Barkley impresses in win over Estonia

Not enough pace, desire and guile from the much superior team.

I pray that he can do justice to his immense gifts because that will be a wonderful thing to see.

And would Everton beat England fairly comfortably?

The lad has it all; impressive physique, can be poetry in motion at times, classy shooting ability with both feet, ability to orchestrate, still likely to improve, and yet I still meet Evertonians who are underwhelmed.

Still cannot understand all the hoopla over Sterling who is really overrated. Apart from his late goal against a tired team, his end product was time and again just woeful; if he doesn't have it now he never will. So Hodgson, listen up: leave him out.

I still think his positional sense in forward areas is still work in progress, and for me I'd like him to develop into a box-to-box Keane/Ballack type of player.

But just think how they would have raved over him had he been an Arsenal player!

How can they talk about the left back slot without a mention of Baines?
How can they pick Bertrand over Galloway?
How can they give Cahill the arm band and a start over Jags?

We have been a solid side up to now this season, Jags has been Immense playing next to kids. Chelsea on the other hand have been awful and Cahill has been embarrassing. It just seems to me that we are completely over-looked at any given chance.

Even Ross Barkley wasn't mentioned in the talk about the goal, you would think Walcott created the opportunity for himself. I can't help but feel that if that pass were provided by Lallana or Milner the whole emphasis would have been on them.

Again, I might sound as though I'm just bitter or something but I think our boys need to be shown more respect.

Oh an Woy is a plant pot.

They scored two goals from that side and Bainesy got slaughtered. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Leighton is a great defensive left back, but the England manager setting the team a little better might have helped.

And yes, it was criminal of Hodgson to pick Cahill ahead of Jags, and make him bloody captain too! His club form has been diabolical this season, while Jags has been awesome in almost every game. Bertrand's selection was a joke, surely.

Yes, it is an anti-Everton thing... Yes, yes, yes. Evertonians should wake up and realize the massive value that biased media coverage does to solidify and perpetuate the vested interests of the stable big four.

The BBC, Sky, the vast majority of the press, including the Liverpool Echo, don't just fawn over the Redshites, Manure, The Arse and Chelski in that order of preference the dislike Man City because they have crashed the party with cash, which is a tad vulgar. However the anti-Everton bias takes it to an unprecedented level. Everton must appoint a media manager who can create an alternative spin.

We have out-performed every other club with our community services; we have (if ever selected) provided an axis of English and British players to counter the influx of overseas imports which, love them or hate them, have undermined the national identity of the English team.

How a MotM performance by Ross can be eschewed in the way done by the pundits is beyond me; it's a bloody disgrace. Rant over... but the battle to increase the awareness of the qualities of Everton FC goes on.

The lad has stepped up to a new level this season. Still makes mistakes but he is seeing passes and executing far better and higher quality moves. Assists and goals to prove it.

I can't help but feel English players are almost forced to leave us to further their international careers. Look at Clyne, he was great at Southampton, moved to the Red Shite, looks a shadow of himself and is an instant first choice. Same for Ings, granted he's done the U21 thing but surly Berahino has proved a better forward and is also better in wide areas.

Back to us, if Gomez across the park had put in Galloway's performances he would have started over Bertrand. Luke Shaw was spoken of in the highest of regards last week by Woy, claiming he would have shown the whole of Europe he was the best left back around in the Championships. Come on, this man is the England manager and he needs me to explain to him that Shaw is not even the best left back in the north west of England.

Baines has a record that is up there with any full back in Europe and almost any winger when it comes to chances created. So if he had moved to Man Utd, I can't help but feel this would not have gone unnoticed, and he would be nailed on to walk straight back into the England team as soon as his injuries permit.

Move back around to Jags: he has a 19-year-old lad at left back, a 21-year-old beside him (until recently when he's had an Argentinian next to him whilst the stamp on his passport was still wet), and recently had a 22-year-old at right back. All that and he has still been England's most consistent defender by a mile. If Stones and Jags were together at one of the so-called top 4 clubs, they would be nailed on for the Championships too.

