Sean, I am almost in agreement with you; however, if Rodwell is supposed to be the next World Beater, it doesn't matter where he plays he should still shine through.

His passing is crisp but non-productive. He goes in for stupid tackles, gets booked and then disappears from the game.

Rooney was winning games on his own for us, Rodwell has yet to take any game by the scruff of the neck and make us think "Wow"

He will be a centre half and probably a great one, but the man has too much skill to be sitting on teh bench waiting for Jags, Distin and Heitinger to get injured for a game.

The "next Hoddle", "dictated play versus Liverpool, dominated European games", Really? Well you've obviously seen something I haven't!.

I've said for a long time that a lot of Evertonians hype up Rodwell far too much, I mean saying he's going to be world class, not a chance. I've seen nothing in 3½ years to suggest that, yeah he'll be a very good pro, but not world class IMO.

And coming back to Wilshere, yeah he plays with some great players but do they have anything to do with is movement and how easily he finds space for himself or his footballing brain or his vision and range of passing? No, I don't think so.

All that comes within and Rodwell lacks in a lot of those. Last night was a shocker for him but I've said many a time that his movement is shit, he doesn't make space for himself to recieve the ball.

He's got a good engine and has two great feet and on his game he can pass well too but when playing in midfield his positional sense and movement is crap. Last night he actually did look like a defender in midfield, and maybe cos he is a natural defender, that's why his positional sense and movement is so bad?.

Maybe the reason Moyes keeps saying he won't sell Rodwell and that he sees him as a CB in the future is because he's thinking of maybe partnering him with Jags pretty soon... I don't know, but with our season basically over, why not try forging a partnership between 'em and see how it goes, cos to me he's not good enough to be in our midfield.

I think it could be time to blood him at CB now cos, for me, he's had plenty of chances to stake his claim as a midfielder but he just isn't consistant enough in there and maybe it's time to do what you say and let him learn his CB trade.

"... dictated play versus Liverpool, dominated European games"

Sean,

You have got to help me with the above. Which games are you talking about?

I know Moyes has his faults but i don't think Moyes can be blamed for Rodwell getting the ball then passing it backwards, then sideways, then backwards, then sideways, then backwards, then sideways. Except for Tobais Linderoth, I don't think I have ever seen a player pass the ball sideways as much as Rodwell.

In my opinion, this lad has been so over hyped by the fans it is unreal, for example we have had people comparing him to the Kaiser and in the OP to Zidane, two of the greatest footballers the world has seen for the last 100 years.

Rodwell seems to be getting as much hype as Rooney did from Evertonians as he came through, which I find incredible.

As Tony (1) says, he will be a centre-half. At the moment he doesn't fit into the Moyes ethos to play centre-half.

Imagine a centre half at everton who wants to pass a ball. It beggars belief!

Sean

Agree with Dave here and just haven't seen these performances myself. Don't get me wrong, i've always thought there could be a real player in there, but it's just not happening. Although he's had a few decent games I'm not sure I've ever seen a MoM performance from him.

It's one thing having a crisp pass but if it's always going sideways or backwards it's never going to dictate a game. Likewise his effortless, gliding running becomes very frustrating when it appears he's not grasping the importance of creating space with off-the-ball movement.

Really not sure what the future holds for Rodwell and given his limitations in centre mid, it's probably going to be at the back.

Personally given our finances if someone offers £20m for him in the summer I'd happily take it to buy a striker and some desperately needed pace and width.

David Thomas (#3), Rodwell does exactly as Arteta does, sideways and back, I don't think you mentioned that. But then again Arteta is the master!

We certainly won't be seeing him at centre-half anytime soon, what with Fella's injury... unless we'd prefer Neville or Heitinga playing DM for us of course!

I'd sell Rodwell in the summer, we don't have time to wait for him to develop into a top midfielder... when he does, he would be sold. He doesn't do anything outstanding anyway, just simple things. Get £20 million for him, get Charlie Adam in, and a decent left winger.

Norman,

I agree Arteta has been doing the same this season as well. It's so infuriating to watch.

The thing is, lads, is he being coached as a centre-back or a midfielder? He looks lost to me. I understand the points some of use make about making space for himself, if you watch him for the under-21s he doesn't seem to have that problem.

Remember Fellaini in his first year everyone was saying worst signing ever, now look he is on the verge of being a 40 or 50 million pound player in today's market. As for the sideway backway passing, what do you expect with the lack of movement in the attacking third, hence our goalscoring problems with teams that park the bus.

I have never bought into all the hype that Rodwell is the next big thing at Everton. He flatters to deceive in most games he has played for us.

