Ulises de la cruz

[Petercccccc]

My Copa America dream is in danger
Ulises de La Cruz admits his Reading future is in doubt as he needs regular first-team football to keep alive his hopes of representing Ecuador in the Copa America this summer.

The right-back, who arrived on a free transfer from Aston Villa in the summer, has only made two league appearances for Reading this season.

De la Cruz will get a rare chance tonight in the rescheduled FA Cup third-round clash at home to Burnley (8pm kick-off).

Although the former Hibs player insists he is not unhappy at Reading, he admits he may have to look to get away if he is not in Steve Coppell’s plans as his place in Ecuador’s squad could be in jeopardy when the Copa America takes place in Venezuela.

The 32-year told the Evening Post: “I am looking forward to tonight’s game. It has been hard not playing, but I have not complained because the team has done well. My national team have been in contact with me, though.

“This season is an important one for me because it is the Copa America so I need to be playing. I will speak to the manager and my agent. I am not unhappy here but I do want to play football.â€

[Big Ern]

Serves him right for being shite.

[Hoop Blah]

Do him and us a favour and get rid

[brendywendy]

what? on the basis of one game against arsenal where he was taken apart by the quickest most skillfull attack in the league??!! thats not really that fair is it?our whole team was taken apart

he did ok when we beat man city

let the bloke have his chance

[Platypuss]

he did ok when we beat man city

Indeed - that's because he didn't get anywhere near the pitch.

[mathematically_safe]

for balance i think it should be mentioned (again) that throughout his career - including now - he donates 50% of his salary to charities in South America.

He may not be worthy of a place in the RFC starting line-up but that doesn't make him worthy of the abuse he's been getting thus far in this thread!

[Alan Partridge]

De LOLa Cruz

[Gav]

...and was part of the defence that did not concede despite being mullered for 89 mins at Upton Park.

[Platypuss]

He may not be worthy of a place in the RFC starting line-up but that doesn't make him worthy of the abuse he's been getting thus far in this thread!

Eh? None of the abuse has been about him as a person; it has been about him as a footballer.

Mother Teresa also did a great deal of voluntary work, but I wouldn't want her at right back.

[SpaceCruiser]

but that doesn't make him worthy of the abuse he's been getting thus far in this thread!

I agree with you.

[Frustrated_Royal]

With friends like these, who needs enemies?

[Jerry St Clair]

...and was part of the defence that did not concede despite being mullered for 89 mins at Upton Park.

Correct. Thought he did ok that day.

He's not going to get a game whilst Murty is fit, though (or, indeed, Bikey or Gunnarsson!). Probably best if he moves on.

[Platypuss]

...and was part of the defence that did not concede despite being mullered for 89 mins at Upton Park.

Surely that says more about West Ham's strikers than anything else?

[Ian Royal]

for balance i think it should be mentioned (again) that throughout his career - including now - he donates 50% of his salary to charities in South America.

He may not be worthy of a place in the RFC starting line-up but that doesn't make him worthy of the abuse he's been getting thus far in this thread!

In which case I applaud him. However, he has been distinctly suspect when he has been on the pitch for us and didn't have a great reputation when he arrived. As a player of the same sort of age as Murty he is certainly not the answer for us. We don't seem to need his premiership experience so I think it would be best for everyone if he moved on in the window.

[Gav]

Mother Teresa also did a great deal of voluntary work, but I wouldn't want her at right back.

She hasn't conceded at Upton Park either, mind.

[Alan Partridge]

He may not be worthy of a place in the RFC starting line-up but that doesn't make him worthy of the abuse he's been getting thus far in this thread!

Eh? None of the abuse has been about him as a person; it has been about him as a footballer.

Mother Teresa also did a great deal of voluntary work, but I wouldn't want her at right back.

I dunno, she probably would move quicker than John Halls.

[Gav]

He may not be worthy of a place in the RFC starting line-up but that doesn't make him worthy of the abuse he's been getting thus far in this thread!

Eh? None of the abuse has been about him as a person; it has been about him as a footballer.

Mother Teresa also did a great deal of voluntary work, but I wouldn't want her at right back.

I dunno, she probably would move quicker than John Halls.

'quickest feet in the team'

[Coppelled Streets]

Get him off the wage bill!

[Platypuss]

He may not be worthy of a place in the RFC starting line-up but that doesn't make him worthy of the abuse he's been getting thus far in this thread!

Eh? None of the abuse has been about him as a person; it has been about him as a footballer.

Mother Teresa also did a great deal of voluntary work, but I wouldn't want her at right back.

I dunno, she probably would move quicker than John Halls.

'quickest feet in the team'

Shame they are both left ones.

[Gav]

He may not be worthy of a place in the RFC starting line-up but that doesn't make him worthy of the abuse he's been getting thus far in this thread!

Eh? None of the abuse has been about him as a person; it has been about him as a footballer.

Mother Teresa also did a great deal of voluntary work, but I wouldn't want her at right back.

I dunno, she probably would move quicker than John Halls.

'quickest feet in the team'

Shame they are both left ones.

I just assumed they were prosthetic