Lescott too suffered whilst he was at us, competing with Jags for a slot in the squad whilst never standing a chance of playing. Mark Hughes took him for silly money to Man City and all of a sudden he's an international. It stinks to the high heavens of a kind of witch hunt were English players are forced from their clubs who nurtured them to become top players before being made to request transfers to suit the media uprise.

As England manager, Hodgson should be looking to play the best players in their positions AT THE TIME, hence no way should Cahill have appeared in preference to Jags, let alone be given the honour of captaining the team. Ross was MotM in a pretty turgid team performance but even so was apparently only a starter because Carrick was injured.

Hodgson needs to get out and about more often and take notice of what's going in the real world of the Premier League. Baines is far and away the best left back in England, if not in Europe and adds an attacking dimension to the team that none of the others possess.

England will fail as usual at the Euros if Hodgson continues with his policy of picking favourites and players only promoted by media hype, eg, Alle, who nobody had heard of until a few weeks ago. Suddenly he's a full international! Unbelievable...

A huge number of media people are either Man Utd fans or support LFC which means there is very little left for the likes of us, Villa, Newcastle etc... We are an afterthought, a minor irritant, a nuisance in their eyes as they'd much prefer to go on endlessly about their Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs etc.......

As William said, even Manchester City are only grudgingly acknowledged because of their enormous wealth. They are still looked on as gate-crashers by the mainstream media. Like an unpleasant smell they have to put up with.

I remember during the 80s, when Merseyside reigned supreme, the snidey comments of some London-based journos and their gloating whenever the RS beat us. It is something that will never change hence their "suggestions" that our top players should be playing for "bigger clubs" ergo, their favourites.

When the much lauded Bobby Robson was England manager, he waited until November 1985 before bothering to watch Everton, who were Champions, remember, and then only because they were down the road at Ipswich. This was the Everton that saved his skin in Mexico, providing Lineker, Reid, Steven and Stevens who eventually played instead of the likes of sicknote Robson (Bryan) and Ray Wilkins.

Unless there is an Everton player in the side I don't give a flying one about England's football team. Look at last night, Dele Alli has had four Premier League games yet gets a full cap? If he'd played for Stoke or WBA or even us, would he have been in the Stadium carrying the kit, never mind getting a game?

London FC. Says it all.

When he's powered away from his marker and made progress up the pitch, he has to be looking to put the striker through. I think Roy has put pressure on him to score more goals, but in these situations he should be focusing on creating chances and getting assists.

Woy's unmitigated praise for the ineffective Kane and reluctant congratulations for Ross said it all for me. His highest praise came from Hoddle, which means a bit more for me.

That said, Ross was decent and grew into the game – he was demanding the ball a lot and knitting things together over the park. His glimpses of quality and vision raise him above triers like Lallana and Milner for me.

Credit to Walcott who was genuinely delighted that Ross set him up.

Any football discussion programme will spend most of the time, talking about both Manchester clubs and Liverpool and Chelsea and then Arsenal. The other 15 teams barely get a mention, unless they have a potential star player then they trot out the usual rubbish about he needs to move to one of the elite to progress his career.

Funny how the Sterling transfer request was handled compared to the Stones transfer request. Sterling was vilified by many in the press for daring to ask for a move away from Liverpool. I Notice they didn't mention that the lad could be ambitious and didn't want to stay with a club who haven't won the Premier League in 25 years. Yet in the Stones case it was said that Everton were holding him back.

The press is full of people who think they understand the game but don't, they are never held to account weeks or months later when what they had written turned out to be utter bollocks.

I know I have mentioned before but 18 months ago, that self-opinionated Patrick Barkley said that Brendan Rodgers could in his opinion turn out to be Liverpool's best ever manager. I bet the next time he is on Sunday Supplement, nobody will mention it.

The EPL and the media are in a bit of a quandary here. Do they try and continue to protect their big hitters (overseas fans are hugely important to them) and maintain a closed shop at the top? Or, do they encourage the development of the poorer teams (little overseas interest) to the detriment of their chosen few?

The likes of Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea and yes, Liverpool are the teams with huge overseas support so, is it is in their interest to have less marketable teams like Everton challenge their status quo? I don't think so as, at the end of the day, it's all about money and on 'Super Sunday' who would a Chinese businessman at home in Shanghai prefer to watch Everton v WBA or Chelsea v Spurs?

