Jagielka: Not 'make or break' yet

, 10 January, 51comments  |  Jump to most recent

Phil Jagielka says that "it's not panic stations" at Goodison Park after four successive Premier League defeats but he admits that the potential gravity of the Blues' situation is not lost on the players.

Everton have suffered four successive League defeats, including dismal defeats at Southampton and Hull, which has dropped them to 13th in the table and they will kick off against Champions Manchester City later today just four points above the relegation zone.

It's a far cry from the team's form of last season that carried them to a record points haul in the Premier League and while the 32 year-old can't quite put his finger on the reasons for the difference, he cites injuries and inconsistent team selection as one of the factors.

“You're talking about a very similar bunch of players to last season, when these questions weren't being asked,” Jagielka said in response to suggestions that the players are having difficulties implementing the manager's instructions.

“It's a difficult question to answer. We've not had a consistent team selection — quite a few injuries — but I don't think you can aim that question at us.

"We were asked to play in a much different style last season to how we had played for quite a few years, and that criticism didn't come up then, when we were doing well. It is an easy, simple question to ask now.

“I wouldn't go so far as to say they set the alarm bells ringing but the Hull and the Southampton games brought it home to me,” Jagielka continued.

“Nothing is simple in this league. Those two away defeats give you a sense of realism that unless we start picking up points on Saturday it's going to be a tough second half of the season. But with the players we have we can deal with that.”

Some supporters have identified the lack of leaders on the field as one of the problems preventing the Blues from pulling out of their current slump and Jagielka admits that he is not one for Phil Neville-style rallying cries, preferring a more personal approach with the players.

[When confidence is low] “you tend to second-guess yourself at times. We have put in a lot of decent 60 minute performances but football is 90 minutes long and we have not managed to see it through to the end.”

“How many times can you give a rallying cry?” he explained. “How nervous do you want to make people? I do go around and speak to players individually or in little groups but I don't sit at home hoping to have to issue a rallying cry. If I felt it had come to make-or-break time I would, but we have not reached panic stations and hopefully we don't.”

Jagielka admits that stories about squad disharmony have kept the players amused of late, though, using one rumour involving his England teammate Leighton Baines as an example.

“You do hear some weird stuff but it gives us a bit of a laugh at the training ground,” Jagielka explained. “Sometimes football isn't enough for stories so people go a few steps further but we appreciate the really funny stuff because it keeps us going on a day-to-day basis.”

“The best one we've heard is that Leighton had a fight with someone in the dressing room. I don't know if you know Bainesy or you've seen him but I don't think that would ever happen. He's more of a lover than a fighter.”

 

Reader Comments (51)

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Jamie Crowley
1 Posted 10/01/2015 at 06:38:47
I fucking despair...

This man should not be Captain. Good servant? Yes.

Captain? No.

We've not reached panic stations yet... That's not the point Phil! As Captain you should be demanding excellence each and every game.

This man's bar is too low to lead.

Jimmy Salt
2 Posted 10/01/2015 at 07:10:02
"We have put in some good 60 minute performances" WHEN?
Harold Matthews
3 Posted 10/01/2015 at 06:44:06
Quite right Jamie. His bar is far too low. So unlike Stevie Me across the park who, for years, has been a mule train driver with a mighty whip.

Oh for a local lad with loyalty, talent and fire. Kenny or Ledson one day perhaps.

Right now I would go with McCarthy. He leads by example and can blow his top.

Of the other candidates, Eto'o is too old, Gibson too sick, Stones too nice and too young and Besic too new.

