Toffeeweb - The Mail Bag

Terry Downes
865 Posted 11/03/2012 at 15:54:19

If he's not good enough to be a future centre half then sell him for as much as we can get.

it would be nice to think Rodwell and Duffy could be a good enough partnership for the future but it's looking less likely as time goes by .

Yusuf Bobat
866 Posted 11/03/2012 at 16:03:12

Sell, Rob Man Utd for £20m.

Nick Entwistle
867 Posted 11/03/2012 at 16:15:48

He's a quality player, but with Fallini the main man in the middle, time and again he's shown they can't play together.

Playing for England he showed his class, but he'll gamble his career at Everton.

With a heavy heart, sell him for £20M+ and it may be best all round.

James Morgan
868 Posted 11/03/2012 at 16:22:33

If we got anything over 15m I would sell. He is an athlete for sure but I don't know how much of a 'footballer' he is and we have ready made replacements coming through. Fellaini is our main man and proving himself to be one of the best midfielder enforcers in the league.

Phil Walling
869 Posted 11/03/2012 at 16:28:01

Looked far better playing for England than he generally does for Everton.

As someone who has never been seen as a regular here (often due to injuries), I doubt he would command even a £10M fee. 21 today and still uncertain where his strengths lie... uhm....!

Nathan Ward
870 Posted 11/03/2012 at 16:33:14

Would love to keep him and try and develop him to play alongside Fellaini.

Once Cahill is no longer in the team I think we would see far more from the two of them.

Sadly however he is very much our most valuable asset at the moment and an offer over £15m would be too hard to turn down. With that would could get Pienaar back full time and another player and give some back to the bank.

Barry Rathbone
875 Posted 11/03/2012 at 17:08:50

Never seen what it's all about with Rodders.

He's like my German Shepherd, he looks the part but my daughters tiny sprocker growls at him and nicks his ball as he looks on bemused.

The fact nobody has come in for him speaks volumes.

James Martin
876 Posted 11/03/2012 at 17:29:11

Why not try him at centreback? he oculd be a new Rio Ferdinand and save us from buying replacements when Jagielka Distin and heitinga get too old. He's been a victim of his own versatility and often plays midfield like he's playing centre back (letting people run 'offside' in behind him).

Chris Morris
878 Posted 11/03/2012 at 17:29:58

I'm confused as to what he does when he's on the pitch other than pass the ball sideways. I certainly don't think we'd get £15+M for him, but I don't think I'd be happy with less than £10M.

Stephen Kenny
883 Posted 11/03/2012 at 18:04:15

I think he will at least be a better player than Darron Gibson.

It's time for him to add some aggression to his game and up his workrate. If he does this we may end up with a powerhouse midfield capable of mixing it with anybody.

He is still fairly young but he's at an age where if he doesn't start to fulfill his potential soon people will conclude they misjudged him.

If he can't be a more aggressive player then I'd try him at right back. He has all the attributes bar a tackle like Hibberts, as this is on it's way out of the game it may not matter too much.

Richard Reeves
886 Posted 11/03/2012 at 18:18:08

Where would you play him?Wherever Cahill would play for a start.

Christopher Brown
889 Posted 11/03/2012 at 18:51:45

I thought he started out as a centre back before he got into the first team squad? Agree that I really haven't seen anything from him to get excited about in midfield - may be an idea to develop him as a defender?

Then again, Moyes was a centre back as a player, probably recognises a centre back from a thousands miles away, and I'd have thought if he saw him as a defender he would have tried him there by now.

Brian Keoghan
892 Posted 11/03/2012 at 19:29:16

Jack looks the part but that's about it; he does not seem physically strong enough to play centre half and his fragility is illusrated by the number of injuries he has had so far. In midfield he goes missing and is one paced but strangely when playing for England further forward he looked useful. Perhaps DM should try him that way because at present all this talk of £20 mill, £15 mill or even £10 mill is pie in the sky.

Colin Malone
897 Posted 11/03/2012 at 20:05:06

Chris Morris 877. I agree.

Stephen Kenny. "I think he will at least be a better player than Darron Gibson." ? Don't agree. Gibson holds his position in a Roy Keane sort of way but cannot tackle.

That's one-nil to Gibson.

Iain Love
899 Posted 11/03/2012 at 20:22:50

I've never seen what all the hype is about, but I would give him a run out in Cahill's position, as I think Timmy should be benched now.

