ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

International Everton

The late call-up of Joleon Lescott to the England squad means that he has every chance of becoming Everton`s twelfth current International. I am reliably informed by a local journalist that this is almost certainly the highest number in Everton`s history and speaks volumns for how far the Club has progressed under David Moyes. Of course, we have always had a smattering of Internationals of other countries but not since the World Cup of 1970 has there been such a representation of Everton players in the England camp.

Whilst there are those who see International matches as an inconvenience in a busy domestic season, it does demonstrate irrevocably that we are now one of the `big players` in the Premiership and a club which attracts the attention of managers on a global scale. Long may it continue.
Richard Dodd, Formby Posted 06/09/2007 at 13:29:28

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Nick Entwistle
1 Posted 06/09/2007 at 15:35:49

I get the impression that a loss to Man Utd wil see an end to these grandiose mailings and a return to the other extreme... back and forth back and forth. ’Big players’ my arse.

Harvey Shearer
2 Posted 06/09/2007 at 16:08:37

Sure we had more England players in "Mexico ’86". Links, Reidy, Tricky, Shaggy and Brace come to mind. Could be wrong, but I’m normally not!

Dave OBrien
3 Posted 06/09/2007 at 16:39:45

What demonstrates that we are so called ’big players’ is what happens on the pitch end of. We could sign 5 Iraqi players and have another 5 international players - big deal.. Urm Idan Tal! You’ll see him this weekend when the other internationals meet for a must win game.

Stuart Mitchell
4 Posted 06/09/2007 at 16:46:53

I hope Lescott gets a start along with AJ.

Nick lets not talk about losing to Man U, got every chance of taking 3pts off them.

Andrew Gaule
5 Posted 06/09/2007 at 16:59:39

The pleasing thing about Lescott is that Everton didn’t buy him as an international player...he grew into an international player because of Everton.

Chris Jones
6 Posted 06/09/2007 at 18:42:20

The point is that in 1986 you might’ve expected to see Linaker, Reid, Steven and Stevens in England’s starting line-up on a regular basis. That can’t yet be said for AJ or Joleon and is no longer the case with Phil Neville (if ever it was). So, let’s not get too excited just yet eh ;o)

Dave lynch
7 Posted 06/09/2007 at 20:14:08

How exactly are we big players ?
We do not possess any "real" world class players.
I don’t see the Ronaldo’s, Drogba’s, Deco’s or for that matter any. "World Class" players busting a gut to sign for us.
If Man Utd where in for Requelme, do you think he would have dithered.
Doddy. My deluded friend. We buy on the cheap. We are not a rich club and don’t attract the world class players.
Look at the price of our record signing and then look at what the so called big 4 pay.
For that matter, Spurs, Boro, Bar codes. The list goes on.
Football is money driven and we ain’t got none buddy.
11.5 million is peanuts for player these days.

Tony Horne
8 Posted 06/09/2007 at 21:29:46

Bracewell was a notable omission from Bobby Robson’s Mexico World Cup Squad. He opted for the greater "versatility" of Gary Stevens of Tottenham (beggared belief as much then as now). Indeed if it hadn’t been for Bryan Robson’s dodgy shoulder and Ray Wilkins getting sent off and suspended for throwing a ball at a ref Reidy and Tricky might not have got a kick.

It was the reason I finally lost all interest in International football. Hurry up and stop poncing about so we can back to the real thing. Who’se up next, Man U?

Peter Fearon
9 Posted 06/09/2007 at 21:29:20

The number of internationsals in a squad was once an indicator of quality but that?s not the case any more, frankly. Most non-EU players have to be capped to get work permits so most foreign players available in the Premiership were capped for someone even if it?s just Tristan da Cunha. Faddy is capped regularly for Scotland and hardly gets off the bench for Everton. I?m happy for Joleon Lescott, but his selection says more about the situation England is in than the one we are in. International caps generally, especially England caps, have been grossly devalued as the choices facing England managers diminish. Look how few English Premiership players are actualy avilable for each position on the field. You wonder sometimes how they field a squad. Hats off to Anichebe, by the way, for telling McLaren where to go.

Allan Hobbs
10 Posted 06/09/2007 at 21:42:35

Richard didn’t say England players, he said Internationals.

Loads of replies on here lately appear to be from people not properly reading the original post that they’re replying to.

He’s absolutely right, we’ve never had so many Internationals in our team and its also indicative of how well we’re doing, and how well David Moyes is doing. We have a great young manager, an opinion backed up by everyone I ever speak to about him, even Kopites.

I’m continually astounded by people who criticise DM, he’s easily the best manager we’ve had since Kendall first time round, and in many ways a better manager.

You have to remember football is a very different game from when HK was in charge, and events of the pitch are as different now as its possible to be.

Tony Fryer
11 Posted 06/09/2007 at 22:18:28

Allan, Richard wrote
"not since the World Cup of 1970 has there been such a representation of Everton players in the England camp."
While it was true that he did start talking about Internationals in general it was still valid to bring him up on his 1980’s omission (and no one was doing it in a nasty way)

Mark Pendleton
12 Posted 06/09/2007 at 22:32:33

I must admit that in reply to Dave Lynch’s post the way that we buy players actually gives me alot of satisfaction. I like the Lescott’s, Cahill’s and Arteta’s coming to the club then elevating their status and getting the praise. Especially when they then go on to sign extended contracts!!

Dave Lynch
13 Posted 06/09/2007 at 22:42:36

Mark.
I too like the way we do buisness.
I will not go with Doddys statement that we are.
"Irevocably big players."
That is just not true.
But there has to come a time when, if we want to become big players investment is going to have to be found.

Patty Melia
14 Posted 06/09/2007 at 22:48:31

One more international would do me, a Spanish one.

Allan Hobbs
15 Posted 07/09/2007 at 14:43:36

Tony - you’re right, Richard kind of gets a bit lost halfway through the original post, which makes for confusing reading!

John Nelson
16 Posted 07/09/2007 at 14:32:17

Why are some people so negative all the time?

How the fuck can having 12 internationals in your squad be a bad thing? The way some people go on they make it sound as if it is! Fucking madness!

I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion but this is FACT - the squad we have now is the best we’ve had since the late 80s - and this is mostly due to, and even though I have criticised them in the past, David Moyes’ nouse in the transfer market and Bill Kenwright giving him the necessary funds.

People may go on all they like about missing out on players, "Dithering Dave" etc. but bollocks to all that - I for one am more than happy with the squad we’ve got now. We are definately more than capable of finishing in the top 4.

Come on you blues.

Harvey Shearer
17 Posted 07/09/2007 at 15:32:34

Yeah, c’mon Allan Hobbs...read the original post properly will ya?!!

Allan Hobbs
18 Posted 07/09/2007 at 16:47:45

I did Harvey Shearer, at first he talks about Internationals, then halfway through it turns into a post about England players.

I was confused.

Sorry.

Are you related to Harry and/or Alan?

Nick Wall
19 Posted 08/09/2007 at 08:38:31

Why is noone mentioning the most successful international player on our books : Nuno Valente, who played in a World Cup semi-final only last year.