Mark Tanton
4 Posted 10/01/2015 at 07:37:47
Well this sums up our current malaise up perfectly. Jags should design our new club motto - "Meh". Complacency, mediocre and too comfortable by half. Now I understand better why Liverpool beat us in the semi final. Cheers Phil.
Colin Glassar
5 Posted 10/01/2015 at 07:58:11
Harold is spot on. We need a local lad who feels the same passion for the club as we do.
I like Jags. Good player but he's not and never will be considered, IMO, an Everton captain. He's far too nice and he's from Yorkshire!!!
I've mentioned Barkley before but maybe he's too quiet as well. We need a leader on the pitch. Who and where is he?
Sam Hoare
6 Posted 10/01/2015 at 08:11:19
Harold, I think Stones could be the man. He's quite nice but watch him on the pitch ordering the older players around. I think he's got that fire and pride in him and certainly the talent. I predict he could be captain for Everton and possibly even England within 5 or 6 years. If he stays!
Andrew Laird
7 Posted 10/01/2015 at 08:06:51
Inspiring stuff, Phil. "Son of Neal" cannot lead through intelligence or performance, appointed leader by a previous regime whose mantra no longer applies. This should be his last season as Captain so he also does not have a guaranteed starting place.
Eddie Dunn
8 Posted 10/01/2015 at 08:29:18
Does he really want to wait until we are in the bottom three before he will start shouting?
Too quiet and introverted for the role, we need a big gob, who doesn't care if he upsets people.

I'd give it to Naismith, he is mouthy, and he leads by example, both on and off the field.
Guy Hastings
9 Posted 10/01/2015 at 08:43:54
No captain in his right mind is going to start acting like Private Fraser in public. As PJ says, 'How many times can you give a rallying cry? How nervous do you want to make people?'
Kremlinologists might like to start reading between the lines of the entire Guardian piece rather than the abridged version above. Link
Jim Bennings
10 Posted 10/01/2015 at 08:47:24
Jags mate, not make or brake??

My God this is nuts.
We have been on a quite appalling run since, well since the end of October and let's be honest, the Villa and Burnley games aside in that said month, we were horrendous before then too.

How can it not be make or brake?

If we lost to City today and go at West Ham then the match at home to West Brom is a 9 pointer.

If you head into the Spring with the mere 6/7 wins then ththat's a relegation battle.

One quick glance at the fixture list and there aren't too many games that look favourable between now and March, even games against West Brom and Palace will take on a new level now due to their new stewardship.

Not make or brake??

Really?

Tony Hill
12 Posted 10/01/2015 at 09:11:08
Well, this is Phil Jagielka. Beige man with beige words. I agree we need McCarthy, or my pick in a couple of years could be Besic if he continues to develop as we hope he will. I would have given Coleman a go but he seems too far away from us sadly.
Anthony Flack
13 Posted 10/01/2015 at 09:30:54
Well that's alright then, not make or break, is that code for, it doesn't matter if we are shit for a few more games...

In some respects I feel sorry for players in this situation, they are footballers (well most of them) not spokesman.. .

Need to pull it out of the bag today, no stupid selection... I.e no Distin, or Alcaraz, ideally Besic and Barkley in the middle. 4 at the back..Lukaku on fire.

Barkley, Mirralles, Lukaku and Naismith (due a good game) can scare Citeh if played properly...

Neil Pickering
14 Posted 10/01/2015 at 09:47:47
I think this mentality is the main reason we are where we are currently. This lot actually believe we are too good to be relegated, and feel that if they just keep playing the same way it will turn around. WRONG!

Complacency has set in here, and I now genuinely think we are fucked.

Robert Duncombe
16 Posted 10/01/2015 at 09:44:28
His standards are not high enough. His words do not reflect the mentality of a winner. I am glad they are all having a good laugh in training too . At least somebody linked with Everton are having a good time cause the fans watching the games aren't. It is also interesting to here Pat Nevin backing Bobby, he always talks a lot of sense . He said that Martinez is pure of heart. Well is that means he wAnts to do the right thing and has the best intentions then he will continue to listen to his players and " go direct ".
Ant Summers
17 Posted 10/01/2015 at 09:51:38
Really, am I reading this right?. What he should have said, there are Captains and there are Captains who just toss the coin. I am the latter. For gods sake someone put a 30 minute CD together of rallying captains over the last 20 years, give him some red meat and tell him to digest both.
I will tell you this PJ, you are not for me as captain, you are not for 10's of thousands of others. Phil Neville was not a great player, but he leaves you standing as a Captain.
Peter Murray
18 Posted 10/01/2015 at 09:45:08
Intelligent analysis from the captain on the style of play, the nature of leadership and squad harmony,

Commendably he prefers to lead by example and encouragement – much better than bawling individuals out on the pitch which is just playing to the gallery and affects team morale.

