scottsblue
Player Valuation: £950k
Shame, Malta's meant to be nice at this time of year mate.
doas that mean your goin?
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Shame, Malta's meant to be nice at this time of year mate.
doas that mean your goin?
And whoever that defensive midfielder is has to play alongside Jack Rodwell, it's as simple as that really. We can't afford to not play him, when we get the ball down it's Jack Rodwell who controls everything. As the Wigan, Sigma, AEK Athens and Blackburn games have shown.
If Rodwell's a massive gamble in certain games then what are the players around him? He's turned up more than Osman, Cahill and Fellaini this season. Until Arteta and Neville are back he has to play.
But play him against a team that have a strong physical presence and hussle him, he doesnt have the experience to deal with it.
Not a stab at the lad because experience leads to how to deal with that. And, yeah he has to play. Just dont be expecting him to deliver all the time because he's not 100% the finished article yet, or rely on him to be Mr Steel when our backs are against it.
He's still alot better on the ball than the players he's competing with at the moment, whether he's being hassled by opposition players or not. Wigan and Blackburn are physical sides, in both games he was one of our stand out players.
I think it's more a case of boot it over his head and we won't see the best of him, play it on the floor, pass the ball, create space and more than not he can do the buisness.
He's not the finished article, I know that, but he's turned up alot more than his fellow experienced midfielders and is a must in the side, because he's the only one who can control a game when we get it down and play.
I certainly wouldn't take him out for a defensive player, we'd be even more unbalanced. If someone comes in for Rodwell it'd have to be one of Bilyaletdinov, Pienaar or Osman.
Rodders has fantastic abilty it has to be said and will be a top player. Its stretching it a bit to say hes made more of an impact then Fellaini, Cahill or Neville for me. Yes Rodders can do things the others cant but they do an awfull lot that he cant at this stage too. The difference being those players have proved they can do it consistently over a season and against a varient of opposition. Rodders can be sublime for parts of games but anonomys for large parts of it in a lot of games. He has awsome potential, but still requires the platform to be given to him and cant impact on the game for 90 mins with or without the ball, as much as he will in the future or others can at present - thats only fair given his given his age and expierence - he will get there no doubht, but hes far from undropable or reached comparitibale standard of consistency with some our midfeilders, in fact i think we are coming to a point that a breather from the team maybe good for him.
I'm talking about this season, he's turned up more than Osman, Cahill and Fellaini and has been better in most games. He isn't as proven as those players but we are talking about the present day, not last season.
The only one who can do an awful lot more than Rodwell out of your list is Phil Neville. He protects the back four better than any of our players and if he was fit, he'd be in my first choice starting eleven.
Fellaini and Cahill don't, the only thing Cahill offers is his running and workrate. Fellaini is basically a poor mans version of Rodwell, albeit a little more attacking. Rodwell betters him in most areas, in terms of protecting the back four and getting on the ball and looking to start attacks.
You just have to look at the Wigan, Sigma, Blackburn and AEK Athens games, Rodwell controlled every game mentioned and was the standout midfielder alongside Pienaar. Until that changes he deserves to be in the team.
I am aware that he's not the finished article but I struggle to see where the better option is in the position he plays. There isn't one.
I don't think Lucas Neill's ever played there to be honest, certainly not at this level. He's a right back who can play centre back and left back.
Heitinga would probably be an option seeing as Moyes has used him there but he didn't look good against Portsmouth, Portsmouth where cutting right through him. I'm not sure it's a position he's that experienced in either, I wouldn't be against him being given a go there though.
I'd have no problem with us introducing a more defensive player into the side but it has to be alongside Rodwell, not Cahill or Fellaini. Simply because he's got alot more ability on the ball than the players mentioned and it's vital that we have someone who can pick a pass and show some creative intent.
And Heitinga and Neill can't play, if the previous discussion was about this match.Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell has been ruled out of Thursday night's Europa League match against BATE Borisov in Minsk.
The teenager is suffering from flu-like symptoms and joins Steven Pienaar (knee) on the sidelines.
Rodwell is out anyway according to Virgin Sport:
And Heitinga and Neill can't play, if the previous discussion was about this match.
Saha is also suspended, just to improve your mood.If that's the case.....we are well and truely. ****ED!
What we gonna have?
Howard
Hibbert Yobo Distin Baines
Gosling Fellaini Billy
Osman
Cahill
Jo
Or
Howard
Hibbert Yobo Distin Baines
Osman Fellaini Cahill Billy
Jo Yak/Saha