Battle For FA Cup Final Places Should See Everton Across The Finishing Line

12 May, 2009 Tom Mallows England, Europe, Latest

In his latest column for Just Football Betfair writer and proud Evertonian Tom Mallows assesses Phil Jagielka, slacking off and the battle for 5th place.

With the euphoria of reaching the FA Cup final finally subsiding, the Everton players’ minds will now be focussed on earning a place in the starting XI for the big day on May 30th at Wembley.

Fortunately for the players, the size of Everton’s squad means there isn’t that much competition for a starting place, though in the coming weeks their thoughts will drift to what happened at Goodison Park a few weeks ago.

Phil Jagielka, who is almost certain to win the club’s player of the year award, was equally nailed on for a starting place at Wembley. But in chasing an innocuous high ball in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City the England man’s knee jarred and he fell to the floor writhing in agony. The result was a cruciate ligament injury that will keep Jagielka out for at least six months.

It was a devastating blow for a player who deserved his day in the sun as much as anyone, but also served as a reminder of how quickly a serious injury can occur. It would perhaps be understandable therefore if the rest of the players tip-toed their way through the remainder of the season in order to ensure fitness for Wembley.

But that is not in Moyes’ thinking and I’m sure he would come down hard on any player perceived to be slacking. A second successive fifth place is definitely on as Aston Villa’s long season, which began with the Intertoto Cup in July, appears to be taking its toll.

To be fair to the players it isn’t in their ethos to relax either. Moulded in the shape of their boss the team gives 100% in every game they play and I see no reason why this should change – injuries like Jagielka’s are freak injuries that can happen regardless of how much effort you put into a game.

It didn’t at the Stadium Of Light a fortnight ago, where a demoralised Sunderland side obeyed the odds and rolled over as soon as they conceded the first goal. It was what they call a ‘professional’ victory, where the team did just enough to get the win.

But up until the opening goal the Toffees weren’t firing on all cylinders. If they want to beat Chelsea every player will have to be at the top of their game and go into the match in top form. To do so they will once again have to raise themselves for the final few games of the campaign to maintain performance levels.

It is that desire to be ready for Guus Hiddink’s men which should see the side through to the end of the Premier League season and secure a third successive top-six finish.