Shorey Shouldn't be Downhearted

It could be easy for Nick Shorey to be disappointed at not playing a part in either England game, when he had been tipped to start both, but Steve Coppell feels he shouldn't take it personally.

Shorey was expected to start the match against Estonia to prevent Ashley Cole from picking up a booking which would have meant him missing the Russia game, as it was he picked up an injury instead. Shorey was then tipped to fill in against Russia, but this time Joleon Lescott was given the nod. Although Lescott has played for Everton in central defence this season, and this is his primary position, he did play most of last season at left back for them so Coppell feels this is more reason for Shorey not to be too downhearted at not being given the start, as he was not overlooked. Coppell told the media, "I don't see it that way. For 90 per cent of last season and the majority of this, he (Lescott) has played left back so I don't think anyone can say he had been moved over.

"I think he sees himself as a centre-half but that was a decision that a manager had to make. Whether it would have made any difference, who knows?

"I can understand Shorsey being frustrated by the decision but a manager lives and dies by those decisions."

Shorey is an out and out left back, whereas Lescott isn't, and hasn't been playing in this position this season so as easy as it is to ay in hindsight this is why I felt that Shorey should have started, with him being a naturally recognised left back. England did seem to be exposed quite frequently down the left with Lescott often drifting into the middle.

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