Martinez made deadline-day bid for Rodwell

Obviously it could be newspaper nonsense, but is this credible? Depending on terms I could certainly see worst deals in terms of another young option in central midfield.

From what I've heard from sources closer to the club, there was a push to get Barry signed up permanently to open up a domestic loan option. I didn't hear that the target was Rodwell but there does seem to have been some fire with that smoke.

As a loan it would probably have been fine but I'm not convinced we should bring Jack back permanently. We made good money on his sale and, setting aside his injury record, I think we need someone more creative.

I wonder why the Barry bid failed?

But to be honest, if I was Barry, I would also question the point in signing permanently for Everton for £40-60k if I was guaranteed £120k a week for another 6 months. I think he knows he will be playing for Everton for the rest of the season, and the club will probably come in for him anyway.

It would've been a good deal with Heitinga's wages off the books. He would've been a good understudy for the Barry/McCarthy axis.

Makes sense for him to come back. Not so sure it does for us.

Dan, that makes sense.

We could have used some central midfield cover although I'm not surprised Rodwell has not broken through at Man City; I was never that sure that he did enough while with us.

I don't think Barry will stay at Everton beyond the end of this season - even a one year contract at somewhere like Spurs could see him earn more than he could get at Goodison for two years. I hope Roberto has another player other than Gibson lined up as his replacement and I don't think Rodwell is the answer either.

Why not? His crabesque passing would probably fit quite well with our new ethos.

Rodwell is a crock! Don't know why we have this fascination of bringing back former players, most have turned out to be shit, McFadden, Jeffers, Gravesen, Harper. Ferguson did okay in his second spell. I just don't see it with former players returning, surely we have a scouting network which looks beyond ex blues.

Barry is happy in the Northwest, his wife has a few horses she keeps in their own stables at their property, his kids are settled in school and he has gone on record of stating he doesn't have any desire to move to a London. The fact he appeared to be ready to sign to allow a loanee to come in speaks volumes.

Rodwell thrives on confidence and Roberto is a master of installing it and I am sure he would bring out the best in him unlike Moyes who didn't install any confidence in him.

James, Rodwell may well indeed thrive on confidence but does his body? Like Vaughan a great young prospect let down by his own body.

Kunal Desai you forgot about Peter Beagrie. Remember an effort to re-sign Barry Horne was one of the reasons giving for sacking Joe Royle. I am also baffled by the short-sightedness of signing ex-blues. In the case of Rodwell, it would be very much like Jeffers, i.e. we sold a "promising" youngster for a ton of money who turned out to be not all that great but incredibly injury prone. Quite honestly, the only difference between Rodwell and Dan Gosling was the fact Rodwell actually had a contract. Both were over-hyped and I don't care to see either of them retun.

Decent midfielder when fit (not entirely convinced he was ever going to be the world class centre back that was once proclaimed). But sadly one of those players that simply doesn't seem to be able to stay fit for more than a month at a time.

I thought we certainly got a great deal when he moved on, and I don't really see the point of spending what I assume would be rather large wages on someone who will probably trouble our physios more than our opposition.

It's a huge shame. He seems a decent lad. But I think Roberto needs to be looking elsewhere. It would be crazy to have Gibson and Rodwell as back-up CM's when neither seem to be fit for more than a handful of games at a time.

Rodwell is exactly what we need to supplement Barry and McCarthy. I was thinking along these lines myself so I hope this is true. Rodwell's only weakness as a player is that he's perhaps not the sharpest tool in the box in a position where tactical nous and positioning are key. If he can learn this with more games and experience, he has the technique and physical attributes to be a top player. Playing alongside and training with Barry and McCarthy and learning from a manager like Martinez could be really good for him, and in the long term, us.

Kieran the difference between Rodwell and Dan Gosling was absolutely huge, surely you can see that.

Jack Rodwell had a habit of passing sideways. He never really dominated games and in fact went missing in games. He was also a terrible sufferer of injuries and could never get fully fit to win a decent run in the side.

Rodwell joined Man City because of the money. Jack wanted the big Man City wage and Moyes wanted the £12 million transfer kitty. At no point did I expect Jack Rodwell to be a big hit at a club like Man City.

