http://the72.co.uk/92749/sunderland-midfielder-set-become-defender-order-save-career/ Looks like Jack the lad is trying to become a centre half (sure a number of us have mentioned that he should try that in the past!!) Let's be honest - he can;t do much worse than in his midfield berth!! ____________________________________________ Sunderland Under 23 head coach Elliott Dickman has told the Daily Star that Jack Rodwell is to try playing in central defence in order to save his career. When the 26-year-old midfielder was coming through the Everton academy, he was seen as one of the best young players in the country and was tipped to be a key international for England. However his big money move to Manchester City did not work out and it appears that he regressed as a player during his time at the Etihad Stadium. He has struggled to show that promise at Sunderland and now he can’t even break into their first team even though they are now in the Sky Bet Championship. However Rodwell is keen to make sure his time at the Stadium of Light lasts a bit longer and is looking to turn into a centre-back to give himself a better chance of getting back into the first team. The U23s manager Dickman said: “He’s is quite keen to play in that position and see how it goes,” “The two games he’s played in, I think he’s done well.” “He’s an old head in there, knows all the situations and he’s helped the lads. “He’s had a conversation with the manager and if that’s where he wants to play and the manager is comfortable with it, then I am as well.” Rodwell will hope he is back in the Sunderland first team, whether it be central midfield or defence, for their next match against QPR. __________________________
He was supposed to be a centre back when he first came through, sure Moyes said at Everton it was always the aim to put him in the back 4, if Moyes thought that then I think we should put him upfront.
He's too soft to play in midfield so why put him in defence? The crux of it is that we are stuck with paying him £60k a week in return for nothing. We have to keep doing this until his contract expires. Then he can go and play in whatever position he chooses, but not as SAFC
In terms of technical ability he's a very good player. Better than some who get in the first team ahead of him. It's in his head that the problem lies. His confidence looks absolutely shot and that won't be helped by the fact that he's made a scapegoat. If reinventing himself as a centre back solves his confidence/desire/mental toughness issues then we could potentially get a very good player back and solve the problems at the heart of our defence.
He has every attribute required to be a good centre half - except the mental capacity to play football!!
Agreed - but he also lacks the physical capacity as well We play with 10 men when he plays - that's why we never win with him in the team. Congerton should be publicly flogged for signing him up and not putting the 40% relegation clause in
He's a mountain though - he has all of the physical attributes to be a very good footballer. He also likes to put his foot in - I just don't see anything in him now - been one of the "he will likely come good and be a good player in the championship" people but I just haven't seen it. He was a centre half when he started out so maybe it's a position worth trying him in as he's not going anywhere whilst he on the wedge he gets now
He's the best player we have in our squad at heading the ball and he has good technical ability. This is definitely worth a shot. He's got two massive problems, though. 1) His confidence is shot to pieces and that could be a real hurdle to overcome. 2) His biggest problem, the Sunderland 'supporters' they won't give him a chance (he's already being wrote off on this thread) and they'll more than likely be on his back as he makes his way on to the pitch before kick off.
This entirely. On paper, he looked like an amazing signing when he arrived. Highly rated, England international, European experience. Congerton should have been congratulated for getting a player of this calibre in. The question that needs asking is "what's happened to him at Sunderland to knacker his confidence and make his career nosedive?"
We're going to be in division 2 and he'll still be below par and we'll still be on here saying what a quality player he is and eventually he'll come good if he can just get his confidence levels up.
Being at Sunderland, thats what happened to him. Ive read a few times over the past few days that Ibrahimovic could have been at Sunderland early in his career. I wonder how his career would have panned out if we had have signed him. Injury prone, sold to Rochdale and finished by 28 years old no doubt.
The thing is he's showed quality quiet a few times. Especially last season. Because he was already the scapegoat though it never got recognised by our supporters. He was our best player in quite a few matches.
Been saying this for a long time on this forum, "put him at CB in the u21's and see how he does" , as its so obvious he is no use anywhere else, what's to lose.
Amen to that mind - when a player who has inherently been a let down has a good game or does more good in a game than bad then all of this is overlooked. Said so many times that the fans can be horrendous at SAFC - they're on twitter slating Paddy McNair after he scored last night and, by all accounts, played well. I think Rodwell could work in defence but when I've watched him this season he's looked so poor - not even Championship standard - most likely (hopefully?) a confidence thing - not good for the player or the team when a crowd turns on someone on the pitch - it never helps anyone
I'm not sure how much of it is a confidence problem, it's not like he's trying things and it's not working, he doesn't try anything in the first place. He's the kind of player that you often don't realise he's on the pitch until he gets subbed off. More effort is needed from him, he needs to stretch his legs more. I don't imagine Vaughan is brimming with confidence but he doesn't half try his best.
