Time to throw off the shackles

Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo , 28 March, 40comments | Jump to most recent

Phil Jagielka says ''The manager can be ultra-positive now''

With Everton sixth in the table, six points off the top four, Phil Jagielka believes they need to approach the final nine matches with a slightly different attitude.

Vice-captain Jagielka — who only has an outside chance of being fit for tomorrow's game — believes Moyes may be inclined to send out his side with all guns blazing.

He told the Liverpool Echo: “We need to win games now. If we we're to draw, I'm not saying it would be the end of the season but we have to go out ultra-positive and really take it to teams and see how we go. It might make the manager's decision making a little bit easier."

“The manager can be ultra-positive now and throw the shackles off.”

Quotes or other material sourced from Liverpool Echo

Reader Comments (40)

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Tom Fazal
1 Posted 28/03/2013 at 14:24:34

What were 'the shackles' doing on in the first place????

Richard Dodd
2 Posted 28/03/2013 at 14:29:10

I`ll go for that approach but if it results in us losing the odd game 3-4, Moyes will get dog`s abuse from the very people who tell him to attack, attack, attack! Just you see!

Phil Sammon
3 Posted 28/03/2013 at 14:39:20

I don't think anyone is calling for all out 'attack attack attack' a la Real Madrid in years gone by.

Just keep playing positive football when we score a goal. Don't be scared to sub Ossie if it's not happening for him. Don't bring every man back for every corner when you're losing 3-0 at home!

Hardly gung-ho.

Ray Puzey
4 Posted 28/03/2013 at 14:58:04

Couldn't agree more Phil.

Paul Ellam
5 Posted 28/03/2013 at 15:31:27

Why not just play positive, attacking, but sensible football all season?

We have seen what we can do from the example of the first 10-15 games of this season so just keep doing the same. Who knows, we may even win a trophy that way!

Steavey Buckley
6 Posted 28/03/2013 at 15:43:05

Moyes is very cautious and careful, so, I cannot see Everton playing ultra-attacking football by throwing caution to the wind.

Mark Frere
7 Posted 28/03/2013 at 15:40:06

We need to play like we did at the beginning of the season, but actually kill teams off when we're dominating games. We could also do with the Jelavic we saw last season.

Denis Richardson
8 Posted 28/03/2013 at 15:55:24

Well Moyesy, only 9 games left to advertise your attacking and tactical nous to the so called 'bigger' clubs.....need to be quick mind, there may be a place at Real Madrid coming online soon - get that 'CV' and your 3 LMA awards ready quick time.

Shop window closes 19th May sharp!

Paul Andrews
9 Posted 28/03/2013 at 16:31:16

Reading between the lines, Jags is sending a message to the manager here.

James Morgan
10 Posted 28/03/2013 at 16:20:47

There's no reason we need to be shackled by the strictures of the employee-employer relationship. Unless you're into that sort of thing. In which case, I got some shackles in the back. I'm just kidding. But seriously, I've got 'em.

Andrew Laird
12 Posted 28/03/2013 at 16:41:06

Tom Fazal and Phil Sammon.

Nail. On. Head.

Colin Potter
13 Posted 28/03/2013 at 16:48:28

Bugger this manager, he can't be bothered to sign his contract and give us some stability. This team should have been going full throttle all the season, not just the last nine games, what the hell do they get paid for anyway?

Moyes must be loving this, all the attention focused on him. Talk about "Big 'ead, no bread in the house"... For me, the sooner he fucks off the better. If we don't get 4th and the season is knackered, it's down to him and no-one else!

Paul Dark
14 Posted 28/03/2013 at 17:40:33

'Don't be scared to sub Ossie'? Don't be afraid to leave him out of the first-team squad more like ... .

John Crawley
15 Posted 28/03/2013 at 17:39:07

I agree Mr Jagielka and I hope that all of the senior pros are saying the same thing to him. A similar thing happened with Liverpool under Benitez when the players got onto him and he changed his approach for the last 10 games of the season. Thankfully on that occasion it was too late and they just missed out on catching Man Utd for the league.