Can we report them if this true??

Today's Guardian has two journos commending Ross for a great display and a wonderful bit of vision and skill.

Townsend has gone, thank God, but the prick on last night was equally dim. As stated above, on the left-back question, you'd have thought that Baines had never existed!

As for Cahill being ahead of Jags! Ridiculous! Hodgson has watched us recently, surely he will have seen that Jags is in good form whilst Cahill is playing in a mess of a defence. Jags should have got the nod and the captaincy.

Brian (#41), I agree with what you say, but I've less of a problem with Paddy Barclay than I have with that Arsenal loving John Cross, who makes me wince when I hear him on the radio. He epitomizes the very worst of the London based journos, who seem to see everything through the prism of the player's ability to play for the likes of the Gooners, Spurs or Chelsea. Cross had the Stones deal pretty much "done and dusted" according to his so-called sources, and warbled on about Stones becoming the natural successor to Terry. Absolute fucking charlatan.

That said, I rather like Everton being a little off the UK media radar. I love to see us stuff the likes of media darlings Chelsea, and it's great to have kinship with our fans all over the world who support our club because they were chosen (whether they know it or not).

Those who come out with "I don't give a toss, I hate Everton players playing for England" are ignoring the fact that those players want to play for their country and if they play well, it boosts their confidence. Ross has already been very good for us this season; watch his performances improve further now.

Every team, Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea...even Liverpool with their ridiculous list of ex-players in commanding media positions - everyone feels that they are badly done to.

Maybe there's some truth in it. Maybe we're just blinkered.

Meanwhile we have Roberto, with no money to spend, etc. Why us eh????

No wonder we have a conspiracy complex.

No-one else in the squad had much experience to get the armband, as Jags, Baines and Rooney were injured. Maybe Hart deserved it.

He will be a great player soon.

Improving all the time, there will be many money outfits on his tail next summer but I'll be hoping he'll stay with his favourite club.

Unfortunately the obsession with the new 'big 4' will always mean players from other teams are ignored or sidelined in the media. But what I think is unacceptable is the way the players themselves in the England team seem to have that hierarchy in the way some are reluctant to pass to others in better positions. I may be biased but I've seen it most recently with Henderson, Sterling and Lallana. That is a condemnation, not just of their character, but of Hodgson in not cracking down on it.

Sterling is grossly overrated. His end product is awful despite all his possession. The old saying ''flatters to deceive'' applies with this guy.

Hodgson's picking of Ings, Shelvey, Henderson and Sterling is questionable and his record as England manager can only be assessed on games against ''real'' opposition and so far that was the World Cup finals in which he failed miserably.

Frankly, I would welcome a new man before the next World Cup.

Why is that?

Strangely, the reverse doesn't seem to be true though. Given Liverpool's current crop of relative mediocre players and the fact that Hodgson was not considered good enough to manage them at club level, why is he picking them when clearly, in the view of many, there are better England players in those positions plying their trade at other clubs?

I'm afraid the media and in particular the BBC, has over recent years moved much further away from independent reporting and instead prefers to cater for the masses of people who need to be told what opinions to have. It's futile blaming the media for the situation, they are simply making the most opportunity out of a sterilised society becoming increasingly incapable of thinking for itself.

It happens in all aspects of life, not just football. Business is another classic example, particularly on TV, where the main broadcasters will only deal with stories that involve Tescos, M&S or other household brand names. In other words, it's not the importance of the story that counts but whether the masses will be interested.

I think we need to appreciate the reality of the situation; by continually moaning about the media, we will just get tagged as the fan base with a chip on its shoulder. Let's rise above it, watch and read the shit with a wry smile, there's absolutely no point complaining about it as it's market forces.

As for the rumours, I would be surprised if Roberto is not sitting down with all our young ones in the summer to get them on extended contracts.

Out of Stones and Barkley, I would lose John before Ross as I feel he is going to be our Gerrard in a few seasons. I also think of the two young players, he will be the most likely to stay.

I did like the Special Needs One comment it made me laugh.

On to 3 points against Man Utd now, please!

I think you are spot on about Hoddle who I consider to be by far the best technical summariser. He was a wonderful player to watch and I am sure he sympathises with Ross and his kind.

