Fighting Talk

Jags says the players are really up for the Spurs game and ready to bounce back.

Phil says: ""With the sort of players we’ve got in the squad we’re going to come out fighting for the Spurs game. It’s not a case of us thinking ‘oh no’ we’ve got another game to come. We want to bounce back. I don’t know what went wrong at Wigan. We started off quite well then just lost impetus. We weren’t as composed as we should have been on the ball and I think it was just one of those nights really.

"But we’re just thinking about Tottenham on Sunday now. They’re on fire at the moment and it’s probably not a good time to be going there. We’ll be underdogs which will probably put a bit less pressure on us and hopefully we can get the same kind of result as we got last season.

The Premier League is ridiculously tight. But I think the Christmas programme is going to be important. Once you get that out of the way, you'll see teams settling into where they should be." (28/11/08)

Fitter and Sharper

With three wins and two draws from the last five matches, The Jag believes that the Blues early season's creases have now been ironed out, get it creases, ironed out. Anyhow, the squad is getting fitter and stronger, and the best is still to come.

The Jag says: "People are getting fitter and people are getting used to playing together more. The team didn’t change that much over the summer, but there were enough tweaks here or there to cause some problems at the start of the season. Hopefully we’re ironing them out now.

If you look at the start of the season, the first five games, we had six or seven lads around the age of 20 either playing or on the bench. Whereas now, the lads have got fit, the bench looks stronger. And when you get lose a couple of players and then get a couple of new lads in, it takes time for us to adapt to them and vice versa." (22/11/08)

We Could Have Easily Gone Under

Since going out of the UEFA Cup and Carling Cup, Everton have showed character to get some good results. Jags explains.

Jags says: "Since then the performances have shown the character of the team. We could have easily gone under, started looking for excuses and blaming everyone, but as it is we've had some had matches and did well. Hopefully we've turned a corner. We knew it wasn't going to be that far away, it was just a case of eradicating those little mistakes that ended up being big mistakes.

"We've also had a little bit of luck - especially on Saturday when Fulham hit the bar and the post - I think we're getting there and we can keep a lot more clean sheets throughout the rest of the season. We were looking at how teams like Newcastle, Tottenham and Stoke were getting on. It was early doors but we still didn't want to be down there.

"Now we're looking at the likes of Villa, Hull who have made a fantastic start and we're even close to Manchester United and Arsenal. But we know that if we don't get the result we need on Saturday we could be back in the bottom half of the league - that's just the way it is at the moment." (06/11/08)

Jags In England Form

The manager of The People's Club has picked Jags out as the only defender to be on his top form this season.

Moyesy says: "Jags is the one player who has started the season consistently. In fact his form is probably where he left off last year. He got in the England squad before and I would think he will be getting very close again if his form continues." (28/10/08)

Nervous At Home

Jags has admitted that Everton are a bit nervous at home, because we have not won there this season. The derby defeat was the 5th time Everton have played at Goodison this season without winning.

Jags says: “There are no excuses. You could argue the grass was too green and the ball was too round, but the fact is we were beaten by a better team. That’s been the case in a couple of games this season. We’re conceding too many goals at home. That’s the one thing that sticks out. Last season we didn’t concede anywhere near as many at the start. We’re giving ourselves a bit of an uphill task, but hopefully it’s just getting our blip out of the way ridiculously early in the season.

We’re a little bit apprehensive when playing at home because we haven’t won at Goodison this season. If you don’t win at home, then you start to get nervous. People’s expectations are greater because of how we’ve progressed in recent seasons, but I wouldn’t say we’ve made a rod for our own backs. We expect to perform better than we have, we have good players in the squad and we shouldn’t have had such a poor start. We haven’t got 25 players fighting for a place like Liverpool, but there’s enough strength in depth as we showed last season, and hopefully we can finish somewhere similar.” (29/09/08)

We'll Sort The Defence Out

Everton's usually rock solid defence has come under some scrutiny after letting some sloppy goals in this season. Something Everton need to address now.

Jags says: "We are disappointed with it. We have to look at the situation and try and find out what is going wrong. We have to remain positive, the UEFA Cup tie is not over so we have to go there and give a good account of ourselves."

I don't think it will affect us that much. We could have played better and in parts we played some good football. Hull will be a hard game, they have just gone up to Newcastle and basically breezed a win so hopefully they will be buzzing and we can bring them back down to earth." (21/09/08)

Naive Defending

Having surrendered a 2-1 lead against Blackburn on Sunday, Phil thinks the media will be saying it's because Everton have no new signings and had to play players out of position.

Jags says: “We weren’t really worried going into the game, given everything that’s been happening. We were all aware of the situation before the game kicked off, and if we’d won then maybe it would have been brushed under the carpet for another week. As it was, we lost. We know everybody is going to make a big deal about it again now.

But we have enough good players here already to ground out results, and from 2-1 up we should have gone on to win the game or at worst drawn it. But naivety cost us. The manner in which we lost was tough to take. The first half was absolutely average on our part, but in the second half we thought we did a little bit better, but once we went ahead we fell asleep and conceded two sloppy goals.

