Everton in for a Rodwell return?

I bet we probably could get him for around half the price but would we want him. He was nearly always injured the last couple of season when he was with us and I wasn’t too upset when he left. Would also hate it if we ended up with another Gibson!!

We did well to get £12m for a crock and he is still a crock - lets move on. If we have that kind of money to spend we should be looking further afield instead of returning like a dog to its vomit - Eremenko at Rubin Kazan looks interesting. Just hope this speculation has nothing to do with rumours that The Special Twat is sniffing around Barkley.

I wasn't too upset when he left, either, but could be a good signing at a decent price.

Wonder if there's also a thought to what Moyes used to say a few years back, that Rodwell's likely long term position would be as a central defender? Would definitely fit the concept of someone comfortable on the ball and able to play out from the back...although less full of confidence at his actual defending!

Still only 22 and with plenty of potential, despite injury worries.

Can't be relied upon to stay fit, and never set the world alight for us when he was. I couldn't believe we got £12 million for him, and I think he is best left alone.

I believe £1.5M upfront payment + £500,000 add-on/performance bonus would be ideal.

If we do buy him back, we will have to build a bigger treatment room.

I think Roberto's man-management would turn Rodwell into a very good player. He had the makings of a top class player until the last manager worked his magic

I'm fairly sure I'm not the only one who (consciously or unconsciously) looks at players and splits them into two groups.

Very basically - 'He's a footballer' and 'he's not a footballer'.

The latter is NOT a criticism by the way, just an observation..sort of.

It's a very difficult notion to explain but it's not all about flair players or forwards.

For instance I look at McCarthy and think 'he's a footballer' and look at Kone and think 'he's not a footballer'.

I think Baines and Distin are 'footballers', Jags and Coleman aren't.

(nb: as Coleman is one of my favourite players over the past couple of seasons, I repeat, this is not a criticism, just 'something' indefinable - and not easy to articulate - that some have and some haven't)

When I played myself (school teams/Sunday League) I definitely wasn't a player and knew this from the age of 13 or so (doesn't mean you can't contribute or enjoy your football)

One or two of the fellers I played with were - they just had something that said..'footballer'.

I saw Sammy Lee play when he was 11 and it was obvious he was a footballer even then.

Same with Peter Reid, saw him captain Huyton Boys against Barking Boys around 70/71 and my (late) oul feller went 'He'll play for England'.

And why do I mention all this fol-de-rol?

Well I don't want to have a dig at Rodwell and am not going to criticize him or say 'he's shite' or anything like that but for me, I always saw him as 'not a footballer'.

LOOKED the part in spades, but never really excited me and always looked manufactured or..erm..'over-coached' or something.

Doesn't mean he couldn't do a job or be effective (nb: Carsley wasn't a 'footballer' but was one of the most effective players we've had in recent years) so It wouldn't break my heart if we got him back for £5m or under, but it wouldn't set my pulse racing either and anything more than that - forget it.

Give me a team full of Colemans (though we'd be overloaded at RB!).

Jonathon Woodgate Mk 2, the odds of not being fit for more than 3 consecutive games makes it a no from me.

Perhaps it's awful to say this, but no Toffees I know are bothered about Rodwell. Not a subject that excites anyone we know. As has been said, we got a good deal of Arab money for him. Ta la !

Eugene (754), I know what you mean, and you're right, it's hard to define. What's funny is that Distin would be at the very top of my "not footballer" list because of that funny run (his amazing speed notwithstanding, he just looks goofy) and because he looks so awkward passing the ball.

I would say the opposite about Rodwell... to me he looks like a footballer, even though he's so often been ineffective. I've seen him instinctively do some amazing things... little touches and turns, that run through the ManU defense for that memorable goal... but his brain gets in the way.

I wouldn't splash cash on him, but if with Martinez' help he could ragain his confidence, he could be a fabulous loan signing. Certainly better cover for Barry and McCarthy than Johnny Heitinga at this point.

He might come good somewhere if he can keep injury free and find a temperament to match his physique. But at the moment, he wouldn't get in our midfield, let alone City's.

I thought this might come up and wouldn't be against it as long as he came back for a fraction of his wages and we got him for about £4m.

But BK 'loved him' so he'd probably think he was doing us a favour by getting him back ! Think we've got our share of 'sicknotes' so all for passing on this one.

