Taylor for England!

toonsy

Back on the England scene
Back on the England scene
Steven Taylor has finally been called up to represent the England senior team following the withdrawal of Gary Cahill from Roy Hodgson’s squad.

I’d just like to congratulate Steven on this and must say that it’s been overdue going by his performances in recent weeks. I’m sure he won’t be reading this but still…

Personally I can’t think of many other English defenders in better form right now and I feel he should have been called up originally rather than as a result of other players pulling out of the squad. If players such as Rio Ferdinand and Gary Cahill hadn’t pulled out then it’s unlikely Taylor would have got the call which is harsh on a lad who has performed well since his return from injury.

However Taylor now has the chance to impress the right people within the England camp. He’s been given the chance and now it’s up to him to show that he is capable of performing at a level which will make him a consideration for future squads.

Taylor has been involved with the senior England side before having been called up against Germany in 2007. He didn’t feature in that game and has since drifted away from the international scene after long involvement with England at youth and U21 levels. If he plays any part in the forthcoming games against San Marino or Montenegro it will be his first full England cap although you could argue that injuries have perhaps prevented from already featuring for his country.

As a United fan I’m made up for him. I’m not too fussed about the England national team generally after events in recent years, but having one of your own players in there makes a difference and I, for one, will be watching to see if Taylor gets a chance to impress at international level.

Best of luck Steven!

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

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231 thoughts on “Taylor for England!”

  1. http://www.manchesterunited.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=313443
    Ridiculous, Hodgson is an idiot if he plays a CM at CB ahead of a professional centre-half that is in top form.
    —————————–Hart—————————
    Johnson——Taylor———–Lescott——Baines
    ——————-Gerrard——-Wilshere————-
    ——-Walcott———-Lampard———AOC——-
    —————————-Defoe————————-

    Is Rooney injured? If not then replace him for Defoe.

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  2. Andy ,true it’s an insult to Saylor ,it’s like saying I’m only gonna play you if I have to.

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  3. Andy – personally I’d use the whole squad over both games – bar the keeper. Team for San Marino:

    —————— Hart ——————-
    Walker- Saylor – Smalling – Baines
    —————- Osman —————
    —- Milner – Cleverley – Young —–
    ——- Welbeck — Sturridge ——–

    Then for Montenegro:

    ——————– Hart —————–
    Johnson – Lescott – Caulker – Cole
    ———– Parker — Lampard ———–
    — Walcott — Gerrard — AOC —
    ———- Rooney or Defoe ———–

    Both teams capable of wins and it would allow each player to only be needed for one game, hopefully meaning all players returned to their clubs in a relatively fit state – barring any subs required of course.

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  4. Has anybody ever travelled to European away games with the club via Thomas Cook?

    If so what’s the Craic? How does it work? I have just booked me and the father in law on but just got email back saying not confirmed will confirm or not in 24 hours…

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  5. Sharpy
    Hodgson won’t have the balls to be that creative. Didn’t realise Parker was fit, assumed he was injured (always seems to be). In your first XI I’d swap Cleverley with Carrick and sit him next to Osman. Cleverley is overrated and Carrick can hold the centre of the pitch whilst creating chances.

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  7. Andy – Wilshire isn’t in the squad mate, or not according to Sky he’s not.
    I also don’t really rate Cleverley that highly either, which is why I picked him to only play San Marino, coz I think Montenegro pose a tougher test.

    http://www.skysports.com/football/squad/0,,12016,00.html

    I know this is slightly out of date, as it shows Cahill instead of Saylor, but nee Wilshire on there mate.

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  9. Andy – not sure mate, I don’t pay much attention to Wilshire, good player but a little **** IMO.

    Did you see Ms earlier post about us looking for 3 purples?, who would you like to see come in – then who do you think will come in?

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  12. Sharpy
    From what I hear its a CB, winger and striker
    In order of who I want
    CB
    Alderweild
    Sakho
    That Tolouse guy
    Ismirit Mirin
    Winger (not linked though)
    Narsingh
    Redmond
    Phillips
    CAM (instead of winger)
    Siem De Jong
    ST
    Abaumeyang
    Van Wolfwinkle
    Ivory Coast guy
    Loads of others
    Carroll

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  14. Andy – aye for the purples he’s looking at a CB, CF and wide attacking midfielder. 3 options for each spot would be

    CB – Alderwiereld, Sakho, Kjaer.

    Winger – Ince, Sinclair, Redmond

    CF – PEA, RVW, Benteke (if Villa go down)

    Non purples Grant Hanley (CB), Phillips (W), Ayew (CF)

    The closer we get to the summer, the further away we get to signing PEA I fever, alot of clubs sniffing round him now like.

