One positive: Rodwell
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Just a quick one to point out one positive thing coming out of yesterday's capitulation to Arsenal. I thought Jack Rodwell had a great game and showed maturity beyond his years. He did his chances of cementing a place in the side no harm at all.
Graham Nolan,
Dublin Posted 19/10/2008 at 15:26:49
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It’ll be even easier for him to cement a place in the side if we’re in the Championship next season. That’s where our form and goals conceded column is heading us for at the moment.
I’ve seen enough already to say he’s going to be a very talented midfielder. He has a bit of everything, compusure, strength and he covers the ground well.
I don’t think we’ve seen the real Rodwell yet. He’s trying to keep it as simple which is expected considering his age.
He can play though, I watched him in one of the friendlies and some of his passing was superb. One especially was Alonso esque right to Van der Meyde’s feet.
Even against Portsmouth he was spreading the play and opening up the game. Very few of our players can do that.
There’s definatly alot to work with, he can do on to be a good all round midfielder. Both him and Fellaini will develop into good players in my opinion.
Yes, Rodwell could go on and become an accomplished midfielder but unfortunately he will learn his trade from David Moyes which will in the end limit his abilities.
I agree wholeheartedly with the praise of Rodwell. In the Blackburn cup match he even put over two great crosses when he was mysteriously played on the flank. He looks very composed and elegant on the ball has good presence and a bit of pace, as a footballer you cannot really criticise him once he learns more positional awareness he will be a fine player, a future international and Everton captain.
Any skills that Rodwell may possess will be sucked out of him by Moyes and replaced with work ethic. No place for fancy dan stuff in a Moyes team...
Kamil Zayette anyone? Remember we had him on trial but somehow he wasn't chosen? Just watched Hull vs West Ham and this guy had a more than decent performance whereby there was one instance he steamrolled out of defence into attack a la Roy Keane in his heyday. Just what we need to guide young fedglings like Rodwell along. Question is: WHAT THE HELL IS OUR RECRUITMENT DEPT DOING WHEN ZAYATTE WAS ON TRIAL WITH US? if Hull could afford him, surely he doesn't cost 1/3 as much as Fellaini.
Anthony Millington
Posted 19/10/2008 at 19:18:46
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Mark you?re an idiot! We?re not doing well but we won?t get relegated, we?ve got a big run of games coming up after the Man United one which I am confident we can pick up some important points against Bolton (away), Fulham (home), West Ham (away), Middlesbrough (home), Wigan (away) and Tottenham (away) ? we won every single one of these games last season.
We need a big performance at Bolton and we are more than capable of winning and, if we play like we did in the first half against Newcastle, we should get a comfortable victory over Fulham. If we can pick up form and confidence over this period and pick up the points we are capable of finishing top 7, if not definetly top 10. I think Aston Villa and Man City look likely to finish above us this year along with the top four, but we are as good as any other team in the league.
I think Rodwell should definetely be starting at right full-back.
Jack Rodwell is never a midfielder, he's a centre-back all day long. Yesterday I thought the game was past him to be honest, he held his position, yes, but is light-years away from the level we need.
I do agree with you Graham, he did hold his own against Arsenal, and another player who played well (in the first half anyway) was Fellaini. It was only arguably due to an injury to why he did not play well in the second half.
Out of the 3 players that have played the holding midfield role this season, I think Rodwell has looked the better player. He?s a very good passer even when under pressure and doesn't give stupid fouls away in dangerous positions, unlike Neville. He keeps his position well, doesn't go chasing the ball and makes some decent tackles, unlike Castillo. He played very well yesterday against quality midfielders and should be given an extended run in the team so he can try an make the position his own. He?s only 17 yet he is very mature on the pitch and seems to have a good attitude. I think he?s going to be a very good player and given a chance could be the replacement for Carsley that we need.