However, all the strengths (and there are many) of this squad need to be harnessed this afternoon to send out an unequivocal message that the lean period is over and that we once again mean business.

Glen Garrett
19 Posted 10/01/2015 at 10:03:53
Dose Jagielka understand the word ’pride’ and what it means?
Aidy Dews
20 Posted 10/01/2015 at 09:48:27
Exactly, when is it panic stations? We’ve just lost 4 on trot in league for first time in a number of years and we haven’t hit panic stations yet according to captain marvel!

What is our current record, regardless of our 4 consecutive defeats, 1 win in about 9 or 10 games? For me, if we hadn’t won in 3-4 before the consecutive defeats then that would of been a worry to me and things would be said.

We’re a team that from last season, was used to doing well, winning games and not going many without a win and have aspirations to be at the top end and challenging the top 4 and yet we’ve been struggling for months now and our captain doesn’t think we’ve reached panic stations yet, get a grip lad!

Course there’s concern for panic, there was weeks a go, we’re now in the bottom half, conceding a lot of goals and closer to the bottom 4 than top 4 and for a team that expects better and aspires to better it isn’t good enough and he should see that and say so! Like some have said, would likes of Gerrard come out and accept this and paper over cracks, no he wouldn’t, he’d be a straight shooter and say it how it is and demand more, like all good captains do!

For me, the best captains are the ones like Ratcliffe, Adams, Keane, Gerrard etc, all top players, loud, aggressive when they need to be and demand the very best and 100% effort and commitment like they’d all give and they was very sore losers that wanted to win badly and Jags is nowhere near like any of those.

For me, Jags is just one of lads that likes his banter and wants to fuck about. A proper captain can do that, but knows when to separate himself from that and be serious about his duties and I’m not sure Jags as or can grasp that?!

Ray Roche
21 Posted 10/01/2015 at 10:01:06
Jagielka has been a superb defender at Everton, but not in this season's Martinez team. The style of football doesn't suit his game. I agree that he's too quiet for a captain but I seem to recall Brian Labone wasn't a gobby sort of captain either, unlike Alan Ball who strutted round ranting at players . I think he lost the captaincy at Everton, because he upset too many team mates. Anyone else recall that?
John Crawley
22 Posted 10/01/2015 at 09:14:29
I was always struck by the story that Lukaku told when he first arrived here he said that he told jagielka that with the players we had we should be up there challenging Chelsea for the league. Jagielka laughed in response somehow I can't imagine Kevin Radcliffe giving the same response. Personally I'd pick Baines as captain.
Paul Smith
23 Posted 10/01/2015 at 10:14:16
Jags is no drill Sergeant, however, Im not down with the idea that a Captain needs to be running round banging heads and screaming dogs abuse at his players either. Football must be the only Profession when it's acceotacle to abuse other members of your team. I think it's disempowering and counter productive. I like RM's style if only the other teams in the PL played by the same rules.
Ray Roche
24 Posted 10/01/2015 at 10:17:12
John, he's my choice as well. Local lad, not afraid to speak up if required.
Ray Roche
25 Posted 10/01/2015 at 10:22:22
I don't want to hog this thread but have a look at these quotes (below) and compare them to Jags rambling interview.

http://viewfromtheroyalbluemersey.wordpress.com/famous-Everton-quotes/

James Potter
26 Posted 10/01/2015 at 10:22:20
Interesting article from Savage, hits the nail on the head. Some of the stats are appalling to be honest.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30735905

