ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

The Tale of the Two Kaisers

Just a word about 2 people who really impressed me tonight.

Firsty, I've always known that Jack Rodwell was a special talent. As well as all the pundits going on about him you can see it in him.

But tonight I thought he bordered on imperious and he reminded me of a young up-and-coming Beckenbauer. His touch was almost always good and he looks to play a simple pass with always enough time on the ball. He should certainly be a regular to get him up to Premier League pace and intensity.

The other player who for me was outstanding tonight and he has taken a lot of stick on this site and quite often by me. But fair's fair and I have to give credit to none other than our captain Phil Neville who I thought marshalled the back 4 really well and even allowed Bainsey to play in a more forward role.

I thought once we settled the nerves the whole team played well but these two players ran the show.
Jay Harris, Liverpool Posted 20/08/2009 at 23:05:10

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Iain Love
1 Posted 21/08/2009 at 05:10:16

Neville's a talker and Moyes's man on the pitch, as an ex-player that's so important. Rodwell may have come of age tonight and it’s he who should demand inclusion in the 1st team.

Peter Corcoran
2 Posted 21/08/2009 at 08:02:53

Spot on.

I’ve never really been sold on the hype of how good Rodwell is as for me he is a bit to timid and needs to stamp his authority in the game and believe in himself more. He did that last night and took his goals really well.

Also some praise for Saha, who is looking to be ten times the player Jo is. He has great strength on the ball and thinks and moves as one action rather than two — if you know what I mean.

Much better but must do even better against Burnley on Sunday.

Alan Clarke
3 Posted 21/08/2009 at 08:25:36

Rodwell really impressed me against Villa in the cup last year. I remember saying after that game, I don’t know which is his preferred foot.

Surely now he must command that defensive midfield spot ahead of Neville.

Keith Glazzard
4 Posted 21/08/2009 at 08:46:21

Cap’n Pip did a really good job for us last night. Can he do that in the PL? I hope so, because Moyes wants him on the field, and most of us don’t want him in what is becoming Rodwell’s position.

Leighton Baines had a terrific game. He’s also something of a ’Mystic Meg’ — the interview he did for ETV earlier in the week told the story of the match almost exactly.

Allan Williamson
5 Posted 21/08/2009 at 08:53:00

Thought Neville done great last night at centre half... Howard was a bit mad!! Felli needs some work he’s just so clumsy done well with the assist but he would want to stop tackling in our box.

Once Pienaar and Baines linked up we had options; right side was still bad although near the end Gosling and Felli were linking up well. Rodwell was fantastic, really took control of midfield and passed really well...

Gavin Ramejkis
6 Posted 21/08/2009 at 08:54:32

I’m sure Rodwell still has some bad games in him as do all players, but his confidence levels are rising, his ability is clear to see and he must surely be close to the point where he has the CM position in the bag. DM give the lad a chance, play him, he will improve even more with games under his belt, two crackers last night, about time we got players that dont want to walk the bloody ball into the net.

Also have to agree with the praise for Saha, the second goal was a proper striker’s goal and comparing that to the headless chicken Jo fannying about coming in from the left, beating his man then a half arsed shot straight at the keeper with Vaughan open in the box shows he needs to learn the game is often won by others scoring not him especially if they are in front of a gaping net.

Tony Williams
7 Posted 21/08/2009 at 09:01:00

Two things became apparant to me last night:

1) Rodwell will probably be bought by a "big" side at the end of the season and is the type of player that Wenger would go for. (I know they were shit but he looked so composed and calm on the ball)

2) Saha when fit and firing is 10 times better than Jo, just before his second goal I was about to mention to my mate how he bustles defenders and actually pushes them before the ball is released in anticipation of the pass then he goes and bangs in the fourth.

We had a laugh, as we had said that we would have deffinitely taken the reported £8m for him then he goes and bangs in that goal and we suggested that £8m wasn’t enough for him.

Chris Lawlor
8 Posted 21/08/2009 at 09:42:48

Great result last night and the perfect answer to Saturday. Although Sigma were clearly the weakest team we have played in Europe recently, you can only beat the team put in front of you. Saha has delighted me and I’m happy for the guy as he seems to have his confidence back and looks like the Saha that played so well for Fulham all those years ago!

Rodwell is starting to look a class act and as others have stated I hope Moyes gives the lad a proper run in the team now. There’s little value in keeping him on the bench if he is in fact good enough to be out there and showing his stuff.

The Burnley game is now a must win to get our domestic season up and running. Both teams should be on a high after the respective wins and I think there will be a few goals scored in this one.

No sign of Mr Marsh today? ....... Oh yeah, we won last night...silly me.....

Gavin Ramejkis
9 Posted 21/08/2009 at 09:51:19

Saucer of milk, Chris?

