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Post by markscfc72 on Jan 12, 2008 9:36:17 GMT
from sentinel
Ryan Shawcross is relishing next week's second screening of his Little and Large show with Michael Owen.
Shawcross and company limited the diminutive Newcastle and England star to just one genuine chance during last Sunday's rousing cup tie at the Britannia.
And the 20-year-old defender can't wait to lock horns for a second time in next week's re-match on Tyneside.
"He's the best," was Shawcross's instant evaluation of a striker destined, surely, to one day break England's all-time scoring record of 49.
"His movement is frightening, you never know where he is. You can certainly tell why he's scored so many goals.
"You just have to concentrate so much to make sure you never lose him at any stage of the game. I made one mistake and it was nearly a goal."
But let's be honest, he and Stoke might just have taken the concession of only the one chance for Owen before the game had kicked off.
Owen's one true sighter of goal came in the first half when Mark Viduka dropped deep to pick up possession, then curved a tasty through-ball that Shawcross momentarily mis-judged because he glanced fatally away from the play to check on you-know-who's whereabouts.
And within a flash both Owen and the ball were clear for what might have been 0-1 had Steve Simonsen not scampered from his line to smother an attempted shot.
"You get away with that kind of thing in the Championship," admits Shawcross, "but not at that level.
"Throughout the game you're always looking over your shoulder to see where he is.
"He usually takes that kind of chance, but he's obviously a proven striker and playing against that kind of player can only improve you.
"But that's where you want to play - in the Premier League."
And the prospect of both Shawcross and Stoke City playing in tandem in the top flight moved closer this week with news of on-going negotiations to secure his permanent transfer from Manchester United.
He understandably declined to jump the gun by speaking about the move before it was signed and sealed, but he revealed: "I think I'm going to be ready for the Premier League one day and Tony Pulis can help me. I think I'm good enough and he believes in me. With the right coaching I think I can develop.
"People can already see I've progressed and come on leaps and bounds here at Stoke since the first game of the season at Cardiff.
"All round defensively, I'm a lot more aware now. I was also quiet when I first came, but I see myself as a bit more of a leader now.
"But it's not just down to Tony Pulis because our fitness coach 'Scouse' has worked hard on me to improve my strength and speed."
Such attributes should be in evidence on the big stage again at St James' Park next week as Stoke seek one shock against Newcastle before tackling the possibility of another against Arsenal.
"We will go up there very confident after our clean sheet here and having all those chances to win the first game," he reasons.
"We've got to look for the right result and we couldn't have a better incentive than a trip to Arsenal in the next round if we do get through."
Shawcross's progress this season is all the more remarkable because his previous senior experience in England was restricted to just two League Cup appearances for Manchester United in the first half of last season, while the second half of that campaign was spent in Belgium with Royal Antwerp.
And no surprise, therefore, that playing every game this season bar one, when he was suspended, has taken a physical and mental toll.
"It's been a long season for me," he admits, "because at Antwerp we got to the end-of-season play-offs and so I only got two weeks off over the summer.
"I'm starting to feel tired. Not in matches, but after them. But with the right rest and recuperation, I'm fine. I don't have much problem sleeping and love my afternoon naps.
"You can't go out partying between matches, but that's not too bad because I've grown up at United where they put it into you from a young age that you have to look after your body."
And is the sacrifice worth it? Just a bit.
"Playing in front of 22,000 the other night - what more could you ask for?
"If you have to make a few sacrifices along the way, then that's what you have to do."
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Post by thorney1 on Jan 12, 2008 9:37:50 GMT
He seems a decent level headed fellow.
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on Jan 12, 2008 9:41:35 GMT
watch him join another team though
got bad feelings that we may lose a gem here
still, he seems happy here
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Post by Done it for scfcbuxton on Jan 12, 2008 9:49:00 GMT
nah I think Fergie drills it into them about respect and honour and all that. He'll sign
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on Jan 12, 2008 9:54:25 GMT
its just supporting a club like stoke and hearing that were on the verge of signing a young starlet
it never happens
but times are changing
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Post by Alvechurch Assassin on Jan 12, 2008 10:10:49 GMT
he should sign, it's a great opportunity for him to make a mark professionally at such a young age, and for us it means securing the signature of one of the most promising english defenders in the country - christ it good to be a stokie at the moment!
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Post by bloody56 on Jan 12, 2008 10:11:01 GMT
Something has changed at this club in the last couple of weeks.
Six months ago stoke would have waited until Shawcross was a free agent in the summer in the vain stupid hope of signing him for nothing.
Five months ago Stoke would not offer Griff more than two years.
For these reasons only, if Stoke do sign Shawcross during the January transfer window I think it could be one the biggest developments at Stoke, since Stoke tried to sign Hudson and Osgood from Chelsea.
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