[turkeydinner]

I think (And I`m not a socialist) that Ron Greenwood was told by the FA not to have more than a token black player in the side
Remember this is the FA of the time that didn't permit Afros or plaits
I think if they were ever called into "Why weren't Laurie and Cyrille considered for WC82?" it would bring down some of the older establishment, you really telling me Graham Rix was better than Laurie? That does deserve an inquest

Keegan was playing more of a playmaker role in Midfield by this time, Francis and Woodcock were decent but Paul Mariner`s scoring record was not great at international level, the other Striker was Peter Withe who had a sublime season at Villa but six caps says it all. Regis had power, pace, endurance and yes age on his side, he won five caps and never played a full ninety minutes, being the third black player to win full England caps being first capped in Feb 1982. For me he offered something different than the other names, he could be the big hold the ball up Mariner guy, but he had pace like Francis and the guile of Woodcock with the hunger of youth, missed opportunity in my book.

Can you imagine in a 4-4-2 at the World cup 82 (Bear in mind England also didn't lose a match), absolute steel in that Midfield for Cunningham to run riot, Case was never capped by England and Keegan was injured until the Quarters but you get the fantasy-How can anyone look at that team and say England didn't have great players?

Shilton

Sansom
Mills
Butcher
Thompson

Coppell
Cunningham
Robson
Case

Keegan
Francis

And the video dosent mention his unlikely time at Wimbledon that Laurie provided the assist for Lawrie Sanchez to score in the FA cup final to beat perhaps the finest Liverpool team ever