" ANY COMMENTS ON DAVE JONES REGARDING MICHAEL CHOPRA ? "

Cardiff City
Chopra has no divine right to play says Bluebirds boss Jones
by Terry Phillips, South Wales EchoJan 15 2011




MICHAEL Chopra is back and firing – but Cardiff City boss Dave Jones insists he has no divine right to play.

Chopra has scored in City’s last two matches, the winner against Leeds and a first-half effort in the 1-1 FA Cup draw at Stoke.

But, ahead of today’s trip to Norwich, Jones said bluntly: “That’s what he gets paid for – scoring goals.


“It’s the reason he is in the team.

“Before he wasn’t scoring goals and wasn’t playing well.

“What was I supposed to do? Put him on the pitch when he’s not playing well and then I get hammered for that.

“He has no divine right to play.

“But he’s started to look like his old self again. He has to continue doing that and keep working at it.”

Big striker Jon Parkin was in the Bluebirds squad that flew to Norfolk yesterday, but Jay Bothroyd was not among the party.

That suggests Chopra and Parkin could link up in attack against opponents only trailing Cardiff on goal difference.

“It wouldn’t matter if we were playing a team at the bottom of the league,” said Jones. “It’s all about the points up for grabs.

“If the team is near you in the table and you win it does do them damage.

“We want to take points off them as much as they want to take points off us.”

Norwich have lost four times at home in the Championship, against Watford (2-3), Hull City (0-2), Crystal Palace (1-2) and Portsmouth (0-2).

Jones will continue with the Mark Hudson and Kevin McNaughton partnership at the heart of his defence as he searches for the new blood that would allow him to make changes.

McNaughton is playing out of position from his usual right-back role, but has proved a hit over the last two matches.

With Chris Riggott potentially out for months with a hamstring problem and Gabor Gyepes with a back injury, McNaughton is clearly a key player.

“Kevin can play anywhere along the backline,” said Jones.

“When I first watched him in Scotland he was playing at centre-back.

“That’s where he’s played a lot. He’s a versatile player.

“Everybody thinks you’ve got to be 6ft 5ins to play centre-half, but the division is littered with people who are smaller than that and playing there. If you are a good player you can play in any position you want.

“Wherever I put Kevin, he always gives 100 per cent.

“He’s not bothered. He’s happy to play at left-back, right-back or centre-back.”

Amid interest from Newcastle, Bothroyd is slowly getting back to full fitness and is on track to make the visit of Watford next Saturday.

The England striker has been working hard with physio Sean Connelly. The next step is for fitness coach Alex Armstrong to ease him into full training.

“Jay is close now,” said Jones. “We’ll leave it now and have a look at him next week.

“Jay did try to come back and tweaked his hamstring. He thought he was fine but it takes longer.”

Danny Drinkwater, who was among the substitutes at Stoke, is back in contention for a starting place at Norwich. Drinkwatercame through 90 minutes in a 2-1 reserve-team win against Exeter in midweek.

does ANY player have a right to play.......he is after all only one member of a TEAM.

of course as a fan you would expect a player who is on form to be in the starting line up and you would think that the manager would of course pick that player.

suppose if any player thought they had the right to play week in week out then they might get "lazy" and take their position within the team for granted

yes - if you don't play him or if you play him out of position how the hell do you expect him to score goals Mr Jones You dropped him at a time when we could ill afford to lose him and it cost us. Is it because he stood up to you?

i think he's got it spot on, no one should have the right to an automatic spot in the team if they are not playing well, chopra is my favourite city player but what he done before the swansea game,( or was it qpr?)when he shot off to the middle east to try to earn himself a quick million, must of been bad for moral and dave jones must of been furious with him. it took him a while to win his place back in the team.
as it is, hes playing well again and scoring goals so can't see why he would drop him, unless theres been another falling out or he thinks keogh is better than him

When you read the full article I don't think he's said anything wrrong.

He is 100% correct in what he says there

He is 100% correct in what he says there

Cardiff City
Chopra has no divine right to play says Bluebirds boss Jones
by Terry Phillips, South Wales EchoJan 15 2011




MICHAEL Chopra is back and firing – but Cardiff City boss Dave Jones insists he has no divine right to play.

Chopra has scored in City’s last two matches, the winner against Leeds and a first-half effort in the 1-1 FA Cup draw at Stoke.

But, ahead of today’s trip to Norwich, Jones said bluntly: “That’s what he gets paid for – scoring goals.


“It’s the reason he is in the team.

“Before he wasn’t scoring goals and wasn’t playing well.

“What was I supposed to do? Put him on the pitch when he’s not playing well and then I get hammered for that.

“He has no divine right to play.

“But he’s started to look like his old self again. He has to continue doing that and keep working at it.”

Big striker Jon Parkin was in the Bluebirds squad that flew to Norfolk yesterday, but Jay Bothroyd was not among the party.

That suggests Chopra and Parkin could link up in attack against opponents only trailing Cardiff on goal difference.

“It wouldn’t matter if we were playing a team at the bottom of the league,” said Jones. “It’s all about the points up for grabs.

“If the team is near you in the table and you win it does do them damage.

“We want to take points off them as much as they want to take points off us.”

Norwich have lost four times at home in the Championship, against Watford (2-3), Hull City (0-2), Crystal Palace (1-2) and Portsmouth (0-2).

Jones will continue with the Mark Hudson and Kevin McNaughton partnership at the heart of his defence as he searches for the new blood that would allow him to make changes.

McNaughton is playing out of position from his usual right-back role, but has proved a hit over the last two matches.

With Chris Riggott potentially out for months with a hamstring problem and Gabor Gyepes with a back injury, McNaughton is clearly a key player.

“Kevin can play anywhere along the backline,” said Jones.

“When I first watched him in Scotland he was playing at centre-back.

“That’s where he’s played a lot. He’s a versatile player.

“Everybody thinks you’ve got to be 6ft 5ins to play centre-half, but the division is littered with people who are smaller than that and playing there. If you are a good player you can play in any position you want.

“Wherever I put Kevin, he always gives 100 per cent.

“He’s not bothered. He’s happy to play at left-back, right-back or centre-back.”

Amid interest from Newcastle, Bothroyd is slowly getting back to full fitness and is on track to make the visit of Watford next Saturday.

The England striker has been working hard with physio Sean Connelly. The next step is for fitness coach Alex Armstrong to ease him into full training.

“Jay is close now,” said Jones. “We’ll leave it now and have a look at him next week.

“Jay did try to come back and tweaked his hamstring. He thought he was fine but it takes longer.”

Danny Drinkwater, who was among the substitutes at Stoke, is back in contention for a starting place at Norwich. Drinkwatercame through 90 minutes in a 2-1 reserve-team win against Exeter in midweek.

Dave Is so right, after all they all have to fight for there place ,thats what its all about.

"He has no divine right to play".

Does this apply to Lee Naylor also?

"He has no divine right to play".

Does this apply to Lee Naylor also?