on those...

this idea that Norfolk would be a big draw makes me chuckle a bit. On Stoke's doorstep is Cheshire - one of the most expensive areas in the country, choc-full of footballers, private schools for their kids, and boutiques for their WAGs. Norfolk has nothing to compare with that for your average footballer.

On the others - playing for Norwich would not boost his England chances at all relative to playing for Stoke (tho under Hodgson I reckon both are a pretty big handicap).

And if Hughes sold him to fund new transfers, he'd presumably have to spend most of the cash on a new centre-back.

So guess the only one I find plausible is that he might not want to play for Hughes. But do we have any reason at all to think that?

Posted By: Tricky Hawes, Aug 6, 12:46:42