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  15. Sharpy
    It pissed me off yesterday seeing on newsnow a report saying ‘Newcastle join Abaumeyang chase’, as if we had only started noticing him with the big clubs sniffing. When we’ve obviously had an eye on him for some time. Kept seeing on the bbc gossip thing that ‘… Is interested in PEA as is …’ Never mentioning Newcastle. Heard rumours we’ve got a deal agreed but I doubt that and think we’ll have another target (RVW) lined up.

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  17. I had an attempt at the results predictor for the remaining last eight games.
    QPR and Reading ended up detached but for the third relegation spot it was mighty close. With my bias towards us we finished 12th. For a bit of fun have a go there are some interesting fixtures on the horizons

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  19. Andy – aye I saw that on the ball report from Newsnow as well – seems some people still don’t know who Graham Carr is!. If we have agreed a deal already then that’s remarkable work by Dekka and his crew – but I’d be amazed if St Ettiene had been that naive not to wait til the summer to see if they could get a bidding war going. I think you’re probably right about RVW – which in fairness isn’t a bad back up choice.

    As for Ince – didn’t people say Benny had a bad attitude?!. Ince is a really good, young talent and would be better in our squad than say Liverpools IMO. The only problem may come if he wasn’t playing more than not – if that makes sense.
    That said, I’d happily take both Ince and Phillips if we could. I’d also take Puncheon if he was still available on a free, but hear a rumour he’d signed a new deal at Saints.

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  21. @KIMTOON
    geting something out of the man city game depends on who scores 1st in my view, if they go behind city arnt very good this season at turning it back round, and if we get the 1st goal i think we will win 😀

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  22. Sharpy
    He signed I new contract as far as I’m aware. S’pose Ince might be misunderstood and just needs a mentor, would like us to get Redmond though as he’s young, has promise, is British and seems to have a great attitude.
    We are pretty sneaky when it comes to ligue 1 transfers, wouldn’t put it past Dekka and Ashley do have agreed £12m + Obertan :mrgreen:

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  24. TAE@96 I’m inclined to agree on that . It’s vital Cabaye is fit and also hopeing Debbie has enough rest to heal his thigh by then too. Typical that Santon is injured now that Haidara is crocked ,just our luck.

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  25. Dave ,It would be a real confidence boost to us too ,you never know this whole Haidara business may have galvanised team moral . 😉

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  27. Sidekick @95 😆 I’m used to being ignored 🙄 you get used to it when you have brought up teenagers 😉

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  28. Andy – Carlsberg don’t do transfer deals I’m afraid, but if they did … 😉 😆
    Redmond would be a good acquisition as well but I think he may still be a bit too young to classed as a ‘purple’ – I don’t think Phillips would be classed as a purple either but either would certainly improve our squad.

    Kim – there seems to be alot of unrest at Man City this season. I’d feel more confident if we were going into the game with them missing Kompany and Yaya Toure and we had a fully fit and rested team. Between the lines that’s a no, but with players like Cisse, Sissoko, Gouffran, Cabaye and Marveaux in the team I always hold a hope that we can take something from every game we go into.

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  30. Sharpy ,Yeah really need our good performers fit . Thing is this season City are very hit & miss but they have game changers and can win a game even when not really looking threatening.

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  36. Dave – who’s he keep looking for as well mate or do you think it’s either the pretty disco lights catching his eye or maybe he just doesn’t realise he’s wearing glasses 😆

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  37. Shola’s impression of a TV makeover guru doesn’t lend much to the gravity of his commentary. 🙄

    Does anyone else get the dreaded feeling that in true NUFC style, the euphoria surrounding our mega-success in the transfer market and subsequent revival has only served to intensify the horror and disappointment of a last-gasp tumble back to the relegation zone after all? What with the ongoing injury blitz and institutional prejudice against us up here, I am beginning to fear the worst.

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  39. The Newbies gave everyone a lift but untill them points are on the board you can’t relax . I’m not too happy about our run in either ,desperate to beat the Scum ,more for points than bragging rights tbh.

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  44. I see Shola is getting slagged again. What’s he done this time? Something terrible like defended one of our players now doubt 🙄 Doesn’t matter what that lad does, people will always have a permanent agenda against him

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  45. Dave – I think he’s made a meal of all this Haidara to be honest like – typical foreign player!, hardly touched and makes a big song and dance about it 😆 . Seriously though, to say he’s been lucky would be a huge understatement.

    Moreno – dry ya eyes mate 😛 . For the record, I think Shola is a great kid,,when you watch clips like this and the MTV cribs clip you can’t help but like him as a person. I also think he gives his all when he plays for us, the problem I’ve always had is that he’s got nee pace and doesn’t score enough goals. That’s the clubs fault for not replacing him – not his!.

