Stoke City: Shawcross is England class, says City chairman

“Mel i play poker with footballers and agents and they constantly refer to the tackle they believe as long as Venger and Arsenal keep referring to it and the press keep bringing it up.Shawcross will never be forgiven,no matter how well he performs.They also say that Crouch would have gone had he still been at a higher profile club.Any way no time for this got a bag to pack off to stay in Germany,play poker and out to Donestk and back to Germany.see you in a week.”

“Deadly! I do not think for one moment that anyone who has played football, or anyone who watches football regularly, with an impartial view, would hold any mailice towards Shawcross and think that his challenge was done with any intent. I do not think that this tackle in any way has jeopardized his England chances. Shawcross is a good honest defender who plays with 100% effort and committment.”

“I am off to Ukraine tomorrow,just a shame Ryan is not playing.Maybe people have not forgiven him for the so called bad tackle,which we all know was not deliberate.But Others still have a very blinkered view.It could hold him back.”

“What I've seen of both Cahill and Shawcross, Cahill looks more comfortable on the ball and his distribution is better, though Shawcross is by far the better defender. Perhaps if we had a manager that encouraged our players to play football through centre midfield then perhaps Shawcross's distribution would improve. Pullis needs to forget grinding points out and to start entertaining those of us who pay their wages and travel home and away to watch the Mighty Potters !”

“I didn't say that Ryan was better than Cahill, Mel. I said that Ryan had a better season last season. Cahill was awful at Bolton before his move to Chelsea. Ryan was consistent all season. A lot of players get selected for England based on 'reputation', and the fact they play for the so-called Big Boys. Look at the squad that Hodgson selected for the Euros.”

“Mr Dap! That is your opinion and you are welcome to it but I disagree and sadly for Ryan so does the England management. It is just nonsense that players are not selected because they play for Stoke.
When Stoke have a player who is good enough they will be selected. Ryan is the only one who is anywhere near at the moment and Ryan has more chance when England play more defensively as under Hodgson but I see him struggling when the game is more expansive. Cahill is better than Shawcross.”

“Wales will not be qualifying for competitions in the near future.

Ryan Shawcross is more than good enough for the England squad. He had just as good a season last season as Gary Cahill. But Ryan happends to play for Stoke.”

“Dave I have no doubt that Shawcross could come into an international game and not let himself down but it still remains that this applies to the several players who are slightly better than him at the moment. As I have said before. He should opt for Wales who have an excellent squad together at the moment and may well be qualifying for future international competitions.”

“Davejjohnson, I said the same for the France game, and then the Sweden game with Carroll Crouch) up front was exactly like stoke but with Wellbeck a better alternative than Walters. When the studio commentators said that England sat too far back in order to defend, I nearly choked on my oatcake.”

“Watching England play Sweden last night then I see no problem with Shawcross being good enough or fitting in. This might make Mel choke on his breakfast but there appears to be more than a passing resemblance to the way England played and Stoke's game. Sitting deep and soaking up pressure, long balls out of defence, relying on wide players to find Andy Carroll, less possession than their opponents and other than Gerrard not much midfield activity. It's a shame that Pennant does not concentrate on his football rather than birds and nightclubs because he has more talent than Milner and can cross a ball better.”