Bramwell Speaks Out

CHRIS Sutton should have learned his lesson.

The Rovers striker clearly chose the wrong way of informing Glenn Hoddle that he was unavailable for England B duty.

Instead of a simple telephone call, calmly outlining the reasons for his decision, Sutton should have been snapped on a bender with Barry Manilow.

He should have been caught stuffing a John Bull, chips and curry sauce down his gullet while puffing on the finest Cuban cigar.

He should have just turned up for the Chile training camp with a double chin to rival Jocky Wilson's.

He should NOT, of course, have showed enough personal pride in his professional standards to make a principled stance on Hoddle's selection policy.

For Paul Gascoigne's recent antics could hardly send a clearer signal that he does not care two figs for his England place in the World Cup finals.

Where the Rovers trio in the Scotland squad, Colin Hendry, Billy McKinlay and Kevin Gallacher, have consistently attended Brockhall for voluntary training, Gascoigne has volunteered a strong argument for reopening the hospital on that site.

Instead of the rollicking to end all rollickings, Hoddle has given Gascoigne carte blanche to carry on regardless. The England boss has not so much turned a blind eye to recent events, as poked out his good eye.

Hoddle's feeble justification? "Everything Paul has done has been between internationals, when I cannot control him."

A Christian attitude is all well and good, providing Gascoigne with a chance to work miracles and turn the wine of the last couple of weeks back to water.

That wine, though, has left a stain.

Gascoigne is wasting valuable squad time on extra training rather than focusing his energies on technical and tactical fine-tuning.

And, surely, Hoddle has to turn the other cheek on a uniform basis.

After all, Sutton's decision was also made between internationals - and therefore out of Hoddle's control.

I thought Sutton was perfectly justified in making his stance.

Matt Le Tissier scored a hat-trick in the last England B game and was omitted from the Saudi Arabia squad.

I also thought that there was a strong argument for Hoddle sticking to his guns and omitting Sutton from subsequent squads. Sutton knew that would be the most probable outcome of his stance.

There is, however, a strong thread of inconsistency running through Hoddle's management.

If he wants to play tough, Gascoigne should not have escaped with a slap on his now flabby bottom.

If Hoddle wants to be a forgiving father figure, then Sutton's sins should be forgotten and the prodigal son should be welcomed back into the fold.

Let's face it, with Les Ferdinand in the final 30, murder could be pardoned...with the Saudi Arabians due at Wembley!

Neil Bramwell is the Sports Editor

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