Royal Blue: Everton FC continue to indirectly benefit from Jack Rodwell’s departure

13 October 2012 05:00
IT’S difficult not to feel a twinge of sympathy for Jack Rodwell after the initial months of his new life at Manchester City have occasionally been marred by errors and misplaced passes. The midfielder could yet prove a wise addition by the seemingly scatter-gun transfer operator that is Roberto Mancini, but it’s probably fair to say he has not been missed in playing terms at Goodison. Certainly with the current injuries to Marouane Fellaini and Darron Gibson, Rodwell would have got a chance but it’s hard to imagine the gifted 21-year-old would have genuinely capitalised on that to the extent of keeping either of that pair out of the side in the long-term. Rodwell graciously admitted as much this week when he said: “I was not guaranteed a starting place at Everton. I had a lot of injuries, Darron Gibson and Marouane Fellaini were in form, so it was a push for me to get in that side. “But when the champions come knocking, it’s hard to refuse.” The honesty of that appraisal is typical of a player who was always polite and gracious in his demeanour, and never displayed the egotistical traits it may have been easy to acquire for a youngster fast-tracked into super-stardom and the international set-up. It’s also a back-handed compliment to Everton that Rodwell moved to the Premier League champions in order to try and get a game, although nobody should forget the stupendous wages he also landed upon completing that £10m move to the Etihad Stadium. So while there was certainly no gnashing of teeth after Rodwell left because of the presence of Fellaini and Gibson, it’s also unlikely the later’s presence in Everton’s only dodgy results so far this term would have ensured victory as some believe. Gibson is good, but the errors have largely stemmed from individual defensive mishaps that his economic passing would have been unable to influence. No, the real benefits of Rodwell’s exit can be found in the wonderful attacking football Everton have played at times so far thanks to the acquisition of Kevin Mirallas. The pair are not like for like, but David Moyes used some of the money he received for the Southport-born player to sign somebody in a position he really needed to strengthen. It’s hoped that Rodwell can progress in Manchester, because his departure certainly helped Everton do just that. Latest Everton FC News David Prentice: Who will referee the Merseyside derby? Ask the clubs who they don’t object to the most Oct 12 2012 Howard Kendall: Exceptional Leighton Baines is unstoppable from the spot for Everton FC Oct 12 2012

Source: liverpool_echo