I also think Hoddle produced a good England side when he was manager and they were unfortunate in '98 of course.

I've just been watching the rugby and it left me wondering... When did refs in football lose control of the game and become scared of players?

If the rugby has done anything, it has shown up Premier League football as being full of petulant cheating little cry-babies, including England. (Tenuous link to the thread!)

I think that Woy "apart from his bias towards the Sky 5" is totally boring. I just can't listen to the prick for more than a minute.

I for one have lost interest in the national side since that goon took over.

You don't think you go on any fans' website and hear the same things? The media encompasses all sorts of opinions and, to me, claiming bias is just victim mentality. The BBC's chief sport writer is an Evertonian.

As for Ross, I thought he had a good game and he has improved massively this season. I had to laugh at Hodgson's interview where he was claiming it was his coaching input had caused the improvement. Fucking delusional.

Totally agree. Nothing gets me mad more than refs' decisions being challenged by all, and players not immediately moving back 10 yards on a free kick - encroach in rugby and the ball is moved forward 10 yards straight away. Something we should have in football – a no-brainer.

I have just seen that the shithouse manager has had another go at the best player on the pitch, Ross Barkley, once again. I sincerely hope that Roberto Martinez refuses to allow any Everton players to play for England as long as that inept but harmful whiskey faced bum remains manager.

Very informative.

As for the mainstream media, stopped reading all outlets (on a regular basis) when after the 2-2 Derby, when a report stated that when rat boy had just deliberately stamped on KM, reported that he had "turned his own ankle" and barely mentioned the rake down Distin's calf.

Graham, do you come on here for arguments sake?

Andy Walker summed it well (even though he contradicted himself with the first and last sentences of the first paragraph).

I'm old enough to remember our national team performances in 1970 and, except for a few isolated games in 1986 and 1998; England has never failed to disappoint.

Statement retracted.

"Graham, do you come on here for arguments sake?"

Yes, especially when I see week arguments.

Fair enough, question answered. But would you care to elaborate?

I personally feel it's the reasons Andy Walker expertly stated in his post. The link I posted kind of explains a few things too, much to the same degree.

I agree with much of what Andy Waler posted. If you think the media don't have an agenda or are not in the business of making money, you would have to be deluded.

But really why would the media have an anti-Everton agenda? And I agree again with Andy; if you get into this victim mentality it you just look like you have a chip on your shoulder.

Well Liverpool have just appointed a manager who openly talks about his religion. Can someone ask him what he thinks will happen to us non-believers?

Can we only have CofE managers?

Clough was too dangerous, and Harry too dodgy, and Glen too way-out.

I do like Glen though... he usually makes sense and knows his stuff. It is crazy that his talents are not being utilised in management.

There seems to be a penchant for foreign managers across the Premier League, to the detriment of British coaches. Just like with our homegrown players.

It's happened too many times for it to be coincidence alone and it can only be for commercial reasons despite the BBC not being a commercial outlet. However, the makers of the programmes are most definitely commercial enterprises and Everton not having the money or possibly the inclination to complain are marginalised on a regular basis.

It might seem unimportant but wait until January when the media will be trying to sell our stars such as Galloway, Barkley and Stones.

When asked about the Everton side of things, the very experienced and likeable John Dillon of the London Evening Standard teetered like a lost soul in an alien landscape.

After touching on managers needing more time than ever, he described how Martinez has recovered from the defensive frailties of last season and, apart from the West Brom goals, Everton are now strong at the back "with Lukaku very exciting and the other striker very exciting (probably Deulofeu) and it's..." He was then momentarily stuck for words.

With a big intake of breath, a puffing of the cheeks and a rolling of the head, he tried his best to be truthful. "Whenever you talk about Everton, it always sounds as if your damning them with faint praise... and you're patting them on the head... and I don't mean it in that way at all. I think the manager is doing a great job and..."

"However," mutters the mischievous journo to his left with giggles in the background.

"But obviously", continued a struggling Mr Dillon, "it will always be Liverpool who dominate the attention of the rest of the world focussed on that city... because they've won the European Cup 5 times."

So there you go. They all know we don't get a look in. We're not world news and we don't sell papers or increase the viewing figures. Personally, I couldn't care less.

