Reading Football Club News

• Nickname:Royals
• Founded:1871
• Manager:Brian McDermott

• Ground:Madejski Stadium
• Capacity:24,200

Coppell slams Shorey loss

26 Aug 2007 - 09:03:26

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Reading boss Steve Coppell slammed the round of international friendlies in midweek after seeing his side well beaten 3-0 at Bolton Wanderers.

Left-back Nicky Shorey missed the game after featuring for England against Germany and Coppell also felt a number of his players were off the pace.

He fumed: "Everyone was moaning about there being only six substitutes for England, so my player (Shorey) gets injured and has to stay on.

"It means he was unavailable for us. It was a situation exacerbated by having to play on. He wants to create the right impression when he should not have to.

"They (England) are on a money-making agenda, we are on a preparation-for-the-season agenda. I suggest international matches should be meaningful.

"Real purpose and value would be get-togethers and a series of training sessions. At a time when players need a rest after three games in a week they were heading across Europe.

"Players should be proud of playing for their country, but do not tell me these games are preparation for the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

"It is a different agenda and it is not the fault of the national team managers but the system.

"The result was that my players had no energy and it wasn't helped either in that we had to travel. Yet Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal were all at home."