2021/22 James Rodriguez

[BlueToff]

Reading that we should be worried more about losing Iwobi.........?

Not really.

James, as I said, can't run with the ball. His progression is about passing. That needs good movement too, which we hardly had last season.

Iwobi, for his faults, can run with the ball. He just isn't very good at it consistently. It's a low bar, basically.

 

[Dixie1sixty]

It will be a bit of both mate, do not doubt that.

We need his wages off the books as we can't shift other players who do offer less because they're on ludicrous wages. So James, our top earner, needs to go. He will have been told, as per all the reports, early doors this summer that we were open to offers for him.

Mendes will have been working on making a move happen and then James will just say yes or no.

That's how it works.

There's been pretty reliable reports since early July that we were open to offers for him. That's to avoid selling DCL or Richy, I get it, but it doesn't excuse the club for being in such a crap financial position, either.

He's wanted out as soon as Carlo left. We all heard how his agent was working hard to get him a move literally the day after RB was appointed. He's also our top earner and one of the few sellable assets we have so in the context of our financial situation, yes it suits the club that he leaves.

But if you think this is all down to Benítez and not the combination of the hierarchy as a whole and James himself, then you're mad.

 

[NathDogg]

There certainly is a long queue of clubs trying to sign him.

There is also a lot of guesswork and imagination in that post, it is your opinion and you certainly are entitled to that, but the truth is none of us know the real truth.

My belief is when CA left, so did James, the only reason he said he came was Carlo, he would have been gone weeks ago only there were no clubs that could afford to take him or of a status that he would be prepared to go to them.

He would not have even considered coming to Everton if not for CA.

I have formed my opinion on what I have seen and heard from both Benitez and James, and joined the dots.

It's likely a mix of both wanting away now, but I don't think James wanted out as soon as Ancelotti left - he probably "left" when we hired Benitez.

 

[BlueToff]

He's wanted out as soon as Carlo left. We all heard how his agent was working hard to get him a move literally the day after RB was appointed. He's also our top earner and one of the few sellable assets we have so in the context of our financial situation, yes it suits the club that he leaves.

But if you think this is all down to Benítez and not the combination of the hierarchy as a whole and James himself, then you're mad.

That's fine, tbh I can see why. Doesn't mean the club weren't open to selling him.

I don't think this is all down to Benitez. I actually agree with your last point. What I would say is that if Benitez wanted him, he'd be staying. He's clearly not bothered. That does worry me a bit, because as much as I think Townsend and Gray are useful additions, they are nowhere close to the same level of quality, and we won't be able to get anyone of the same level of quality in either. It's not the end of the world, but it's not exactly what I view as a positive, and the club should be in a better position.

 

[blueblue]

Not really.

James, as I said, can't run with the ball. His progression is about passing. That needs good movement too, which we hardly had last season.

Iwobi, for his faults, can run with the ball. He just isn't very good at it consistently. It's a low bar, basically.

I was being facetious, they say there are lies, damn lies and the biggest lie of all.. statistics, regarding Iwobi.

I do believe James is a loss but I honestly believe he is spinning a story, I believe when Carlo left so too did James.
Why would he stay here.... ever before Benitez was appointed ?

 

[BlueToff]

I was being facetious, they say there are lies, damn lies and the biggest lie of all.. statistics, regarding Iwobi.

I do believe James is a loss but I honestly believe he is spinning a story, I believe when Carlo left so too did James.
Why would he stay here.... ever before Benitez was appointed ?

If the club had told James they still viewed him as a key player moving into the last year of his deal I think he'd happily have stayed, because it's a year and he knows he'd get a move.

Mendes will have been ratting away as he does for the last few months just so the deals were in place and the club clearly told James that if an offer came in they'd be happy to move him on.

That's how I view it.

Benitez comes into play like so. If he'd had said he wanted James to stay, then I think he would be staying. But he's clearly not bothered. Again, I don't mind that as such. I do mind that our other options aren't up to scratch and as @Nymzee said, one game against a very poor side - that we only played well in for about 30 minutes - isn't gonna change my mind about that.

 

[Dixie1sixty]

That's fine, tbh I can see why. Doesn't mean the club weren't open to selling him.

I don't think this is all down to Benitez. I actually agree with your last point. What I would say is that if Benitez wanted him, he'd be staying. He's clearly not bothered. That does worry me a bit, because as much as I think Townsend and Gray are useful additions, they are nowhere close to the same level of quality, and we won't be able to get anyone of the same level of quality in either. It's not the end of the world, but it's not exactly what I view as a positive, and the club should be in a better position.

Not sure about that mate. It may be a case of the hierarchy saying to RB, we can't add anyone unless we sell someone, and at that point he's not objected because he thinks we'd be in a stronger position at the end if we got our targets in.

And let's say you're correct in your assertion, perhaps that's because RB knows that James isn't fully committed and wants out. Maybe that's why he doesn't want him, not because he doesn't rate him.