Paul Smith
27 Posted 10/01/2015 at 10:12:11
How can we expect our captain to go ranting and raving when our manager never says a cross word to anyone. Roberto stands on the sidelines with his arms crossed all polite and meek. What the hell do all the backroom staff do apart from just sitting there. Why isn't someone like Duncan Ferguson who is ingrained in the club having a go at the players and instilling a will to win which they are sadly lacking at the moment.
Unless we get this back I fear for us as the more we get dragged into a relegation fight this manager hasn't got the fight or desire to get us out of it. Someone at the club has got to grasp the nettle quick as after City we have got 2 massive games against teams with new managers and if we don't take 4 points from them games were in big trouble.
The more I see Roberto the more he reminds me of Mike Walker and we know how lucky we were under him. So Roberto has to change his ways or I'm afraid a parting of the ways is needed.
Ian Ravello
28 Posted 10/01/2015 at 10:35:14
What is all this talk about? We have an incredible captain who is an inspiration to his team mates. He is in an incredible moment in his career where he can really use his experience to bring an incredible effect on those around him. He is a real diamond of the English game and a giant in our dressing room.
Raymond Fox
29 Posted 10/01/2015 at 10:03:22
He's been made captain because there's no one in a better position to be captain.
He has been an automatic selection (not sure he should be now) he's experienced, doesn't get injured very often, maybe he's ok in the dressing room!

Personally I think he should be sold if we can find a suitable replacement that we can afford, him along with at least 6 or 7 of our squad, we need a clear out.

Moyes left more over the hill players than quality ones when he left, there's going to big upheaval needed.

James Morgan
30 Posted 10/01/2015 at 09:33:14
Colin, he is from Manchester, but I get your point. We need someone to really rally the troops and fire a rocket up their arse!
Clive Rogers
31 Posted 10/01/2015 at 10:24:01
Eddie #8,

Naismith has scored 1 goal in the PL since August. What sort of example is that?

Ant Summers
32 Posted 10/01/2015 at 10:49:23
Im not sure if people on here are fishing for a reaction, or they really do believe he is a top player and top captain. In more than half of the games he has started this year, 1, he has had a very poor game, 2, he gives no indication whatsoever he has control of his defence, never mind the rest of the players on the pitch. People on here obviously don't see a game like I do.
I hope we get shut of him to be honest with you.
Clive Mitchell
33 Posted 10/01/2015 at 10:39:28
Jagielka is a hugely likeable and brave player. But those comments are profoundly worrying. We're just too 'nice' as a team, and not to be starkly aware of how tough the Premier League is when you lose your grip makes for a potentially disastrous combination.

5 March 1994 we played home to Oldham. Before that game we were 15th in a top league of 22. Management team member, I'm fairly sure Gabriel: 'we're not going to qualify for Europe and we're not going to be relegated, so opportunity to [etc]...' Sick feeling in pit of stomach. We beat Oldham 2-1. Only 11 games to go. We won 1 of the next 10. You all know the rest.

Eddie Dunn
34 Posted 10/01/2015 at 11:08:26
Clive31, Look at where Naismith has been asked to play. When he was "in the hole" behind the striker, he was popping up in the right places to either score or lay it on for others.
Brian Hennessy
35 Posted 10/01/2015 at 11:14:23
I'm no fan of Jagielka but in all fiarness lads what do you expect him to say in paper interviews like this,

"Yes we are all panicing, we have to win this next match or it is a disaster".

Never going to happen.

Phil Walling
36 Posted 10/01/2015 at 11:06:25
Good to learn that all the tales of disharmony are just unfounded rumour. Good to learn that we have not reached 'make or break' as yet. And, perhaps most heartening of all, that the players have accepted the change of playing style and coped well with it LAST SEASON.

What's for us to worry about, then ? The skipper implies that we have a great '60 minutes' team and that the lads are working hard on seeing games out.

