COLUMNIST KEVIN SPARKE
Jack Rodwell - 'Der Kaiser'
Comments (32) : That’s what should happen — but it won’t. I’ve no doubt the future will bring Rodwell trophy after trophy but it probably won’t be at Everton... So let’s enjoy him whilst we can – Jack Rodwell – ‘Der Kaiser’
Why ‘Der Kaiser’? For those of you still wet behind the ears (Under 50) ‘Der Kaiser’ was the nickname of the one of the best footballers I was ever privileged to be able to watch - Franz Beckenbauer. He was a brilliant player; brave, tough, level headed, a fantastic football brain and the ability to direct the pace and the flow of any game he played in. At times his passing was imperious and he very rarely played a wayward pass and nearly always it was an intelligent and measured pass. In that great West German side of 1974 he was the architect of everything that was good about that team; everything came through Beckenbauer and everything the opposition tried seemed to be broken up by Beckenbauer.
For me his crowning achievement was the 1974 World Cup final when his leadership and skill as a tactician in defence controlled the pace of the game, owning the centre of the park and negated the Dutch genius Johan Cruyff’s side’s ‘Total Football’ through slowing the game down; keeping his team’s possession through accurate passing; spraying the ball to midfield and wide and dictating the pace and nature of the measured counter attacking football that West Germany played that day.
Now, I’m not saying for one moment that Rodwell is nearly as good as that — yet. But his poise, balance two-touch measured passing, intelligent direction of the pace and reading of the game is so reminiscent of ‘Der Kaiser’s’ magisterial and seemingly effortless style.
I’m hoping that Rodwell stays with us for many years and develops that style here; unfortunately, such is the lowness of our stock in contemporary English football, he is probably already regarded as another down payment in Bill Kenwright’s lunatic scheme to take us to Kirkby and the inevitable downsizing of the club to a mid-Championship side that this suicidal move will probably bring.
However, until one of the money teams comes calling, let’s enjoy watching this lad develop into the fine footballer he is going to be — gentlemen (and Ladies); I truly believe we are witnessing the birth of genius — Jack Rodwell 'Der Kaiser' FEC (Future England Captain)
Reader Comments
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Fighting off the funny money that will be put on the club’s — and his — table will have nothing to do with Kirkby.
He also holds his arms out in dispair, not able to make the pass that his team mates haven’t seen, he’s quite something. Plus, he’s going to be a huge player in the Viera pysique.
Will he be better than Franz? Right now, I couldn’t give a dam, just let him get on with his own game. Saying he’s going to be that good, is the same as saying Everton are going to lift all those trophies. A bit pointless at this stage.
While i’m happy enough to let the likes of Lescott go for silly money...Midfielders of Rodwell’s obvious potential are a different matter..
Reminds me of another German player as well...a certain Mr Matthaus..
I do not know about the Lothar Matthaus comparison as he doesn’t seem to have shown any signs of mastering pinpoint accurate 70 yard cross field balls or to have that incisiveness in the final third. He seems more of a Beckenbauer to me and quite frankly is the player we have been craving for over 20 years, The General, and hopefully, he will grow into that role and become the next Mr Everton.
I’d say - he’s a bit like Rodwell..
He really does look calm and majestic at times but credit also to Bigwig who I thought partnered him really well last night.
And, Keith, you’re right, the money-clubs will be in for him but I DO fear the spectre of Kirkby — don’t forget Bill has to get the money from somewhere or his goose is stuffed and cooked.
Rodwell is still very inconsistent and his best games have come against teams that we don't know much about so it is difficult to gauge his talent against the unknown quality of the oposition.
It's in games like the Fulham game when I want to see him take charge and not go missing as he did.
Gosling also never put a foot wrong all night and spent more time in the opposition's half than his own playing more RM than RB.
Ian - totally agree about Gosling. Definitely on his way up. And if Jack puts in a couple more performances like that, the old pros will simply expect him to take more responsibility. He’s just in that no-man’s land between being the kid and the boss at the moment.
"Der Kaiser" didn’t disappoint, he was one of those players with an aura around him that said I’m better than anyone else here and you and I both know it . Nothing was a problem, the man was just sheer class, imperious doesn’t do him justice.
Jack Rodwell? well yes you’re right he has that supreme self awareness and confidence, and some of his passing last night was sublime. But Beckenbaueresque? A long way to go yet I fear. but the lad has phenomenal potential if he sticks to it and doesn’t get carried away with himself or injured.
1. Either he keeps his feet on the ground and just plays his game, develops in the right way. Or he assumes the arrogance & impatience of youth, wants more, faster and better.
2. He stays loyal to EFC for at least 5 years (and hopefully 15). or his agent starts looking for his first big pay day much earlier.
Let’s face it, this kid is pushing all the right buttons. He has more than a fair chance of being on the plane to SA. If he escapes serious injury then his value in 3 years (still only 21) will be astronomical.
