Stoke City: Ryan Shawcross warned against complacency as he is named skipper again
RYAN Shawcross has been named Stoke City captain for a third successive season – but warned that the position does not guarantee him a starting place.
Manager Tony Pulis says the 24-year-old defender, who is one game off 200 for the Potters, deserves to retain the armband after playing such a prominent part in Stoke's recent success.
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Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross has been as captain for the third successive season.
But he says the former Manchester United trainee knows he must maintain his high standards to ward off the challenge of any new signings at centre-half.
"He's done brilliantly with the armband and continues to grow in stature." said Pulis, speaking in Orlando on Stoke's American tour.
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"That's why he's staying captain and why everyone around the club respects him so much.
"He's been a rock, especially when you consider how young he still is, and has grown with the club in his five years here.
"But all this doesn't mean that we won't leave him out if he loses form or needs a rest.
"You are only as good as your last game, and Ryan has to understand that if we bring players in, as I hope we will, he has to play well to stay in the team and to make sure he plays another 200 games."
Pulis said that, in keeping with the modern generation, Shawcross inspired by deed, rather than word.
"Ryan does it his way. When he's on the pitch he leads by example. Today, you don't really have the characters who holler and shout. Most players know their job and just get on with it."
Shawcross was recently linked with playing for Wales after the Welsh boss Chris Coleman went public on the fact he would have to consult Aaron Ramsey, whose leg was broken by the Stoke skipper two seasons ago, before deciding whether to offer him a place in the national squad.
But Chester-born Shawcross, who qualifies for Wales because he went to school there, has again hinted at his preference to one day play for England.
And Pulis, despite being a proud Welshman, says: "I still believe Ryan can play for England.
"If he has a good season, and one or two things drop his way, the door still isn't closed on that.
"But I'm behind Ryan 110 per cent in what he wants to do outside of this football club. They are his choices and I have to respect them as manager."
Meanwhile, Pulis declined to comment on new reports linking him with Wolves winger Michael Kightly.
The City manager has also been connected with talk of a move for either of fellow Wolves duo Steven Fletcher and Matthew Jarvis.
All three would command a hefty fee, however, and that appears to be at odds with repeated claims that Stoke must sell before they can buy big this summer.
JERMAINE Pennant played 90 minutes with Stoke's under-21 side, but they were beaten 3-0 at Kettering last night.
Left-back Michael Clarkson ended up in hospital with a suspected fractured cheekbone after an accidental clash of heads.
Comments
by LiamOSullivan
Monday, July 30 2012, 10:29AM
“Pick Walters as the captain instead. He has an exemplary disciplinary record unlike the central boys who will invariably get themselves into trouble. He leads both by example and by the Blarney. He has the full support of every team member and all true Stoke fans. And he's always everpresent.”
by Davejjohnson
Saturday, July 28 2012, 7:02PM
“It's hilarious that Soccerfoot thinks he's fooling anyone. What a knob. How on earth can Coates be making money from Stoke ? He paid £4M for the club and another £2M as part of the deal when we got promoted. He then cleared our £7M debt and purchased the ground from the council. He spent Millions on Shawcross, Court, Lawrence etc in the championship to get us promoted on crowds of about 14,000. We have spent a fortune on Kitson, Jones, Begovic, Tunny and Huth. Our wage bill last year was £47M compared to a turnover of £67M and we spent £10M on Crouch and nearly another £10 on Jerome and Palacios. That leaves zilch. We have purchased land for and built fantastic state of the art training facilities and have just blown £6M on the Academy. Do the sums, it's not difficult. So just where has all Mr Coates huge financial profit come from, perhaps Soccerfoot can explain or is he just spouting more garbage under his new name. The only way that Mr Coates might get some of his cash back would be to sell Stoke because the club that Pete built is worth a damn sight more than £4M now.”
by wheatear
Saturday, July 28 2012, 4:26PM
“Then SCFC4 you have just shown just how much you know!
I refer to my original post, you should be ashamed of yourself IMO So no change there then!
Si1963 Welocme to the new soccerfoot - Sorry I meant Soccerfoot's new name.”
by SCFC4EVA
Saturday, July 28 2012, 2:04PM
“yes, Mr Coates and of course as would any completely sane business man, just puts in million after million after million into a business knowing it does not give him any financial or business return and he does it solely for his love of football and out of the goodness of his heart.
Even those with the most minute of business sense knows that is not the case!”
by Si1963
Saturday, July 28 2012, 1:16PM
“Where's Soccerfoot gone? Has the nurse restricted his access to the interweb.
Ryan is a great Captain and well done obtaining grade one status for the academy.
Roll on the Arsenal game :-)”
by ex_nhs
Saturday, July 28 2012, 11:40AM
“"Ryan does it his way. When he's on the pitch he leads by example. Today, you don't really have the characters who holler and shout. Most players know their job and just get on with it."
In other words, Mr Pulis, you don't want anyone overshadowing your shouting from the touchline?”
by deadlyscfc
Friday, July 27 2012, 10:07PM
“Hopefully with academy status we may be able to produce a home grown captain one day,or even a whole back four of locals.”
by Davejjohnson
Friday, July 27 2012, 10:01PM
“The concept that St Peter makes money out of Stoke is laughable and only an idiot could believe it. When he took over the rapidly sinking Icelandic ship we were struggling in the Championship and does anyone on this side of sanity really think one of the UK's top business brains thought "There's some profit in this". I once met the man briefly and all he talked was football, the guy has more money than he will ever need. Without him this years local derby would probably be Crewe, instead it's Arsenal first home game and there's not a day goes by when we should not be thankful.”
by wheatear
Friday, July 27 2012, 9:33PM
“One red arrow per comment, pity the person taking the trouble could not add a comment as to why?”
by wheatear
Friday, July 27 2012, 7:59PM
“I should add for all those who castigated the Chairman for taking profit from our involvment in the Premeirship theyshould be ashamed of themselves - this is where the money is being spent, to guarantee our club a future through investment.”