WELLINGTON “REP.” TEAM

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11223, 31 May 1922, Page 8

WELLINGTON “REP.” TEAM

-SELECTORS CHOICE CRITICISED. tTo the Editor "N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —Messrs Williams, Godber and Webster delivered a body blow to Soccer football on Saturday night when they posted up their selected team. Whilst waiting to see the selection I overheard a Thistle supporter pick tho team, and a remarkable thing about it was that he was only wrong in one position—ho picked Cusack instead of Thomas. "Knew it a week ago,” says he. Another remarked yes, "five of Thistle were wondering where they were: to have their photo taken after the match.” "Enough to give one the blues,” remarked another, and he hit the nail on the head. The Thistle Club, says another member, deserves inclusion. Took what they do for Soccer football. Look at the boys* teams they ran; why, their junior team is a snorter. The air was quite "blue” with remarks, except those passed by the "blues” supporteris old thing in Rugby says the rugiger enthusiast, but that is by the way). Now, lot me criticise the team: Ewing, as goal-keeper, and Porteous stood down, why? Has he ever let Wellington down? The Watersides would not lose him for a dozen Ewings, and good as Elgertori, played on Saturday, Hospital would have liked him with them. Is it his goal average? Three against him in five .matches—one a penalty and up against Wellington's best teams. An insult to a good Wellington bom boy. Taylor deserves his place, bufc Wallis, of Hospital, always misses tho eye. Prince (Karori) would last better than McKenzie. Did the selectors inquire why McArthur left Hospi-* tal? A pool’ sport does not deserve recognition. In picking the centre half position they have let their loyalty (which, by the way, was lacking in the case of Porteous) to Brownlee outweigh their judgment. Science counts for nothing or Jones would bo in. Brownlee gets in because he shoots hard, but, by the way, how often does Brownlee score goals? Jones got one goal in two rep. matches. You have made a mistake there Mister Selectors. Seeing you had three good centre halves why did you not pick the best and drop the other two? Lack of courage? Seeing that you have put all the Thistle players in their club positions, what made you start tinkering with Jones, the best of the bunch? If Irvine was not good enough, why did you not stretch a point and put Brownlee left-half, seeing you had done so much for his dub mates? Matters seem so one-sided; are you all three blue eyed or what? Watersiders ©wear Irvine is the best loft-half, and judging by his play on Saturday he is a second Billy Skinner. By the way, Skinner on Saturday placed the centre halves thus: Jones, the l best; McGirr next and Brownlee third’, and I consider him to be a good judge. Now comes Cusack. This young Wellington boy has never been given fair play* Picked to go to Wanganui ho played a great game, uas put aside against Canterbury and Auckland, and then picked for the North Island, playing a tip top game (vide Wanganui papers). If you are putting him aside because of injuries, you are exceeding your duties, because that is the trainers business, and he cannot judge before next Friday. Anyhow, injured or not, he played well on Saturday. Palmer i© good enough, he is a brainy nlayer. Gilbertson is an experiment; Bollard should be there; Camobell is in his nlace and J. Smith (Y.M.8.) or Hick (Hospital) should be there at outside loft.

ENTHUSIAST.

We have received several other letters criticising the selectors and the representative team chosen, but no good purpose would bo served by publishing them.