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McGhee: Kazim-Richards had to go
By Brian Owen
Comment
Former Albion manager Mark McGhee has insisted the club were right to sell a future European Championship semi-finalist.
Colin Kazim-Richards, who was bought with money won by an Albion fan organised by League sponsors Coca-Cola, is expected to feature for Turkey in the last four of Euro 2008 as they take on Germany on Wednesday evening.
Less than two years ago he was playing for newly-relegated Albion in League One under McGhee's management. McGhee only used him as a substitute for the opening day win at Rotherham and then took him off in the closing stages before offloading him to Sheffield United.
advertisementNow, as fans watch the Euro action on TV and wonder about the one who got away, the current Motherwell manager said: "Colin Kazim-Richards made it impossible for us to keep him.
"We brought him to Brighton because he had potential but he was impossible to work with.
"I can't say anything positive about the boy apart from he had potential and he has still got potential. How he is in the Turkey team I don't know but their manager has taken them to the last four so he knows what he's doing."
Kazim-Richards, 21, has played in the Premier League, Turkish top flight and Champions' League since leaving Withdean.
McGhee has watched Euro 2008 closely but does not believe his former player has shown dramatic signs of improvement since his Albion days.
He added: "I expected more. I expected to see him run past people.
"He has followed team instructions. He has passed the ball off to the full-back or laid it off inside.
"I've never seen him pass the ball more than ten yards."
Despite his criticism of Kazim-Richards, however, McGhee says he would love to see Turkey win the competition.
He added: "I would be happy for them to win it because they are the underdogs.
"I compare what they are doing to what Scotland would have aspired to if they had got to the finals."
Kazim-Richards, meanwhile, has defended his decision to walk out on the club.
Kazim-Richards, who was subsequently sold to Premiership side Sheffield United for £150,000 and then Turkish champions Fenerbahce for £1.275million, believes his decision to move on was vindicated.
He said: "I wanted to play in tournaments like this. Without meaning any disrespect I didn't want to play in League One and League Two.
"I wanted to play against the best and now I've capitalised on my chances and my opportunities. Now I'm playing here. It's incredible - what a journey."
Kazim-Richards, who scored six goals in 43 League appearances for Albion, believes he has an extra incentive to beat the Germans and claim a place in Sunday's final.
He said: "It's not only because I'm Turkish. I'm English as well so to play the Germans is incredible.
"If we beat them it's a party too for England. I hope we can beat them, anything is possible as we have shown."
Was Mark McGhee right or wrong to sell Colin Kazim-Richards when he did? Let us know your thoughts.
11:25pm today
By Brian Owen
Comment
Former Albion manager Mark McGhee has insisted the club were right to sell a future European Championship semi-finalist.
Colin Kazim-Richards, who was bought with money won by an Albion fan organised by League sponsors Coca-Cola, is expected to feature for Turkey in the last four of Euro 2008 as they take on Germany on Wednesday evening.
Less than two years ago he was playing for newly-relegated Albion in League One under McGhee's management. McGhee only used him as a substitute for the opening day win at Rotherham and then took him off in the closing stages before offloading him to Sheffield United.
advertisementNow, as fans watch the Euro action on TV and wonder about the one who got away, the current Motherwell manager said: "Colin Kazim-Richards made it impossible for us to keep him.
"We brought him to Brighton because he had potential but he was impossible to work with.
"I can't say anything positive about the boy apart from he had potential and he has still got potential. How he is in the Turkey team I don't know but their manager has taken them to the last four so he knows what he's doing."
Kazim-Richards, 21, has played in the Premier League, Turkish top flight and Champions' League since leaving Withdean.
McGhee has watched Euro 2008 closely but does not believe his former player has shown dramatic signs of improvement since his Albion days.
He added: "I expected more. I expected to see him run past people.
"He has followed team instructions. He has passed the ball off to the full-back or laid it off inside.
"I've never seen him pass the ball more than ten yards."
Despite his criticism of Kazim-Richards, however, McGhee says he would love to see Turkey win the competition.
He added: "I would be happy for them to win it because they are the underdogs.
"I compare what they are doing to what Scotland would have aspired to if they had got to the finals."
Kazim-Richards, meanwhile, has defended his decision to walk out on the club.
Kazim-Richards, who was subsequently sold to Premiership side Sheffield United for £150,000 and then Turkish champions Fenerbahce for £1.275million, believes his decision to move on was vindicated.
He said: "I wanted to play in tournaments like this. Without meaning any disrespect I didn't want to play in League One and League Two.
"I wanted to play against the best and now I've capitalised on my chances and my opportunities. Now I'm playing here. It's incredible - what a journey."
Kazim-Richards, who scored six goals in 43 League appearances for Albion, believes he has an extra incentive to beat the Germans and claim a place in Sunday's final.
He said: "It's not only because I'm Turkish. I'm English as well so to play the Germans is incredible.
"If we beat them it's a party too for England. I hope we can beat them, anything is possible as we have shown."
Was Mark McGhee right or wrong to sell Colin Kazim-Richards when he did? Let us know your thoughts.
11:25pm today