I really don't understand why fans get so excited over him. Last night sums up what he does for us: he was up against a mid-table Championship midfield and he went missing.

The hype he gets from the media is mystifying and personally I would sell him in the summer, get some cash from Man Utd ? and they can give us Darren Gibson as well.

"I know Moyes has his faults but I don't think Moyes can be blamed for Rodwell getting the ball then passing it backwards, then sideways, then backwards, then sideways, then backwards, then sideways."

True, but he is responsible for trying to transform him into a midfielder. When he first got an opportunity during one of our frequent injury crises, Moyes drafted him into midfield due to the fact we had no-one else. Had the lad even played there before up to that point? As far as I know, he'd always played centre-half.

Moyes later came out and said Rodwell was not yet experienced enough to play centre-half in the Premier League and thus he would be looking to use him as a defensive midfielder for the time being. He then scores a couple of goals and is suddenly being described by the manager as now being an attacking midfielder who'll be 'challenging' for Tim Cahill's place in the team. Is he just expected to adapt immediately and alter his natural defensive instincts?

Add to this the fact that he never really gets a consistent run of games to find form and truly learn the role expected of him, then it's no wonder he sometimes seems a bit to eager to rake the steady, safety first option.

Sean, not being funny mate, but Fellaini is far, far from looking like a £40-50M player, even in today's market.

Rodwell is and will be a class player, people on here have short memories,

He was superb against Villa last year and indeed in the derby the season before last was magnificent.

Rodwell and the entire team were shite last night, guided by the most inept (tactically) manager in the Prem.

How many times has he dropped players after a good game, how many times has he given players 90 fuckin seconds (Rooney), then SAF gets him and he plays every week.

Rodwell is the real deal, so is Felli and it wasn't long ago people on here said he was overrated, so give him a break.

Bily's class as well and looked capable last night , with his crossing, till dickhead took him off for Anichibe FFS!

As for playing him in defence, never! Midfielders of his capabilities and Felli's don't come along that often, we're lucky we have two! Just a pity that prick of a manager can't put a team out with any positional sense, other than 'defend at all costs'.

This is a manager who for 9 years has looked for a wide right player when we had one playing on the left.

Pienaar should have been on the right and Billy or whoever on the left, but no, he keeps the right footed Pienaar on the left and spends £9million on a left-sided midfielder, and leaves him on the bench FFS.

Moyes's tactics would make Messi and Maradonna look shite.

Hang on mate what are these great talents? Being young? Average player, that's all he has ever been and all he will ever be. Last night, a great chance against Championship players no less, Rodwell could not get a grip in midfield. Again, what are his strengths? Passing a ball ten yards? Of which a lot are either overhit or don't find a man.

The lad cannot dribble, he does not bang goals in from thirty yards and he certainly has never had me on the edge of my seat. Real Madrid and Man Utd are supposedly interested? No chance... for one, Gibson at Utd is a far better player and he is about seventh choice.

Oh yea, Madrid are really going to replace Ozil and Khedira with a player who struggles to get a shirt for a side fighting relegation, its fucking laughable. He may well turn out decent... but special? Not a chance.

Special players or even players worth £20 million can change a game in an instant Rodwell can just about change his own boots. This is the problem with English footballers, they have basic football skills and are hailed as special. Rodwell glides like the great Ze Zu... lol.

Let's put it this way: if were forced to sell either Fellaini or Rodwell? Sorry Jack but your gone.

Rodwell is 19 years old. Sometimes he looks good, sometimes lost. He's 19.

Brian@13, totally agree.

I also agree with the comments about Felliani being worth £40M: a decent defensive midfielder (water carrier) in the mould of Deschamps and Makele and he won't achieve 50% of what them players did. James @15 quality and special don't know age, it comes as standard in top players.

The majority of the midfield is shite...

Rodwell has had LOADS of chances and just doesn't cut the mustard; Arteta lost interest after signing his new contract; Osman plays well once a season; Bily looks like he wants to be back in Russia drinkin' vodka; Fellaini makes too many mistakes and can't mark ? NONE of them score enough goals or can beat a man.

None of them EVER command a game, or are always available to get the ball of the centre-half. They never drive an attack forwards with pace, run at the defence or run past the man holding the ball. NEVER.

Footie is fuckin' easy ? let's face it, if Rooney can play it then ANYONE can ? dunno why it looks so fuckin' hard when Everton are playing.

Teams just drop off when we have the ball and let us pass sideways, 'coz they know we've not got a clue.

Fellaini is my favourite player but I think we should cash in on him. Rodwell is our most promising player but he also should be sold.