I've rather use some money to bring james vaughan back...

I've rather use some money to bring james vaughan back...

Would rather get some young Dutch/French/German u21 player who has actually played lots of football in the last couple of years such as Bruno martins Indi.

I think Rodwell was never a midfielder and definitely shouldn't be played as a holding one. Because he was quick and good on the ball everyone thought he'd make the perfect shield infront of the back four. He just didn't have the brain for it. He let players run in behind him and his passing was unadventurous. He got shifted all over the place for us including on the wing and number 10 - ridiculous. I think he should have stayed at centreback, the position he came up through in the academy. He had everything needed to be a new Rio Ferdinand, height, pace technique and elegance. He ws used to not bothering with anyone who was behind the line which becomes a problem in midfield as Heitinga often displayed whenever he was put in there. Rodwell and Stones could be the perfect centreback pairing for Martinez in the future. I'd have him back at a cut price - its always a wrench to see academy products leave and go elsewhere. Seeing Barkley and Rodwell in Everton kits competing at the top end of the premier league would be great and what an endorsement for our academy.

No way! Let's not go down that road! Average player at best!

Injury worries and too nervous and careful in his own half. Very decent when pushed further forward on the attack. Can shoot with both feet and is good with his head. More of a Ya Ya. Definitely not a Barry. £8mil is a lot and not sure he is better than Stones who has the talent to slot in anywhere.

Mike #764 the worst run I ever saw on a footballer was Paolo Wanchope, he ran like he was Mr Soft off the old Soft Mints TV Ad, not a bad player but had a really freaky run, close second Carlton Palmer who looked and was shite.

Rodwell was a centre half played out of position, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The trouble he had at Everton was he never really had a solid run at any position and should be filed firmly under the Gollum special - utility player aka wasted in an unnatural role and made to look utter shite in the end.

Always seemed a very nice, kind, polite young man.

No disrespect meant, but is being 'nice' the drawback in his career ?

A bit of fire in the belly/win at all costs mentality is what I want to see in Everton players ... Pat VDH or Peter Reid types.

No thanks; looked the business when 17/18, and scored that great goal against Man Utd, but has gone backwards.

If there's any substance to this' it's probably just a loan enquiry to cover Gibson's injury I'd imagine...

If Moyes were still the manager, I'd say 'NO'. The 'Rodwell moment' has passed, move on.

However, under Martinez, a more passing team with two defensive midfielders (Barry; only on loan, McCarthy, Gibson; injury prone, Osman; in 30s), I think there is scope to include a young English player that fits this type.

However, it would also need to be on our terms, e.g. £2m plus add-ons based on appearances, never the £8m quoted.

All good and well, but then who do we cancel the loan of? Lukaku or Barry?

Do papers not realise you can only have 2 domestic loans in the Premier League at one time?

Eugene, I had to smile as I agreed with just about all your fol-de-rol, and was waiting to see if your conclusion on Jack was the same as mine. It wasn't!

It's all about opinions, I know, but I still think there's a fine footballer there, and would love to see him play for a manager who was prepared to tell him to go out on the pitch and enjoy the game - I bet it's been a long time since anyone did that. Like you, I wouldn't want Roberto to spend a fortune, given the injury history, but I'd have him back.

I can think of better ways to spend the dough.

Peter (801) - "..but I still think there's a fine footballer there, and would love to see him play for a manager who was prepared to tell him to go out on the pitch and enjoy the game"

You could be spot on and it would certainly be interesting to see how he would go with a bit of praise and a decent run of games rather than - "the boy's comin' alang well enough but there's nae reason tae rush things just noo" etc etc.

Was gutted to see Rodwell go but been proved wrong as he has been constantly injured. Still think he collect be a helluva player and think he's a proper footballer

Would have him back, but on our terms.

Nice low fee, rising, based on appearances.

Agree with Gavin#776, OFM made him look shite at the end, and he's clearly not.

Also throw in Milner in January and I would be happy. World cup year, Milner won't go if he's not playing. I think he would jump at a move, even a loan until the end of the season.

3m (rising to 4 with appearances) would be worth a punt.

Problem with getting players from clubs like City, is they very often want to come back in on high wages(even assuming they take a big pay cut).

For someone so injury prone I think I'd be happier looking to the likes of Lundstram or Grant from our own youth setup.