Brian Denton
16 Posted 28/03/2013 at 18:14:54

John, the best thing about that season was the fact that the two points we took off them at Anfield cost them the title!

Patrick Murphy
17 Posted 28/03/2013 at 18:11:28

I know that the players have to do these interviews, but for the next 9 games can we please do our talking where it matters out on the pitch, leave all the soundbites to the other teams chasing the CL spots. Just adopt a positive attitude and approach the games like we did against City and at least if we fail to achieve CL then it will have been done in the correct fashion.

If we do achieve CL then fantastic, the one problem we have, apart from the tough fixtures is our goal difference, it would be a crying shame if we lost out due to this failure to convert in our early season games.

Brian Hill
18 Posted 28/03/2013 at 18:04:21

Tom Fazal, exactly.

Jagielka has, perhaps unknowingly, revealed the truth of Moyes football philosophy. Why else would he, Jagielka, use such an expression?

Richard Dodd, if we lose in such a fashion by season's end then I shall drink you under the table in the Freshy at my expense. I am presently in Cape Town so it would cost a lot more than a few pints of Stella!

John Crawley
19 Posted 28/03/2013 at 18:18:05

I agree Brian that was great, but what really cost them the title was Benitez's caution, if they had played the rest of the reason as they did the last quarter they would have won it. Thank God they didn't!

Colin Glassar
20 Posted 28/03/2013 at 18:18:23

It's not in Moyes's DNA to be adventurous. He'll play the same players, use the same tactics and make the same crap substitutions he always does. I'm not saying we won't win but he's not going to shake things up now is he?

Tom Bowers
21 Posted 28/03/2013 at 18:48:14

Over the last few weeks it has been almost unanimous what the fans want to see but Moyes sees things differently. Whilst they still have a shot at Champions League, he won't change his team or his tactics.

Stoke will be a tough nut to crack and without Jags.at the back it may be even tougher. They will rely on the set pieces against a team lacking in inches without Fellaini.

Everton have to limit the concession of free kicks and corners. It is always a physical game against them and light players like Osman and Naismith have to get stuck in better than they normally do. With Fellaini missing this may be a good time to start Big Vic.

Paul Andrews
22 Posted 28/03/2013 at 19:03:22

Embarrassing for the manager, that statement from Jags.

John Campbell
23 Posted 28/03/2013 at 19:18:40

How about we go for it and maybe play 2, yes, 2 strikers? Wow!

Norman Merrill
24 Posted 28/03/2013 at 19:30:40

With two of our better players not available, let's hope someone puts the shackles on Spurs.

John Smith
25 Posted 28/03/2013 at 19:46:34

I was reading an interview with Matt Kennedy and he was saying that Steve Round challenged him to play for the first team by the end of the season. Hopefully this means that he might get a chance by the end of the season along with a few others ie Barkley, McAleny, Vellios, Duffy, Oviedo etc...

Ross Edwards
26 Posted 28/03/2013 at 20:10:42

I don't trust anything a player says before a match these days, especially before the Wigan match when Baines said the current squad were better than the 95 Dogs of War and then we unforgivably rolled over.

We can talk the talk but, when it comes to matchday, Moyes will revert to type and rollover as per usual.

Brian Garside
27 Posted 28/03/2013 at 20:49:28

Quite right Tom.
When we play we can beat them them all.
So why run scared?
Over to you Mr Moyes.

James Flynn
28 Posted 28/03/2013 at 22:06:17

Phase I – Kenwright appearing "wanting" to retain Moyes.

Phase II – Jagielka, of all players, asking the "shackles" be taken off.

Can we go back to who is next in?

James Flynn
29 Posted 28/03/2013 at 22:37:36

Must add. We don't need shackles or anything else taken off. 3rd place is up for grabs. The teams above us have the same pressure on them as we do.

Robbie Shields
30 Posted 28/03/2013 at 22:39:32

James, doesn't matter does it, coaches are overrated remember.

Paul, I agree with you 100%, Jags is sending a message to Moyes AND the supporters. He's saying..... "Moyes is a ultra defensive git, it doesn't work, never has and never will, I'm sick to death of this negative approach and want to win something before I die. If he blames me one more time for a defensive mistake costing us a game because we've been defending all game with everyone back for corners I'll lump him. Attack you miserable git and bugger off in the summer so we can be managed by someone with an ounce of tactical awareness and positivity."

