ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

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Why defence not midfield maestro

I wonder if fellow toffees were feeeling a tad underwhelmed following David Moyes comments regarding Jack Rodwell in the press of late. What I am referring to was the statement that the player had the potential to develop into a 'world class' centre half.

Now I have absolutely no doubt that most would find no fault with that prediction, but I'm sure I am not alone in thinking that it would seem a real waste of the player's ball-playing abilities. Albeit the lad started his Goodison career in defence, but all of his first team appearances have been at the very heart of our midfield, where it would appear he is to the manor born.

Don't get me wrong, the comparisons with the likes of Ferdinand et al are very flattering but Rodwell has two great feet, an eye for a pass and a good shot on him. Plus he has that aura of time, where his first touch allows him the vision to seemingly always find a blue shirt. Yes, David, he is tall and leggy and good in the air but I would like to think that three years from now you are making comparisons with Roy Keane (not least Micheal Carrick) rather than readying the lad for blunting opposition attacks in the back four.

No child footballer dreams of being a defender i'm sure. The lad has already stated his preference, most cultured defenders are midfield wannabee's who didn't have the vision. Teach Rodwell to be a buccaneer under the wing of Mikel, Ossie and Tim and a wall like Roger. Please don't crush the lad's/our dreams by stunting his already obvious abilities in the centre of the park, where surely greatness awaits alongside Felliani as Everton's future.
Ian Trickett, Southampton Posted 20/02/2009 at 18:26:57

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Rob Fox
1 Posted 21/02/2009 at 04:37:37

I think you are overreacting just a tad. He has come through as a defender and Moyes has had the foresight to play him in centre mid against top 3 sides ? ahead of experienced players like Castillo ? at 17 years old. I wouldn?t be too worried about Moyes not being able to get the best out of him or recognising his best position.

Hate to burst your little bubble, but I think Moyes knows a bit more than you about footballers and will do what?s best for Jack and EFC in the long run.

Tony Kelly
2 Posted 21/02/2009 at 07:57:02

"Hate to burst your little bubble, but I think Moyes knows a bit more than you about footballers" ? If that is the case why did it take him 3 season?s to realise that Arteta is a central midfielder, not a winger? The dogs in the street knew what Arteta?s best position was.

Gavin Ramejkis
3 Posted 21/02/2009 at 08:13:48

Dan Gosling was also a defender when he was bought but Moyes sees his position much further up the pitch. Maybe in classic Moyes mode he sees Jack as a utility player able to play central mid and defence? Whilst he is still young and pacy I’d personally say midfield, his ability shown so far seems to say yes to this but as Rob has said, DM is the manager and it’s his job not ours.

Bill Goodall
4 Posted 21/02/2009 at 09:00:09

I?m sure he will be world class no matter if it is in midfield or defence. Isn't it strange that Smith got murdered for playing defenders in midfield and Moyes plays three there (Neville, Rodwell & Gosling) and he is a genius! (I am only being mischeivious before people go screaming at me.)

Nick Entwistle
5 Posted 21/02/2009 at 09:14:22

Just play everyone up front.

Trevor Hemming
6 Posted 21/02/2009 at 09:45:16

Moyes has searched all his coaching career for a young player he could mould into his own image as ?a thinking man?s centre-half?. Please don?t deny him his dream!

Peter Hall
7 Posted 21/02/2009 at 09:39:35

Ian, when I saw this, it made me smile about Moyesy rather than worry about Rodwell.

I think Moyesy resents the fact that he wasn?t as good a player as those he coaches now. Because he was a centre-half he likes to hype that position up as part of the over-projection of his own career. To me it?s just an amusing personal weakness ? shows he?s human.

Sam Morrison
8 Posted 21/02/2009 at 09:56:19

Peter Hall, that?s an interesting theory!

I can count the number of times Moyes has ?projected? his career as a centre-half on exactly no fingers. Even if he had, to state that he is living vicariously through Rodwell?s career is kind of ridiculous.

Dave Wilson
9 Posted 21/02/2009 at 10:12:14

World class??? Rodwell has only had 4 games since a couple of old pro?s ? Bowyer and Parker ? ran him ragged, He?ll have a few more harsh lessons like that before he can even be considered prem class.

This kid could well be top drawer, but give him a break, let's allow him time to learn his trade before we start weighing him down by pinning the "world class" tag to him.

