For those lucky people who may have missed today’s result, or those who had heard bad things over the airways and had chosen to tune out the final score, let me enlighten you.
Everton drew. To Swansea. 20th place Swansea. Only just. Equalised in the last minute.
Sorry to be that blunt, but it’s the sickening truth. Today represented everything that was wrong about the previous regime under Roberto Martinez, scrambling for a single point despite controlling large portions of the game against much weaker opposition, failing to galvanise after a disappointing result the game before – just negative play in general.
That’s due to the fact that despite Ronald Koeman coming in and bringing a new resilient and fresh approach, too many players that are now past their bests are still lingering in and around the squad.
As much as I hate to say it, Phil Jagielka is one of those players. Everton’s captain has stretched out his career on Merseyside as long as it will go, almost ten years, and now it could be time for him to wind down.
The 34-year old has had a disastrous time this season, especially in the last month or so. He’s given away three penalties, two against Manchester City and one today, and was part of the disappointing game at Turf Moor and the utter capitulating embarrassment at Chelsea. The only real positive result for Everton this past month was against West Ham, a game in which Jagielka sat out.
Jagielka has been a stellar player for the Toffees over the years, often being seen as an indispensable component to Everton’s makeup. He’s written his own passage in Everton’s history books, becoming the most capped English Everton player just last week, and becoming the first ever Everton player to captain England just over a year ago.
He’s undoubtedly played a massive part in helping Everton reach the FA Cup final in 2009, and in allowing the club to showcase their talents on a European stage, but now may be the time to call it a day.
In terms of on-field performances, Jagielka falls woefully short of what is expected. Ashley Williams brings all of the assuredness and panache expected of a leader and would be better suited as captain than Jagielka who, for all his faults, seems like too nice of a man; he doesn’t seem like the type to challenge his teammates to improve or give the opposition a hard time. He doesn’t possess enough snide for his position.
To partner Williams, you have either Ramiro Funes Mori or Mason Holgate, both of whom trump Jagielka in my eyes. Funes Mori, although occasionally reckless, is confident on the ball and carries an attacking threat. Established as an Argentina regular also, Funes Mori is only 25-years old, meaning there is plenty of time for him to improve under Koeman’s tutelage.
Similarly with Holgate, at a tender age of 20-years old, there is plenty of time for Koeman to mould him in his own image. Although he has only really picked up experience as a right-back or right centre-back in a back three as of yet, his future presumably lies in the heart of defence. Either option would represent a better prospect to partner Wales’ captain Williams than an ageing Jagielka.
The question then, would be what does Jagielka do now? With 18-months still left on his contract, Everton could potentially allow him to remain with the squad for the duration as a backup option and to help pass on experience and advice to the academy prospects. Alternatively, the new brutal ideology employed by the club could see him leave in the summer, but finding him a new club could prove easier said than done.
Either way, Koeman needs to show some of the pragmatism that has been associated to his character and make a decision, based on what is best for both the immediate and long-term future of Everton Football Club.