To be honest, I'd be glad to leave someone like rodwell(or Fellaini) out there as an example to the rest of our players that moving to a richer club is not always a step up. That all said, if he could stay fit, I'm sure Martinez could work wonders with him.

Eugene Ruane @754

Agree about McCarthy/Coleman, but I think Kone can play, he showed some cunning against ManC in the FA cup final. I think he'll surprise you given a bit of confidence and a decent run.

As for Rodwell - leave well alone!

He's not a good defensive player, crocked and not worth the long term contract.

Eugene
As a matter of interest, how would you classify Brett Angell?

Just ask yourselves would anybody on here covet the signing of Rodwell if he hadn't once been a 'promising youngster' with our club?

I thought we did bloody well to get such a decent figure for him when he could never stay fit for more than a month at a time. This guy has had so many false starts both here and at Man City but is never able to put any run of games together.

If - and it's a big if - there is money to spend in January, let's see our manager bring somebody in who didn't once play for Everton or Wigan. Although having said that, if Bainsey's off, I wouldn't mind half the dough going to sign Lescott!

No thank you very much, nice lad and all that, probably cares about the poor, but I don't think that I'm alone in thinking that he was somewhat hyped - he was gonna be this and he was gonna be that and he was most definitely going to be ...... - and quite frankly not as good or as exciting or as creative or as this or as that as we kept being told. The proof of the pudding for me at any rate was that when he cleared out his locked and hit the East Lancs I didn't feel at all disappointed.

Mind you, IF (that's a big feck off IF in boldest bold and upper upper upper case) - coz he's still a toddler - he could have a string of not-crocked years then perhaps maybe possibly he could be pushed back to central defence then - and only then - 3 million sponds with an add on here and there just might be worth pondering but nah ...........

He's still very injury prone and hasn't had anywhere near enough game time to progress as a player. We would basically be spending several million quid buying the same player back. No thanks.

If we were to go down the route of buying ex players, I would agree with Leung, Vaughan would be the one to buy if we had to.

We have a real chance in this January window to buy in quality. We have proper cash left over from August, have fringe players who can be sold to raise more cash and are attractive as a squad, given how we strengthened in August. We should do things right and buy a player who we know will add to the squad. Rodwell comes nowhere near that at present.

I would also agree with David @810, clubs like City are awash with players like Milner who are just wasting their time there at the moment. We could well do some really good deals if we came at the transfer window that way.

Kone injured, Alcaraz injured, Heitinga injured. I see no point in adding to this list. Rodwell was injury prone when he was with us and that doesn't appear to have improved since he joined City. I think the only reason they bought him was to maintain the percentage of English players in their squad after they sold Adam Johnson to Sunderland. City can afford to carry injury prone bench warmers. We Can't.

Like Leung I'd rather have Vaughn back.

Tough one - well not really I guess. There is no way we should be paying anywhere near 8m for a player who cannot even stay fit for any length of time, let alone play well consistently. Would gladly get him back in on loan with an option to buy or pay 1-2m max, on much reduced wages.

Not really sure what his best position is as Moyes played him all over the shop, however I trust RM to bring him through, if he stays fit.

Think there is a good footballer in there somewhere and can still remember that performance for England.

I always found Rodwell totally uninspiring, there was always neat and tidy football from him, but nothing where I thought he was massively effective. One of the most over-hyped player ever to play for us and England.

We have enough sick-notes on our pay role, we definitely don't want Rodwell as well.

We've had the Arab's pants down, let's leave it at that.

I think a loan deal could be worth a go. If he showed any kind of consistency and stayed injury free, then a fee of £5 million would not sound too bad.

As for James Vaughan, not for me.

Rather we spent the cash on Vossen or Martins-Indi

I would suggest a January loan with an agreed fee of £4-5m if things work out. If he spends most of his time in the treatment room or does not do the business we send him back to City.

I agree with those who say that he would make a better centre-back than he does midfielder. His passing was nearly always sideways and and he wasn't the most tenacious of tacklers. If he could re-invent himself as a CB who can cover in midfield if we are short he would be a useful addition, but only if the price was right (IE 2/3 off).

Alan (821) - "Eugene, as a matter of interest, how would you classify Brett Angell?'

Tricky one, I think I'd classify him somewhere between homo sapiens and primates.

Like a kind of shit footballer bigfoot.

