CONFIRMED Jack Rodwell

[Harry's Game]

I note the calls for younger players who can develop to be brought in for these back up rolls, and although it seems logically the way to go I think we have had our fingers burned a couple of times in the preceding seasons with this.

You will remember Cameron Carter Vickers and Keen Bryan? When they were called upon to play they looked all at sea, far more so than Jags or Robinson did when they played.

I think it’s a tough call for the manager, as has been said our consistent defence was our strong point Last season and will need to be again this season. If one of the big three is out for any length of time we are going to have issues either way and CW it seems has decided to errr on the side of experience.

 

[Nah den]

We may yet see a couple of youngsters. Some people seem to be assuming that it signals the end of our transfer activity.

We may do, i hope you're right. But we won't see further signings for these two positions because they are now filled. I hope they prove to be capable should they be called upon. Personally I'd have preferred the type of player I mentioned above for these positions. Guess we just don't have the budget, which is fine, no one has a money tree.

 

[Deadbat]

The key to judging these decisions will be to look at them not in isolation now but alongside the full amount of business we do by the end of this window.

Possibly but even if we sign a great striker/midfielder the defensive issue remains. In a squad of 25 I am not sure he carries more than 10 defenders and he ain't going to have back ups for back ups. I'd suggest Rodwell is Bash cover and Jags is Egan again. We may sign a RWB back up and maybe LWB back up unless he goes with Osborn but we won't sign another 2 centre backs I don't think. Roswell, Jags a d Robinson are our back ups here. These are not good enough to play more than the odd minutes.

So my point stands. Any injuries to the defence and we are in trouble as the current back ups are not close to what we need to give not just cover but competition. If any drop off in form you want players who can come in and be serious alternatives for a period of games. These lads aren't. It means there is reliance on all the defence keeping fit and in form again.

 

[Rodley]

The key to judging these decisions will be to look at them not in isolation now but alongside the full amount of business we do by the end of this window.

You mean the common sense / grown adult approach?

 

[Roygbiv]

I wonder if Rodwell and Jags were getting offers elsewhere and with the short window we felt it was just sensible to nail them down. I have to admit I didn't think either would be here next season

 

[wizadry]

Jack Rodwell is a midfielder, he hasn’t been able to come into our squad as we are very strong there. If Wilder thinks he can turn Rodwell into an overlapping centre back then good luck, I just can’t see it happening.

When Norwood was tired towards the end of the season it would’ve been the right time to give Olly a rest and play Rodwell there to see what he’s like in his natural position, I feel Wilder missed a trick here as we didn’t have much to play for and tiredness was affecting our results and performances, when it needed freshening up Wilder didn’t do much about it, that to me signifies what Wilder thinks all the squad players are capable of, obviously not at the required standard.

 

[LJBlade]

We may do, i hope you're right. But we won't see further signings for these two positions because they are now filled. I hope they prove to be capable should they be called upon. Personally I'd have preferred the type of player I mentioned above for these positions. Guess we just don't have the budget, which is fine, no one has a money tree.

They were filled last year and then we also signed Retsos...

 

[8lade]

I'm really comfortable about Rodwell he may become a better player with the legendary 'full pre-season' under his belt and if he doesn't he can still fill in the odd cameo to give a first teamer a rest.

 

[Nah den]

They were filled last year and then we also signed Retsos...

Yeah, so there were three positions. We won't fill these two spots in the squad specifically with anyone else because they are now filled. If we sign another player it's for a different spot in the squad, 3 into 2 doesn't go.

 

[Snowflake]

To have a squad of 25 I think we needed to sign 6 or 7 players.
We have a keeper and now these two, so that leaves another 3 or 4 new signings. We simply don’t have the money to buy seven new players .

 

[HeySethUTB]

Quality squad depth is important, I know signing players for sums of money in the knowledge your going to sit it on the bench seems like one of the many messed up Wendy policies, but is/was Matty Cash going to automatically displace Baldock same goes for swift re. Fleck, Norwood, Berge. The disparity between our best eleven and bench is rather large, seem to be just kicking the problem further down the road which is risky, this of course is heavily dictated by finance.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Jack Rodwell is a midfielder, he hasn’t been able to come into our squad as we are very strong there. If Wilder thinks he can turn Rodwell into an overlapping centre back then good luck, I just can’t see it happening.