No need for a rallying cry, he says, and the players can't stop laughing at how we mere mortals see the situation.

Me, I'm just glad we are in such good shape and have such an inspiring captain at the helm.

Allan Board
37 Posted 10/01/2015 at 10:53:57
Sometimes its best not to say anything Jagielka! However, I can see from your general persona of the last 6 months that not everything is quite right in Jags Land,so lets cut the buffoon a bit of slack!
His basic defending is a joke-lets balls drop,doesnt attack the ball,has no awareness,tackles like a pudding,too soft,too nice and he is a reactive player and not what we need at centre-back/captain. Your centre-back/captain needs to be proactive, in the sense they organise players around them into the right shape/areas before the opposition have attacked and thus almost preempting what’s going to happen.

Captains of sports teams are looked up to by the rest of the players because of either there deeds on the pitch or the fact that they help, cajole, encourage and organise them so they play better as a team. It’s called being unselfish as the Captain and respectful by the players, Jagielka!!!

I’m glad you find it funny, though, Mr Captain, because I found your attempt at defending v West Ham a fucking joke too!! As ever, people’s true colours come out when the pressure is on and this bloke can’t handle the pressure.

Paul Bristow
38 Posted 10/01/2015 at 11:25:59
Without a really strong captain we will never win anything, better clubs have better captains. I’m not John Terry’s biggest fan, ditto Rio but you knew who was in charge when they played, ditto the horrible Stevie Me, Roy Keane and quite a few more.

Whether your manager has to be as assertive is a moot point, Fergy was and LVG & Mourinho clearly are but the City fella and Wenger aren’t. That said, I can never see Arsenal winning the league or the champions for the simple reason the manager in keeping with Martinez is not assertive and as a result picks a team lacking in character, so much so that I cannot recall who the Arsenal captain is?

Right now Jags is our captain and that tells me we are going to tread water at best and at worst we will flirt with relegation. If and when Macca’s fit I would make him captain but what I really want is a new manager and right now Slaven Bilic would be first choice with Alan Irvine as his number two and my wild card choice would be Eddie Howe with Irvine as his number two.

Colin Williams
39 Posted 10/01/2015 at 11:48:33
Eddie#34 "lay it on for others"... Not 1 assist all season! In 20 plus games!
Conor McCourt
40 Posted 10/01/2015 at 11:43:28
Phil you used the word inspiring and listening to this guy inspirational is the last thing you think of. He is so droll it's unbelievable he was appointed Captain in the 1st instance.Add to that he lacks leadership qualities and appears a very self focussed player rather than on a director on the pitch.

I don't know the context of the interview but focussing on our defeats seems counter-productive. We had just lost 4 in a row but that last minute goal in the Cup should transform the squad into a mood of positivity and hunger for the next game. We broke the cycle and finished a game for the 1st time in ages. He should be talking how the team are bursting to get at City.

John Keating
41 Posted 10/01/2015 at 11:59:51
Colin
there's not one player so far this season who can hold their head up. Not one
However, it must be said that out of them all at the very least Naismith comes off the pitch having at least tried !
At least you can see some emotion from Naismith.
We all know how he was put out wide right by Moyes and how Martinez played him in his best position al la Kilmarnock and Rangers.
Playing Barkley Eto and Naismith - sometimes all together ! - in the same position has fucked them all up.
Given the right service and playing I his right position without falling over others he is still worth a place in the team
Andrew Clare
42 Posted 10/01/2015 at 12:26:16
Jagielka is not captain material.A captain should be a driving force, a man who will accept nothing but the best, a fighter constantly cajoling his team.
Likewise the manager. If only we had Diego Simeone someone with spirit.
We know our players have the talent( excluding one or two) but where's the passion?
Half of them look like they couldn't give a damn!
Clive Rogers
43 Posted 10/01/2015 at 12:35:49
Eddie #34,

Don't know what you mean. He's played in the hole all season apart from one disaster on the wing. He's not scored since Utd away on August 5th and people wonder why we can't win a game. He's a championship player.

