The Mail Bag
Rodwell Whispers
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I am not a conspiracy theorist in any way... nevertheless I cannot help but feel that there is a conspiracy to part Jack Rodwell from Everton with the logical destination being Old Trafford.
I don't base this on any sound facts, just a gut instinct that someone ? more than likely SAF, but my suspicious nature does not preclude Bill Kenwright or someone working for him ? are pulling the story hungry media strings.
It started in the transfer window to some effect but has picked up steam in the last two weeks. SAF has no history of 'tapping up' players directly but he gets what he wants most of the time and it surely would not be beyond him to start the rumors and sow the seed in the lad's head. I have no doubt that Rooney would be used as either go between or as an example of what a local boy can achieve on a bigger stage.
On the other hand, we all know that Everton are skint and could benefit from the sale of a prized asset. Kenwright knows he will have to sell him at some stage... and is letting the market know that he is available to the highest bidder.
The third possibility is of course; that Rodwell's agent is up to, what agents usually get up to and that is getting their stock in front of buyers
Regardless of who it is, someone is driving the issue and I doubt it has just sprung from nowhere.
Hugh Jorgan, Posted 23/02/2011 at 23:58:05
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Despite Rodwell's lack of impact, it's plain to see that he has the talent and the understanding of the game that will mark him as a great player. A future Brian Labone.
A typical trick from this shithouse regime.
Nice name by the way Hugh :)
All the rumours this week and neither Moyes, Kenwright or Rodwell have come out with a statement to deny anything.
Their silence speaks volumes.
FFS, there's is no way he should be sold. He should be the future of the club, but he needs to be convinced that his ambitions can be met.
There will be a few exits this summer for sure, but I hope JR isn't one of them.
Breaking down the model to its most basic theory (ignoring SAF, agents, Madrid, the player's will, etc) we need to bring through youngsters like Rodwell and sell them on when they hit 27, 28 years old.
Personally, I feel that the players that need to be moved on are those that are either about to deteriorate in value. We need to effectively operate with two types of player; older, experienced pros like Pip, Distin, Cahill and Saha, and young, improving prospects like Fellaini, Rodwell, Coleman.
The ones in the middle need to go. The exceptions being Howard, Baines and Jagielka ? we need to keep a solid base. Ossie and Hibbo wouldn't fetch much and appear to be OK with their roles of squad players.
Arteta at 29 or so, is probably the main asset that really needs to be sold now. We'd miss his talent for sure and I wouldn't want to see him go, but his selling price is only going to reduce from here. Heitinga could be sold and I don't feel that we'd miss him much, the same goes for Bily and it looks like the Yak is probably going.
Strip out those players and we're left with a starting 11 that looks a bit like: -
Howard
Pip Jags Distin Baines
Coleman Rodwell Fellaini [New player]
Cahill
Saha
With Bily, Arteta, Heitinga and Yakubu out the door, that'd give Moyes in the region of £30M (minus a few quid to keep the bailiffs out) to bring in 4 or 5 up and coming youngsters, a couple of frees and maybe a few older players in.
I don't see another way to keep our heads above water.
Expect the media to kiss Kenwright's arse and portray Rodwell as 1) a greedy bastard; 2) demanding the move; 3) a fallout with the manager (lie) ? Kenwright's usual modus operandi... and suckers fall for it season after season. DM will then be given a pittance of the fee and we'll get some no-mark from a lower and/or foreign league, portrayed as a future star that we captured right under the noses of strong European wide competition.
Kenwright's best hope is that a bidding war starts and he gets over the odds for him and his sycophants are delighted at another masterstroke from their business clown prince.
Going forward, I guess it may be possible that, in common with many of our other former assets, we could agree a sale and leaseback deal with Man U.
I'd be staggered if Rodwell wasn't being tapped up by somebody.
How do they know? Has he actually told the journo that? ? because I very much doubt it. All this ?my sources tell me? and that ?a journo never reveals his source? is basically code for ? ?I thought I?d write some bullshit story?.
Over the years the media have complained about the top 4 being a closed shop (which has now opened up to 5 or 6), yet when teams break the top 4, or come close to doing it, they start coming out with stories about how this player is going to Man Utd (and he needs to develop under Sir Alex) or that player is going to Chelsea (his missus will love it in London). Thus strengthening the status quo and weakening its challengers.
