Garth Crooks makes ridiculous comments about Jonjo Shelvey

Garth Crooks makes ridiculous comments about Jonjo Shelvey - unbelievable

by Olly Hawkins · Published 9 April 2018, 15:39

Garth Crooks has picked Jonjo Shelvey in his Premier League team of the week, yet has gone on to fire a few unbelievable digs at the revitalised midfielder, suggesting he still can't be trusted and is the type of player he doesn't like.

Before I get stuck into this and you read Garth's comments in full, keep in mind that Jonjo has not been in the referee's notebook since early December..

As many of you may know, Garth Crooks picks his Premier League team of the week during his column for the BBC at the end of each gameweek.

This week he's chosen Jonjo Shelvey for his goal and measured display in our impressive 2-1 win at Leicester on Saturday and, although he's praised him to an extent (including him in his team), he's made some pretty poor comments.

Here's what he's said during his piece for the BBC:

“This was an amazing victory against the 2016 champions by Newcastle and why I had no choice but to include Jonjo Shelvey in my team of the week.

“I have to be honest, I don’t enjoy putting players like him in my team.

“I like footballers and there has been far too much over-physicality where Shelvey has been concerned.

“However, his performances of late have been impressive.

“With greater levels of fitness and a more reliable temperament, Magpies boss Rafa Benitez could turn him into a top-class player.

“Certainly England have no-one with his ability in midfield – he just can’t be trusted right now.

Firstly, it seems Garth hasn't done his homework. Shelvey hasn't picked up a single card since his second yellow in the 1-0 defeat to Everton back on December 13th!

He's played with controlled aggression since the turn of the year and has been much more measured in all he's done. Yes he was criticised for his poor tracking in the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, but Rafa soon cleared that up, with it being revealed that he was carrying an injury late in the game.

It's totally ill-informed stuff from Garth, with him spouting out comments that he says on what basis? Absolutely none.

Quite incredibly, he also says "I don't enjoy putting players like him in my team.". Again, what sort of comment is this? Yes he's made mistakes in the past (and he's often failed to learn from them), but to say this when Jonjo's showed positive signs that he's now learnt his lesson is pretty poor form from him.

Ridiculous stuff from an outspoken pundit who needs to do his homework and actually watch the player in question before making such assumptions.