ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

England Squad

I see that as well as there being no room for Arteta in the Spain squad there is also no room for Lescott in the England squad. This is despite there being room for Wes Brown and Steven Taylor. He can play centre back and left back and has been consistent from the moment he put on a blue shirt. I shouldn?t be surprised as McClaren is a nutsack anyway.
Stan Sheppard, Lisburn Posted 17/08/2007 at 15:21:57

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Steve Hopkins
1 Posted 17/08/2007 at 15:11:42

So Lescott misses out on the England squad but Newcastle's Steven Taylor makes it in... go figure. McClaren what are you smoking??

Chris Marston
2 Posted 17/08/2007 at 15:53:36

How on earth can McLaren keep on overlooking Lescott??? The Germany FRIENDLY is an ideal opportunity to see what the no fear Joleon can do, but what does McLaren go and do? He goes and recalls an ageing weak in the head Sol Campbell (Not that I'd call him that to his face!) Lescott has been immense for the first 2 games and also for the majority of last season. There is definitley an anti Everton feel amongst the FA despite Nevilles and AJ's call ups. What do you all reckon?

Neil Pearse
3 Posted 17/08/2007 at 17:54:24

I don’t think McLaren is anti-Everton, he’s just a crap manager. Now that’s something we can all agree on!

John T
4 Posted 17/08/2007 at 18:09:34

Shame for the players I know, but better for us, keep them fit to play for the blues

paul price
5 Posted 17/08/2007 at 19:02:27

well heres an interesting fact i found out yesterday. From January 5th 2008 Arteta will be eligable to play for England. How good would that be ?

Lee Mather
6 Posted 17/08/2007 at 19:24:28

Arteta for England? I remember all the talk of him supposedly leaving for a better "shop window" to get in the Spain team a while ago.

If that talk re-surfaces after he’s been passed over again the guy can have MY passport and play for England if it’ll keep him at Everton...

As an intersting point Carlo Cudichi is also elligible for an England Call-up. Far better than Robinson

Scott Robinson
7 Posted 17/08/2007 at 20:21:28

The reason Lescott is not playing is simple: Mclaren’s job is on the line if England doesnt qualify for Euro 2008 and its the business end of the season so far as qualification goes. When he came into the job, he wanted a clean slate, got rid of the dead wood and replaced with them fresh blood. Unfortunately the new team hasnt quite cut it (what does that say about the depth of English football?) so he’s gone back to the tried and tested. The ones he knows are going to do the job for him, after an extended period of absence. Lescott will have his time, not just now.

I don’t think its fair to hack on about Mclaren being a crap manager. He’s proved himself at Boro (and while they never cracked the big time, they did at least have a few cup runs and did well in UEFA), being the English manager must be the hardest job of all: Too many Egos, too little time with the players and too much national pressure and intrusion. In all, a recipe for failure.

Dutch Schaffaer
8 Posted 17/08/2007 at 21:16:43

Whats worrying is that Lescott is probably asking himself what does he has to do to get into the England squad.

He’ll have looked at Wes Brown and noticed how easily it was for him to get called-up.

It would be a nightmare if Lescott comes to the conclusion that he needs to move to a bigger club to get himself noticed.

Lets face it Everton players have always struggled to get players into the England squad. Alan Stubbs for example has never been called-up, despite being one of the best defenders in the country over the last 10 years.

If Lescott played for Man Utd he would have been called-up last season. In fact had the name of the club been Man Utd then Osman, Baines and Jagielka would also probably have been called-up.

Personally I dont give a shit about England but the players clearly dream about playing for their country and I seriously worry that they will start to consider bigger clubs as the only way to get International recognition.

Gray
9 Posted 17/08/2007 at 22:23:07

Why are people so gutted about Lescott being left out the England squad? Personally I am made up, whilst the longer the Spanish Magician remains absent from the their squad the better. Its also a pity Rooney and that mercenary twat Owen are injured or not fully fit as it means there is a good chance AJ will play next Wednesday where as I’d preferably like to see him warming the bench for 90mins along with Skill Neville. Carsley has been left out the Republic squad which is a bonus but the point I am getting at is due to our threadbare squad (which is currently starting to expand with quality signings) we need all our good quality players fit and healthy for Everton Football Club and not running round playing meaningless friendlies for their respective countries lets leave that to the likes of fat franky an co. An by the way who gives a fuck about England anyway ... Up the Toffees.

Dutch Schaffaer
10 Posted 17/08/2007 at 22:52:10

Because the players dream of playing for their countries and if they cant get a call-up playing for Everton they will look for bigger clubs.

Arteta and Lescott forced into joining Chelsea just so they can get the International recognition they crave is a very scary possibility.

Also top quality players may look at Everton and see Arteta being continusly ignored by Spain and get the idea that playing for Everton offers you no chance of International call-ups. That will put players off joining Everton.

Imagine if Fernandes is desperate to play for Portugal, but he sees Arteta/Lescott being ignored, all of a sudden Fernandes is thinking fuck joining Everton I want my country to notice me.

Thats why we worry when our players are ignored.

Gray Beswick
11 Posted 17/08/2007 at 23:11:07

Dutch, Fernandes has signed so that obviously never crossed his mind, Arteta has just signed a 5 yr deal and has never once moaned about not being selected for Spain. We have numerous players representing their respective countries already so I dont get why you are so worried.

I for one don?t worry when our players our ignored, long may it continue.

David Barks
12 Posted 17/08/2007 at 23:43:08

What the hell has gotten into you Dutch. All of a sudden you can’t see anything positive. They are here, the team all get along, just signed contracts with us, we are doing well, will be playing in Europe. I don’t mind at all that they weren’t picked for some friendly, just means they won’t come back injured. Soon the FA will wake up, after England fail to qualify for Euro 2008 and get a manager who knows how to pick a winning team and not just pencil in the same team and hope they learn to play together. When that happens, Lescott will be in the team. As for Arteta and Spain, he’s got some very tough competition in that midfield, but if we continue with our good start and do well in Europe, he will get a look.

Andrew Fitzgerald
13 Posted 18/08/2007 at 00:11:16

I’m angry yet slighty happy at the fact that Joleon has been omitted from the England squad. Happy at the fact that ye won’t face the risk of being injured. However, what is McClaren playing at???? He’s been the best and most consistent defender in the league over the past year. And there you have Wes Brown and Steven Taylor in before him. Wes Brown, only in the Man U squad due to injuries. Taylor, incosistent, dodgy and only played in the U21s. And thats why us, England, as a nation will never achieve anything until we get a manager with vision and ambition.

Dutch Schaffaer
14 Posted 18/08/2007 at 00:12:54

Its just Arteta and Lescott are so good I want them to stay for a long time and be happy at Everton.

How can they be happy if they are continuinly overlooked at International level.

Baines left Wigan claiming one of the reasons was to increase his chance of an England call-up, players do transfer to help their International careers.