Stephen said maybe right back ? another good shout.

Mike Newhouse
900 Posted 11/03/2012 at 20:25:27

I would like to see him given a run in the Cahill role. His best performances for me were in the attacking mid position (Man U game and his best England performances).

The problem for me is I would also love to see Drenthe in this role with Pienaar on the left and Coleman on the right Fellaini holding with a mix of Gibbo or Rodders just in front... to me, that's a solid but scarily attacking midfield!

Derek Thomas
910 Posted 11/03/2012 at 21:39:07

Sell, his 'value' in potential as measured by cash is dropping week by week. How long before potential is pre-fixed by...Unfulfilled.

Peter Warren
912 Posted 11/03/2012 at 21:43:14

Keep him, he'll be fantastic. Only sell for ludicrous money.

Tony Twist
915 Posted 11/03/2012 at 22:00:25

it would be nice to keep him and get the best out of him but i am not sure we will. Id play him cd hopefully he will come good, create from the back rather than hoof ball. Theres better attacking options than him.

Tony Twist
916 Posted 11/03/2012 at 22:00:25

it would be nice to keep him and get the best out of him but i am not sure we will. Id play him cd hopefully he will come good, create from the back rather than hoof ball. Theres better attacking options than him.

Jimmy Sørheim
918 Posted 11/03/2012 at 22:04:04

He is a centre back and it is time he got to play there, as he adds little or nothing in midfield.
It is time.

Graham Mockford
920 Posted 11/03/2012 at 22:12:56

Jimmy
So which two you going to leave out to accommodate him ,Johhny, Sylvan or Jags?

James Stewart
923 Posted 11/03/2012 at 22:20:11

I think he will make a classy CM with the right coaching. Strong, quick, good in the air. Plays it simple. Anyone who thinks Gibson is a better option is very very mistaken. Rodwell is twice the player Gibson will ever be.

Peter Hall
924 Posted 11/03/2012 at 22:17:39

For me, Jack lacks the one key thing you need in any sport, at any level - urgency, alertness. Every time I see him play I see things that he should pick up on that pass him by. When he does notice, he sets off in valiant pursuit - but all too late.

I just don't think he's got a sharp sporting brain. The exact opposite of Rooney, who is always one step ahead - maybe wrongly sometimes, but often rightly. Rooney's speed is all in the mind - I bet Jack could beat him on a 30-yard sprint, but someone would have to tell him which way to sprint. Nobody needs to tell a Rooney that. Hope I'm wrong!

Ciarán McGlone
937 Posted 11/03/2012 at 23:49:40

I don't know anyone can conclude he's a centre half. Rodwell and Barkley should be our midfield future.

Iain Love
940 Posted 12/03/2012 at 00:24:47

Felliani's only young

Jason Lam
952 Posted 12/03/2012 at 01:46:47

Rodwell is a like a poor man's Fellaini. They're very similar and like to roam all over the park. For our formation, Gibson is the better choice to partner either as he likes to sit in front of the back four ala Carsley, allowing Ricky, Seamus, Pienaar, Fellaini, Cahill to run forward. Gibson is not that mobile and compliments either Fellaini or Rodwell. I would keep both and rotate them in our squad. In you look at Ingerlund, Rodwell was playing attacking mid with Parker or Barry sitting back.

Anto Byrne
955 Posted 12/03/2012 at 03:19:25

Rodwell for Cahill: good on the ball... can score goals with head, from distance, and can carry the ball forward if allowed an attacking role.

Cahill offered nothing going forward v Spurs and was an extra man in defense allowing the Spurs onslaught. Had we competed in midfield in the second half instead of this Alamo siege mentality, we may have not looked so second-rate hanging on for a 1-0 win. And we did hang on as we let Spurs dictate the terms of the second half and it didn't help bringing on more defenders and leaving Denis completely isolated.

The game was screaming for us to change it up a bit and surely Cahill was the one that had to go before Drenthe. Imagine had it been Drenthe that had been put through instead of Osman for our only meaningful shot on goal in the second half. We win 1-0 and suddenly we are doing well again. 27 goals so far this season in 28 games says it all.

