Jack Rodwell

Brwned

Very few of them look as mature as he has.

It's the reason everyone's so excited about/impressed by Jonny Evans.

There's a very small list of defenders that have looked as assured as him that have gone on to be mediocre.

AttackingFlair

Wouldn't mind him as midfielder right now, whether his position changes later or not.

Gabe

As he gets more time in midfield, he's changing peoples opinion of his best position. The attacking side of his game is emerging, his ability to drive past people, has a great shot off either foot. Phil Neville says he's the most naturally two footed player he's ever played with, quite a compliment, and quite an asset for a CM.
He's such a natural athlete, I don't see stamina being an issue long term, except for the usual pressures of his physical growth(he's still 18 and maturing physically).

Alex

I think he will be signed in the next year and a half

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber

Agreed. I tip this fella to be a real star in the future.

amolbhatia100

Since when did Song become an excellent defensive midfielder though? I've heard he's been good this season but one small chunk of a season doesn't make someone excellent. He's been average before this season.

soapythecat

Young, English and full of confidence and potential. If the price is right i'd love SAF to sign him up.

samabachan

I agree with this especially, it's always what really amazes me about him. He's even more two-footed than Ballack, who I have always hugely admired for his 'ambitextrosity(???)' or whatever the word is.

Raees

Ambidexterity.

Chirag

I have not read much in this thread but I just wanted to know why everyone the world over is convinced that we will sign this kid up? No I am not being pessimistic here.. I have heard & read about it on numerous occasions now.. I just wanted to know if there is another story to this than what has already made the news?

Brwned

He was good last season.

He's been very good this season.

And Song can be, not is.

cesc's_mullet

Song's been very good since the turn of the year, and so far this season he's been absolutely fantastic. Been our best performed player so far, along with Fabregas.

Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

Smash-E

Yeah, the few games I've seen him this season, he's been reat... defensive wise anyway. I still don't think he's any good on the ball.

Brwned

509 passes and 89% passing accuracy compared to Fletcher's 405 passes and 84% passing accuracy says otherwise.

He's got great balance on the ball, shown he has vision with a very handy assist in the Birmingham game just a couple of weeks ago and that's all defensive midfielders really need to do on the ball - show composure and keep it simple and effective.

Mitch Conor

hate people using stats like that.

Passing completion is only relevant when the type of pass is taken into account. A more attacking pass is always going to be more likely to be intercepted.

I'm not saying that Fletcher plays more attacking passes than Song, I honestly don't know, but without evidence as to what type of passes are being completed/intercepted the actual completion rate means nothing.

Also, you describe Song as a DM, where as I think that description would do a disservice to Fletcher, who is more box to box.

Laphroaig

I haven't seen Rodwell much, but according to my mate who's an Everton fan he is a great prospect. However, Moyes doesn't seem to fancy him in the defence, he even prefers to play Hibbert and Phil centrally during their monstrous defensive injury crisis. So why does everyone on here see him as a future United centre back?

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber

I was of the opinion people saw him as a future United midfielder.

EZee

because there is a line in his wiki page that says he may become a top class centre back...

if he has good fm stats at centre back that will be enough to convince some on here that it MUST be true... add a you tube clip of him playing at centre back for his school team or summat and you will probably start getting threads saying we should swap him for rio and vidic... if he changes his name to rodwellino people on here would want to stick another 20 million on the fee...

Raees

He's abit too young to be thrown into centre-back yet, hence why Moyes is reluctant to do so. At DM mistakes he makes are less likely to prove detrimental to the team as he isn't the last line of defence, it also develops his passing game and gives him a licence to get forward which as a young player (enthusiastic, wants to be in the thick of the action) is a good idea.

Laphroaig

You're probably right but playing Phil as a centre back over Rodwell is taking the fear of inexperience a bit far, I feel.

I might've been a bit selective in my reading. But here's some quotes

Raees

I read an article written by Andy Townsend, who spoke of a talk he had with moyes regarding Rodwell.. he claimed that Moyes knew that in the future the kid would be a top-class centre back. So that's why alot of journalists/pundits believe that position to be his favoured position. If Moyes said it, I'd be inclined to trust his judgement.

Brwned

I compared him to Fletcher because their passing styles are similar, in that they're quick, effective and easy to receive, but they don't require a lot of technique or skill.

Simple but effective.

Their playing styles are very different.

Gabe

Well, he's still developing, following Rodwell's 2 long range goals against Sigma Olomouc in August, Moyes said “He is a very good player with really good composure, I just didn’t know he was such a good shooter, I knew he was a good striker of the ball but his shooting tonight came as a bit of a surprise to me."
They know he can play center back, but he's showing he has potential to become an central midfielder. There was a poll of Everton fans, 80% saw his future position as a midfielder, and Rodwell himself said he has the ability to play DM or 'box to box'.