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  46. I hear ya Sharpy but why is he getting slagged for that interview? Any other NUFC player wouldn’t have had a bad word said against him.

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  47. moreno @ 121

    Santons comments about packing his bags for milan should be criticised not sholas sensible comments on Haidara even if his fashion sense is a bit ropey…

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  48. Moreno – I don’t think it’s what he had to say, more that he looks like he got dressed in the dark in a charity shop mate – don’t try and tell me his bro and team mates didn’t give him stick for that dicky Bo either. Before you go with the dress code defence – his bro wasn’t in a dicky Bo so that was a chosen look.

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  51. What hypocritical tosh by the FA to say they don’t want to re-referee games. The game itself stands. Nobody’s asking for the result of the match to change after it’s finished. This is simply about making sure justice is done.

    The FA is not fit for purpose. I’d like to know who appoints them and how the ordinary fan, without whom there would be no game and no FA, can get rid of them.

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  52. CC – It seems Santon’s not fully behind Pards’ cause, and Pards hasn’t got a tight enough grip such that players are prevented from making such comments, which are extremely counter-productive at any time, never mind times like this.

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  53. Sharpy @ 74 says, “I honestly believe that with the injuries we’ve sustained recently, worst case scenario we can still pick up 4 points from our remaining 8 games, however our Euro campaign may have been effected by the injuries.”

    Tsunki says, “….the euphoria surrounding our mega-success in the transfer market and subsequent revival has only served to intensify the horror and disappointment of a last-gasp tumble back to the relegation zone after all? What with the ongoing injury blitz and institutional prejudice against us up here, I am beginning to fear the worst.”

    I don’t think we suffer from injuries more than other clubs. Injuries are part and parcel of football. And certainly many other clubs, especially our rivals in the bottom half, with the possible exception of QPR, haven’t been fortunate enough to experience any euphoria with mega-success in the transfer market.

    Pards still has more than enough resources at his disposal to mount a successful attack on two fronts. The trouble is he can’t get them playing. He could sign another two or three top players and still not get results. Injuries are just an excuse.

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  54. CC – for me the only inappropriate bit of that is ‘I’d pack my bags’, meaning he’d turn us back in a flash if AC Milan came calling. The rest he’s saying he’s settled and enjoying life here.
    Lets not forget he’s only 22 and probably missing his family and friends in Italy. Players say these things all the time and were surprised by it, but the reality is that NUFC (as great a club as it is) probably isn’t everyone’s pinnicale.

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  55. B&B – you’re a very cheeky young man my friend, and are regularly picking up on my posts I notice – which is fine, however on this occasion have been misquoted.
    In context of how the conversation was going at the time I posted that comment, afew people were expressing concern about getting dragged back into the relegation battle due to recent injuries.
    My comment (which at no stage suggested our injury ‘crisis’ was any worse than anyone else’s) was simply saying that I feel 4 points would see us safe in the league. But I do believe that with fewer options (because of the injuries) and the tougher opponents as the competition goes on, that we may be lacking the quality in depth to progress in Europa – but that’s just my opinion.

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  57. That’s fine Santon, stick with us for a few years, we’ll see how Haidara returns and develops-if he can defend better than you can, of which I am hopeful, we’ll sell you to milan for 80 mil after a few more goals turn you into the next Gareth Bale.

    It’s Vive La Toon, not Viva il Toon!!

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  58. Newkie – I’d take £10m for Santon to be honest.
    Haidara is a better defensive LB and ain’t shabby going forward either. That’s basis only on if Santon is pushing for a move of course, I wouldn’t be putting him up for sale. What I wouldn’t want to happen is we loose him for next to nowt though.

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  59. Very Mature interview by Haidara and thank god it’s not looking quite so bad. Also I see he says the lad Callum want’s to meet with him ,about time but a public apology would of been better imo. Wonder if that tackle will effect him mentally on the pitch ,he seems to elude to the fact it might . Interesting he says a French player was banned for 11 games for a simular tackle back in France 🙄 They must think our FA are a bunch of backward old soaks. 😳 the way they deal with the game.

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  60. See SSN has Norwich now linked with RVW 😯
    Reckon it would be between us and Spurs if we miss out on PEA though – which I think we will unfortunately

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  61. Maybe you should all join a fashion blog as it seems the fashion police are out in force 😆

    Santon has just witnessed a fullback get smashed, is away from home and was at fault for the first goal. The Italian speaking Colo who he has an affinity with through Milan city has left so it must be hard for him. Back off I say…

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  62. Not sure if anyone could tell but I was taking the **** a tad…Santon won’t move for t least 2 years imo, the same timeframe I’d give to most members of our squad…Agree would hate to lose him for nowt Sharpy-but Can’t see that happening, although there will be a time when we have to renew a lot of these five year deals at similar times….let’s hope we’re in a good position by that time!