Tony Williams
10 Posted 21/08/2009 at 10:05:52

However he is right though Gavin, I doubt we will hear from Marshy unless it is to tell us that we still looked weak down the right, Osman has no power in his shots, is still lightweigh and... shit I am turning into him!

Trevor Day
11 Posted 21/08/2009 at 10:56:00

Good call Jay, I’ve been saying for months this young lad reminds me of Beckenbauer, always seems to stroll around and at 18 years what will he become??? Only time will tell, just hope he’s still at Everton!

Tom Bowers
12 Posted 21/08/2009 at 11:12:54

Before yesterday’s game, I made my thought’s known about Rodwell comparing him to Hoddle and boy did he ratify that against Sigma. I saw his goals on Fox Soccer last night and the 2nd was something special. Just what we have been looking for from a midfielder.

Okay we won’t get carried away with this bearing in mind the opposition but now Moyes says he’s going to use him sparingly? So he’s going to do a Rooney with him? This kid needs to keep playing and scoring the goals. He is ready to stake his claim now. Moyes, don’t be an idiot.

Mac Lloyd
13 Posted 21/08/2009 at 12:26:37

Tom you need to be careful with these young lads though, he’s still needs a bit of protecting because he’s going to make just as many mistakes as quality plays. But that’s ok, it’s all part of his development, what you don’t want is the crowd jumping on those mistakes and making him nervous.

If you look at Gosling now, he could be a great player but at the moment he’s trying too hard for me. He’s had a taste of the high life with a few important goals but he needs to calm down and let his talent develop rather than forcing the issue. Sad to say but not everyone can be a Rooney, the majority have to work at it.

I’d like to echo the comments on Neville, he’s had some serious stick on this site and he deserves recognition for the pro that he is.

Suzy Whitehead
14 Posted 21/08/2009 at 12:45:03

This is all well and good but at the end of they are a poor team. It's Premier League, and big European teams, we need to measure our players against.

My feeling us that our players should shine in certain matches — this being one of them. I am certainly not forgetting how young Rodwell is and thought he was excellent last night.

Its very easy to come out and say "I've been saying this for months" but it doesn’t actually mean anything, does it? For every comment about Rodwell, there was at least one for Baxter, remember.

Full kudos to Jack though.

Ed Fitzgerald
15 Posted 21/08/2009 at 13:11:15

Let’s not get carried away here; we beat a pretty poor side 4-0 and we were poor for the first 20 minutes. Rodwell looks a really good prospect and should be starting every game as we don't have anyone better at the moment.

As for Neville getting stick, he gets off lightly in my opinion and should never play in centre midfield on the basic premise that he can't pass a ball to save his life. He is ok at full back and that's where he should play. He is invisible in midfield and I don't trust him at centre-half either.

It is time for Rodwell to get an extended run in the team and not just because of last night's performance. He can pass with both feet and is calm on the ball — that in itself should put him ahead of Neville, Osman, Cahill and Fellaini.

Tony Williams
16 Posted 21/08/2009 at 13:18:10

I agree with what you are saying Suzy but you can usually see a good player straight away. He is comfortable with the ball, calm, not just limited to a 5-yard sideways pass and will take on players.

I know they were a terrible side (shows how bad Aberdeen are) but there was something about him last night that stood out head and shoulder in that midfield, you could tell by the graons and worried looks in the crowd when he went down clutching his knee.

Suzy Whitehead
17 Posted 21/08/2009 at 13:28:00

Tony,

Thanks for the response. I hear what you are saying but you just get so much more time on the ball in Europe that it is a very dangerous level to grade a young player's progress or success. He did look great — just as he did at the U21s — but i think he has a long long way to go. For sure the signs are good but it is the next few years that count. The signs were good for Rooney just as they were for Francis Jeffers — it could still go either way... Fingers crossed.

Jason Heng
18 Posted 21/08/2009 at 16:11:15

Is Mark Hughes going to make a bid for Rodwell now?

Tony Williams
19 Posted 21/08/2009 at 16:40:21

Completely agree, Suzy, and funnily enough so does our manager. He states that Rodwell is a great European player and he hopes to see him evolve that skill into the rigours of the Premier League.

Gerry Western
20 Posted 21/08/2009 at 18:51:43

Mac Lloyd, spot on with Gosling. I’d posted on another thread that I thought he looked a great prospect. He’s lively, shows a bit of pace and always looks to create, unfortunately he can get ahead of himself though and tries too hard. I’m not sure if that’s down to youthful exuberance or simply that he tends to only get 10 to 15 min on the park and feels he really has to prove himself in that short spell. It would be interesting to see how he performs if he were to get a few starts.

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