Ambivalent

Moyes, a former defender himself, seems to do an excellent job in developing centre backs. Jolean Lescott improved leaps and bounds at Everton. Phil Jagielka went from being a decent Championship level midfielder/right back to one of the best defenders in the Premiership last year.

I think he's best off growing at Everton for a couple of years more but definitely think he's gonna be United quality. We would have to pay a ridiculous fee now, so why not pay a similarly ridiculous fee once he's a bit more proven?

Of our rivals for his signature, Arsenal and Liverpool probably can't afford him (he probably wouldn't go to Liverpool anyway). Chelsea have a transfer ban imposed. I doubt he'd wanna go to City unless they do indeed establish themselves in the Champions League.

I'm excited about this kid. I'd heard of him when he was like 14/15 (probably from here) and apparently coaches rated him streets ahead of others in his age group, physically and technically.

After seeing him play, I'm convinced he'll be top class. He's having a bit of a dip in form right now and Everton are only playing him through necessity (due to their injury list) but, developing through this rough patch should strengthen his character.

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber

I clearly missed all those completely.

Decotron

Ferguson eyes £20million Rodwell
James Robson

November 17, 2009

SIR Alex Ferguson could be forced to step up his interest in Jack Rodwell - considering a move as soon as January for the Everton starlet.

The United manager is a long-term admirer of the England under-21 international but would have preferred to hold off making a move until at least the end of the season.

But with Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti likely to spend heavily in January - with the threat of a FIFA transfer ban hanging over Stamford Bridge - Ferguson could be forced to move sooner than he would have liked.

City are also monitoring the £20m-rated Rodwell, but have prioritised defensive improvements and it is Chelsea's interest that will be concerning United most.

The Londoners have had their two-window transfer ban suspended by the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the signing of Gael Kakuta - but the FIFA sanctions still hang over them.

As a result they may do much of their business in January, which could see them sign Rodwell in the New Year and loan him back to Everton until the end of the season.

Ferguson has suggested he will take the unusual step of spending in the January transfer window - provided the market is not as inflated as it was last summer.

He still has the majority of the £80m Real Madrid paid for Cristiano Ronaldo to spend and knows his squad is in need of a boost after an ordinary start to the campaign.

Valencia's David Silva and David Villa remain high on his list of targets - but only if their price tags are significantly reduced to around a combined £40m.

Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko is another player he admires and would be a much cheaper option than Villa.

But Rodwell is his primary domestic target - and he hopes the stylish midfielder will be tempted to follow in the footsteps of Wayne Rooney by swapping Goodison Park for Old Trafford.

Everton know they are in a strong position with the 18-year-old having signed a new five-year contract in February - but they will find it difficult to reject any offer in the region of £20m.

City are also keeping a close eye on the teenager's situation and would love to get one over their Old Trafford rivals, with whom they are increasingly going head-to-head in the transfer market.

Both Ferguson and Mark Hughes are also confirmed admirers of Inter Milan full- back Maicon and are ready to battle it out for his signature if the Brazilian quits the San Siro.

jrsenior

Good stuff, unsettling the player before the weekend.

HsJ

That article looks like its been written by a muppet.

Villa, Silva, Rodwell and Dzeko coming in?!

charleysurf

Is that all? Damn you Fergie!

anver

We will buy nobody in Jan.

Mitch Conor

that isn't what the article is saying though.

It is saying we are looking at Villa and Silva, if the price is right, and that Dzeko is considered an alternative to Villa, at a cheaper price.

So, Rodwell, Silva and Villa or Dzeko. Not much better than your interpretation and also highly unlikely.

Partizan

Don't forget Maicon.

HsJ

Strange because we've already brought 2 players.

HsJ

It's also an article with no quotes.

I could sit and write an article about Messi coming to United if I wanted to - its just made up.

charleysurf

I concur with your analysis

Makki

Yeah, but if we've bought them, why buy them again in January smartass?

cw1984

If you don't think he has all the attributes to be a quality centre half then i suggest you watch him a little more closely. Also, a lot of people arent ony just aware of him now, he made his name coming through the ranks as a centre half. The only reason he doesnt get games at centre back regularly at the minute is because he's so young.

phelans shorts

according to FM he is half brazilian, sign him up!

Brwned

Coming from the lad who decides whether a player's good on the basis of achievements, many of which are irrelevant, that's pretty ironic.

Count Duckula

Exactly, so we won't be buying them in January.