John Barnes
957 Posted 12/03/2012 at 05:37:19

I'd play him at Full back, either side. He hasnt got a killer forward ball to be a great midfielder and Gibson, Fellaini are better than him in there. Dont think he's strong enough, or sharp enough to play Centre Back. But he's tidy on the ball, good balance, decent pace, likes a tackle, comfortable going forward, comfortable defending. Think about it.

Andy Riley
958 Posted 12/03/2012 at 06:01:13

In terms of all the hype that has surrounded Jack since even before he made his first team debut he reminds me of John Ebbrell. I just hope those parallels don't continue and he becomes a great midfield player.

Sam Hoare
963 Posted 12/03/2012 at 06:40:52

No evidence to suggest he would be a great CB as he hasn't played there in years and lacks aggression and positional sense. In fact I would say his defensive work is the weakest part of his game as too often people get round him or in behind him.

I think the Cahill role could be the one that best suits him. He can shoot decently off either foot, is pretty composed and strong on the ball, has the pace and acceleration to go past people and is strong in the air. He also could not do much less than Cahill so long as he works hard and runs about a bit.

All-in-all, if anyone were mad enough to offer us £20m or more this summer we would be crazy not to accept.

Tony McNulty
973 Posted 12/03/2012 at 08:55:48

In an informal Toffeeweb poll at the start of this season I named him my player of the season.

After all his time in the treatment room, it isn?t going to happen now.

I still think he is going to be some player; he just looks so elegant and comfortable on the ball. And I remember his goal against the Manure. He took it beautifully, and he had lots to do when he received the pass. But I?m not sure anyone knows his best position yet.

One slight concern I have is that he is too nice. I remember Harry Catterick had that concern about Joe Royle. Apparently he used to try and wind Joe up just before a game along the lines of, ?come on, give it to me, Joe.?

Andrew Ellams
979 Posted 12/03/2012 at 09:18:29

I think Fellaini and Rodwell is a luxury we cannot afford at this time so one has to go and this should be Jack.

Fellaini looks twice the player playing alongside Gibson and even Ossie on Saturday. It's not neccessarily the best players that make a team but he best combinations.

If we sold Jack the money could be inested in Drenthe, Pienaar and Starcq and would be for the greater good of the club.

Anthony Millington
981 Posted 12/03/2012 at 09:28:42

Rodwell is a good player, it's just frustrating that he's had so many injuries! Let's hope he doesn't turn into another James Vaughan!

Max Main
030 Posted 12/03/2012 at 13:28:38

Sell. He's rubbish. He offers nothing. It's a shame, but if anyone is willing to give us some money for him, we should take it.

Paul Holmes
097 Posted 12/03/2012 at 18:46:56

Unfortunately we have missed the boat with Rodwell; we should have sold him when we had the chance and for decent money!

What does he do? (I hardly knew he was playing when he came on against Spurs...)

He is average at best and is a luxury player... slow and needs time on the ball! We have enough of these players already, so sell, sell,sell please!!!

Roman Sidey
208 Posted 13/03/2012 at 04:55:57

If they're ever going to get him to play CB, then towards the end of this season is when to do it, providing Johnny is still running things at the back. If you put him in with Jags, you'd have a very poor example being set for him in that it'd be all desperation and hoof ball. If he was in there with Distin, there'd be too many mistakes to get the job done. What Heitinga did with Duffy earlier in the year was fantastic, and I'd back him to do the same with Jack.

Had never thought of playing Rodwell as a fullback, but, now that it's been mentioned, why not give it a try? If we don't get another right back soon we're going to be in strife, and he may just click with the position. May not either I guess.

Matthew Lovekin
252 Posted 13/03/2012 at 10:40:08

I've always seen Rodwell as an attacking midfielder.

Play him in Cahill's role, a bit like when he scored that goal against Man Utd in the 3-1 win a few years back.

Either that or in a 3-man midfield (Fellaini, Barkley/Gibson & Rodwell) with licence to get forward, similar to Lampard for Chelsea.

Chris Fisher
284 Posted 13/03/2012 at 13:05:59

He will one day be good enough to replace Gibson.

Alan McGuffog
477 Posted 13/03/2012 at 23:21:04

We should send him to Melwood for the rest of the season to study under Gerrard. Jack may , may, have some ability but he has no concept of how to play in the Premiership.
One sample point...note the way SG but his boot through the sodding ball for their second. Compare and contrast with the pathetic attempt of a shot that Rodwell attempted just prior to their third.
Nuff said