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Jags: No Fuss

Just watched Match of the Day and, while it was depressing to see our Europa League bid fizzle out like that, there was something in those brief highlights, that reminded me why I'm proud to be a Blue.

That was Phil Jagielka's reaction to the goal being disallowed. The guy had celebrated with his team mates and gone to the fans behind the goal. It seemed he was on his way back for the restart when he finally realised the goal had been ruled out.

But there was no look of disbelief on his face, no angry charge to remonstrate with the officials. The guy simply brushed it off and ran back to take up his position.

In fact, I didn't see any sign of protest at all from the team which, in this day and age of posturing players and managers, and given the fact that even Stoke seemed to accept it was a legitimate goal, is unusual to say the least. But then maybe that's just the Everton way these days — play the game fairly and with the minimum of fuss.

I get down to Goodison only a few times every season and maybe I'm picking the wrong games, but it always strikes me that the players just accept the referee's decision and get on with the game.

Incidentally, Jagielka was a gentleman when he signed an autograph and posed for a picture when my eldest son attended his first game at Goodison last year. He got injured a few weeks later and it's great to see him back.
Mike McQuaid, Lanarkshire Posted 02/05/2010 at 00:06:15

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Lynn Thorne
1 Posted 02/05/2010 at 08:07:44

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You are correct in saying that our players accept decisions a lot better than most other teams — something instilled in them by Moyes I think. And mostly, with 1 or 2 exceptions, we don't make a meal out of tackles, getting back up and on with the game. If our players stay down, it's usually because they're really hurt.

But today Neville (and 1 other, can't remember who) were deep in conversation with Webb, after goal was disallowed, for a good couple of minutes. Jags looked gutted at the end.

Ajay Gopal
2 Posted 02/05/2010 at 09:38:23

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You are right, Mike. it does make me proud to be a blue. (Although, I must add, that at the end of the game, Moyes was remonstrating with the referees for quite a long time.)

For their performance today, the Blues did not deserve anything, a surprisingly low energy performance (except Cahill & Distin).

Gavin Ramejkis
3 Posted 02/05/2010 at 09:50:51

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Part of me thinks it's good we get on with it but another part thinks back to when I was a kid (I'll show my age now)... does anyone remember "It's a Knockout" and how the European teams used to cheat like fuck and win every week?

A graceful loser is still a loser; in certain situations we need to fight our corner and go for the decisions if it means winning the game.

Martyn Valentine
4 Posted 02/05/2010 at 10:22:37

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While I agree that it's refreshing to see the majority of our players accept the decision and get on with the rest of the game that's now 4 points that Howard Webbs decisions have cost us in recent weeks and we would still be in with a chance of Europe with only Pompey left to play next week.

Interesting that DM didn't give any post-match interviews so I get the feeling he didn't take the decision as calmly as everybody else seemed to do!

Tony J Williams
5 Posted 02/05/2010 at 10:38:49

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Maybe, if we whinged a little more, we could get some 50/50 decisions; however, I wouldn't like to see us start now.

Dick Fearon
6 Posted 02/05/2010 at 11:17:33

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If it became mandatory for referees to award cards for dissent, that annoying part of the game would disappear overnight. I am assuming that dissent is still part of the laws of the game. If it is not we could always resurrect that mother of all Laws, Ungentlemanly Conduct.

Gavin Ramejkis
7 Posted 02/05/2010 at 16:07:52

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Dick, if they ever brought that in, whatever would they make of John Shagger Terry, Cashley Cole, Stevie Me Laa and Shrek?

Mike Allison
8 Posted 02/05/2010 at 16:58:23

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"Does anyone remember "It's a Knockout" and how the European teams used to cheat like fuck and win every week?"

Wasn't that the Uefa Cup?

Gavin Ramejkis
9 Posted 02/05/2010 at 18:07:52

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Mike remember a certain keeper a good yard off his line for penalties in the CL final?

Steven Smyth
10 Posted 02/05/2010 at 20:28:30

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Really should have made Neville change the ref's decision — it seems to work for other captains. By the way, has Twattenburg got his hair op paid by the redshite?????

John McLoughlin
11 Posted 02/05/2010 at 21:18:19

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We are too nice at times. Look at the tackle on Neville at Blackburn... Most players would be rolling around in agony, but Neville got up straight away without the many rolls other sides seem to do.

Paul Oakes
12 Posted 03/05/2010 at 06:03:36

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Well I guess they knew full well they wouldn't catch the shite. Regardless of what happened yesterday (Sunday) it would be delusional to think that shitty Hull would have been able to offer anything against them, which is more the pity (Hull relegated).

I think this realization affected / clouded their judgment against Stoke. I thought we looked disorganized, Saha with his trademark "can't be fucked" attitude, Ossie making a mess of things, in fact most of the lads where very poor.

Defensively we always play bad with Yobo the clown playing; hopefully we'll move this inept player on in the summer, far from good enough.

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