Eugene. "Bigfoot". Luv it. ha ha

BTW.your dead right in Rodwell needing a coach who will tell him to go out and enjoy himself. This is when he really shines. Under orders, he tightens up and plays sideways and back. Guess you also noticed this.

James Martin summed him up very well for me. He did indeed look better when he could see the play in front of him.

Not sure how his problem of letting players run past him would be less at CB?!

There is a player in there, same as was said about Anichebe...would you have him back for 20% of his out going fee...Nah.

When somebody can give a definitive view as to what his best position is... and no one has yet, then, maybe if he was longterm fit, maybe if the price was right, maybe if the wages were right.

Too many maybes.

Still too much Birkdale, not enough Kirkdale in the lad

For that reason - I'm out

No deal for me.

McCarthy is the player we hoped Rodwell would be.

I am not sure how anybody could say Rodwell would be a good signing at the right price.
The lad never plays because of injury, we did fantastic to get the amount we did for a player who plays less than 10 games a season and is not that good anyway.
There has to be better more reliable cheaper options out there available than going back to this one, infact I would rather even pay 5 million for Barry despite him being 32, he is in better nick than Rodders has ever been.
Sorry but not for me

God no!! I would rather keep Barry until he was 42 than re-sign Rodwell, he was massively overrated when he was with us and how we managed to get £12 million for the lad is still a mystery to me! The fact is if we signed him and everyone was fit he wouldnt get anywhere near our starting 11, he has more of a chance getting in the City midfield then ours!

I don't think with Jack Rodell's injury record, both with us, and since he moved to City, has changed a lot. Therefore I cannot for the life of me see any advantage to Everton, to even think about buying, or even loaning him back.

Slightly off thread, but notice that the ugly rumour linking us once again, with that headless chicken McGeady is doing the rounds again. I sincerely hope that this is just paper speculation and hopefully way off the mark!

He will be released on 'a free' soon enough.

I reckon to waste money on Rodwell or Vaughan is crazy! We may as well go for Gosling!!!

We need proper top class proven players to supplement and reinforce our squad not players we let go.

Why is it that fans still have soft spots for players who at one time played for us? My God, Joe Royle almost took Barry Horne back? We need footballers and Rodwell has never shown sufficient improvement in his game to warrant taking back. Vaughan is still the same player who left us, Championship standard at best.

I'm certain that Martinez will only go for players who can control a ball and pass well. Lukaku has decent control and pace to match his power plus he can see a pass. He also defends well for set pieces and that reminds me of Drogba who defended as well as he attacked. We will need a fit striker for when Lukaku leaves but NOT Vaughan!!!

Dup

I agree, we really should now be looking forward with the Martinez era not be sucked back to the old days; we don't need to go signing former players, especially ones who were crocks. If it meant us signing Arteta or a proven class player like Pienaar, then I am all for it... but not for Rodwell nor Vaughan.

When Lukaku goes then we must look for a top class player. I had a debate with a friend only recently who suggested that we should not have signed McCarthy and instead saved some money by signing Leroy Fer who went cut price to Norwich City. No disrespect to Fer, I have not seen that much of him but what I have seen/heard are not exactly overwhelming great reports in his favour. To say we should have signed him ahead of McCarthy is like going to shop at a bargain store when you have the money to go to the best.

McCarthy is a young wonderful all-action midfielder and we have already seen why Martinez was so eager to bring the lad here; if that means paying the money to better our football team, then do it.

The same must apply once Lukaku goes. Setlling for run-of-the-mill, ex-players with rotten injury records is not the way for Everton Football Club to go.

Signing Rodwell on loan to replace Gibson when the transfer window opens in January would be a good move in the short term, but questionable whether to sign him long term.

Eugene 754, I worked out an equation for your theory. Aptitude + Attitude + Athleticism - interference = He's a Footballer.

>(Interference factors include birds, bevvies, cars, pies, burgers......)

....shit coaches, dodgy managers....

Steve (963) - "(Interference factors include birds, bevvies, cars, pies, burgers......)"

That would certainly explain why (as I said in my earlier post) I knew when I was 13 that I'd never make a player.

It was obviously the lack of interest in cars that let me down (I was and am only interested in pies, burgers, bevvies and birds).

There you have it Eugene, the equation is proven.