We can only hope that either EFC find their benevolent billionaire or, my preference, there are UEFA rules in place to prevent the likes of Man City & others doing what they want.
Nobody bosses big games at 18. That just doesn’t happen for reasons of experience, confidence & strength. But this boy is close to doing it. Big, strong, fast, two-footed, likes a shot, doesn’t give the ball away. He’s Beckanbauer, he’s Matthaeus, he’s Carlos Alberto, he’s going to probably be captain of Everton (if he stays) and England. he could be the first £100m player.
How much was Kirkby again? :)
The trouble with last night was, a little slice of luck and AEK Athens. They really were a rather poor side. Those two quick goals filled the Blues with great confidence and AEK’s lack of quality did the rest.
Once again, I find contributors to this forum apparently fully aware of all the ramifications surrounding DK.... Where do you get all this surprising knowledge from?
Lets just wait and see (1) if DK gets the go-ahead and (2) where the outcome will lead the club.
Back to the team last night. Bily was a breath of fresh air. One has to feel, as he grows accustomed to his new team mates and Premier League football, he is really going to be a tremendous asset . Already one feels there is a burgeoning partnership there between Bily and Bainsey.
Over on the other flank, Peanuts and Gosling also made our right flank something to be pleased about. Peanuts we know about but Gosling, even allowing for the poor showing by AEK, performed really well. Remember he is only 19. He won’t find himself up against such poor opposition that often but I noticed particularly how he scuttled back to his defensive duties whenever an attack from our right flank foundered.
I personally like Hibbert as a person but he is simply not up to standard as a Premier League right back. He seemed so often caught out of position when he tried to go forward and of course his lack of inches made his heading in defensive situations, i.e. corners and crosses, especially dangerous.
So difficult to say but one can’t help feeling a lift after last night's display. It's just what we have all been crying out for.
Beckenbauer, Matthaeus, Gerrard, Alberto? Some of these players are all time world greats?
It's not that long ago when JR was left battered and run ragged by a couple of old pros at Upton Park, there’ll be a few more lessons dished out from the likes of Bowyer and Parker before we can even call him the finished article.
Jack Rodwell has enormous potential, the excitement is understandable, but lets let the boy breathe, give him a chance to develop, learn his trade, let him come to terms with all the media attention he’s bound to attract.
At this stage of his development it's really unfair to start burdening him with comparisons to some of football's true greats.
I never quite got what everyone else was on about with Rodwell, good prospect yes top notch I wasn’t sure. The Rooney comparisons unfair as playing up front is always more eye-catching, plus as a player Rooney was always destined for the very top.
Anyway back to Jack, maybe it was because Neville wasn’t there and Jack thought (or was told) to step up to the plate, and boy did he, last night he became a man. Der Kaiser? you're having a laugh, Jack's now a great prospect but sorry, he’s still miles off that level.
Great night, great result but will Moyes stick with that team? Somehow I doubt it.
1. This squad is much much stronger than last year - not only Distin for Lescott - Neil , Bett, Billy and Jo but also fit Saha, Yak and Arteta eventually but also Gosling and Rodders who are as expected tranied on and developing into first teamers.
2. Rodders is very different to the greats mentioned and is his own man developing with the benefit of the curretn era of football which has moved on so much. He is and will continue to be so much better than some of those greats mentioned at certain techniques that mark him as different. The calm controlled vision looking forward in tight situations coupled with one or two directional change tricks and the direct running, passing and shooting is one hell of a combination.
3. Overall despite comments on the opposition last night with the little technical cammeos from Felli, Rodders, Bily, Bainesy and Pienaar it reminded me of a time when Howard as player manager was part of a threesome with very young Tricky Trev (Alan Irvine) and Gary Stevens and we started to show some shape and rythym.
Whisper quietly but I have the same feeling and potential of this lot could be anything.
4. Moyesy likes to have leaders as did our great 80s side. Neill is a leader and captain, Bily is a leader and captain, Distin the same and so is Heitinga — not to mention Jags and Bainsey who were captains fo Sheff Utd and Wigan respectively — We now have the winning mentality throughout the squad.
5. I do now believe that with the improved depth and quality of squad it will mean that Hibbert and Osman will not be first choice on the right and we will have enough to balance the Thursday-Sunday cycle.
As I hinted at in the original article, he is nowhere near the finished artical and the comparisons with ’Der Kaiser’ are more to do with a similarity of style. He has the same hunger for the ball and is developing the same ’charisma’ or ’presence’ in the centre of the park... for want of better words
Howard Don best sums it up in his comments. If he gets to be half as good as Beckenbauer he’ll still be some player.
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1 Posted 18/09/2009 at 15:51:59
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Together with the excellent work and tracking of Fellaini and Cahill (who was a little impetuous at times - hence the card) the midfield looked solid anf impenetrable.
Long may it continue