When Norwood was tired towards the end of the season it would’ve been the right time to give Olly a rest and play Rodwell there to see what he’s like in his natural position, I feel Wilder missed a trick here as we didn’t have much to play for and tiredness was affecting our results and performances, when it needed freshening up Wilder didn’t do much about it, that to me signifies what Wilder thinks all the squad players are capable of, obviously not at the required standard.

Playing him in Norwood’s position would have been a complete waste of time given we’ve been trying to coach him into the RCB role. If anyone was to get time there is was rightly always going to be Berge. We don’t need him to be a midfielder for us.

As for it not being Rodwell’s natural position, Basham’s natural position was midfield till at the ripe age of 28 he was turned into a full-time RCB. I’m not really sure we can completely rule out Rodwell’s use as cover there based on one cup game, and one sub appearance where he switched between that and sitting in front of a back 4.

 

[LJBlade]

Yeah, so there were three positions. We won't fill these two spots in the squad specifically with anyone else because they are now filled. If we sign another player it's for a different spot in the squad, 3 into 2 doesn't go.

Which position was Retsos filling that Jagielka and Rodwell aren’t? Seems to me that they all played central/right sided defence so 3 into 2 seemed to go last season. What’s different this season?

 

[Bergen Blade]

When the time is right and we feel we've identified someone who can replace Bash, Egan or O'Connell, I think we will be prepared to spend some money.

I reckon we've had a look around for serious up and coming centre halves, like Worrall and Cabango, but we've decided it's not the right time to bring them in due to

a) silly transfer fees
b) them being likely to be back ups the coming season


Most likely we're planning on starting the season with Bash-Egan-O'Connell, and we don't think it's a good idea to sign someone for £10m+ to be left on the bench. I still think someone will come in to give us extra cover, maybe a loan, or someone like Pollock from Grimsby. But I'm sure they'd want a good fee for him as well, so it's not easy.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

or someone like Pollock from Grimsby

Indeed we should be looking at players like this and then possibly loaning him out again. Brighton did this this with Ben White and suddenly after one or two years of experience Leeds are wanting to cough up £24m for him.

The longer we stay in the Prem, the more we can have numerous "reserves" gaining experience out at championship level just as we've done for Man U with Hendo.

UTB

 

[Bladezz]

Worried

 

[BigBed]

Is there such a thing as a 'safe place' in the Shirecliffe area?

The away goal at Hillsborough is about the safest place....

 

[Nah den]

Which position was Retsos filling that Jagielka and Rodwell aren’t? Seems to me that they all played central/right sided defence so 3 into 2 seemed to go last season. What’s different this season?

This seems to have side tracked the main thrust of what I was trying to say, which was I was hoping that instead of the two we've extended we'd have been able to attract some younger players with the potential for the longer term but also who might be able to fill in to good effect when required. But given our budget it doesn't seem that's been possible. So it is what it is, and if we've done this to get other targets in then great, as long as we get those other targets.

But to answer your question, if we have player A, B and C in the squad it's because there are places in the squad for A, B and C. It's just simple maths.

 

[PokerBlade]

We were struggling to fill the bench in a few games after lockdown. Can't say I'm enthused by this signing but I'm hardly surprised.

If we hadn't just spent £18m on a player I might be worried. But we have. So I'm not.

 

[wizadry]

Playing him in Norwood’s position would have been a complete waste of time given we’ve been trying to coach him into the RCB role. If anyone was to get time there is was rightly always going to be Berge. We don’t need him to be a midfielder for us.

As for it not being Rodwell’s natural position, Basham’s natural position was midfield till at the ripe age of 28 he was turned into a full-time RCB. I’m not really sure we can completely rule out Rodwell’s use as cover there based on one cup game, and one sub appearance where he switched between that and sitting in front of a back 4.

A reasoned post again LB, I just think whilst Berge was the option to try in Norwoods role I do think Berge was also knackered at this time, hence it was a great opportunity to see Rodwell in his natural position to see what he can do for us, it was a great opportunity to do so and I trick I think we missed. Wilder was banging on about the players being knackered at the time so he should’ve given the tired players a rest and played a few of the squad players to see what they could do when we had barely nothing to play for, for me it was an opportunity wasted.

I’m not saying he’s definitely going to fail at the role of RCB, I just think it’s a tough role to teach in our unique system and one I personally don’t think a ball playing controller of midfield that Rodwell is can adapt to, I personally think he could adapt to Egan’s role more than he could the role of Basham just because of his attributes, an out and out central defender.

 

[LJBlade]

This seems to have side tracked the main thrust of what I was trying to say, which was I was hoping that instead of the two we've extended we'd have been able to attract some younger players with the potential for the longer term but also who might be able to fill in to good effect when required. But given our budget it doesn't seem that's been possible. So it is what it is, and if we've done this to get other targets in then great, as long as we get those other targets.

