Why not Howard Kendall?

I think the FA told Howard Kendall they wanted to interview him for the job. Howard told the FA that, if they didn't already know what his capabilities were, there was little purpose in him attending an interview, or words to that effect.

There was almost certainly more to it than that but the FA traditionally appointed people seen as safe, low-risk options. There also seemed to be a resistance to the appointment of managers with big club experience. With the exception of the two foreign managers, that still applies in the 21st Century.

Alan Ball won a few caps, but he was established after the World Cup.

Howard Kendall never won a cap. Colin Harvey only one.

Even Bob Latchford didn't get that many, but I was probably a bit too young to understand then.

Some wiser people of those eras might be able to comment more knowledgeably than me.

Not that it matters for England now, I'm still surprised they didn't take Branthwaite. His day will come though.

Maybe file under rumour or conspiracy but allegedly Southgate was overheard talking to Man Utd 'connections' (of whom he might have, again allegedly, post Euro expectations from) and the gist was... "Don't select Branthwaite, it will only increase his price for us."

Latchford only got a game 'cos Robson (?) was injured and, when Latchford played, we won; when he didn't, we lost.

I understand what he wanted as he was denied what he would have liked to have achieved with Everton, as were us supporters.

But I won't go there as I'll just sound bitter, but it changed my relationship with the cousins in a footballing sense.

I think you're getting your Everton players and World Cups a bit mixed up there.

England didn't qualify in '74 and '78, when Latchford had his peak years; '82 was Spain and by the time Mexico '86 came along Latchford was finished.

Robson did however reluctantly have to play Reidy in '86 because of injuries to Bryan Robson or Ray Wilkins, I think.

Yes it was Bryan Robson injured in Mexico forcing the manager to play who I thought was Latchford!

So Reid it must have been. Am I right in thinking they won the games Reid played?

Yeah, you are missing something... [Looks over both shoulders…]

Kendall (along with a couple of others) was invited to apply. He declined the invitation. He wasn't even interested in listening to what those awfully nice chaps down at the Football Association had to say. Still, after 30-odd years of "why-the-hell-didnt-he-get-the-job" agonising, the mystery has finally been solved for you.

He didn't want it.

Robson got injured on 38:03 mins with a dislocated shoulder (again). Wilkins now captain. 30 seconds later he was booked for a foul. 3 minutes later, he was blown for offside, picked up the ball and threw the ball at the ref, which was a second yellow equals red and Shilton now captain.

So in 4min 38sec we lost 2 players and 2 captains. Wilkins really was a muppet.

Next match he replaced Wilkins and Robson with Tricky and Reidy and we won 3-0.

Was the Argentina semi-final the last time there were 4 Everton players playing for England?

And what I also found interesting was not one player from them lot in the squad? Were they just stuffed full of foreigners (Rush, Johnson, Molby, Hansen etc.) or were they having a strop with the FA because English clubs had been banned from Europe and they thought it should not apply to them?

I heard from numerous sources that I respect, that Kendall was ‘overlooked' because of his well-documented drink problem.

After seeing him doing an after-dinner ‘Gentleman's evening' with John Bailey and others, it was probably a wise decision.
Talk about your idols having feet of clay…

Rush, Hansen...

It was also a slightly, ever so slightly, tongue in cheek comment.

Stephen, you're right. It was the QF. But was it still the last time there were 4 Everton players in the England team?

Great read and not at all your average footballer's biog. His opinion only of course but he emphasizes the booze culture of the old school players v the new boys, him included of course.

A real eye opener re Kendall's approach actually.

Poor Peter Reid desperately trying to catch up with the then best player in the world and made to look like he was jogging on the spot!

It wasn't just Reid, Maradona calved through several England players as as if they weren't there.

I think had Butcher not been on a yellow, he would have cleaned Maradona out with a 50/50 tackle, but go straight through Maradona.

Peter Shilton said he couldn't believe the audacity of Maradona going around him on that side because he was convinced Terry Fenwich was going to get back if Maradona went past him, but it didn't stop the impudent Argentinian.