Brendan McLaughlin
31 Posted 28/03/2013 at 22:50:39

Strange almost every time a players interview is posted it's dismissed as shite. Now we've one that's capable of being interpreted as critical of Moyes & suddenly it's Jags sending out "coded messages" criticising the manager.

Brendan McLaughlin
32 Posted 28/03/2013 at 22:55:01

Actually, if you listen to the interview on YouTube & play it backwards.....

James Flynn
33 Posted 28/03/2013 at 23:27:37

Or Robbie's drunk while reading it . . . .

Tom Dodds
34 Posted 28/03/2013 at 23:46:19

Ross (#372) got it smack on the nose...

You don't talk about what your going to do... YOU JUST FUCKIN DO IT!!!

The players are constantly coming out, week-in, week-out, with what they need to do, what they will do etc etc... LIKE I SAID...

Tom Bowers
35 Posted 28/03/2013 at 18:48:14

Over the last few weeks, it has been almost unanimous what the fans want to see... but Moyes sees things differently. Whilst they still have a shot at Champions League, he won't change his team or his tactics.

Stoke will be a tough nut to crack and without Jags at the back it may be even tougher. They will rely on the set pieces against a team lacking in inches without Fellaini. Everton have to limit the concession of free kicks and corners.

It is always a physical game against them and light players like Osman and Naismith have to get stuck in better than they normally do. With Fellaini missing, this may be a good time to start Big Vic.

Robbie Shields
36 Posted 29/03/2013 at 00:21:59

Or Moyes can't possibly do anything wrong and all the players love him and his approach, haha!

Paul Andrews
37 Posted 29/03/2013 at 06:45:59

Brendan,
If you consider that statement to be "coded" you will never make it as the new James Bond.

Wayne Smyth
38 Posted 29/03/2013 at 07:43:25

John (#368), we've no chance of seeing any of those players you mentioned.

We'll have Naismith and Neville until Fellaini and Pienaar are back! Barkley may get the odd 5 minutes. I'd not be surprised if Moyes re-signs McFadden for the last 9 games rather than give the fringe players a go.

Ross Edwards
39 Posted 29/03/2013 at 16:36:02

In English, Jags is basically admitting that Moyes is negative, as he is presumably the shackle.

James Flynn
40 Posted 30/03/2013 at 03:04:44

Robbie - If Moyes stays or goes isn't the point. I do think most managers are meaningless because nothing in my life as a sports fan contradicts it.

What we have as Evertonians is an ownership group been pocketing cash on Moyes' efforts. From their view he's been worth the money and they've paid him accordingly. Completely different from you and I wanting our Club to win things and judging Moyes by our lights. Completely different.

Now he's going, my opinion. Yet, he's one of the few managers who's meant anything. A rare thing, but OK you disagree. Fine by me. Moyes or whoever comes in next will be hired with the same constraints Moyes dealt with. If they don't agree to those terms up-front, they won't be hired. Will they put a side out week in and out as Moyes has? We'll find out.

For Green and them, Everton Football Club is a profit-generating entity. Nothing else. Under no circumstance do they view the Club as you and me do. Moyes out? Yawn. Hire someone else. Because over the next 3 years, just under a quarter billion is what Green and them have coming into the coffers. For doing absolutely nothing!

Go on about Moyes. Have fun. You're certainly not alone in ToffeeWeb. You'll get plenty, "Here, heres" and "Me toos".

But to Green, Everton Football Club is no different than Everton Football Hog Futures, or Everton Football Toaster Ovens.

If that's true, and it is, where's it leave you and me?

Robbie Shields
41 Posted 01/04/2013 at 05:45:31

James, I'm with you 100% regarding the board and your last post. In my ideal world, we would have billionaire owners, a fantastic redeveloped Goodison and a progressive attack minded entertaining manager. I'm guessing the only real difference is you'd have Moyes still, fair enough, your choice, and it appears over 50% of Evertonians agree with you, I have a different opinion, that's all.

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