 

[blueblue]

I have formed my opinion on what I have seen and heard from both Benitez and James, and joined the dots.

It's likely a mix of both wanting away now, but I don't think James wanted out as soon as Ancelotti left - he probably "left" when we hired Benitez.

It is difficult to know,
I would guess his agent has been trying to get him out of Everton and into an elite club, even when Carlo was here.

I think James wants to be with a CL club never mind the Europa league. I think he wants to be involved in chasing titles rather than sixth place finishes.
I think being dropped by Columbia would have been a shock to him and I feel that he thinks the only way he can maintain a high profile would be with an elite club.

I don't know what his relationship with Benitez is and certainly Everton need to reduce the wage bill.
I watched the games in pre season and James didn't look interested then but if that was because he had decided to leave or had been told to leave by the manager I don't know.

 

[BlueToff]

Not sure about that mate. It may be a case of the hierarchy saying to RB, we can't add anyone unless we sell someone, and at that point he's not objected because he thinks we'd be in a stronger position at the end if we got our targets in.

And let's say you're correct in your assertion, perhaps that's because RB knows that James isn't fully committed and wants out. Maybe that's why he doesn't want him, not because he doesn't rate him.

I actually think they'd have backed Benitez mate. I do. I think that they'd have said look, we could do with shifting his wages, but if you want him and can use him, we'll make it work. I think Benitez has looked at it and thought no, let's get other targets in.

Again, all well and good, but it means we've got to replace a hell of a quality player and I'm not convinced in our method of doing that, but we'd have to wait and see.

 

[jamieni]

Not sure about that mate. It may be a case of the hierarchy saying to RB, we can't add anyone unless we sell someone, and at that point he's not objected because he thinks we'd be in a stronger position at the end if we got our targets in.

And let's say you're correct in your assertion, perhaps that's because RB knows that James isn't fully committed and wants out. Maybe that's why he doesn't want him, not because he doesn't rate him.

Hard to know how much truth to place in media reports but it seems like Benitez and James don’t fancy each other and he’s probably been identified as someone RB would happily punt to get his own targets in.

If we hadn’t appointed RB I still imagine James would want out but at this point it’s all hypothetical.

 

[Groucho]

Not sure anyone is making out its a disaster , just a fantastic missed opportunity.
We get one of the worlds best talents then employ possibly the only manager on the planet that doesnt rate him.

But yanno Delph & Iwobi will do.

No they won’t do.

And it certainly isn’t a disaster.

There can be an in between. I’d like him to stay but it’s not the end of the world if he doesn’t.

 

[blueblue]

If the club had told James they still viewed him as a key player moving into the last year of his deal I think he'd happily have stayed, because it's a year and he knows he'd get a move.

Mendes will have been ratting away as he does for the last few months just so the deals were in place and the club clearly told James that if an offer came in they'd be happy to move him on.

That's how I view it.

Benitez comes into play like so. If he'd had said he wanted James to stay, then I think he would be staying. But he's clearly not bothered. Again, I don't mind that as such. I do mind that our other options aren't up to scratch and as @Nymzee said, one game against a very poor side - that we only played well in for about 30 minutes - isn't gonna change my mind about that.

Time will tell us if we do sign any players in this window and also how the season will pan out.
A win is always welcome but it is three points and no more than that.

Benitez and CA are chalk and cheese as managers and certainly I think Carlo over indulged James , Benitez will not do that with anyone, everything I have read about him from former players indicated he is very demanding and never satisfied. That would create a totally new situation for James, even if Benitez wanted him to stay.

My belief is that James leaving is what both partie swanted, one as much as the other.

 

[ToffeeTim]

No they won’t do.

And it certainly isn’t a disaster.

There can be an in between. I’d like him to stay but it’s not the end of the world if he doesn’t.

This is how I feel.

We need to be effective without him whether he stays or not because he wouldn't play more than half the time.

If he goes and we get in a good right back and say a midfielder then I'm ok with it. The issue is always just how well we would replace him. It's hard to be confident we can get it right.

 

[BlueToff]

This is how I feel.

We need to be effective without him whether he stays or not because he wouldn't play more than half the time.

If he goes and we get in a good right back and say a midfielder then I'm ok with it. The issue is always just how well we would replace him. It's hard to be confident we can get it right.

I agree mate.

My issue is that the club shouldn't be in this position because we've needed a right-back for 3 years, needed a right mid for 2/3 years etc. We should have those players in.

Such a massive failing of the recruitment team. The right-back hunt is a genuine horror show.

 

[Richard Alex]

Benitez’s appointment has been flogged to death. If you want him or not I just want Everton to move forward and be successful as we all do. I would love James to stay as his quality is something we will not replace
I think if you work at an establishment which don’t want you around what would you do?
I for one don’t really blame him. He must
be absolutely fuming with Carlo as he would have been sold the so called project.
The manager should man manage him but he’s a stubborn so and so and that is one of his negatives.