Captain Jagielka not guaranteed a starting place

A clean sheet and a solid performance today could do him the world of good.

I reckon that RM is a lot more ruthless than his public "phenomenal" persona would indicate. This is a man who wants to reach the very top of his profession. He will do at Everton, given time and sufficient support.

What is said in public is going to be miles away from what he says to his players in private. No manager worth his salt criticizes his players in public these days.

Basically he is not being critical of a player but being a realist and suggesting that nobody is a guaranteed regular starter.

All the rumours I have heard from quite good sources are that, on transfer deadline day, Martinez offered Stoke ٦ million for Shawcross which was rejected being so late in the day with Stoke having no time to replace him.

I believe that in January we will certainly bring in a central defender. We just have to hope that, amongst the four established first team centre-halves we have, that they

1) Find some serious form and,
2) Stay clear of injury.

Play him today and kick-start our season – a clean sheet and a few good goals.

A 3-0 win would do nicely.

I was surprised Roberto never thought Stones had the right to start the season at centre back. I always thought that the Heitinga/ Distin and Stones/ Distin was a better partnership than the Jagielka/Distin duo. Jagielka is a top notch defender when fully fit and in form but for me hasnÂ’t struck up a rock solid partnership with anyone since he was paired with Lescott circa 2008-09.

In my opinion, Jagielka is the wrong choice as captain.

Prefer Jags to Stones but both look pretty dodgy at the minute?

Stones hadnÂ’t had a look in at centre half yet to look anything let alone dodgy.

When we won those 7 matches on the spin last season from March to April, it coincided with a central defensive partnership of Stones and Distin, with Stones in particularly looking calm and composed on the ball, none more so than in the fabulous win at Newcastle. If anything, and on the form of last season, it should have really been Stones starting, not Jags.

I have liked Jagielka over the years; I enjoyed the Jagielka/Lescott partnership especially, but over the last few years there’s no getting away from the fact he’s lost something... Whether it’s since that injury, who knows? — but his whole thought process, dawdling on the ball, being out-jumped, it’s all happening too often nowadays.

I donÂ’t rate Jagielka and never have done, so itÂ’s a matter of opinion I guess. He was always going to struggle with a manager who demands that all players be comfortable on the ball something he has never been.

Ed, I always rated Jags as a DEFENDER but, whether a result of injury, has gone way off the boil.

Who is manager?

So.......adios if we had the cash

This is the exact thing I said we had to worry about with having just four out and out first team centre halves, if we get a few injuries to them then we are going to look very short in that area.

I don't think either equation is justified, to be honest. Lots of things good and bad happen on the field during a game. To isolate some of the positives and make out that the manger is untouchable is as bad as isolating some of the negatives and condemning the manager for them. I think a bit of perspective is required.

On the whole, I think like many that Roberto Martinez is brilliant for us as Everton manager. That doesn't mean everything he does is brilliant or everything that happens on the pitch is equally brilliant.

Defensive mistakes in the first three games led to goals conceded (Note: NOT "for fun"). Defensive mistakes in the fourth game led to no goals conceded. That's football.

So no, one clean sheet does not make him a brilliant manager, especially against such a poor side as West Brom, luckily the mighty Anichebe wasnÂ’t around to break down our walls.