I try not to read football journalists anymore because 99% of them, especially in the tabloid rags, are complete and utter self-serving, self-important gobshites, wrapped up in their own self -mportance and arrogance, writing complete bull so they can get an appearance on Sky Sports News on transfer deadline day with that twat Jim White shouting how excited he is, or to get on the Sunday Supplement show for a jolly morning talking shite with Brian Woolnough.
There are a few decent journo?s out there (thinking Brian Reade, Martin Samuel), but there are far far far too many twats who are that far up Sir Alex?s and ?Arry?s arses they should be nicknamed ?toes?.
If Rodwell goes then you can be sure, as day follows night and night follows day, that Fellaini will go not long after. And, if both Rodwell and Fellaini go, then IMO we are well and truly F U C K E D.
If only one of our stars is leaving, I'd say the smart money would be on Fellaini, as much as it would sadden me.
Though if the manager gets all the money, and Arteta and Rodwell were to step up to the mark, maybe this wouldn't be the worst thing that ever happened to us... (some big 'if's there).
Let`s just have it straight "We need the money to invest in the team" instead of all the misinformation that surrounded those previous sales.
Agree 100%.
I like the OP stating I am not a conspiracy theorist ? but please see below my conspiracy theory.
Unless of course, with the upheaval in the middle east, some rich deposed arab might come a calling. Now that's a good rumour?.
All this "journalists said it will happen so it will happen". Journalists speculate, that's what they do. How would they possibly know what's going to happen? They need something to write, and Rodwell to Man U looks good on paper and it would make a nice headline if it happened, so they go on and on about it. I really can't believe how much credit people are giving journalists' "knowledge".
My personaly opinion is that we should sell him because we need the money and he simply isn't good enough right now and I think Moyes feels he has to play him. He might turn out to be the next big thing but in the position we're in I don't think we can afford to take that gamble.
But ultimately it is up to Rodwell. If he wants to stay he'll stay, if he wants to leave he'll leave. I don't give a shit what any journalist says.
Assuming we go on to make another £4m in interest payments this year, selling Yobo and Vaughan should cover that.
We made a small loss over all last year, but a decent cup run should reduce that.
On that basis we'd only need to sell the likes of Rodwell if one of our many significant loans needs to be repaid this year (which I don't know if they do or not).
Appreciate this isn't a long term strategy but, short of selling the major player assets, clearing the debt and starting from scratch, i'm not too sure what else we could do?
Alternatively we could appoint a "proper" chairman with the specific task of finding a "proper" buyer that would enable us to build on the talents of Rodwell and Fellaini rather than sell them to competitors.
I don't think Fellaini is going to sign a new deal and, with only 2 years left, this summer is when we can get our best price for him. If he stays and doesn't sign, we'd only get £10m next summer.
And in my opinion the guy is over rated anyway. A few fancy flicks doesn't disguise him not tracking back and never actually breeaking into a sweat. Get a good honest player in there beside Rodwell and watch us improve next season.
My fear is we won't get full market value and Kenwright will bend over for Man Utd again ? just as he did when £50m Rooney became £10m up front Rooney. I would imagine both will net about £40m with barely £10m going back to Moyes.
Agree that Rodwell's stock isn't high enough yet and his value will go up in a year.
Also agree with Dick that the silence from all involved says all you need to know.
It behooves the custodians of the club to ensure that the right deal is struck for the club, straight cash, and not one of those "50% down the rest when he plays 1000 games for us" types of deals-plus a couple of squad players in return.
Colin wants a good honest player, when so many postters here give Moyes loads because he is apparently scared of skillful players... He really cannot win can he?
Mustafi, Duffy, the greek lad (who scored a goal in his first reserve game so is obviously amazing) and Baxter to be promoted to proper first teamers who will actually be given a chance if injuries require.
Look at how easy it is. I do not know why we are so worried.
Have a look at this article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/oct/18/everton-premierleague
Note "A principal reason for the delay (in signing a new contract), however, was Moyes's insistence that his contract should guarantee a continuation of the autonomous reign he has been granted by Bill Kenwright".
Kenwright would not, and it appears cannot, sell someone behind Moyes's back.