Dave Abrahams
44 Posted 10/01/2015 at 12:38:36
John Keating(41) I think James McCarthy can justify his performances this season, I think he makes so many covering up tackles after the other players have cocked up it's unbelievable. Everton would be in a much worse situation without his imput, he has been well missed since his injury.
Mike Hughes
45 Posted 10/01/2015 at 12:47:47
This - and so much about EFC - makes me want to cry.
I really do despair.

If we do survive this season, a massive root and branch overhaul is required.

Green shoots? Nah, too much dead wood.

The motto is "Nil Satis Nisi Optimum".
Did they run out of ink after "Nil"?

Eddie Dunn
46 Posted 10/01/2015 at 12:28:44
Colin39, I am surprised at that, but thnik it is down to how the lad has been shunted all over the place.
His best position is 10 and early in the season when Ross was injured, Nais was doing really well, scoring regularly.
He ain't a winger or a midfielder, he is a poacher, who can draw fouls in and around the box, and he is good at pressurising defenders and provides an indusrious distraction giving others a chance to profit from his hard work.
He can finish given the chance.
As many have said on here, it is all about playing the right people in the right positions.
Conor Skelly
48 Posted 10/01/2015 at 13:39:40
Id give it to Lukaku. It might push him to take more resposability on the pitch like he did against West Ham.
Clive Rogers
49 Posted 10/01/2015 at 13:41:14
Eddie #46,
You are ignoring the facts. No goals for three months, no assists all season. What could be more obvious.
John Gee
50 Posted 10/01/2015 at 13:41:35
I like jags, I think he's got a quiet manner about him and that makes him an easy target. He was unfairly scapegoated at the world cup and he is getting it in the neck now from us when it's the tactics that are to blame. Don't forget he has been an almost ever present in a well performing defence for years for us.

But if you're looking for a local boy who cares about the club, has a go at people on the pitch, is a consistent performer then look no further than Baines.

Murdo Laing
51 Posted 10/01/2015 at 13:41:10
It's not for nothing that Jags secured a place as first pick in the England team, let's remember that. At his best, he is quick, strong, and reads the play exceptionally well , he has been at the heart of our defence for a long time now, and has largely been very good, an absolute rock. I think there is too much vilification of his character on here- OK maybe he isn't everyone's idea of "captain" material, but I would wager that Jags would do better without having to wear the armband, but being the stand-up character he is, he took it on. I think the real concern isn't Jags ,and his choice of words, it is the collective "character " of the team. Say what you like about Gerrard, but he is exactly the type of player(character) we need in our side right now , and his departure sees one of the few remaining truly inspirational players and leaders leave the EPL. Terry is another one , Zabaletta another ?
Ian Burns
52 Posted 10/01/2015 at 13:51:27
Charlie Nicholas has just summed up EFC on Sky saying what we have all been saying for months in we have no width, we are too slow; our most talented player Ross is having his space snuffed out by too many number players playing down the middle so on and so on and so on.

Then RM was interviewed and he used the word "phenomenal" describing the squad and the situation had nothing to do with him, it was all about the players enjoying themselves again.

McCarthy should take over the captain's role and if he goes, then give it to Besic.

I despair right now and as much as I want 3 points today I might as well ask for Sandra Bullock to knock on my door and ask herself in for dinner!

Eddie Dunn
53 Posted 10/01/2015 at 17:01:41
Good old Nais!
Anthony Jones
54 Posted 10/01/2015 at 19:51:18
Some right nonsense being spouted here. People work hardest for line managers that they want to work hard for. Managers or coaches effectively supervise all of our matches, making any captain pretty much redundant. I agree that having a leader at CB is very important for defensive organisation, but he shouldn't need to be given a bollocks title to lead.

If the players genuinely aren't motivated look towards the management team.

If you want to hear Centurian battlecries read some history.


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