Season 2011-12
The Mail Bag
Is he really that good?
34 Comments: The person in question is Phil Jagielka. Pre-injury, I?d grown to like him as a player; he gave some top-notch performances after a nervy start, made the position his own, and did look like a future Everton captain.
On his return last season, he looked to be getting back to his best and I thought with a good pre-season under his belt we?d see him back to his best.
I read in the paper last week all the summer speculation unsettled him. I agree, it must be unsettling... but let's be honest ? nothing is plain sailing at the Old Lady.
But, for me, that?s just an excuse. This season, he has been nothing short of woeful. In the QPR game, he was at fault (correct me if I am wrong but I think it was him) and Osman who got done for Di Santo against Wigan last week. Although Drenthe gave the ball away in a horrible manner last week, he hesitated when quite clearly he could've got to the ball once it had broken loose.
Distin is by far the best centre half at the club: quick, strong, good on the ball and just oozes class. Heitinga ? well he was given a chance last year and didn?t exactly take it but, on current form, in Jagielka?s case, he now deserves another crack alongside Distin.
There was once incident on Saturday (at City) where he just wellied it as hard and as high as he could; with no one up-front, the ball just comes straight back... not exactly what you want when you're parking the bus at City ? a certain David Unsworth used to get slaughtered for it.
Anyway, David Moyes obviously sees him as our ?current? captain with Neville resigned to the bench in recent weeks... but, for me, he should be sat on the bench and, come January, if Arsenal still fancy him, would you really be arsed if he went?
Brian Holmes, Posted 26/09/2011 at 12:42:22
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I wouldn't blame him for Di Santo's goal, it was Osman who got turned for that one. And by the time Milner scored (88 minutes) against City, he must have been absolutely knackered. The ball just kept on coming back at us because we had nothing up front, and he also played 120 minutes the other night against West Brom.
Form is temporary, class is permanent. Jagielka is one of the best defenders in the Prem, and we'll certainly need him this season.
Maybe giving Heittinga a run of games alongside Distin may well freshen things up at the back a bit. Also Duffy and Mustafi are close to a spot, according to Moyes.
What I would like to see is when a player goes off the boil, which only a fool would argue isn't the case here, that they are dropped for a player who's waiting in the wings. The competition would do us the world of good IMO.
The thing is though when Heitinga has come in has not particuarly excelled has he. I mean in the west brom game for every misplaced long ball Jags played Heitinga matched him soon after.
True, but overall you know Johnny can pass well out of defence, my main reason for thinking Jag should be out the team at this point is because he's making basic defensive errors that have cost us.
Heitinga had proven to be a good CB in his first season with us
There is an apathy about Moyes and the players at the moment, I hope they can sort it out for the shite on Sat. Its gonna be a dull long season.
JH's best position is CB and he had a spell before when he played well. One of the things that annoyes me about Moyes is that he rarely drops his favourites, even if they are playing shite (we may have a small squad but we can still rotate a little in certain positions - e.g.defence. Jags is not on form at the moment so he should give JH a go, if anything as a kick up the backside for Jags.
It may also mean we keep a little more possession as the ball wont come straight back after yet another hoof up the pitch.
I'd like to see JH given a go.
Danny Broderick "He's not in the England squad for nothing Brian", I think a certian Gary Cahill has overtaken him.
He should of been sold, we have Heitinga or Yobo to replace him. I don't think you can blame him for Saturday the first goal was Fellaini's fault for being lazy and the 2nd was Drenthe's fault.
You have to blame Moyes : Jags has been doing it since he came here and obviously no one has tried to explain the error of his ways, maybe he's colour blind and doesn't realise we play in Blue. I always thought Yobo was a better footballer any way.
If we get £15M for him I'll believe Dick Turpin is related to Kenwright........
On Saturday we saw a comical moment that saw the best and worst of the player in the dreadfull back header followed by the superb covering tackle.
If we still have JY, who I note many have also referred to as 50p head, and are paying him, I assume less than Jags, then if the club is in so much financial mire why did we not accept Arsenals bid if it was £15m in the summer??
I am sure that Mr Moyes has demonstrated an ability to find players from the lower leagues and am even more sure that a big rugged centre back.
£15m plus the Arteta money (and saved wages) would drive a big hole in the debts.
If it is the the first then Moyes should be ashamed of himself.
If it is the latter then Moyes should be ashamed of himself.
Typical Moyes trait is to let players play themselves back into form.
Unfortunately this has backfiered recently with Yakubu and Arteta. However, it did work with Distin last season when he had a dodgy spell.
I don't see the point of having a squad if you don't use it.
The manager is more than happy to rotate (rest) the younger players but not the senior players, even when a rest is crying out.
Jags would be best served with a couple of games on the bench and let Heitinga play. If Heitinga has a 'mare then put Jags back in. If Heitinga plays well then EFC benefits. I can only see this as a win-win.
At the moment Jags Yoboesque mistake-per-game is unsettling the back for and team as a whole.
Case in point against City at the weekend, when he sent a woeful header back towards Tim Howard, but was immediately aware of where he needed to be to shadow the ball away from danger.
Distin makes mistakes and recovers with his pace. Jags makes mistakes and recovers with his reading of the game. Heitinga is probably a better defender and certainly a better footballer than both of them, but when he makes mistakes he turns round and hacks the guy that's just done him. You can't have that at Centre Half in the Premiership - you'd concede too many penalties.
IMWT!
As i said, UNBELIEVABLE, slagging the lad off, he,s been in my top two M O M in all the games i,ve watched this season. Remember tv viewers, the camera only follows the ball.
The midfielders we have do not possess much in the way of tackling skills either and that is why a lot of opposing teams are always having to much of the ball even at Goodison.
Yes I think on reflection we may be best to get some good money for Jags and go for a commanding centre back especially with Distin getting long in the tooth.
I particularly like Samba.
However what we have is what we have to live with at least until January.
I'm not a TV viewer and he's been crap all year.
If he's been in our top two MOTM's for this season then I think you better strat watching them on the telly mate.
Johnny Heitinga is better than Jags now is he? Well I remember a certain Mr Heitinga jumping out of 50/50s, not a great trait for a centre half, particularly in the Premier League.
Hibbert should never have played for the club again after the 2009 FA Cup Final? Ok, he had a stinker, but he's a good squad man. He's also playing well at the moment, and it's good to have a few home grown lads in the squad.
We wouldn't have any players left if we bombed them out after every bad spell. The fact of the matter is he is in the top 4 or 5 English centre backs (yes that's right Joe @13, that's why he's in the England squad). We have many problems at Everton, but replacing Jags comes a long way down the list.
Watch the build up to Man City's second goal from last weekend when Drenthe gives the ball away. Silva (I think) has a 50-50 with Jagielka, who moves towards the ball, hesitates, stands still and then backs off. If that is not "pulling out" I don't know what is.
Nail on the head. If we had some players playing a bit higher up the pitch,i.e. Strikers(!),there might be someone on the end of Jags long punts out of defence.
And Noel,there's no way Jags pulled out of a 50/50 for City's 2nd goal. He didn't commit to the tackle cos he wasn't sure he would get there before Silva. Contrast that with Heitinga (once against Wolves and I forget who the other one was,maybe West Brom?),who was favourite in both challenges except that the other players wanted it more than him and he ended up on his arse both times.
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1 Posted 26/09/2011 at 14:32:36
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Great idea.