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  63. I see Ledders thinks Spurs can win the title in two years…when did he start on the crack pipe?

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  64. Take Bale out of Spurs and they’re no better than us. Same with Suarez. Now where do we find one?

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  65. Re Santon – it’s just the Italian press. Last month it was the French press with Benny. Wish the Mail would do it with Williamson!

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  66. Newkie ,Spuds winning the league eh , whilst it would make a nice change I don’t ever see it happening like. The super rich clubs always have the title in a tight grasp like blood sucking leeches milking it to death at every opportunity. 🙄 🙁 ,the rest of us get fed scraps from the head table if we’re lucky .

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  67. Newkie – I hope you’re right mate. His current contract runs to 2016 which would make him 25. That would a hell of a loss on a freebie, so personally I’d be looking to discuss a new contract in the summer. In terms of timing, his missus will have just had their baby in May so it would be a time to find out what his intention are IMO.

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  68. SHARPY i know what your saying mate,but the “pull”of home is too much for some,but in saying that his mrs is local at the end of the day it will be what the mrs wants imo 😉

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  69. Ice – especially if she’s just had a nipper, she not likely to want to leave for new shore and leave her support network behind, hence why I’d try and tie him down while she’s still hormonal 💡 😆

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  70. Kim-Spuds won’t win because like Georgio says, take Bale away and they’re a pretty standard side. He will get injured, lose form, or get banned for diving pathetically, that alone will mean they can’t always compete 😆 Many fans drooled at the prospect of Ade and Defoe…well, Adey did his job, got his contract and is nowadays doing a pretty good impression of Shola except he’s on about 100k, still rate Defoe but they seem quite reliant on Dembele, Siggurdson definitely cooled since Swasea although still handy, would have been interesting if the same had happened to Michu…Look at Sinclair and Allen now 🙄

    Sharpy-it was a wily move that by Dekka, getting a geordie lass agent into bed with santon. Pity it didn’t work out with Colo like…

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  71. Newkie ,I don’t consider Spuds any different to us tbh ,as you say take away Bale and they are much weaker ,pound for pound I actually think we have more creative players ,if only we could keep them all fit at the same time 🙄 I agree about Defoe though ,good player .

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  72. I don’t see it as the press mischief making. They appear to have used genuine quotes from Santon and Benny. The pair of them should stop using the press to court other clubs. It serves their own ends but is counter-productive to NUFC.

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  73. I see Greg **** has been named the new FA chairman. Think at last he may be the right man for the job (hopefully.) He has in the past shown common sense (something lacking in the FA to date.) He has also shown he will stand up to bullying. He stood up to Tony Blair when he was in charge at the BBC. He lost his job for it but I can admire a man of principle.

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  74. Sharpy – I do seem to regularly pick up on your posts. I would say that was a good thing though. I’m certainly not trying to misrepresent you, as I hate it when someone does that to me.

    I understood your point, but it comes on the back of your mentioning injuries many times in the past in the way that Pards mentions them, like they’re excuses for not performing as expected. I have to ask what is wrong now with the size and quality of our squad? Even our squad with two or three injured quality players is better than all the squads in the bottom half IMO.

    We started the season with a side that finished fifth last year; lost Ba and bought four top players in January, who are automatic first choices. None of those boys is injured. Tsunki refers to the “euphoria surrounding our mega-success in the transfer market” and I would say that is a fair reflection of the feeling at the time. Since then, we’ve had an unremarkable number of injuries, and yet Tsunki calls it an “ongoing injury blitz”.

    You say the injuries mean we’re still not strong enough to compete successfully in the EPL and one cup competition. In talking about needing only 4 points from 8 games, and mentioning injuries, you’re not exactly striking a confident tone.

    Personally, I’m happy that the present squad is a top half squad. With the influx of talent in January, we should have put the relegation question to bed by now, injuries or not. Any mention of injuries just seems like a poor excuse for dire underperformance to me.

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  75. Newkie – aye, trouble was that Colo was already married, he still enjoyed her company tho 😆

    Kim/Newkie – Spurs probably have the best defensive options in the league IMO, midfield option are average (barring Bale) but there forward options are weak. On his day Defoe is very good but they aren’t that often and he usually needs more chances than Cisse at the moment. Adebayor is one of the most overrated CFs in the league and it will be forwards they improve on in the summer I would think, which is why I think they will be in for RVW and players like Willian.

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