If you’d have given us a 2-1 lead last season, more often than not we would have kept it. So we’re really gutted to have lost 3-2. But it’s only us that can put it right. Hopefully we’ll have some players in by the time the window closes. But we might have to wait a little bit because a lot of teams aren’t prepared to sell players at a decent price at the moment.” (18/08/08)

England Hope

Jags is hoping to join team mate Joleon Lescott in the England Squad for the friendly against the Czech Republic on 20th August 2008, but playing well for Everton is his priority.

Jags says: "I've always concentrated on my form for Everton and if that gets me a call-up, it gets me a call-up. But if it doesn't, as long as I'm playing well, I don't mind." (14/08/08)

Clean Sheet Paved The Way

After getting a bollocking from Moyesy after the defeat at Cambridge, the team was determined to keep a clean sheet at Preston.

Jags says: “The younger lads played their part in a nice victory. But with the back four we put out last night, it was Premier League standard. The Gaffer put a lot of emphasis on that beforehand and we were delighted to keep the clean sheet.

Yes, we got a bit of a telling off from the Gaffer on Saturday. Rightly so. We didn’t perform well, it wasn’t good but the boys showed their character out there and it wasn’t just the older lads. When we got 2-1 up against Cambridge, we should have put the game to bed. But it was the pre-season blues. It was warm, the pitch was dry and I don’t think everyone was concentrating 100 per cent. Four or five mistakes later, we found ourselves 4-2 down." (23/07/08)

This Caps It All

Earlier this morning, FIFA had stated that the England International against Trinidad and Tobago may be null and void, as 7 subs were used without there permission and The Jag was in danger of loosing his first cap. Later in the day common sense prevailed and Jag can keep his England cap. That is when he eventually receives it from the FA.

Jag says: "I was buzzing about getting my first cap and playing half the game but it was strange this morning when I woke up and heard on the radio that FIFA weren't happy. I would have been gutted if the game had been wiped out of the record books and I had been denied my first international cap. It was great to be involved and I want more of it. I would love to go on and get a full international cap. I haven't actually received my cap yet - but I have one from last year when I played in the 'B' international and a couple of Under-21 caps aswell, so I am really excited about adding a senior cap to the collection. The trip was a great experience and although itwas a long time away at the end of a long season it was well worth it. I was a bit nervous to begin with, but there were quite a few players in the same boat which made it easier." (05/06/08)

Just Perfick

Phil Jagielka has looked back on the last season as just perfect when he finished it gaining his first England Cap in last nights friendly against Trinidad and Tobago. Jag is off to recharge his batteries now in the Summer, but he wants to come back and have a right good crack at finishing in the Champions League spot, and hopefully with trip to Wembley as well with the Blues. I'll settle for that Jag !!

Jag says: "The last 10 days have just been a fantastic experience . After getting into the ‘B’ team last year, England was always at the back of my mind when I came here. I suppose you get noticed more when you play for a top five team. It’s been a great way to end the season and it was nice to get a few minutes," he said "It’s been brilliant. All I wanted was a cap for a perfect end to the season.

Hopefully next year we can come back and we’ll have another fourth-chasing season. Last time around, after it looked so promising, it turned into a battle to hang on to fifth. We know that expectations are going to grow and rightly so when you look at some of the players that we have. Hopefully we can go about fulfilling the fans expectations by doing as least as good as we did this year. Having had an experience of the stadium, it would be fantastic to get to Wembley for a cup final. I’m sure the Evertonians would go down in a shot and the Gaffer mentioned about doing well in the cups again at the end of the season.

We’d like to have another lengthy run and do a bit better again. Hopefully a couple of signings will come in. You never know what is happening during the transfer window, things might die down while the European Championships are on. But once they are over, I’m sure the club is going to be linked with a lot of decent players and, with a bit of luck, we’ll be able to sign a few, too.” (02/06/08)

Nerve-Wracking

After missing out on his England debut against USA Jag is hoping to pull on the England shirt agianst Trinidad & Tobago. He admits the England experience has been a little nerve-wracking.

Jags says:“It would have been nice to get on at Wembley but, realistically, I don’t think it was ever going to happen but maybe it will be different in Trinidad.

"It's opened my eyes a little bit. Joining Everton last summer did that as well. Training was very intense and quick but nothing much more than what I have been used to at Everton. It's just been fantastic.

"Not only are the players first class, they are nice people off the pitch too. There's been quite a few new lads but it's been easy enough to settle in. After all, I'm not the hardest person to talk to! The only thing that has been missing so far has been the first cap.

"I'd been looking forward to getting here ever since I got the message when I was out with my mum and dad after the Newcastle game. It was a bit nerve-wracking but it's just been fantastic. All I want is that first cap. That would be the perfect end to the year." (01/06/08)

Mr Dependable

Tim Howard faces Jags tonight in the England v USA game at Wembley. The Everton keeper has praised his team mate and thinks he's like England captain John Terry. We think he's better. He wouldn't miss an open goal from 12 yards out.

Tim says: "Jagielka is very much in the John Terry mould in that he blocks loads of shots, he's no nonsense and takes care of the defensive side of things. He is a pleasure to be around and is a great teammate so I'm really looking forward to him hopefully getting a cap. He's the type of player who is not always pleasing on the eye but his work is very, very good." (28/05/08)