ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Mikky called up at last?

OK, so this is only a rumor, but...

Yesterday on Radio Marca they were talking about Mikel Arteta being called up by Spanish national coach Vicente del Bosque for the upcoming friendly against England. Obviously they couldn't say 100% but they sounded pretty upbeat about it.

Will he finally get the recognition he deserves? I guess we'll find out on Friday.
Paul Whelan, Madrid, Spain Posted 03/02/2009 at 06:12:27

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Franny Porter
1 Posted 03/02/2009 at 16:03:55

Don't want to sound too pessimistic but he?ll either get one cap and never be called up again, thus ruling him out of ever playing for England, which has been mooted. Or alternatively, he?ll become a squad regular, get tapped up and fuck us off.

Fuck, I'm miserable today...

Brian Waring
2 Posted 03/02/2009 at 16:32:06

On current form he would deserve a call up. In the past though, he has always had better players ahead of him in the Spanish midfield.

James Marshall
3 Posted 03/02/2009 at 16:45:21

Fabregas is injured.

Just a thought.

Damian Scott
4 Posted 03/02/2009 at 16:58:08

He said he wouldn’t play for England, he only wanted to play for Spain...

There is always the chance that your best players shine when playing for their nation and get ’tapped up’...

We have to work hard at keeping our best players. I don’t think Arteta would leave us at the moment.

Another 4 years in England I would guess and then back to Spain to see out his career as he has mentioned in the past..

Ajay Timothy
5 Posted 03/02/2009 at 17:14:36

Hopefully this spurs him on to play well against Alonso in the middle of the park.

Mixed feelings about our players getting international call-ups especially after what happened with Barmby and Rooney.

Graham Eaves
6 Posted 03/02/2009 at 17:20:05

Was chatting to Spanish fella in a bar the other night, Barcelona fan. I brought up Arteta and he said he was surprised that he’s not been called up yet as everybody in Spain thinks he’s worthy of a call. He also said that the press have put him in a good light lately so he thinks it’ll only be a matter of time - he also said that Everton play very good football! :-)

Connor Rohrer
7 Posted 03/02/2009 at 17:28:00

Guillem Balague has been saying for years that he’d be his chance once Aragones left, hopefully that’s under Del Bosque.

He’s not good enough for the first eleven but he’s certainly got the ability to be in and around the squad. His form has been excellent and he also offers versatility, workrate and tenacity.

Nick Xenos
8 Posted 03/02/2009 at 19:05:06

I think it would do his confidence a world of good if he got selected. Fingers crossed he gets the call up as it’s something his wanted for a while.

Scott Milne
9 Posted 03/02/2009 at 19:06:36

Firstly, we’re in the top 6 of the most widely viewed, probably best league in the world - why are people worried about him being noticed if he plays well for Spain?!... It’s not like Arteta’s some kind of secret that any club that could afford him doesn’t already know about....

Secondly, I think he should get the call up, or he’ll leave looking for football in Spain so that he gets one.

With injuries to Cesc as well as De La Red, Capi and Guti, this is his best chance - Plus, playing England, would make sense to me to pick the guy that’s played in the country the longest.

Jim Slade
10 Posted 03/02/2009 at 19:19:32

It's about bloddy time though in fairness, it's a long time overdue. Then hopefully that doesn't mean he gets eyed up by some Spanish clubs. You know what happens when the players get National call ups and other players start their jawing...

Remember Barmby and Rooney! My bro lived in Salamanca for a year just gone and they had a photo of Mickey up in a pub there, they were all footie mad... mostly Real fans and they all rated him highly.

Brian Waring
11 Posted 03/02/2009 at 19:24:25

Graham, "He also said that Everton play very good football." So you met him in a bar then Graham, he must have had a good session on the piss when you got talking to him!

Anthony Jaras
12 Posted 03/02/2009 at 21:02:08

I don’t want any of our players in their respective international sides.

Injuries are one risk and the other is advertising our top players to other top sides.

It happened with Barmby, Keown, Ball & Rooney and it can happen again.

Keith Glazzard
13 Posted 03/02/2009 at 21:25:07

We are a million miles away from when Barmby and Rooney were easy tap-up targets. And Mikel is as many miles away from them in terms of character. A call-up would make him ? and his team mates ? very happy. He deserves it.

Jason Broome
14 Posted 03/02/2009 at 22:09:41

Some of you lot are plain selfish. Where is the loyalty to Mikel?

Good on him if he finally gets the recognition which we know he deserves. It is his dream and I would be honoured to watch him play in his home colours.

It is a testament to Mikel & Everton that he could force his way into a European Championship winning squad before the World Cup.

On the grandest stage of them all, I hope he finally proves that he is world-class, and as good as Fabregas (IMHO)!

Marco Bonfiglio
15 Posted 03/02/2009 at 23:01:39

This one’s always a double edged sword. With all due respect to Bobby Mimms, who had to fill in for Big Nev when he put his foot into a Landsdowne Road pothole in 1986 ... the stats don’t weigh up, because Mimms didn’t drop any clangers, but emotionally, the loss of the double that year will always be put down to the loss of our big Welsh talisman.

Similarly, I and Bonfiglio Senior will always put the loss of Barmby and Rooney down to England dressing-room muttering, not to mention Abel Xavier, but ... of those three, who have we missed?

If El Brujito was going to leave us, he would have gone by now - he spends his downtime, according to various interviews, with the Liverpool Spanish contingent. He’s been linked with Liverpool, United. Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona. He’s still here. He signed his contract, and appears to be a man of principle. For the first time in God knows how long, I’m looking forward to an Everton player getting a cap for his country.

I just hope that next time Lescott and Jags turn up for England, they have wax in their ears.

Marco Bonfiglio
16 Posted 03/02/2009 at 23:23:23

Actually, while I’m into the Bushmills, and while we’re on a good defensive run, and while Jagielka puts it down to communication, and while Capello seems to be in attendence at all our games, am I really soused if I suggest that Signor Capello try an all-Everton back four just once? Admittedly we can’t supply a goalkeeper, but at least they’ll all speak a language that James/Carson/...er whoever can understand.

Sean Patton
17 Posted 03/02/2009 at 23:57:14

Arteta will need to be at his best if we are to go through in the Cup. I am going for Fellaini to rise above everyone and power home the winner a la Big Dunc 1994

Jason Lam
18 Posted 04/02/2009 at 01:11:09

Mikel deserves a call! I wish him the best of luck.

Andrew Callan
19 Posted 04/02/2009 at 15:00:33

If he has and he gets a game, he’ll be playing back in the warmth of Spain in no time at all....