[betterthanbaird]

This sort of sh*te has always happened - or always used to happen - with so called unfashionable clubs.
As said,  Bryan Robson was a classic example of that.... I remember there actually being a "Robson for England" movement going on because he was producing fantastic performances week after week but constantly getting overlooked by England; straight after he went to Utd he was picked.
Another was the cricketer Chris Broad - scored a billion runs for Glos but ignored by England..... went to Notts and selected straight away.

Both of these two proved their pedigree by then staying and starring in the national teams for many years.... so why were they deemed not good enough before their moves?

Unbelievable bias and 'old school tie' attitude. I'd like to think it's changing nowadays.....?

I wasn't around back then but nowadays I do think there is a big gap between the top 6 and everyone else cos of the money they invest into their squads and most players at big clubs are just better than the players everywhere else. Anyway back to Laurie, I've seen videos of him taking corners with the outside of his foot, which obviously blew my mind, did he do it here or only after he went to Real?