But to answer your question, if we have player A, B and C in the squad it's because there are places in the squad for A, B and C. It's just simple maths.

Yes I agree we’ve been sidetracked but my original point on ‘the main thrust’ of what you were trying to say still stands. We may yet still sign some of the younger players that you were hoping for. Just because we’ve got Jagielka and Rodwell to cover certain positions doesn’t mean we won’t yet sign further players for those positions. As I’ve pointed out, we did this last season with Retsos. There were places in the squad last season for A, B and C. With Retsos leaving and not being replaced as of yet the ‘simple maths’ you mention surely means there’s space for player C. Do you not agree?

 

[Silent Blade]

Why do some in here think they know Rodwell better than Wilder and his coaching staff??

Give Rodwell a chance!

 

[Shirty Blade]

I'm okay with Rodwell to be honest. He isn't over the hill, has pedigree, been with us a while, knows the squad and tactics, happy to play a supporting role, doesn't want silly money, commands no fee and CWAK have offered him an new contract. Who else would come to us on those terms and be better value for money?

 

[Nah den]

Yes I agree we’ve been sidetracked but my original point on ‘the main thrust’ of what you were trying to say still stands. We may yet still sign some of the younger players that you were hoping for. Just because we’ve got Jagielka and Rodwell to cover certain positions doesn’t mean we won’t yet sign further players for those positions. As I’ve pointed out, we did this last season with Retsos. There were places in the squad last season for A, B and C. With Retsos leaving and not being replaced as of yet the ‘simple maths’ you mention surely means there’s space for player C. Do you not agree?

Absolutely I do agree, my point being that it's a shame places A and B are taken by the incumbents rather than the type of player I've outlined previously. But as I've also stated, it's probably due to other priorities, hopefully.

 

[wizadry]

Why do some in here think they know Rodwell better than Wilder and his coaching staff??

Give Rodwell a chance!

That’s just it silent, we want to see him play but it’s Wilder who chooses to never give him a chance even when our players are on their last legs, if someone who knows him, I mean really knows him, barely gives him a chance then surely you can see why valid questions can be raised upon a forum full of football fans?

 

[Silent Blade]

That’s just it silent, we want to see him play but it’s Wilder who chooses to never give him a chance even when our players are on their last legs, if someone who knows him, I mean really knows him, barely gives him a chance then surely you can see why valid questions can be raised upon a forum full of football fans?

No, they have not seen him at Shirecliffe during the close season like Wilder and the coaching staff did

 

[wizadry]

No, they have not seen him at Shirecliffe during the close season like Wilder and the coaching staff did

I have never mentioned close season, nor has anyone else on the thread from what I’ve seen and they are entitled to a view on it, if you can’t see why questions are currently being asked then it can’t be discussed any further, I’d have thought it was pretty obvious to be honest.

If no one asks questions or sparks debate do you think the forum should even exist?

 

[Charlieblade]

Looking back a few years, who would have thought Basham would develop into the role he is loved for now?
As others have said, give him a chance. He seems to be a very low cost option for the cover he provides, and could develop along the same lines as Bash?

 

[BrisBlade]

I'm perfectly happy with Rodwell getting a new contract. Worst case, he's cover in a few positions. Best case we can get him really firing and have a seriously good player on the books.

I'm more concerned about Jags. I love the guy and reckon he is still an asset to the club in terms of coaching and mentoring. It worries me having a 38 year old as the main cover for Egan.

 

[Champagneblade]

I note the calls for younger players who can develop to be brought in for these back up rolls, and although it seems logically the way to go I think we have had our fingers burned a couple of times in the preceding seasons with this.

You will remember Cameron Carter Vickers and Keen Bryan? When they were called upon to play they looked all at sea, far more so than Jags or Robinson did when they played.

I think it’s a tough call for the manager, as has been said our consistent defence was our strong point Last season and will need to be again this season. If one of the big three is out for any length of time we are going to have issues either way and CW it seems has decided to errr on the side of experience.

I think the problem with young players is that to develop they need to play. If we signed say Woolfendon of Ipswich and he played just cup games, how does he move from being a decent league one prospect to someone pushing for first team?

If we did get Cash, who is to say he couldn't cover Baldock, Basham and Lundstram for instance?

I see this as a far from ideal pre-season but as has been mentioned elsewhere let's judge once the window is shut.