I'm glad no-one will offer us decent money for him at this stage.

That means we hang on to the biggest potential since Rooney. If only people gave him the time they've given, and continue to give, Fellaini.

However, do you remember winning the league with Snods in midfield?? Not the best but he did a job.

I don't think it'll work though. He's more likely to work as a full-back which is something I've suggested before.

Moyes still hasnt found Osman, Fellaini, Cahill, Rodwells best positions, or maybe thats wrong, he doesnt plsy them in their 'favoured' position and roles

What if the 'word of mouth' comes from the player himself?

"?I like getting forward ? as everyone does ? but like I say, I can also play defensive midfield. I have played centre-half most of my life so it is not a problem.?

He was always a centre half for the youth teams at club and international level. He only began playing in midfield when he broke into the first team.

Not that I'm suggesting he'd be any better in defence. He has the physique, pace and height but seems to lack any real aggression or fight. He is comfortable in possession though and one positive might lie in him bringing the ball out and playing it to feet rather than just twatting it aimlessly down the pitch. His short, safe passing would be more of a benefit when building from the back than it is when he's deployed further forward.

I do think Rodwell has the attributes to be a really classy player but the one big thing he's lacking is a lengthy uninterrupted run of games to really learn the ropes and build up confidence. His whole Everton career has been stop/start up to now due to a combination of injuries and sitting on the bench because he's a 'youngster'. If he ever manages to get a full season under his belt, where he starts the majority of games, then we might see what he's really capable of.

Also playing against kids and youth teams in defence is different to the 'mens' game.

But if Jack says he can play in central defence because hes done it most of his career then fair enough, maybe he and you should have a meeting with David Moyes and make him aware of this fact as im sure you'd agree, he wouldnt have noticed, being our manager, an ex defender himself and setting us up every game with the defensive philosophy of nicking a 1-0.

Let me know what he says

Stuff you've never seen maybe.

"Also playing against kids and youth teams in defence is different to the men's game"

It's still the same game, same rules, the players are bigger and more powerful with greater experience, that's it. It's not like he's a scrawny, short arse 15-year-old being thrust into the midst of a bunch of middle-aged monsters twice his size. He's a tall, athletic 20-year-old who' s been part of the first-team squad for 4 years.

By your logic there's no point in training youth-team players to play any specific position if that training is not transferable to the big, bad "men's game". They may as well just line up and take turns picking players like they did at school, leaving the fat meff until last and making him go in goal.

By the way, the whole 'maybe he and you should have a meeting with David Moyes and make him aware of this fact' dig is about as accurate and cutting as a Wile E Coyote death trap considering I actually went on to say that I don't think he'd be any better suited to playing in defence, and wasn't advocating any such move.

Id be worried if you thought we stay the same and dont diversy and try new things but maybe thats your logic.

And thanks for pointing out your contradiction in the last paragraph

Where's the contradiction?

I never suggested he can 'only' play in central defence because he played there for years in the youth teams. I never suggested he would be be 'best' playing in central defence because he played there for years in the youth teams. Nope, I simply said (guess what) he played there for years in the youth teams, without any of the extra shit you're reading into it.

Why did I say that? Solely because you suggested he hadn't. No other reason.

Because he has so much potential he came in at a young age, but so many expected the finished article especially because of how impactful he was straight away.

I can't wait to see him have a good run of games maybe alongside Gibson behind Fella. I for one won't write off a 20 yr old that made his England debut and very well!

The goal against Man Utd two seasons ago showed what he can do if he drove at teams more often; they couldn't stop him and he went through their midfield like a knife through butter. He just hasn't got it in his locker mentally to do it on a remotely regular basis, and for once I don't blame Moyes for that.

He will never be the player we all thought he would 4 years ago; half-decent midfielder yes, but midfield general driving the team forward? No.

I would sell.

Give the lad a break, he's had a bad run of injuries and when he came back was thrust into games he obviously wasn't ready for and broke down again.

Lets see how he does when he gets a clear run of games and hope he stays well clear of the Olympics.

His game will improve as he matures and learns to take on responsibility.

I don't think he's an incisive passer so I can't see him in the Cahill role. I also haven't seen him be aggressive enough to play CB apart from at home against the shite when he was the best player on the pitch until that horrible twat stitched him up.

For that reason I can't see him playing CB, that said, Rio Ferdinand is one of the biggest shithouses in the league and has been at the top of the game for years.

For me he will play as one of midfield two alongside Gibson, with Fellaini up behind Jelavic. If he learns from Gibson about getting your tackles in early he will do a good job for us.

I also think he's got a lot going for him at full-back. I've said it before but height, pace, being comfortable on the ball and having a good engine means he's got everything you need to play RB if he does fall a bit short in midfield.

It's worth remembering Gerrard was playing at RB for the shite at a similar age and also had a lot of injury problems early on.

And please discover why his hammy's keep giving out. THAT'S the problem with our young Jack.

I think selling him would be insane. He's young, has tremendous potential and has absolutely no value in the market right now because of the injuries. So you'd be selling a potential golden nugget for chump change. Which we could get for him anytime.

For me he has yet to show that he sees enough of the game. Going forward his passing is slow and totally lacks the vision of Gerrard, to whom he was compared. As a defensive central midfielder he becomes totally focussed on the ball and more often than not he lets runners pass him as he sits in front of the D.

I might make the same criticisms of Fellaini but, as yet, Rodwell lacks the strength and bite to dominate as Fellaini can in the centre and we'll never know what he might be like further up because there are others ahead of him in that queue.

Broadening the scope a little to make a point, I'll be astonished if we start the season with Jagielka, Heitinga, Baines, Fellaini, Pienaar and Jelavic all still here. If one had to go, and I think he has been immense for us, it would be Fellaini. Wenger enquired at the beginning of last season and was quoted £35m. Ridiculous money but the Frenchman continues to rate him.

We'd not get anything like that but if I had to lose one, for me it would be him. Who would be the eventual successor? Barkley looks to be the more likely of himself and Rodwell but its even earlier days for him. That makes Rodwell expendable.

Unless someone is going to bid £12m plus its a no to sell him from me. He is a talent, he is way better than most young english midfielders, and anything below that sum is below is market worth. Most teams will need to replace their ageing midfields and somone will pay top dollar for him.

This kid's good.

He'll never be a creative midfielder threading balls through so you can't blame him for passing sideways when that is all that is on offer. I see the same thing from most of our players yet people don't criticise them as much. Mostly its due to lack of movement and lack of options.

He can be a good holding midfielder for us, but he needs a decent run in the team with players like Pienaar Jelavic and others who show for the ball, rather than the cahill's and nevilles who too often hide.

Basically, my point is we have signed Gibson, and he could be important to Rodwell's progress. Gibson is a disciplined player with some ability and prescence, and that can loosen the shackles with Rodwell a bit.

We all saw what a difference he made to Fellaini, and now Fellaini is playing very well in that more advanced role, I would like to see Rodwell and Gibson in centre midfield. It looks a good fit and strong, with good passing ability and prescence. Only problem is its not that creative.

I don't even think that we need an expensive striker. Moyes only plays 1 anyway, so I'd rather see that money spent on the flanks.

Ben (780) - "I think the problem with Rodwell's progress is that he has been restricted by Moyes". Whatever smells worse than Wayne's bullshit.

Rodwell's not where we want him to be because he's a fucking 20 year-old with leg problems.

Because of Moyes. Christ.