A couple of years later and Jack Rodwell is pretty much on the scrap heap. His injury problems have continued at Man City and, even when fit, he cannot get first team football. Rodwell has also seen his International career dwindle and he has next to no hope of a World Cup ticket this summer.

It doesn't surprise me that he would favour a move back to Everton. But would we want him back? Let's be honest: he was never good enough to win a regular place in the Moyes midfield and the quality has improved since with the addition of McCarthy and Barry.

To be honest, I would actually welcome Rodwell back. I get that he quit Everton for money; I get that he wasn't that good to begin with... and I get that his injuries will undoubtedly continue.

But he's a young lad and he had potential and under Roberto's guidance maybe, just maybe, he could develop into the player we all hoped he was going to be 5 years ago.

TBH the fitness is a major concern. But on ability, he could well do a role to deputise for Barry or McCarthy. We are going to need a younger set of legs in that part of the park long term. But I doubt it will be Rodwell. I have a good feeling Lundstrum might have a chance there.

No chance. So many other options.

If we have any money to spend I'd go after Belgian due, Dembele and Vermalen. Both would cost a fair few quid, but both would be top notch.

His first pass was always sideways or back. Still is. Could look very useful for club and country when pushed forward to support the attack. Plenty of ability but those long legs are a worry. Shame really. He also, like Defoe and Walcott, talks to the press too much.

Ian. Dream on mate. Martinez is after cheap aquisitions who will perform above their market value. Unwanted hungry players with great character. Dembele and Vermalen will not be on his radar.

Retrograde step but probably as much about leveraging a deal to sign Barry by creating a space in City's squad for their new signing - quite clever when you think about it like that.

When Rodwell was with us, I always thought that he would end up as a ball playing CH. I don't think he's got enough in his locker to make as a CM. Who knows, Stones & Rodders CB partnership for the next 5 years.

Speaking of cheap acquisitions...David Bentley now available on a free..

My my, his star has certainly fallen.

I think Rodwell would be very good cover in MF for Barry/McCarthy. Would have been very happy if it happened.
In terms of Barry not signing permanently, my reading of it is that it was only necessary (in Jan) IF the Rodwell deal was going through. As Man City didn't want to let him go then there was no need to sign a contract with Barry at this time. It could wait til end of season when he is a free agent.

Speaking of players who's star has fallen,
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/02/04/former-89-million-everton-signing-agrees-deal-to-move-to-anzhi/

I think Barry will Sign for Everton in the summer, he mentioned in his recent newspaper interview, that he and his family were happy living in the quiet Cheshire area, he does like going to London for weekends away but wouldn't want to live there, As its too busy and his wife needs somewhere for her horses. I hope he sees the project that Martinez is trying to put together and knows he can be an instrumental figure in that for at least the next two years! Why not bring Rodwell back in only on Loan, until his contract runs down and we sign his for free!

Poor decision not to nail Barry on a permanent contract during the window. We will need to play City without him in the league and if we are to win the cup (and it's a big if); then we will likely have to beat City on the way; again without Barry.

Rodders has a lot of talent and if he ever gets over the injury blight he may do good for himself but some players never do and consequently never progress.

Everton already have some crocks and adding another wouldn't have made any sense whatsoever. Good luck to the lad.

It hasn't appeared yet on this thread so for a laugh I'll state it: "He has all the makings of a centre half".

Rodders and Del Boy — the perfect combination...

I'll get me coat.

It would be interesting to see how Rodwell would play under Martinez.I never thought OFM really trusted him and instead preferred Neville and even Jagielka in midfield. Perhaps he would flourish under Martinez in our possession based game.

Also, on a similar note, would Barkley have played as often and with as much confidence under OFM? Worth a shout and he certainly has the ability and is two footed.

I'm confident Barry will sign for us in the summer. I don't think Spurs would get him above us, and anyway, as if they would add another central midfielder to their ranks.

With respect to Rodwell, I just echo what some others have said; he has the ability but not the fitness. A loan would have been a very safe option, but I would not be confident about his potential as a permanent signing.

Personally, given that we have Gibson returning next season, and with the likely arrival of Barry, I'd just like to see us sign another creative central midfielder. Someone who could play in a deeper role, and push Barkley in the AMC position. I'm a massive fan of Holtby, even if he hasnt worked out yet.

