Season › 2012-13 › News Jagielka will benefit from Terry decision Lyndon Lloyd , 5 October, 4comments | Jump to most recent Blues ace in 'pole position' to replace veteran defender Phil Neville believes that teammate Phil Jagielka could benefit most from John Terry's recent decision to retire from international football, particularly in partnership with Joleon Lescott. The pair played together in the centre of Everton's defence before Lescott moved on Manchester City and the Everton skipper says that they make perhaps the best pairing for the England national team. “I certainly see no reason why it can't be [Jagielka] who takes the position on a permanent basis," says Neville. "There is a growing maturity to his play. I think he feels more settled in an England shirt and at home there. “There is him, Gary Cahill, and Joleon Lescott. The good thing for Jags is that the partnership him and Joleon had at Everton bodes well on the international stage because they know each other so well. “If you're looking for a partnership, and at centre back it's more about the right partnership and not individuals," Neville says, " then Jagielka and Lescott is probably the best we've got. “One is a left footer and one is a right footer. They're friends and have played together so often over the years that they have an almost telepathic understanding. Competition for places for the Three Lions might ease a little in the coming year, too, with manager Roy Hodgson hinting recently that Rio Ferdinand could also be coming to the end of his international career. Quotes or other material sourced from Liverpool Echo Reader Comments (4) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Doug Hast 1 Posted 05/10/2012 at 18:30:58 I imagine Baines will also benefit from Ashley Coles admitting that he lied to the FA regarding the John Terry fiasco, it really does go to show that some footballers are either thick or arrogant, that they think they can say and do whatever they want I hope he's banned for life from ever playing football in this country. Bobby Thomas 3 Posted 06/10/2012 at 11:01:23 Long term England will be better going the Smalling/Jones/Cahill route. In terms of being an experienced Prem footballer&being picked for the squad maybe the Jag may have first dart at it as would Lescott, having just played the Euros. Although I don't think long term they are a top level international players, very, very good domestic footballers that they are.My guess is as soon as Smalling gets football down him he will be in, he was looking good before his injury, young, developing and is the future. Cahill plays for Chelsea and was picked ahead of the Jag for the Euros. before he broke his jaw. Jones seems injury prone at the minute, but is clearly a player.These players are the future. One thing the Terry saga has done is.....England a favour. Ran like he was in quicksand, forced us to defend too deep and thankfully fucked off, we can start again and get a new partnership.Good for the Jags confidence he's being talked up though, which is probably the idea. Bobby Thomas 4 Posted 06/10/2012 at 11:01:23 Long term England will be better going the Smalling/Jones/Cahill route. In terms of being an experienced Prem footballer&being picked for the squad maybe the Jag may have first dart at it as would Lescott, having just played the Euros. Although I don't think long term they are a top level international players, very, very good domestic footballers that they are.My guess is as soon as Smalling gets football down him he will be in, he was looking good before his injury, young, developing and is the future. Cahill plays for Chelsea and was picked ahead of the Jag for the Euros. before he broke his jaw. Jones seems injury prone at the minute, but is clearly a player.These players are the future. One thing the Terry saga has done is.....England a favour. Ran like he was in quicksand, forced us to defend too deep and thankfully fucked off, we can start again and get a new partnership.Good for the Jags confidence he's being talked up though, which is probably the idea. Mike Powell 5 Posted 07/10/2012 at 14:13:16 Who cares about England? I am only interested in Baines and Jags playing well for the Blues. I and many others do not give a shit about England. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads