2021/22 James Rodriguez

[Kever10]

Anyone saying he couldn't fit in because of speed or work ethic, in some of his best performances last season, he barely even needed to move and still ran the game, because he is that far ahead in his head. I think his fitness and fragility are overstated a little because it's a convenient excuse.

The real problem for me appears to be motivation. People keep using the same lie that he "wants to stay". If your partner asks where do you want to go to eat, and you say I'm happy to go wherever you want to go, that is being diplomatic, not stating a preference. Someone pointed out earlier, in all his social media presence over the last few weeks, he has barely referenced Everton at all. As far as I can see, not 1 congratulatory post for his team winning the 1st game of the season while he is sat home in isolation. Fair enough, he couldn't be at the ground, but he didn't even like or retweet other peoples messages. Yannick Bolasie was still doing that and he got released after not getting a look in for years, regardless of what you think of him. And I'm not saying it's the be all and end all, but it gives an indication of his thought process nonetheless, and he is clearly very active in his social media presence.

For me, he still has a lot to offer this team and could prove to do so in multiple different roles. But he has to show a willingness to want to be involved, and I get the impression that staying here if he doesn't get a move is his fall back that he is "happy to do".

 

[Cameron Manning]

It must have bruised James ego when he was told he is surplus to requirements when you consider the competition in front of him. I get it that some fans are of the opinion he isn’t a fit for the manager, I am neither a fanboy or hater of him or Benitez but if he doesn’t leave I honestly think he will more than contribute to the team probably in the big games. If he goes I’m sure the money will be spent to galvanise other areas of the squad so I’m non plussed either way. It would be a shame not to see him playing in front of the fans though.

I’m not sure we will get a fee for him,Everton, seems to me, will be happy to get him off the books and free up his wages, the problem will be James getting another club to satisfy him financially considering the salary he is on at Everton.

 

[Visbaluz]

What fans dont realise is you don't need creativity to be successful in the PL.

Liverpool won a league title and Champions League with a midfield of Henderson, Milner & Fabinho/Winjaldum.

City have tons of creativity but often dont have a plan B in terms of a Dzeko type to go direct to when passing it around isn't working.

You all just have to trust the manager that the players coming into the club over the next 1-2 summers will benefit HIS system and not one that Silva played, or Ancelotti brought James in to try play in - same way any that leave are leaving because they either/both dont suit our system or they haven't the right mentality.

you are mistaken creative player (individual) vs creativity as a whole... that liverpool had creativity , just not concentrated in 1 guy, fabinho, salah/ firmino/(when he plays as apivot), sadio could create gaps vs solid deep defenses.

city could hoof it up to a striker if they want to... but pep is religious about building from his defense and using passes to bypass defenses.

EVERY team needs creativity, specially vs deep double 4 defenses withouth space for your beloved "pace" players.

teams from top six adquire quality players 1 after the other, your way of seeing foot ball or managing a team is not wrong... is just mediocre, your conception of a team is DOOMED to mid table at best and recent history of the EPL top teams proves it... the richer keep getting creative and quality players one after another , while the rest try to survive with "pace" players to then finish 10-17th...

 

[APN_EFC]

I still cannot believe that we are not doing everything we can to accommodate James. We don't even have to play him all the time and in every type of game, but there are many games - cup games, tight matches, against some of the top teams - where he can do a great job for us. It just speaks volumes to our scattergun strategy that James is an incredibly exciting signing just 11 months ago, and now is basically being sidelined. If he is in fact staying with us, then we are making a mess of managing him and his brand / image. If he is not staying, it is just a sign of the lack of direction we have here. Why is he suddenly the wrong player for us? It's not like he failed last year - did much more than most of the squad.

 

[Egil Olsen]

He's shown an ability to do it though even here. Problem being the rest of the team cannot press.

I have seen the minimum of what I expect from a football player.

It is true that we were among the worst in the league last year to pressure the opponents. Which I think was very strange considering we have players like DCL. Richarlison, Allan (His career is built on this with Sarri) and AD.

But no, I do not consider James R a good first defender, something we saw plenty of examples of last season.

 

[blulouie]

Let's get this sorted Marcel.

As soon as he gets us a Right Back

 

[davek]

his cryptic message in his social media platforms is subject to everyone individual interpretation... for me it does not mean a thing and i don't believe there is something between him and atletico... James has over 100M followers in all his social media platform it will be hard for him not express something when he wants to or whenever he touch his phone, it's a basic freedom of expression.

Let him keep Everton out of it then.

 

[davek]

I still cannot believe that we are not doing everything we can to accommodate James. We don't even have to play him all the time and in every type of game, but there are many games - cup games, tight matches, against some of the top teams - where he can do a great job for us. It just speaks volumes to our scattergun strategy that James is an incredibly exciting signing just 11 months ago, and now is basically being sidelined. If he is in fact staying with us, then we are making a mess of managing him and his brand / image. If he is not staying, it is just a sign of the lack of direction we have here. Why is he suddenly the wrong player for us? It's not like he failed last year - did much more than most of the squad.

