Fans must have sympathy for substitution prone Shorey
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While Cristiano Ronaldo hogged the headlines at the weekend for his reaction to being substituted against Manchester City, the reaction of Villa's Nicky Shorey in a similar situation has been ignored.
While every reason has been given for Ronaldo's apparent outburst of emotion, the reaction of Villa's left-back has faded into the spring sunshine.
Shorey, was withdrawn after 63 minutes with Villa losing 3-1 at Fulham on Saturday. He came off to be replaced by Nigel Reo-Coker, took an age to leave the pitch and mouthed his frustration on the way to the dugout.
Now, while the behaviour of the former Reading man cannot simply be overlooked, it has to be said that his feelings at the time must have mirrored those of the travelling faithful.
Earlier in the season, Martin O'Neill had a strange habit of substituting his full-backs in search of a more attacking approach. It rarely worked and he learnt his lesson. But it now seems he has returned to his old ways.
Fans are more than aware that things need to be changed when the side is losing as they were at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
But, Shorey and the Villa fans had every right to be disillusioned by the strange double substitution that took place with just under half an hour to play.
The players coming from the bench to replace Shorey and fellow full-back Luke Young were Reo-Coker and Emile Heskey. No issue there really. Heskey offers a presence up front and Reo-Coker is a midfielder often deployed at right back to add attacking edge.
Bench
The problem with O'Neill's decision was there for all to see and it involved the hub of the team - Gareth Barry.
The Villa skipper is one of the most influential players for both club and country in central midfield. Yet, with his side failing to show much creativity during the first 15 minutes of the second half against Fulham, Barry - the team's most creative influence - found himself shifted to left back.
Like his international teammates Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, Barry is part of a rare bunch of players who can almost play anywhere on a football pitch and still grab the Man of the Match award at the end of the game. He may even give prove to be a valuable goalkeeper who knows?
But, just like Gerrard and Rooney, as good as he is in an unaccustomed position, Barry is simply awesome in his own role. He is the one man in the Villa team who should not be moved around to make room for others.
Shorey had no right to dally and delay his exit from the Fulham pitch. But, surely he must have wondered just why it was him being sacrificed.
The little left-back is so often the fall-guy and he was never really given a long enough run in the team after joining the club in the summer. He was quickly booted onto the bench and never looked like coming back.
But, to be fair to him, the ex-England man has been one of the better performers in recent weeks and deserves a prolonged run in the team without being needlessly withdrawn.
Frown
It is fair to say that adding an extra attacker and switching to a 3-4-3 formation would be a fair reason to sub Shorey.
But when you're sacrificing a talented midfielder to play in his place - the fans and the player know there is something wrong.
That is why, whilst I again reiterate it was not necessarily the right reaction, you can understand the frown that adorned Shorey's face and his unwillingness to leave the pitch.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, should be criticised for his silly tantrum. He showed a lack of respect for the member of staff handing him his towel and for his role within the team.
The Portuguese winger should understand that his side have a hugely important game against Wigan on Wednesday and that he was being spared an unnecessary injury ahead of the Champions League final.
Shorey has no such target to play for and his goal is staying in the team.
But, with his recent actions in mind and taking into account O'Neill's apparent willigness to give him frequent early baths, it is hard to see Shorey becoming a certainty for a first team place next season. |
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