2021/22 James Rodriguez

[BlueToff]

The one thing I would say on James was that he was a long way off the pace in pre season matches. I wasn't particularly happy with him in those matches because he wasn't sharp at all, but equally wasn't really moving around much. You aren't going to get fit in pre season by coasting round the pitch.

He made the decision to stay, which is fine, but he was never going to play regularly under Benitez. I'm sure he knows that's the case. Equally fitness can only be an excuse for so long. Benitez will at some point just have to admit he doesn't rate the player, if he continues to leave him out of matchday squads.

It's a two-way streak from both parties.

If we're going to persist with 3-4-3 in games we want to control the ball, then Benitez needs to play James. Cause if not, it won't work, as we've seen v Huddersfield and Burnley.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

Can say that about half the players tbf mate

Dave mentioned Gomes wants to be here. I bet he does, he's on £120k a week!

BTW, Gomes absolutely the right sub for yesterday's game when it was needed. More physical etc and it worked well.

Decent sub Gomes isn't the worst option off the bench he's just really poor starting games same as most of our squad players sadly.

I've honestly forgotten James is even at the club tbh - for many peoples sanity on here they should do as well.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

It's a two-way streak from both parties.

If we're going to persist with 3-4-3 in games we want to control the ball, then Benitez needs to play James. Cause if not, it won't work, as we've seen v Huddersfield and Burnley.

We won both games...

 

[Thomasc]

We won both games...

Yes but if you actually watched them, you would have noticed we were very poor and dominated for long periods of both games.

 

[BlueToff]

We won both games...

We won plenty of games under Carlo and you and I were both on here wanting much better

We got outplayed by Huddersfield for most of the game and Burnley too. I want us to be able to match better teams and if we're going to use that system we need to be better at it.

 

[4737carlin]

We won both games...

Haha

We couldn't make this up, season has been great so far and the hot topic is someone who dosent even get on the bench and hasnt been missed

 

[ToffeeTim]

We won plenty of games under Carlo and you and I were both on here wanting much better

We got outplayed by Huddersfield for most of the game and Burnley too. I want us to be able to match better teams and if we're going to use that system we need to be better at it.

I would prefer we didn't play a back 3 against anyone. We have the odd decent result playing it, but have never performed consistently using that system. I don't think I've ever thought we've looked comfortable playing it.

 

[Kev50]

What do you mean?

There would have to be offers willing to match his wage which given his injury record even I will accept wasn't going to happen.

He can't go to anywhere in Spain, they're all skint. PSG could afford him but don't need him. None of the big 4/5 teams in the PL need him or can afford him, either way. The rest of the PL teams - I don't think he'd want to go to any of them and again it's cost. We'd have to pay another PL club for him to play for them. I mean, we're daft but don't think we're that daft.

Germany - the Bundesliga clubs spent less than they sold this summer. Serie A is skint.

So no, he couldn't have 'gone anywhere'. He clearly would rather have left but he hasn't and has said he wants to play when he can. Townsend said just yesterday that he's been training hard like all the rest of the team. It's on the manager to use him. It shouldn't be a chore to use James Rodriguez.

Yes, we'd pay someone. It would be the Walcott situation. I refuse to believe there isn't a team in one of the top leagues that wouldn't be interested in James on a one year deal where we pay half his wages. And if there wasn't the interest, what does that tell you.

 

[Harryflashman]

Decent sub Gomes isn't the worst option off the bench he's just really poor starting games same as most of our squad players sadly.

I've honestly forgotten James is even at the club tbh - for many peoples sanity on here they should do as well.

Gomes has been an excellent option off the bench , tactically it’s definitely worked

 

[BlueToff]

I would prefer we didn't play a back 3 against anyone. We have the odd decent result playing it, but have never performed consistently using that system. I don't think I've ever thought we've looked comfortable playing it.

I'm the same, but from what Townsend said it's one of the systems we're working on

 

[Kev50]

That's one way of looking at it. However he is still at the club and a more than useful asset that Benitez should definitely utilise if only from the bench. We have a paucity of creativity anyway and to shun the most creative player in our squad and one of the most creative players in the PL is frankly bizarre and ultimately tells you a great deal about Benitez as an individual. It reeks of petty revenge .
Whilst we are winning no Evertonian will give a toss but fail to break down a Norwich or Watford then Benitez will cop it.
I totally understand the argument that the team is pulling together and everyone is putting in effort and contributing and Benitez doesn't want to upset harmony or work ethic by having James in the starting XI but that argument is meaningless when it comes to options off the bench.

so do you think that he should have been on the bench yesterday, and been brought on when we were chasing the game?

 

[Kev50]

Yes but if you actually watched them, you would have noticed we were very poor and dominated for long periods of both games.

god, this is wild. is that your take from last night? we were very poor and dominated for much of the game?

 

[GoldenToffee]

FFS mate

NOBODY WAS AT THE TRAINING GROUND

How many more times does it need to be said? The players that weren't on international break were all given last Friday to Monday off. All of them. He went to Ibiza, went to his mate's yacht cos he's a millionaire, went to do a charity event at a school and then flew home.

He's been in training with all the others since Thursday and was available last night. He has been in training ever since leaving isolation after the Leeds game.

Nobody told me that.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

We won plenty of games under Carlo and you and I were both on here wanting much better

We got outplayed by Huddersfield for most of the game and Burnley too. I want us to be able to match better teams and if we're going to use that system we need to be better at it.

Huddersfield I cant really fault - 2nd string team patched together, good goal ruled offside and a player sent off wrongly imo

Shown some character in getting the win there.

Think yesterday first half was poor but that was down to the players as much the manager imo - I dont like 3 at the back myself but we won 3-1 and should have been 4-1 if Gomes scores that sitter - last season those types of games were scrappy 1-0 wins playing for set pieces and holding on for dear life.

Completely different scenarios imo.

 

[neil999]

He's just tweeted that he's excited about our game with West ham tonight