Leighton Baines - representing Everton on the national stage

[kenada_blue]

The press seemed to like his debut. Best quote I read was that Capello would find great encouragement in the fact that he stuck to his job and didnt try to over impress....he did what he was told but has the tools in his locker to do more.

He'll be going the World Cup.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

It was very mixed to be honest, people like Martin Samuel and Henry Winter criticised his performance. He was supposedly 'nervous', 'shaky and 'poor' in there eyes. It's sad that these people are paid to talk about a game they struggle to analyse and understand.

 

[kenada_blue]

It was very mixed to be honest, people like Martin Samuel and Henry Winter criticised his performance. He was supposedly 'nervous', 'shaky and 'poor' in there eyes. It's sad that these people are paid to talk about a game they struggle to analyse and understand.

A large percentage have him basically going on the plane to South Africa in terms of....who else is there? Especially being that his debut was solid enough. They werent flipping over him but that has something to do with what you say.

I do find it funny that these sports writers must have the easiest job in the world. Watch a few games, make a comment, people take it on board.

I said in this thread there'd be a few papers that would criticise Baines for not getting forward enough etc. The same papers that criticised that he cant defend and all he does his get forward before the game.

As per usual, makes one mistake - in this case the knee that went to a corner - and he's labelled as "nervy". Same happened to Jags - made one poor pass to Barry against Spain (on the half way line against the best team in the world), Villa scores and made mugs out of him and Terry - the press say he's not good enough. Forgetting the fact he saved James' blushes against Torres for his howler...

Its amuses me.

 

[Brownie]

He played safe quite a lot I thought, taking the easy option passing to centre mid rather than looking to link up with anyone in front of him or try and drive inside the fullback with the ball. I'm sure that was just him not wanting to make any errors tho. The media will never give any player a chance unless they're playing regularly for one of the top 4, that's just how it is unfortunately. There are less and less writers that have a clue these days, Patrick Barclay in the Times is at least reasonable in his opinions. Martin Samuel has gone way, way downhill.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I agree about him playing it safe but I didn't see any options to link up with down the left handside. Steven Gerrard played very centrally and rarely occupied the left handside, Rooney drifted out there occasionly but always turned and ran at Egypt.

Baines had no one to play off and create space for himself. No one was coming short and giving him an option nor where they retaining the ball higher up the pitch so he could get beyond them and attack that space in behind. It's not surprise than when Milner came on he finally started getting the ball higher up the pitch.

As for the journalists, I don't mind Patrick Barclay, he's decent. Henry Winter isn't all that bad either. I've never been a fan of Martin Samuel though, hasn't got a clue despite his reputation.

 

[ROFL]

i definitely understand the fear but i don't think the same will happen with baines. first, based on that shyness he doesn't seem like the type to buy into any tapping up from others in the england setup. second, most of our regular starters are internationals now anyways, from france, the netherlands, russia (despite not making the world cup), nigeria, one of australia's best players, arguably the USA's 2 best players. Really our only regular starters that aren't (or weren't in the case of neville) established internationals are Arteta, Osman, and Distin.

considering our recent performances, and the fact that we definitely have one of our strongest teams in recent years, i doubt the pricks in the england national side will be able to sway someone like baines, who barely thinks he's worthy of our team, think he's better than us.

now rodwell on the other hand, is still young and i've learned not to trust the judgment of young footballers, so i am somewhat happy that despite his form he hasn't been called up to the full team.

Add Pienaar as South Africa's best player in my opinion, better than McCarthy at this point. Agree though, that Baines will play for England at the cup and return to Everton.