And you'll probably say "yeah but you said Rodwell has control, not Moyes". But the point is Moyes would obviously not sell. We all know Moyes, we all know he does not like to sell his best players. And we know he rates Rodwell highly ? there is no chance Moyes would choose to sell Rodwell.
The power these days is firmly in the player's hands. If a player wants to leave, he can. Puts in a transfer request, plays poorly, disrupts the camp etc etc. And equally if a player doesn't want to leave, it is very unusual for them to be forced out. Rodwell has a long contract at Everton, and he has the power.
Not Kenwright.
The press then started to add Rodwell's name into the mix.
We should only let one of the top players leave. And first we should wait to see what Felli wants. If he doesn't sign, then our decision is taken for us. He or Rodwell would bring £20 million in the present crazy-again market. It would buy a replacement and a winger. Sales of the cast-offs (Yobo, Yak, Vaughan, and perhaps Anichebe) will get an expensive striker.
Do we get the Pienaar money? Savings on bloody wages these last few months and Bellefield dosh should keep banks happy.
You say it is not a conspiracy. The original poster whose post we are all contributing to actually states " I cannot help but feel that there is a conspiracy to part Jack Rodwell from Everton"
On the other hand, Jack might tell Bill to shove it up his arse. He's an Evertonian and might just want to remain an Evertonian. He could wait until the end of his contract and if Bill still doesn't want him then he could leave. To be honest I would rather he took this stance and left for fuck all at the end of his contract, preferably to Real Madrid.
There are many interesting options being investigated on a professional level and will be announced at the appropriate time for consideration. Sorry for any delays and for being vague, but there's no point telling half a story at this stage.
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But the buck stops with Kenwright and Moyes, both of these are in a position to stop either player from leaving.
Firstly Moyes, if he has been building a team for 9 years, and now has players of the calibre of Jack and Felli, and the chairman is trying to sell them, well, he needs to get a pair of bollocks and turn against him, by publicly coming out and saying something about the disgraceful actions of a board, who have failed to back him.
Secondly Kenwright, if you think that you will get away with selling these players, well think again, you're already on thin ice, the "Boys Pen" crap is wearing thin with most fans now, so sell them at your peril!
Arteta, Bily, Heitinga & Yak worth £30million!!! Could you break that down for me..... It would be great if you were right, but I don't think so.
Gavin @ 26
Disagree; these days the player has the power... if a player's mind is made up and he wants to go, all any club can do is hope to get the best price.
A question for Tony l'Anson. What can Trust Everton etc. do if the current incumbents want nothing to do with you?
This is not intended as defeatist ? just wondered how you could effect much needed change in such a situation.
Pienaar ? DM said he didn't want him to leave before the season ended... erm, gone;
Yakubu ? loaned out with no replacement;
Yobo ? loaned out with no replacement;
Vaughan ? loaned out with no replacement;
Gosling ? you telling me it was DM that failed to get a written offer of a contract to him?
Oliver, using your analogy, the agents have the power but it's up to the owners of their contracts, which would be the chairman, to have the final say. They get shut early as it's commercial suicide to lose a company asset that cost millions for nowt (unless you are BK and not actually give a player a contract in writing).
Facts are SAF needs a replacement for Scholes, Carrick, Anderson and Hargreaves. All centre-midfield and for various reasons, on their way out.
Gavin(51) we anticipate and hope that Trust Everton will be around for many generations to come and that will involve working with whoever the custodians of the time happen to be. I would urge anyone to do a Google about supporters trusts in general to see what they can achieve.
yes me.
I wouldnt trust BK with a kid's lucky bag despite Dick and Doddy's constant admiration of him.
I also find it incredulous the attitude of the likes of Richard Dodd who readily accept that we are a selling club. Manchester United have a policy of buying young, for the future and ideally English born players. How are we ever to begin to challenge by hawking our most talented and young prospects just to stay afloat until the next financial tsunami? If Rodwell leaves, it will be for exactly the same reason as Rooney and we might as well accept that we are finished as a top-flight club.
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1 Posted 24/02/2011 at 05:10:09
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If he is to leave for big money, he will have to raise his game a few notches, because I don't think his performances have matched the fans' excitement regarding him as a prospect. He is undoubtedly a talent though, I just hope he gets a run of games and stays injury free so we can all see if he is going to be a top player.