2020/21 James Rodriguez

[Sassy Colombian]

Tosun was told that 3 years ago and is still trying to fight for his place lol

But Tosun is no James Moreover, a footballer fights for his place if he really thinks he has a chance. James has been managed under Benitez before and it seems was recently told by him that he doesn’t have a space on his team so what's there to fight when the manager already made the decision for you.

 

[jinkyali]

After being told you are not wanted and the manager doesn’t count on you, who wouldn’t want to leave.

Tbf this is all only coming from one side and it isn't Everton.

 

[blulouie]

People talking as if he's a 25 goal a season striker who's fit every game and in the prime of his career.

He's 30, out of contract next summer, misses about 15 games a season through injury, too slow to truly grab a game by the scruff of the neck and doesn't get on with the current manager.

Very talented player but he's not even in our top 3 important/valuable players currently (Richarlison, DCL, Digne).

There you go again shooting your mouth off , you wouldnt know what a talented footballer was if you fell over him.

 

[Sassy Colombian]

Tbf this is all only coming from one side and it isn't Everton.

Exactly. Wouldn't it be nice if the Club manifest itself.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

There you go again shooting your mouth off , you wouldnt know what a talented footballer was if you fell over him.

Doesn't matter one jot how talented a player is if he doesn't suit the system the manager wants.

Go sign Jamie Vardy and hit crosses into him all game and see how many goals he scores from his head - not many hence Leicester dont play that way.

 

[Sassy Colombian]

According to Aguirre (El Chiringuito), Benitez told James he was not in his plans in one of their first face to face meetings upon James' return for pre-season. Aguirre may be a talking head but he is close to James - Everton's silence since that story broke and James' comments on Twitch last night (that he will play where he is wanted) support Aguirre's allegations.

James has had a recurring calf injury since he was 25. But the stigma of him as 'lazy' and 'uncommitted' rather than 'injury prone' that has followed him in the press since was started by Rafael Benitez at Madrid and its exactly what they have feuded over all these years.

Rafael seems to genuinely think James is lazy. James blames Rafael for creating a media narrative that questions his professionalism (which as Sassy notes here often, he takes super seriously - he always shows up wherever he is supposed to be and gets permission if he won't, etc.).

It makes perfect sense that Rafael is pushing James out now. As Garcia Marquez wrote this is a chronicle of an event foretold.

That's right, it was Benitez the one who has promoted the narrative about James being lazy and not working hard, and based on the comments by Aguirre, it seems James feels that once again someone is pursuing with the press the same narrative, one that's not what he represents or desires. Benitez has never liked James and was never willing to give him a chance here at Everton, I wish he proves me wrong because we don't have at the moment a creative player of his caliber and we are going to miss his goals and assist the upcoming season.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

Tbf this is all only coming from one side and it isn't Everton.

I do think there is something in the Benitez not wanting him rumours as @Sassy Colombian says but I understand why when you consider the system he will be playing i.e counter attack.

Carlo tried it last season and it was horrific as we couldn't get out of own half due to the complete lack of legs in the midfield / out wide. Sadly James is one of those who just doesn't suit that system he's more a possession based player in a team that has 60%+ possession every game.

 

[Harryflashman]

Doesn't matter one jot how talented a player is if he doesn't suit the system the manager wants.

Go sign Jamie Vardy and hit crosses into him all game and see how many goals he scores from his head - not many hence Leicester dont play that way.

Imagine someone giving you something significantly better than everything else you’ve got and you not knowing how to utilise it but somehow not being your fault .

 

[little elfin]

I would suggest James to go nowhere and leave for free at the end.
If that manager does not want to play you, do not bother, play golf lol

 

[ForeverBlue92]

Imagine someone giving you something significantly better than everything else you’ve got and you not knowing how to utilise it but somehow not being your fault .

Our main man is DCL mate - the system will be built around him i.e balls from out wide into the box and counter attacking with pace to utilise the likes of Richarlison, Doucoure and Gray.

James suits a possession dominant team he's a fish out of water in a team that will be sat back waiting to spring the opposition with pace on the counter once possession of the ball is won.

People cant moan about how poor we were under Carlo last summer and advocate keeping slow players who cant play counter attacking football which the manager wants and the manager before him wanted after he realised the current squad aint good enough to play possession based football.

 

[Alan0401]

Probably doesn't fit in with the washed up kopite's plans.

Shame too, easily the best player in the team when fit.

 

[Barnfred 55]

I will watch with interest. Hope you are wrong for the sake of the club, nothing personal, but I will be rooting for them to smash those stats

I hope I'm wrong. But I'd much rather we just don't sell James.

 

[blulouie]

Doesn't matter one jot how talented a player is if he doesn't suit the system the manager wants.

Go sign Jamie Vardy and hit crosses into him all game and see how many goals he scores from his head - not many hence Leicester dont play that way.

So just get shut of our most talented ( by a long chalk) most assists plus goals , most creative ( even with a team of crapness )gives the club massive exposure mainly in South America.

By his own admission wants to stay , this manager should be bending over backwards to keep him.
Benitez is making a very long rod for his own back here ,looks to me like he's the one acting like he wants to make a big statement here.
Involved in 15 goals from 26 games is some return , can that be replaced in a team that hardly score's ?

Big Big mistake if this manager wants him out......Huge Mistake.

 

[UptheTofees]

I’m the ever optimistic one

he isn’t leaving

 

[ForeverBlue92]

So just get shut of our most talented ( by a long chalk) most assists plus goals , most creative ( even with a team of crapness )gives the club massive exposure mainly in South America.

By his own admission wants to stay , this manager should be bending over backwards to keep him.
Benitez is making a very long rod for his own back here ,looks to me like he's the one acting like he wants to make a big statement here.
Involved in 15 goals from 26 games is some return , can that be replaced in a team that hardly score's ?

Big Big mistake if this manager wants him out......Huge Mistake.

But being rational he'll be off next season as he's out of contract and he'll likely be missing half of this season with injury.

So people are advocating the manager build his entire system, transfer recruitment and tactics on a player for half a season before needing to rip it up all over again next summer when he buggers off to the MLS.

Its crazy.