both ( smalling and shaw) had personal problems that he wasnt going to talk about - i'm only taking what's been in the press but it seems to me Shaw in particular isn't 100% either in his head or in his fitness or indeed both.
I think inadvertently both Southgate and Taylor have maybe suggested that.
10 Nov 2016 23:21:58
This is all nonsense. They do a job 1b+ would love to do at a place pushing 100m would love to do it and earn a fortune whilst doing said job. They'll soon get over a bit of criticism for not demonstrating 100% commitment, and if they don't then they're not mentally tough enough to be here.
10 Nov 2016 23:58:52
Spot on mdh.
11 Nov 2016 10:05:20
completely agree mdh.