Dan 857 — I don't think it was a case of a bid for Barry failed. I believe it was a chain of events which would start with Man City getting this guy from Porto. Had they got him, then Rodwell would have been clear to go out on loan or sold.

The only way we could have got another loan would have been to buy one of our loanees i.e. Barry. The Club think they can get him cheaper in the Summer and, as the Porto deal fell through, everything stayed as is.
Simples !!

Is anyone concerned about McCarthy or Barry picking up a long term injury? Our options there are extremely limited. The thought of seeing Ossie start for a long run in the holding midfield role fills me with dread (and I'm actually one of his fans).

RM said he needed to replace Gibson and he has not. I pray neither of our CMs pick up knocks as we will look significantly weaker.

I'm not too worried about the midfield situation as we have enough players that can play in a number of positions. Barry will sign in the summer, there was no point paying a price to Man City last month if the Rodwell deal was not coming off.

As for Rodwell, it would be madness to sign him unless it is accepted that the club will be lucky to get half a season out of him at most; he is too injury prone.

We've already got one midfielder, Gibson, who needs wrapping in cotton wool... so I don't see the point in getting another.

It's not as if there are no other players out there we could buy.

Gibson and Kone could have used the company. Jokes aside, would have been nice to see him come back.

Jim, I think in all probability we'll never see anything like a full season from Gibson, he makes Saha look like the Incredible Hulk.

I wonder if Rodwell might not be a good addition. While it was easy to be critical of his "sideways and backwards" play, the tight passing game was not exactly Plan A under the former regime, and he might just fit into an RM midfield.

We are seeing right now the problems associated with both injuries and players becoming exhausted.While I don't know how 20 year olds get knackered playing an hour and a half of football a week, this does seem to be the case, especially for midfielders. If we are serious about Champions League (something I never watch anyway) then we need to be able to replace or rotate players with similar quality performers.

Would be very dependent on the nature of the deal, and costs, but my gut feeling is that it could be a very positive move.

Rodwell's style of play seems to fit far more effectively into how Martinez likes his teams to set up, versus Moyes.

Fitness concerns are a bigger issue than ability, and were he to overcome those then his age and potential quality mean he *could* be a good signing.

@Charles (086) - I think the "how can they get exhausted when they just play 90 minutes a week" is over-emphasized. It's more about peak athletic performance relative to the players they are playing against. "Exhausted" means "fatigued to the point that their athletic performance drops off", which is perfectly reasonable for professional athletes.

I played footballSundays against brick shit houses, was kicked up and down the pitch. Then worked five days a week, out in town Friday and Saturday nights, usually walked home.

Attended Chinese boxing and weight training weekly. Tennis Sunday afternoon, two girlfriends (at least.)

FATIGUE... PLAYING FOOTBALL?!?! BOLLOCKS!!!!!

John 008, fair shout. That actually sounds much more likely.

What is it with Robertos love for certain sick notes?
First Alcaraz and now Rodwell on top of the injury prone Gibson and Kone.

Sam you are a sharp one, somehow Martinez have forgot to mention that.

I agree it is insane to have to rely on Osman for anything.

Tony. Thanks mate. You stirred a few happy memories.

@Jimmy (198) - "Sick notes" as you call them are a risk/reward type signing. They have the potential to be significantly cheaper than their overall talent might suggest, if they can overcome their injury issues.

Incidentally, "first Gibson" doesn't make any sense, given that Martinez didn't sign him, and there wasn't really any suggestion that Kone was injury prone, given he'd played in excess of 30 league games for the two seasons prior.

So, really, his "love" for sicknotes at this stage extends to signing Alcaraz on a free transfer.

There's a fair bit of revisionism going on in this thread in my opinion. He might not have been a regular starter under Moyes but that has probably more to do with the fact he's under 25 and therefore "not quite ready".

I imagine that Rodwell would come on leaps and bounds playing for Martinez and training with Barry, McCarthy and Barkley.

I agree, Paul. I think the current way we play would suit him much better and, assuming he could overcome the injury issues, I could see him being a good signing all round.

This makes me shudder. It sums Martinez up. To consider a player who can't play a couple of games without suffering an injury is crazy.