A lot of people will disagree. Some will go crazy about the suggestion of this but, where else are we going to raise money to rebuild? There comes a time when every team needs to rebuild; ours is now. I understand that selling these two would be pointless if the money is not reinvested into the team. My reasons for selling Fellaini are:

1) We are lucky to get more than 25 games a season out of him.
2) He can be replaced.
3) We can get big money for him.
4) We are not going to be able to keep him beyond his current contract (another Pienaar)
5) Because of reason 4, we can not build a team around him.

The reasons for selling Rodwell:

1) He's not that important to the team.
2) We can get big money for him.
3) He's not as good as people make out.
4) he can be replaced.

Selling these two could raise between £40 - £50 million... this money could seriously put us back up in the top 6 challanging the CL places next season while reducing our debt. Pay £5m off our debt, use £35m for transfers and the rest for wages on loans or free transfers to boost squad numbers.

I cannot see a takeover anytime soon, so we can not carry on sleepwalking towards complete meltdown. Forget about trying to raise money from fringe players, no one will pay the money need for them. If the fringe players can be moved on great, extra transfer funds. Moyes gets no money from the board, so it's time to start managing his squad and raising big money from within.

One small problem, Mr Parkes ....

March....
April...
May.

Three months... no transfer window.

Not to mention the fact that your suggestion has already been raised and discussed at length on these pages.

Did we do a mini-Leeds, and where do we go from here?

This isn?t meant to be an overly negative post, but it occurred to me that in the mid-2000s we might have overstretched our limited financial resources in an attempt to secure Champions League qualification, and having failed to do so are now facing a cost-cutting agenda. Obviously we never achieved the ?success? Leeds managed, and haven?t created such a big problem, and we can be thankful for that, but realistically, what happens now?

Relegation seems unlikely, but so does finishing in the top 6, so what has to happen, and what would we like to happen?

Assuming that the likely course of events this summer will be Bill & David remaining in situ, and no new money appearing, where does that leave us?

I am assuming that the probable departures of Yak, Yobo and Vaughan will bring in close to £10M, and this will be more or less used to keep the club afloat, so if we want to bring fresh faces in, we?re probably going to have to flog some players currently in the squad. My question is, who is expendable, marketable, and who would be realistically like to bring in to improve on what has been a mixed but pretty unremittingly disappointing season.

• Howard ? Keep ? Our No1 and is mostly consistent. Can?t do much better and wouldn?t bring in much £££
• Mucha ? Sell ? Moyes rates Howard too much to rotate, so he won?t be happy and there?s not much need for an international 2nd keeper
• Turner ? Keep ? No point selling for peanuts
• Hibbert ? Keep ? Job for life from Moyes
• Baines ? Keep ? Probably our best player this season?but will be courted no doubt this summer
• Heitinga ? 50/50 ? Depends on his attitude and ambition, can be useful but only if his heart is in it
• Jagielka ? Keep ? Will be courted but without him our CB options look very iffy
• Distin ? Keep ? Too old to raise much money and a good season or two left in him
• Neville ? Keep ? Likewise won?t raise much, although his wages could be handy, but he is the only realistic cover at LB if nothing else
• Coleman ? Keep ? Interesting to see how he develops and prob not worth that much
• Bilyaletdinov ? Sell ? Luxury player and we don?t have the cash. Just hope the Russians haven?t been watching his recent performances
• Arteta ? Keep ? Whopping wages but can still change a game for us
• Cahill ? Keep ? Twilight of his career and a match winner
• Osman ? Keep ? Cause Moyes says so and his versatility. Oh and having a good season
• Fellaini ? 50/50 ? With agent father making noises and 2 years left on his contract the ball is in his court
• Rodwell ? Sell ? If we keep Fellaini, we don?t need him, he would raise a lot of cash that we would need to buy strikers, wingers etc etc etc
• Saha ? Keep - No point selling and our best striker
• Beckford ? Keep ? Might turn into a bargain buy. Make or break next season.
• Anichebe ? Keep ? Cause we just gave him a new contract! A lot of improvement before anyone would want to buy him anyway
• Baxter ? Sell ? Seems to have stalled in his development, could be a handy £500,000 or so

Well, I expect these are the decisions Moyes and Kenwright are beginning to mull over. I?d be loath to sell Heitinga, Fellaini or Rodwell, but I don?t see many other options if we want to balance the squad and the books and bring in even one significantly better striker. Going to be a very interesting summer as I don?t think even dithering Dave will want to merely maintain a stagnating squad.

Andrew... nice post, but is there any real point to hashing this out now? We have ten games still to go, and yes, we should be able to secure safety and draw a veil on another hugely disappointing season. But this all seems very CM/FM/Fifa 11 to me... It's months away. And Moyes and Kenwright are very unlikely to be thinking along the same lines as you.