Everton FC defender Phil Jagielka's fond goalkeeping memories

[Sharpys top lip]

HE HAS earned plaudits as one of the best centre halves in the Premier League – but Phil Jagielka still has fond memories of the fateful game when he became an emergency goalkeeper.

The injured Everton defender was famously asked to go between the sticks during a game for his former club Sheffield United when keeper Paddy Kenny went off during a home game with Arsenal.

Now the England star has recalled the impressive shut-out he performed to save the day and earn himself cult status among fans of the South Yorkshire club.

Speaking during an exclusive interview on a new club DVD aimed at young Toffees, My Everton, the 27-year-old said: “I’ve always enjoyed playing in goal.

“When we’ve had five-a-side before training at Sheffield United and the keepers are doing their training separately I would always go in.

“Neil Warnock has his ways at United and didn’t like putting goalkeepers on the bench.

“He preferred to have more attacking options.

“It’s not very often your goalkeeper goes down but when you are playing Arsenal at home, you are doing well, you go 1-0 up and then Paddy Kenny pulls his groin and everyone looks at you, you cannot help but laugh.

Bet he's better than are reseve keepers...

 

[Goat]

If his knee is screwed he could fight Tim for Number 1.

 

[teppic]

i remember watching that game on the box.

he was brilliant.

 

[Rook]

My favorite non-Everton game of that season. He made 2-3 very good saves in the last 20+ minutes as well. In my opinion that season as Sheff Utd was his best season as a professional which is saying alot. When we signed him I couldn't believe our luck that we got for for 3M and Naysmith.

 

[teppic]

yes, i had a right ding dong with leonbil (come back dude, top poster!) on the old toffeeweb forum. i was telling him jags was ace, he was not happy about the signing.

 

[StDomingosGringo]

I think I was quite underwhelmed at first but that was mainly thinking of him as a central midfield signing. I hadn't seen enough of him at centre back obviously. Maybe I should be pessimistic about players more often.

 

[Rook]

At Sheff utd he played CM in the Championship. For their 1st prem season, Warnock knowing his team would be under seige moved Jags to CB. However Warnock would move Jags back to CM if Sheff Utd needed goals and/or a more potent attack. I remember him banging in a few goals for them (think he had 4 prem goals) including a GW at Boro. He's got a pretty good shot from the top of the box.

I think we bought him to be Carsley's heir and to provide depth in the defense given that he played mutilple positions there. Moyes didn't handle him well when we 1st got him though. 1st of all when he played CM his job was to help out the attack, not play defense which is why he didn't look good in the Carsley role. Also we usually bring in people slow but Jags was playing a different position every week (RB, CB, DM, hell the only position he didn't play was goal) and trying to fit into a new club at the same time. It admittedly affected his confidence a little.

Now that he's settled in and once he's fully recovered from his injuries I think if we wanted to we could experiment with using him as a jack of all trades type of player. Though he's needed for that role given that