Russia coach Guus Hiddink insists that Tottenham striker Roman Pavyluchenko must start playing regular first-team football if he wants a place in the Dutchman's team.
Hiddink says Pavlyuchenko's lack of match practice means he can only expect a bit-part role in Russia's World Cup play-off against Slovenia later this month.
"I'm seriously concerned about his position at Spurs," said Hiddink. "Perhaps he should think about how he can get more playing time.
"But despite all his problems with match practice, Roman has special qualities: in almost every match he has one or two chances to score, and he often takes them. Therefore, we shouldn't exclude him from the national team completely. If the match against Slovenia is not going our way, Pavlyuchenko should get his chance."
Hiddink watched Pavlyuchenko in training with his club last week but the striker remains behind Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch in the pecking order.
"Of course, it's not of my business to determine what Pavlyuchenko should do in the future," added Hiddink. "Maybe he still has a place at Tottenham but I certainly would like him to play more often."
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@ 1. much as it hurts to agree with a blue, I do. Keane is not the player he was, we should cut our loses and get rid
Pav has not really had his chance, part of the attraction was his partnership with Arshavin (what is it about that word A*se and our close neighbours...?) unfortunately we got stiffed by the ruskis when we tried to buy him and ended up with Roman 'psycho' Pav alone.
Dos Santos has been a bigger flop than Forlan was but we have a history of not getting players to perform despite early promise
look at Ramos' signings - Tarrabt, Dos Santos, KP Boatang, Kaboul all won awards for best young player of whereevre but have done SFA since coming to WHL. Tarrabt is starting to come good now on loan, O'hara is one for the future but we need to sort our defence first and foremost. Despite his status as a Leg End, its time for King to go, possibly Woody too - both great players on their day but unless they can play every game and form a partnership then they are a liability - and thats not going to happen.
Out in Jan
Keane
Pav
Bentley
I'm thinking Giovani Dos Santos and Jermaine Defoe. And trade Pavly for Klass-Jan Huntelaar, and then we'll be set.
sad thing about pav is he has not been given a decent run, keane is past his sell by date, does not score enough but still has his name on the starting sheet, give pav a six match run along side defoe and he will score goals and plenty of them, if you doubt this take a look at bent for sunderland, strkers thrive on confidence and a run of games thats all pav needs
Pav is terrible. Had so long last season to prove his worth and has no drive or confidence. Just sell him and bring in a better, more committed striker. Keane has never been that good, Berba carried him and without that luxury he looks @#$%. Manure should have bid Rooney for Berbs AND Keane! That way they would have had a SUCCESFUL strike partnership, not Berbatoss at his very worst with manure. Keane, Crouch and Pavlyuseless can all go for what I care, we need strikers who can try, or who actually have ability.
Ive never really liked pav. I couldnt see what all the fuss was about when he suddenly got in the papers linked with decent teams. he misses countless chances every single match.
spurs signed him I think because it was rumoured big clubs were wanting him and they thought it would make them look bigger but really no big clubs did actually bid for him. loom what happens when a big club does go for the players spurs do, huntelaar for example, they go to the big club.
he is still better than crouch though and sadly maybe even keane now. keane to me was in the top 3 forwards in the league before he moved to liverpool but now not even top 10
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