Tony Williams
10 Posted 21/02/2009 at 10:21:52

Peter, that has to be one of the most bizzare posts I have ever read on this site.

Rob Jones
11 Posted 21/02/2009 at 10:32:43

The site has been buried under a torrent of posts with regards to our style of play and inability of our centre halves to pass the ball for the past couple of years! Now a mere hint that we might play a ?footballing? centre half and we get this post from Rob Fox!

Ron Leith
12 Posted 21/02/2009 at 11:53:53

What the poster does not know is that Lescott is going to Man City in the summer for £20 million, Moutinho is coming in to midfield, Yakubu is off to Spurs and Love will partner Jo in attack. Rodwell will be cover for Yobo and Jagielka.

Rubbish, you may say... but my crystal ball says otherwise.

Alan Kirwin
13 Posted 21/02/2009 at 12:12:49

Ron Leith

Crystal balls.

Ian Tunny
14 Posted 21/02/2009 at 14:41:41

Ron, where did you get this crystal ball from?

Sounds quite plausible, but I don't think Moyes is in the habit of selling his most consistent and best players, especially if it meant selling to rivals and breaking up the partnership at the back that we have seen developing.

The only exception was Rooney but that was because he wanted to leave; I don't see why Lescott would want to go to Man City.

Nathan Ward
15 Posted 21/02/2009 at 15:09:53

Why would Lescott go to City? Sadly I would guess for the same reason the rest of them have gone there ? for the massive increase in wages.

However, to start having a pop at Moyes for talking about Rodwell as a centre-half is rubbish.

Iain Love
16 Posted 21/02/2009 at 15:14:20

I?m glad we have a young lad coming through the ranks, as to where he plays time will tell. I remember Ajax making all their players play in different positions to get a better idea of the requirements of those positions so maybe what's happening is not a bad thing, it also helps when you have a small squad.

Thinking about our team, I wonder how many of our regular side actually play in their original position? I know Jags was a centre-mid, I?m sure someone on here can give a full breakdown.

Nick Dommett
17 Posted 21/02/2009 at 18:07:47

Why would Yakubu be off to Spurs? First he hasn?t played for them before and second even Spurs wouldn?t pay 50p for a player who will have played no football for 8-9 months.

I?m glad that Rodwell has done well in the last couple of games but he was truly crap at the beginning: at least that?s what you can tell from the postings on here anyway...

Alan Clarke
18 Posted 21/02/2009 at 18:46:15

Ron, I?ll take my rubbish over your crystal any day. Moyes only sells the dead wood: Johnson, McFadden, Beattie.

Lescott is very much part of Moyes?s plans as is Yakubu. It is far more likely Saha wil join Spurs. Also why would Moyes upset the team spirit by signing a total mercenary like Vagner Love? This guy has already stated he doesn?t want to join Everton.

On the original point, there is far more value in having players who can play in different positions. Moyes loves utility players. That is why Rodwell will not just be a centre half.

Frank Castle
19 Posted 21/02/2009 at 19:29:18

I think these topics are ridiciolous.

He has played just 17 games and everyone is ALREADY hyping him up.

Can we just all wait and see how he develops? Look what has happened to Vaughan.

Rob Fox
20 Posted 21/02/2009 at 22:33:19

Rob Jones - if you could have been arsed reading my post properly you’d have noticed I didn’t say what I thought his best position is or might be in the future, just a reaction to the initial post where Moyes makes a simple remark and has it blown out of all proportion.

john sreet
21 Posted 21/02/2009 at 23:02:38

Errrr can’t centre halves have two good feet, pass well, have great ball control etc..
Mate you’ve got Richard Dunne on yer brain what an insult to all great defenders, as for no-one grows upo wanting to be a defender...................mate some kids grow up wanting to be goalies.....imagine that!

Derek Thomas
22 Posted 22/02/2009 at 04:38:38

The Everton youth development people LOVE 6 footers, if it comes down to a choice, they will always ( except for the odd case) pick a biggun over a littlun. If he has any tendency to stray over the half way line then he is the next Dixie Lawton Hickson Royle etc etc. QED everything else must be a defender.

Neil Pearse
23 Posted 22/02/2009 at 18:55:56

Rodwell will eventually end up playing where he develops best into playing. Since we are all going on very limited data points, I would say that on the basis of his performance today (which I thought was good) he will more likely be a defender than a midfielder. Very very tidy, but at least currently lacks the killer ball, and shoots like Yobo. But looks like a great defender to me.