Sam Allardyce believes defenders James Tomkins and Aaron Cresswell may have blown their England hopes after dismal performances against Crystal Palace.
Many were deeply sceptical of the manager’s suggestion that Tomkins could be in line for a call-up when he declared it last week but international boss Roy Hodgson was at Upton Park at the weekend and things didn’t work out for him or the left back.
Allardyce commented: “There was a chance for James Tomkins on Saturday, because Roy Hodgson was there, and Cresswell too, but they didn’t do very well did they?”
“They didn’t only let themselves down against Palace, they let themselves down with the England coach watching.”
Tomkins found life tough against Palace striker Glenn Murray, while Murray’s header was hooked into his own net by Cresswell as the visitors grabbed the lead.
“Roy wouldn’t have been too impressed with that performance believe you, me,” said Allardyce.
“They have done so well and so consistently, but they don’t do that well when the England coach arrives, but that is their responsibility not mine, I would think.”
Probably they didn’t play their best match, but especially Creswell has done a very good job up to this moment. Anyway, I personally find BFS’s words quite offensive and cowardly. Especially when he says “but that is their responsibility not mine”. But I’m not surprised, it’s his typical attitude: he has the merits (none), while mistakes of the other. It is right to call him manager? He doesn’t know what’s the shame…