26: Jack Rodwell - Beckenbauer in Royal Blue

If something was to happen to one of our senior center backs, before we get Jakielka back, would Jack Rodwell be an obvious choice to play CB? It is after all his natural and preferred position.

If he was to play CB, how would he fair?

I for one, would drop the ungrateful, greedy Lescott to the bench and give Rodwell a go. You could always change things if was to go pear shaped.

SouthernSmugToffee wrote:If something was to happen to one of our senior center backs, before we get Jakielka back, would Jack Rodwell be an obvious choice to play CB? It is after all his natural and preferred position.

If he was to play CB, how would he fair?

I for one, would drop the ungrateful, greedy Lescott to the bench and give Rodwell a go. You could always change things if was to go pear shaped.

clinton morrison gave him the run around pre season, i dont think he's ready for centre half just yet

SouthernSmugToffee wrote:If something was to happen to one of our senior center backs, before we get Jakielka back, would Jack Rodwell be an obvious choice to play CB? It is after all his natural and preferred position.

If he was to play CB, how would he fair?

I for one, would drop the ungrateful, greedy Lescott to the bench and give Rodwell a go. You could always change things if was to go pear shaped.

He's already looked out of his depth there in the pre-season games. I reckon Pip would be played there ahead of Rodders.

SouthernSmugToffee wrote:If something was to happen to one of our senior center backs, before we get Jakielka back, would Jack Rodwell be an obvious choice to play CB? It is after all his natural and preferred position.

If he was to play CB, how would he fair?

I for one, would drop the ungrateful, greedy Lescott to the bench and give Rodwell a go. You could always change things if was to go pear shaped.

He's looked a bit shaky at centre half in the two games he played there in pre-season. Plus he's 17/18, that's no age to be put in one of the toughest positions on the park against the premiership's finest.

I think he plays best in the centre of the park, anyways. Slightly less pressure and he uses the ball so well it's nice to have someone that composed in the middle of the pitch (especially when we're missing Arteta).

Tonteau wrote:

SouthernSmugToffee wrote:If something was to happen to one of our senior center backs, before we get Jakielka back, would Jack Rodwell be an obvious choice to play CB? It is after all his natural and preferred position.

If he was to play CB, how would he fair?

I for one, would drop the ungrateful, greedy Lescott to the bench and give Rodwell a go. You could always change things if was to go pear shaped.

He's looked a bit shaky at centre half in the two games he played there in pre-season. Plus he's 17/18, that's no age to be put in one of the toughest positions on the park against the premiership's finest.
I think he plays best in the centre of the park, anyways. Slightly less pressure and he uses the ball so well it's nice to have someone that composed in the middle of the pitch (especially when we're missing Arteta).

Agree we need signings ASAP - wish Bill and Co would sort this out.

What concerns me the most is after the Arse game we have 3-4 relatively winable games against lower qualoty opposition - we need to ensure that we get maximum points out of these games. It will be extemely annoying to screw these games ups just through sheer sloppyness in the transfer market again!

He's not aggressive enough to play there yet. He backs off a lot and let's his marker rough him up to much. He'll improve, no doubt, but he'll make mistakes along the way as he does. If he makes these at centre half then it could cost us a goal and cost Jack his confidence. Leave him in midfield for now. It will give him more experience of the Prem until he's ready to move back.

Is Jack Rodwell establishing himself as a permanent choice in the side?

If he keeps playing like he did in the Wigan game, Moyes will find it hard to leave him out. Did anyone see where he dragged the ball back with sole of hit foot, leaving a Wigan player standing and then went on a run into the Wigan half. He seems to be getting more cocky as his confidence grows.

Is it me or is he the only midfielder prepared to shoot from distance?

Against Wigan/Sigma who sit back he will be dangerous, it's when the midfield is a battle ground he sometimes struggles.

He was definately MOTM yesterday.

He sure does seem to be more confident out there. He even has a pop at goal with his left foot on and off from outside the box.

He's confident after the 2 goals from distance against sigma (and the second one with his left was a blinder), and he's hitting them well (especially when he's hitting with his left). He had one good strike that was saved in the first half, another that deflected just wide of the goal. If he continues to be confident and doesn't miss too many in a row, he's a fantastic attacking weapon to have, a defensive midfielder who sits back outside the area when we are attacking and comes onto the ball and strikes it if its cleared by the defence. He'll score a fair few goals this season I reckon.

I think he is a wonderful talent and I also think that Moyes is handling him very well (not in the gay way lads) by not putting too much pressure on him. I think that he will start to take Neville's place over the next 2 seasons and I would like to think Neville would welcome this in a way. He could learn alot from Pip and I think Pip is the kind of player that would be proud to see him get better than him. The problem may arise that Rodwell is better than Pip now but lets see.

I would like to see Rodders play in the DCM role on his own, maybe in the league cup game and see how he gets on without Pip in beside him (insert your own joke)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5irPKPLVgLbDUEG9SRSsf6XZ5nnbg


Rodwell blow compounds Everton's problems

Everton manager David Moyes will be without nine regular squad members on Thursday when his team face BATE Borisov in the Europa League.

Promising midfielder Jack Rodwell has become the latest to be sidelined - following Steven Pienaar, Phil Neville, Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta, Victor Anichebe in being out injured, while Louis Saha is suspended and recent arrivals John Heitinga and Lucas Neill are both ineligible - and did not travel with the group to Belarus as Everton seek to build on their 4-0 victory over AEK Athens.

"While it is disappointing we don't have the pick of all our players, that doesn't make our involvement any less enjoyable," Moyes said. "It (Europe) is something that we as a club always wanted. Finishing fifth last season and qualifying was a great achievement for us, so I am really looking forward to this match."

Rodwell remained at home to rest up and recover from flu symptoms, with South African winger Pienaar, as expected, absent with a knee injury. Pienaar's setback occurred following a challenge by Portsmouth's Aaron Mokoena - his national team captain - in the victory at Fratton Park at the weekend.

Pienaar, while disappointed referee Alan Wiley did not take action at Portsmouth, is aiming to return to fitness as soon as possible.

"I'm still in a bit of pain, but hopefully I will be okay in the next couple of days," he said in an interview with EvertonTV.

"When I landed on the ground it (the knee) was just sore. I thought that maybe the pain would ease off.

"As soon as I got back on the pitch I tried to run it off, but it was sore and I couldn't turn or move my knee. All I've been able to do is to stay at home and put ice on it. But that's all I can do.

"I was disappointed that we didn't get a free-kick for it. I saw the clip and he was a bit late, but I also know that it is part of his (Mokoena's) game to get stuck in.

"Maybe the referees are supposed to protect and blow for a free-kick, but everybody makes mistakes."

Draw will do now.

shit, whose can sit in front of the back four?