I also liked the look of Rodwell yesterday and do belive that he is more than capable of making the ?holding? role his own. Yes, he is young and inexperianced but he lacks the fear some of the older players have (much in the same way a certain potato headed boy once had)
He would have a good central defender behind him in Jags (and Yobo / Lescott) to mop up anything that gets through. His distribution is A LOT better than Pip?s.
I think Castillio would better suit a central mid role, not the holding role, as his passing is good (on the whole) he can put in a tackle but does not like to track back.
Fellaini is looking better each week and I think his more advanced role (in the absense of Cahil) suits him.
Ideally my midfield would be.....
Rodwell in the holding role
Castillio in front of him
Pienaar on the left
Arteta on the right
Fellaini in the advanced role
Yes, I know, no Osman, big deal, he ain't! (big or good enough). Cahill ain't an option at the moment but when he is back then that's a nice predicament to be in!
I known it's all a bit footie manager and I?m sure some people will disagree with me but hey, it's a discussion site and that's my 2 peneth worth.
Anthony Millington; I sorry to be the bearer of bad news mate, but it’s THIS season now. We will be doing well to average a point a game for those 7 games.
Just say no to drugs
Ricardo Humphries
Posted 20/10/2008 at 06:14:13
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What the fuck is DM doing with our team.
Rodwell:-seems to look like the real deal
Arteta:- haven?t seen a glimse of the player he use to be
Lescott:- starting to show the cracks in his game.
Howard:- good, but can be better
Pienaar:- not getting enough ball due to the lack of midfileld creativety
Baines:- doing a pretty good job
Osman- needs to go
Yakubu:- looks very lazy
Hibbert- suspect defender (needs to go)
Fillaini:- good winning ball, but at the same rate loosing them!
Jagielka:- needs to go (not good enough).
Interesting assessment of young Jack Rodwell from an Arsenal fan who was watching the game with me on Sunday morning (Melbourne time). Just want to get a wider response to his assessment of the player.
He was quite impressed with the lad's game from deep in midfield, his defensive anticipation and short/mid range passing ability especially. But he stated ? and I qoute ? "He could be almost as good as Rio Ferdinand" as a central defender.
Big call! We know the kid has talent and has only just scratched the surface, but how far do all of you think he can go? Do you think he will progress better as a defender or a midfielder & how far can he go in either position?
He?s 17!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, YOU ALL REMEMBER THIS and let it sink in. His potential is very exciting for us, compare him with other youngsters worldwide at this age and we have a potential star. We need to love and encourage this boy, and don't let any of you start knocking him down. I am sure there are envious eyes of bigger clubs monitoring his progress and cheque books open at a future date. He has the ability speed and of course the all important physical attributes needed for the Prem, we are so very lucky to have him, as time will tell.
I wonder if Rodwell looking like a potential good central defender Jarrod is because he is one.
Playing out of position in midfield where to me he looks totally inadequate is not going to do him any favours at all.
Tom Campbell, couldn?t agree more!! RB I think would be excellent for his development as a player and I think, with his ability on the ball, he would bring a lot to the team there.
If I remember rightly, Rio Ferdinand played the odd game at RB in his early West Ham days.
He’s a centre midfielder, he moved there last season and has played in that position ever since. Andy Holden actually was the first person to use him in midfield, not David Moyes.
Just because he started off as a centre half does not mean that is going to be his position, it’s quite clear he’s going to be a very good midfielder if he keeps progressing,
Anthony Millington
Posted 20/10/2008 at 11:41:30
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Derek, we?ll get more than 7 points, we are a better team than Fulham and Middlesbrough and we should have a fully fit squad by then and Cahill will be back. I know we haven?t played well, but there were signs in the last home game (at least in the first half anyway) that we were looking back to how we played last season and I believe having Pienaar back will make a big difference (he?s been involved in every goal we?ve scored since he?s come back). We need to get behind the team to support the new lads especially and I really believe that if we beat Bolton or Fulham (very do-able) we?ll hit some good form.
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1 Posted 19/10/2008 at 16:22:32
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