One Winner, Yet We All Lose

Steve Bruce has admitted he ‘kicked in the teeth’ of Martin Taylor by bringing Upson straight back into the team.

And despite refuting that the move was purely to put Upson in the shop window, you can’t seriously believe it was for any other reason than that.

Speaking to the local press the boss said:

‘Sometimes in football you have to make decisions that will hurt, Martin Taylor has probably produced his best nine or 10 games, whatever it is, since he’s been at the club.

‘You can imagine how difficult it was to make a decision like that.

‘Matt Upson is arguably our best player and the team benefits from someone like him. He’s an England centre-half and naturally left-sided.

‘Tiny was very unfortunate to find himself left out. I cannot thank him highly enough for his contribution since I brought him back into the team at Derby County.

‘But in management, this kind of thing is the hardest part, doing that to someone who is reliable, dependable, never lets you down, trains every day, never causes you a problem.

‘You have to disappoint them, kick them in the teeth if you like. But he took it like I expected him to take it – like a man.’

Ok fair enough Upson was in good form when he entered the England team but calling him an England international at every available point is as stupid as the Vile calling McCann or Hendrie England internationals.

A cap or two, training with the squad does not make somebody an international and it’s highly unlikely Upson will play for England again unless the usual picks are decimated with injury.

A move like this may generate more interest in Upson as clubs see he has recovered fitness but how can anyone expect any loyalty from players when the manager can’t show any. What message does this move send to other players, that the team isn’t picked on merit?