Eugene - the brother sums it up well when he says the problem with English football is that they try to make athletes into footballers, rather than the other way round.

So, Jack Rodwell. Barring injury (???) a fine athlete, with necessary skills. But a 'footballing brain'? Not much evidence I'm afraid, and I saw almost all of his time at Goodison. Good up front, like Ossie who, in my book, is a much better footballer.

Welcome home? If it happens I'd trust Martinez, always assuming he's in control of these things. Can't see it myself.

Rodwell to replace Gibson? Sicknote to replace sicknote? No.

Everton are linked with Yann Mvilla in the Express from the Russians. A far better option.

A future central midfield duo of Gibson and Rodwell?? Wow! We will have the strongest treatment room in the Premier League! At least both have one working leg on normal occasions.

Gibwell-Rodson partnership — potentially awesome but likely to never ever happen!

John (053) - "At least both have one working leg on normal occasions"

Strap em' together maybe, or take the good leg from both, attach Ossie's 'good feet' and we'd have..

FRANKENMIDFIELDER!!!

Another first for Everton - a player made from the body parts of others.

Oh wait, I'm forgetting Glen Keeley.

Watching Rodders and Lescott play tonight they both look finished as high end pros. I think we were lucky to get £12m for Rodwell and as for lescott, well it was his decision to go for the big bucks so he can get stuffed as far as I'm concerned.

I wouldn't get so carried away to say a midfield of Gibson and Rodwell as being 'potentially awesome'. Both are fairly decent players but playing both together would not really do much for us as a team. Gibson is a player in the mould of Barry/McCarthy... only trouble is, I believe Barry is better at what he does, ie, passing range, and McCarthy is better at what he does than Gibson, ie, tackling/ball winning.

Rodwell on the other hand? Well, if ever a player baffled me then it was that lad. I never used to see what he was meant to do, what position was meant to be his best, or why when he did play (which wasn't often) he didn't perform at the level we were expecting.

Too often we would be crying out for him to burst forward, like he did during stages of the 2009-10 season, when I do admit there were promising signs of a young player with potential, the goal against Man Utd was Rolls Royce. Sadly, though, after that, his form just dipped; yes, he has been destroyed by injury but, like I say, when he did play, we just saw a player who kept going sideways or back — what happened to the lad who can go past players and could strike a mean shot?

I got very frustrated watching Rodwell in the end; whether it was down to the lad himself, injuries, or just David Moyes, we will never know... I just don't think we should look to go back there unless we were totally desperate and there was loan deal that suited us available.

This only makes sense if
(1) we get him cheap (inc.wages) because he has sentimental reasons for returning to us
(2) he passes a proper medical and
(3) Martinez sees him as a ball playing CB

Not sure any of these conditions will be met.

David, I wouldn't set any importance to a medical at Finch Farm considering Fer failed one and Alcaraz passed one.

This was something I was calling for over the summer.

Rodwell is a class player and still has a lot of potential. Granted, he is still injury-prone but let's hope he can gain some fitness cause we definitely need to bulk up the midfield. We've got gibbo who is in for one week and out for six so we need a few more players to work with...

City can keep him. What's the point of spending more money on players who are not fit, eg, Alcaraz and Kone? We don't have the money to spend on sicknotes.

The problem with Rodwell is he is scared shitless on the pitch. He doesn't tackle for fear of being out injured.

Nice lad — but not mean enough

Eugene
I've been trying to forget Glen Keeley for nearly thirty years. Thanks for dredging up that memory for me. Thirty years of therapy down the Swanee

Why, oh why, do people want former players back??? Look at 'real' players who are far better. Rodwell flattered to deceive I'm afraid; after watching him play the other evening, he produced nothing to show him as anything other than very average.

Arteta had his best game for Arsenal yesterday against Liverpool but he revels in the short pass and he was obviously happy playing the defensive midfield role. He is the only player of recent years since Rooney who has left us and now plays regularly in the Premier League.

I for one do not want to give jobs to players who are not showing up well in the Premier League. I'm heartily sick of seeing jobs for the boys ie; McFadden, Weir and Co, plus has beens like Hahnemann and Hitzlsperger taking up valuable bench room. We need to show ambition and aspire to bring in genuine class players even on loan if need be. There are far better players than Rodwell and Vaughan unable to get game time at the top four clubs. Players like Lukaku and Barry.