Imagine this: the new manager is telling you there's no more passengers, everyone will give their all and all will get their chance if they put themselves on the line for the club and take the manager's instructions...and then that same manager 'accomodates' a player who cant be trusted to turn up for games, plays a lot less for the first team than anyone else will be expected to, and uses his social media platforms to court other clubs.

No chance. His mentality is counter to all that's being demanded and we need shut of him, he cant be utlised. That's a Carlo Ancelotti viewpoint that even got him a slap in the face when he pissed off back home early late last season.

I hope there's another mug club out there prepared to pay him the cash that Brands agreed to pay him.

 

[APN_EFC]

Imagine this: the new manager is telling you there's no more passengers, everyone will give their all and all will get their chance if they put themselves on the line for the club and take the manager's instructions...and then that same manager 'accomodates' a player who cant be trusted to turn up for games, plays a lot less for the first team than anyone else will be expected to, and uses his social media platforms to court other clubs.

No chance. His mentality is counter to all that's being demanded and we need shut of him, he cant be utlised. That's a Carlo Ancelotti viewpoint that even got him a slap in the face when he pissed off back home early late last season.

I hope there's another mug club out there prepared to pay him the cash that Brands agreed to pay him.

Do you really believe that he's a passenger, is not doing his best and all those other things. If that's true, then of course we don't accommodate him. I'm just wondering if Benitez' arrival and his first meeting with him already presumed that he would not fight for his place this year, and that he would not have a chance here, before he'd even started playing. It will be super awkward if he stays and is not wanted.

In any case it's either
1) a shame that James is not near his best fitness or form consistently for us - and the most talented player we've had transferred to us
2) sad he's not motivated - especially when a good season for us will get him to Qatar next year

Of course without Ancelotti he must feel like Everton is small-time for him, and of course we don't want players who are not willing to elevate our club, i just wish it had worked out, but instead we're filing this under Ginola, Eto'o and other bizarre transfers

 

[TheBigIguana]

I have seen the minimum of what I expect from a football player.

It is true that we were among the worst in the league last year to pressure the opponents. Which I think was very strange considering we have players like DCL. Richarlison, Allan (His career is built on this with Sarri) and AD.

But no, I do not consider James R a good first defender, something we saw plenty of examples of last season.

You're mistaking good and passable. He's not a weakness when a team is pressing is all I'm saying. He is a weakness when he's covering fullbacks in his own defensive third.

 

[Papa Shango]

He's a forward, of course he'll contribute goals. That's expected.

He got 6.

Put the bunting out and let's have a James Rodriguez Day.



He doesn't want to be here. Fine. Let him get his move and we can get a player or two in.

FFS, the palaver over this feller is unreal.

I never said anything to the contrary! The important thing with any stat will be how it compares to us not any other club.

Does he not want to be here or does the manager not want him here? The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

People are naturally going to be concerned though until they see if anyone else does come in. It's not just him we are losing from a creative aspect of course.

 

[Egil Olsen]

You're mistaking good and passable. He's not a weakness when a team is pressing is all I'm saying. He is a weakness when he's covering fullbacks in his own defensive third.

I disagree, but it does not matter because we are not Barcelona where we have 70 -80 percent ball possession in every match.

 

[TheBigIguana]

I disagree, but it does not matter because we are not Barcelona where we have 70 -80 percent ball possession in every match.

This still misses my point but yes our style doesn't suit him at all. Even with the ball it doesn't suit him. We don't have players who can pass accurately and consistently.

 

[Jebus_lives]

If Benitez doesn't want him we should be selling while we can. Benitez will likely be here at least 18 months (based on past form) when James will be around 33.

It feels like he's just waiting for a club to take a punt on him and we could do with strengthening the team in other areas.

 

[davek]

Do you really believe that he's a passenger, is not doing his best and all those other things. If that's true, then of course we don't accommodate him. I'm just wondering if Benitez' arrival and his first meeting with him already presumed that he would not fight for his place this year, and that he would not have a chance here, before he'd even started playing. It will be super awkward if he stays and is not wanted.

In any case it's either
1) a shame that James is not near his best fitness or form consistently for us - and the most talented player we've had transferred to us
2) sad he's not motivated - especially when a good season for us will get him to Qatar next year

Of course without Ancelotti he must feel like Everton is small-time for him, and of course we don't want players who are not willing to elevate our club, i just wish it had worked out, but instead we're filing this under Ginola, Eto'o and other bizarre transfers

We dont know what the conversation went like, but I think we can be sure that in Benitez's mind when he came here he knew the squad and the possibilities to add to it were limited and he quickly came to the conclusion that a player who's only played 84 league games in the last 5 seasons isn't a good gamble, and that his inclusion (accommodation) would disrupt more than it would advance the team's efforts.