Phil Jagielka - "Torres in my Pocket"

PHIL JAGIELKA reckons the nightmare start to his England career helped turn him into a man. The Everton centre-back has been one of the big success stories as the Three Lions try to claw their way back to respectability after a shocking World Cup.
He is now a genuine rival to Rio Ferdinand and John Terry and many believe he should command a starting spot on Tuesday against Montenegro - even with a fully-fit squad.

Jagielka's baptism of fire came when Ferdinand pulled out of the friendly with Spain in February last year. The 28-year-old Toffees star was pitched in against the likes of David Villa and Fernando Torres but after a hugely impressive 35 minutes, lost the ball to Xabi Alonso and was then skinned by Villa for Spain's opener. Jagielka was one of five men who did not last beyond half-time in the 2-0 defeat in Seville and was heartbroken by his mistake.

But now he looks back on that as a crucial part of his football development. He admitted: "That turned me from a boy to a man in a way. It was a strange game, really. "If you look back at the 45 minutes, five were bad and 40 were really good.
"I was happy with my performance but the main talking point was obviously my bad decision with the pass and then not getting back to tackle. "Unfortunately, that's international football - if you make a mistake it's blown up and I didn't feel good after the game. "But I would agree that it helped me to deal with the expectation of playing for your country and it took me on to the next level."

That 2-0 defeat 18 months ago was a reality check for everyone who felt Fabio Capello's England were on a par with the best in the world. And Jagielka, who missed the World Cup after sitting out most of last season to recover from a cruciate knee ligament injury, feels there are huge comparisons with the old under-achieving Spanish sides and where England are now.

He added: "If you look back five or six years, when you see their players and some of their performances, Spain were the most frustrating team in the world. "They were a real Jekyll and Hyde team and I'd like to think we can follow what they've done.
"There are certainly similarities - they had great players to choose from, so have we. They under-achieved - and so have we. "And I'd like to think the comparisons between our sides can carry on into the future. "Hopefully, we have learned from mistakes we made and can give Euro 2012 a good crack."

Ironically, having to watch England's failure in South Africa from his sofa at home may well have been a blessing in disguise for Jagielka. He said: "I may never get to go to a World Cup and I was gutted not to go to South Africa even though, realistically, I didn't expect it. "Not many of the team came back from South Africa with better reputations than they went with. "Maybe the likes of me, Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson don't have the horror of coming back as under-achievers and having that hanging over us. We had a bit of a fresh start after - the next squad was a young one and didn't have any of that baggage from the World Cup. "In hindsight, it was probably good to have that rest. "Looking back it was the right decision for me not to go but if I'd had the chance I would've loved it."

England's displays in the two Euro 2012 qualifiers since the World Cup debacle have certainly been a huge improvement. And Manchester-born Jagielka insists there are not too many in the England line-up he would replace, even if he had the pick of any players in the world. He said: "I don't tend to look at threats too much, purely because if we perform well we shouldn't have to worry. "I won't stay awake at night worrying because when you look around the dinner table or dressing room at the amount of talent there, no one else strikes any fear. "There aren't too many you'd replace. We just need to put it together for the crucial stages of a tournament. "As a fan, even if I wasn't part of it, I'd love to see it."

And if he does lose out to Ferdinand in Tuesday's Group G Wembley clash with Montenegro - who have also won their first two qualifiers - there will be no sulking from the down-to-earth stopper. Former Sheffield United star Jagielka added: "I understand that with Rio and JT's previous England careers and experience that I may have to bide my time and watch from the subs' bench. "But if it comes to Tuesday and I'm not playing, I will be supporting the boys as much as anyone else. "I have Polish and Scottish grandparents so I'm a bit of a mongrel really. "But I have always seen myself as English and even if I'd never been called up, I couldn't have seen myself playing for anyone else. "I don't speak Polish or have a Scottish twang, I'm English. I've always supported them and always will."

1904: BREAKING NEWS
Phil Jagielka has been ruled out of England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro with a hamstring injury. Bolton's Gary Cahill is called up as his replacement


shit

hope he is okay for a weeks time

Mr_Ben wrote:1904: BREAKING NEWS
Phil Jagielka has been ruled out of England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro with a hamstring injury. Bolton's Gary Cahill is called up as his replacement


shit

hope he is okay for a weeks time

This could be a chance to see how Distin and Heitinga do together. Jags hasn't been at his best, so could work well for the team if he had a few games off. Hate to see players pick up injuries all the same, but just trying to find a lil ole positive.

crap... is Joey's loan able to be recalled ?

hamstrrings can take fooking ages to mend properly

Bloke who mends the ice machine told me JT & Rio asked him to fake injury so they could have one last dance.

Made 4 Gwladys wrote:crap... is Joey's loan able to be recalled ?

hamstrrings can take fooking ages to mend properly

Distin & Heitinga at the back then.

Super wrote:

Made 4 Gwladys wrote:crap... is Joey's loan able to be recalled ?

hamstrrings can take fooking ages to mend properly

Distin & Heitinga at the back then.

Agreed, but I said at the time loaning Joey was crazy as all it would need would be 1 injury to a centre back & we're screwed for cover... what if Heits or Distin get injured or red carded... we only have DUffy to go in there... unless we're going to put Hibbo in there like we did in Europe ..

