5.
Joleon Lescott - 07/08
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| Knee Strengthening In The Summer Due to wear and tear, having been involved in all of Everton's game this season, Roger will have a series of injections on his right knee after the Newcastle game tomorrow. While at Wolves, the Blue Kipper Star Man Of 2007/08 missed the whole of the 2003-04 season after having his right knee reconstructed by renowned specialist Dr Richard Steadman in the United States. It means the 25 year old will be ruled out of England’s forthcoming friendlies with the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. Moyesy says: “Joleon’s knee is getting sorted again in the summer. He’s having some work done to his knee immediately after the game on Sunday. He’s not missed any games for us since he arrived, but his knee does need carefully looking after. I’m nearly 100% convinced that he won’t be available for England. It’s not an operation, it’s a series of injections to help strengthen the knee some more.” (10/05/08) Rogers goal against Brum at the weekend meant that our England defender has now found the net nine times this season, and Moyesy is hoping for at least one more goal so Roger can claim double figures for this term. Roger is now the leading scorer in the Premiership from the back line and he is in line to pick up a host of awards as Everton's player of the season come May. Moyesy says: "I’m delighted for him and I hope he keeps scoring. He comes up for a lot of corners and a lot of free kicks so hopefully he can keep that going. If he’s got at least another one before the end of the season that would be nice.” (15/04/08) Everton's Player of The Season Joleon Lescott still see's no reason why the Blues can't finish the season off in fourth spot. With the Blues only three points behind the shite, and with still fifteen points still up for grabs, Roger is hoping we turn the screw on our neighbours with a win at Brum at the weekend, which will bring us level on points with them. Roger says: "Birmingham are fighting for their lives for different reasons to our own. It’ll be a tough game, our recent form hasn’t been as good as it has been for the rest of the season. I don’t think it’s an off-chance for us to finish fourth. We’re three points behind Liverpool with five games to go and we’ve both got tough games to play. We play before them and we could be level with them when they go into their game on Sunday which puts the pressure on them again." (10/04/08) Roger has signed a new contract which will keep him at Goodison until 2012. The manager and the Chairman of the People's club are chuffed. Moyesy says: "This is really terrific news for everyone connected with the club," said manager David Moyes. This continues our policy of securing - on long term deals - those players who not only represent Everton's present but also its future. Since joining us Joleon has more than proved his worth and the fact he is not only happy at Goodison Park but also willing to commit his future to Everton shows that we are most definitely moving in the right direction." Blue Bill says: "We have worked really hard over the past 12 months or so to secure the futures of our brightest and most gifted young players - men like Joleon, Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta, Andy Johnson, Leon Osman and Tony Hibbert. Joleon is absolutely delighted to have agreed this new deal. I am delighted for him and also for our supporters who have really taken him to their hearts since his arrival from Wolves." (11/03/08) Moyesy is urging Roger to make the next step in his career and become a leader on the pitch after his fantastic few seasons playing at the top level with the Blues. Moyesy has told Roger to look at his International team mates Rio 'what time is my drug test again' Ferdinand, and John 'I am an obnoxious individual' Terry, to see how they conduct themselves as leaders on the pitch. Roger my advice would be have a word with Dave 'Waggy' Watson, a true leader and a true gent. If you crack that, the footballing world is at your feet, hopefully with the Blues of course. Moyesy says: "The next step for him is to become a leader, to become someone who can command respect the way the likes of John Terry does at Chelsea and Rio Ferdinand at Manchester United. So Joleon Lescott’s next step is to do that at Everton. How does he do that? With continued consistent performances, taking more responsibility for the team as well as himself and he’s got the capabilities to do that. His performances are showing a maturity and he’s a really conscientious footballer. It’s a good feeling to have players around you who want to hear, listen and understand. He now has to go on and realise he is a Premier League defender and England defender and become a leader as well.His best position would be centre-half but he’s a more than competent left-back. I’ve said before that not many people get past him, he’s strong, he can get forward and because of that he’s very good in both positions. We’ve got good competition there as well so we are fortunate and Joleon is improving. We have talked about it and he understands and, after playing in Russia for England at left-back, he realises being quite versatile in a couple of roles can be a benefit. I think he would rather be a centre-half but he understands that if you have someone who can do those roles for any squad it’s a great thing to have Now and again if you need to have three centre-backs it’s not a problem so we are really pleased with him. He knows he is a left centre-back but the form of other people means the are all keeping each other on their toes." (02/03/08) Roger needs 10 goals this season to become a good centre half according to Moyesy. A target that Roger can easily achieve after scoring his eighth last night against City. He is the leading goal scoring defender in the Premier and I love him so much. Moyesy says: "It’s an incredible bonus for Joleon to get the goals. Good centre-halves get 10 goals a season in my opinion and he’s getting near to that. He has grown in stature this season.”