Roll on the Manunited game. At least Roberto is not afraid to go for the win against the Red Devils.

Then there's the tapping up that goes on between the payers. "Hey John, what are you getting a week? Jesus is that all? Jose pays us double that – and we get a happy ending in the showers from Diego after the match."

They've already started. According the the red tops Galloway is off to Manure and Chelski will be back for Stones come January. I'm sure they'll also have Barkley and Lukaku off to pastures new in the coming weeks. It's the curse we carry for having so many good young players.

RM has already shown he won't budge on transfers and I have no doubt that all our top players will be still at the club come the end of the season. Of course that won't stop the speculation. The journos have column inches to fill. C'est la vie.

Price we have to pay for having so many promising players. We just have to get used to it. These journos get all sort of perks for doing the bidding of certain clubs. It won't stop.

Everton should slap £40m price tags on all of our young stars now. If anyone's interested this is the starting price full stop.

I think RM can also use his Spanish connections to recruit the next Del boys who are surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu and get some Spanish friends in for young Gerry, maybe SR.

If a bid comes in and he goes, I may have (sort of) had a hand in him leaving (so might some of youze).

Why?

How?

Well when it was mooted that Rooney might return for Duncan's testimonial, I (along with others) stated on TW that the time for venom and vitriol was long gone.

However I've just realised that my/our civilised reaction may just make it a little easier for good local lads (Evertonians) to move on in the future.

A 100% insanely angry, slavering mad-dog, dribbling and spitting lunatic reaction to Rooney from all of us, would most likely make a young player (the object of a bid) think "Fuck me, I don't fancy that!"

However my/our reaction to Rooney's return would be more likely to make him think "Well they'll be pissed off at first but... I'll be forgiven."

Can't believe this didn't occur to me before now.

And Ross, just in case you're reading this:

NEXT TIME THAT FAT LITTLE GRANNY SHAGGER SHOWS HIS SHREK GRID AT GOODISON, I WON'T BE FUCKING RESPONSIBLE FOR MY ACTIONS, THE BADGE-KISSIN' TWAT!!!

(I know, I know... horse, stable-door etc.)

Ross on the other hand is a different kettle of fish but once again if a huge offer comes in for him then I hope it would be a top European team. I'm hoping he would like to be an Everton captain and legend for years to come, unlike Mr Rooney.

2. I don't want our best players to go to any other clubs, and certainly not English clubs.

3. I think Stones is a class above Galloway and Browning - to lose Stones is not something we can ever make up as we would never spend enough money on an equivalent player.

4. Counterpoints: could we improve midfield by selling Stones, and could we replace Stones with Galloway / Browning? And does selling Stones mean that we can keep Coleman longer?

All decisions the manager has to make, but right now, we're in a good position to finish 3rd or 4th (4th may not be a CL spot this year however!) ... if we can start converting our play into game winning goals (which is where another top quality striker would be useful).

I would like to see us keep Stones and Barkley two more years, and bring a couple of fresh midfield players in to supplement McCarthy/Barry and ultimately replace Barry, and a top quality young keeper like Butland (giving us the potential of an England back 5 ...).

We might actually win something - Ross has something we've not seen in an Everton shirt for a while, he's got match winning quality at the very highest level.

Unfortunately I can't see us being able to hold on to Stones in the long run.

I am amazed we are playing at 3.00pm on Saturday maybe Sky don't want to show Manure being turned over by us again.

I also think we should be handing out congratulations to our own Bryan Oviedo, who made his international comeback for Costa Rica and played the full 90 minutes. It's sad that nobody has taken the time to fully. acknowledge a great comeback from a horrific injury. Well done, Bryan. Let's hope Roberto begins to utilise his skills as the season progresses, giving us further strength in depth in defence and midfield.

As already mentioned, only Hoddle will give him any credit. It is a total disgrace especially as the 'manager' seems to have it in for him still too.

Sterling is total rubbish too: loses it all the time but they never mention that. Apparently he's always 'unlucky' when he gives away possession... and it's true, he NEVER passes to Ross – for the manager to let that go on game after game is shocking. Ross should smack him round the chops next time he doesn't play him in.