Madness !

Jags out of the derby. He is going to be out for another 2-3 weeks according to Talk Sport.

Taken from the News of the World......

Arsenal are set to make an improved £15m offer for Everton defender Phil Jagielka in January. The Goodison side KO'd the Gunners' £8m 'derisory' bid for the England international, 28, in the summer. But Jagielka fits Arsenal's need for a top centre-back free to play in Europe.

Super wrote:Taken from the News of the World......

Arsenal are set to make an improved £15m offer for Everton defender Phil Jagielka in January. The Goodison side KO'd the Gunners' £8m 'derisory' bid for the England international, 28, in the summer. But Jagielka fits Arsenal's need for a top centre-back free to play in Europe.

He's not back to his top yet, but even for £15M who would we get to replace him?

Super wrote:Taken from the News of the World......

Arsenal are set to make an improved £15m offer for Everton defender Phil Jagielka in January. The Goodison side KO'd the Gunners' £8m 'derisory' bid for the England international, 28, in the summer. But Jagielka fits Arsenal's need for a top centre-back free to play in Europe.

On current form? Take the money and play Distin/Heitinga or Distin/Rodwell at centre back. Spend the proceeds on giving Pienaar a new contract and buying a couple of young stars from the lower leagues.

hairy cataract wrote:

Super wrote:Taken from the News of the World......

Arsenal are set to make an improved £15m offer for Everton defender Phil Jagielka in January. The Goodison side KO'd the Gunners' £8m 'derisory' bid for the England international, 28, in the summer. But Jagielka fits Arsenal's need for a top centre-back free to play in Europe.

On current form? Take the money and play Distin/Heitinga or Distin/Rodwell at centre back. Spend the proceeds on giving Pienaar a new contract and buying a couple of young stars from the lower leagues.

Based on current form I would agree with that.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1340634/Everton-defender-Phil-Jagielka-ruled-busy-festive-programme.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Phil Jagielka will miss Everton’s entire Christmas and New Year programme after he suffered a thigh injury against Manchester City on Monday.

The England defender had a scan on Merseyside on Tuesday after he limped out of
the 2-1 win and has been ruled out of games against Birmingham, West Ham and Stoke.

He could also miss the Goodison Park match against Tottenham on January 5 as well
as the FA Cup third round tie at Scunthorpe three days later.

It is a blow for Everton, who are already without Holland defender John Heitinga - Jagielka’s natural replacement - because of knee trouble.

Everton fear he will be out untilthe new year, too, after he saw a specialist on Tuesday.

Bordeaux, meanwhile, are ready to bid for Everton striker Louis Saha when the
January transfer window opens.

Duffy! On deck!

mindyerho? wrote:Duffy! On deck!

Hibbo centre half.

Dixie Land wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1340634/Everton-defender-Phil-Jagielka-ruled-busy-festive-programme.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Phil Jagielka will miss Everton’s entire Christmas and New Year programme after he suffered a thigh injury against Manchester City on Monday.

The England defender had a scan on Merseyside on Tuesday after he limped out of
the 2-1 win and has been ruled out of games against Birmingham, West Ham and Stoke.

He could also miss the Goodison Park match against Tottenham on January 5 as well
as the FA Cup third round tie at Scunthorpe three days later.

It is a blow for Everton, who are already without Holland defender John Heitinga - Jagielka’s natural replacement - because of knee trouble.

Everton fear he will be out untilthe new year, too, after he saw a specialist on Tuesday.

Bordeaux, meanwhile, are ready to bid for Everton striker Louis Saha when the
January transfer window opens.

On the Guardian now as well, this could be bad!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/dec/22/phil-jagielka-injury-everton

Would we play Pip as CB and Hibbo as RB then? Or Rodwell could slot in as CB since he has experience in that spot.

I wasn't aware of Heitinga's injury. When did that happen?

We have options with Hibbert and Neville. Yobo has a season long loan contract at Fenerbache, so won't be returning.

Jags has now scored as many own goals this season as our top scoring striker has scored goals.

Dixie Land wrote:Jags has now scored as many own goals this season as our top scoring striker has scored goals.

And he's scored more own goals than any other defender in PL history bar Richard Dunne and Jamie Carragher

hairy cataract wrote:

Dixie Land wrote:Jags has now scored as many own goals this season as our top scoring striker has scored goals.

And he's scored more own goals than any other defender in PL history bar Richard Dunne and Jamie Carragher

Jags for England.... oh, he is already there.

Jags should be dropped.

This is Everton Football Club. We don't do bad defences. He's been rubbish since returning. A few glimpses of skill are overshadowing laxidaisyness. The clearance into the goal area with Howard was a joke. Sometimes it's best to let it go for a corner. Not good enough this season to be keeping other players out, and only Heitingas injury has prevented him from being dropped.

BB wrote:Jags should be dropped.

This is Everton Football Club. We don't do bad defences. He's been rubbish since returning. A few glimpses of skill are overshadowing laxidaisyness. The clearance into the goal area with Howard was a joke. Sometimes it's best to let it go for a corner. Not good enough this season to be keeping other players out, and only Heitingas injury has prevented him from being dropped.

BB I fully agree with you mate.....


But I am afaird he is in the mould of Areta and Saha...he wont be dropped unless he is banned.

Should be back to face West Ham.