(26/02/08) Roger achieved his life times ambition at the weekend when he pulled on the England Jersey in a full International in our 3-0 win over Estonia. With injuries to John Terry and Cashley Cole ruling them out of the Russia clash on Wednesday, Roger is in contention to start at the back in Moscow. Roger says: "It was great, it's always been an ambition of mine to represent my country and I've done that now. Hopefully I can continue playing well for my club and keep being selected in squads. The crowd were exceptional and the boys made me feel easy, Joe Cole especially. He was showing for me all the time and talking to me, so it was a great experience. I've played there for my club and Joe Cole really helped me, I also had the experience of Sol Campbell alongside me so they made it as easy as possible." (15/10/07) Alan Irvine thinks Roger's versatility and eye for a goal will help him in his quest for an England cap in the future. Alan Irvine says: "We are absolutely delighted with the call up. We feel that Joleon should have been called up last year but of course there is a lot of competition for places, and at centre-half in particular. Joleon’s cause will have been helped as he has played so many times at left-back and when Steve McClaren is looking to build his squads for the future, he will certainly be looking for players who are adaptable and that will give Joleon a better than average chance. With the quality that Mikel and Tommy can put in, then it gives us a chance. All you're asking for is for them to attack different areas. Joleon does that and got his reward." (09/09/07) Roger is naturally delighted with his England call up today. Coming on the back of his last minute winner at notloB, Roger was looking forward to putting his feet up today, but he is now preparing to hot foot down sarf to join up with his England team mates. Roger says: " You don't often score a last-minute winner on the Saturday and then get an England call-up on the Monday! My phone was on silent in the morning and when I noticed missed calls from various people at the Club I thought perhaps I'd missed training! But I knew I hadn't got my days mixed up and obviously I was delighted to get the call-up. I have been pleased with my form for Everton and that will always be my main concern. If anything follows from that then it's a bonus. Every player wants to represent his country and I'm no different. I'm really looking forward to meeting up with the rest of the squad and we'll just see what happens. It will help to have Phil and AJ around but obviously I know most of the guys anyway from playing against them in the Premier League." (03/09/07) Bet You Can't Score As Many As Me Moyesy revealed he had a go at Roger at half time at the Reebok. It worked as he got the winner. Moyesy says: "He is improving, although I thought he had a tough time at different periods in the game. In the first half he should have won a couple of headers more than he did, and I gave him a bit of stick at half-time. In the second half I thought he dominated things a lot more, and he got a goal, his second of the season. "I said to him at the end, 'That's the way to make your manager shut up.' I've told him that I think in my best season I scored 10. I don't know if he'll score that many - I don't know if he's that good! There will probably be a bet between us now, and if does beat me then I would be more than happy to pay out whatever it would be." (03/09/07) Ex England International Paul Merson is mystified like the rest of us as to why Everton defender Roger has not made Malcolm McLaren's England squad for this Wednesday's friendly against Germany. With the ageing Sol Campbell re-called, Merson claims that the time was right to give Joleon a run out for his country, ahead of the important Euro Qualifying games in September and October. Merson says: " I really feel sorry for the lad Lescott at Everton. He has been really outstanding. It wouldn't hurt to put him in the squad and say, 'this is what it is like'. If we get a couple of injuries who are we going to put in because Carragher has retired? You might end up calling on someone who has never played before. He can play full-back and he can play centre-half and players like that are priceless when it comes to tournaments and you only have 22 players. He is bang unlucky. With no disrespect to (Kieron) Dyer, he is in the squad and hasn't been playing. (Jermaine) Defoe is in the squad and hasn't played. You need to pick players who are playing and doing well. We always pick the same people instead of picking people who are in form and giving them a chance - especially for a game like this one." (19/08/07) Ex Everton centre half Derek Mountfield is backing the new owner of his old shirt to do it proud. As Roger takes on the ownership of Derek's old number five shirt, Mounty reflects on his pairing with The Rat back in the 1980's, and he can see similarities with Rogers partnership with Joey in the heart of the Everton defence. Mounty says: "The number 5 jersey has been around Everton for years and there has been some fantastic players who have worn that shirt such as Brian Labone and Dave Watson. Joleon was tremendous last season and I think by giving him the number 5 shirt will give him more confidence and I am sure he will do well." Kevin played at left-back but his preferred position was centre-half which is quite similar to the situation Joleon was in last season. When ‘Rats' moved to centre-back he developed into a fantastic player and a superb captain. Hopefully Lescott can do the same and form a commanding partnership with Joseph Yobo in the long term." (10/07/07) Labby, Waggy, Davey Weir and Billy Wright, nah maybe not. But in the first three we have real Everton legends, and now Roger is following in their illustrious footsteps after been handed the number five jersey, the shirt all centre halves crave. So in saying that expect to see the versatile defender playing left back, right back, centre fire cracker and maybe even in the sticks this season. Roger says: "It's an honour for me to follow in the footsteps of players like that. The fact that am I only the third player to get that shirt number shows just how consistent the previous two have been and if I can be as effective as they were for the club then I will be more than satisfied." (05/07/07) Ex Everton player Dave Watson has been singing the praises of Roger after his exceptional first season at Goodison. Davey points out that Moyesy took the chance on Roger when other clubs were hesitant in the signing the centre half with no top flight experience. As we know that gamble has more than paid off. Waggy says: "A lot of clubs had looked at him and dithered whether to take him but to be fair to David Moyes he took him. Joleon has been a tower of strength this year both at centre-back and at left-back. He totally deserved his call up to the England B Squad. It is a big difference for the individual to deal with switching positions, and playing at full-back narrows the pitch down considerably especially when you are used to playing at centre-back." (23/06/07) Rogers International debut lasted a full ten minutes last night as Malcolm McLaren used the Everton defender as a second half substitute in last nights B International. England beat Albania three one at Burnley's Turf Moor Ground, and Joleon can now go off on his Summer Break after missing out on the Full squad's forthcoming matches. There still time Roger to make next years Euro squad, as they say, the cream always rises to the top. (26/05/07) |
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