EVERTON CHAIRMAN BILL Kenwright has rejected the suggestion by Roy Keane that the club puts pressure on James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman to pull out of international squads.
The Ireland assistant manager made the comments after midfielder McCarthy missed Friday’s defeat to Scotland in Glasgow.
“I worry that he is under lots of pressure, particularly from Everton’s point of view,” Keane said in the Telegraph. “Every time an international match comes around, it always seems to be Seamus and James who are under pressure. They’re turning up or they mightn’t turn up, or they’re struggling.
“But I think Martin has been more than fair when it comes to friendlies. These are big qualifying matches now. Ask most international managers and it’s a difficult role when a player turns up and he isn’t quite fit or he is struggling, we’ve had that a number of times with lots of players.
“You always get the impression from Everton that Seamus and James are both barely able to walk, that type of thing,” he added. “So when they turn up and they’re walking through reception, it’s praise the Lord.
“If it carries on next year, it’s going to put a lot of pressure on James. Roberto has never played at senior international level and maybe he doesn’t realise how big the games are for us. We could argue all day, I just think we need to get the balance right for the qualifiers. I think Martin has been more than good.”
Today, Everton chief Kenwright has appeared on Sky Sports News to respond to the remarks, which he believes are “unfair”.
I’m a big fan of Roy Keane but he does say some stupid things. That is just totally unfair,” Kenwright said.
“We absolutely love our players going on international duty and we’d never, ever get in the way of that. Roberto Martinez would be as shocked as anyone to hear that.”
Here listen McCarthy probably is injured but it’s starting to become suspect if he never misses a game for Everton yet is always struggling with injuries the week of an international. You get the feeling Martinez is very protective of him and maybe he wasn’t overly keen to have him play in front of the Scots in Glasgow… I hope this pattern doesn’t continue when the internationals resume next year…
Keano knows they so because he’s speaking from experience of all the times he pulled out. There’ll not be a bother on James the weekend wait and see
McCarthy has missed more than half of internationals in last two yrs
Fair enough. But on this occasion didn’t he travel with the Irish squad and the Irish medical team made the call not to play him?
It was the same thing when McCarthy was at Wigan and Martinez was the manager, he didn’t make himself available for quite a few games when trap was manager.
bill should keep his mouth shut and stop with stupid statements owners and chairmen should not be heard in the press as they always say stupid things
yeah i agree aidan – anybody who says anything negative against roy should shut up. how dare he comment….. and keane was dead right to slate jack grealishs father too. best way to handle a delicate situation with a potential future star was to tell his dad to cop on and make a decision already….. and slating curtis davies was dead right too when he was on the cusp of declaring for ireland. the man is a genius number 2…. Roy = Always right
Jayus you ripped a nerve did ya
Defeat to Celtic??
Agree 110% with him and joe brolly…… He’s a clown
I really wish that Everton just admitted they don’t like their players going off on international duty. At least then there’d be no dishonesty involved. They’ve been wrapping up Coleman & McCarthy in cotton wool for a few years now and doing everything in the power to make sure they aren’t available for the Ireland duty.
I don’t agree with everything Keane says but he’s spot on about this one.
And as for Kenwright saying he “loves to see Everton players going away on international duty”……..
Well no other country seems to have a problem with Everton players……
Why does Keane have to publicly declare this at a press conference.if he has to have a word with Martinez,do it!!dont be acting like a child whinging about it.
Everton pay his wages.. …not Ireland… They also paid 16 million for him.. A hefty sum..He genuinely could be injured.. I’m sure Martinez knows more on james than Roy does.. He does see him day to day…. Everton well within there rights….
You tell’em bill! Good for you!
This has happened to many times for it to be coincidental, even before they both went to Everton it was the same story at Wigan so there is something in the story.