2021/22 James Rodriguez

[jazzy]

No but Rondon won't be injured for 6 weeks of one tap to the calf. Rondon wants to stay. If you had an unfit James playing its a disaster waiting to happen. However some of the things James can do are world class so if he is fit and wanting to play utilise him.

I'd be very surprised, given that he has had a full pre season training if he wasn't far fitter at this moment in time than Rondon.
As to his motivation....that's down to him and the manager.
Some players , especially at elite level are highly self motivated. Other players might need motivation from the manager , that's part of their job. Right now I can't see any reason why James isn't on the bench other than Benitez's arrogance and ego.

 

[Kev50]

So you keep on telling us. But at the end of the day, it's just your opinion and one not based on anything I've ever seen other than he is unreliable fitness wise.

At the end of the day, if he has any ambitions of being a professional footballer by the end of this season, and get back into the Colombian world cup squad, he has to do the business at domestic level this season. He turned down the opportunity to play guaranteed football in the Turkish league at no financial cost to himself. That tells me that it's not just about the money and he actually prefers to be here and fight for his place. We'll see. The manager has to play him first, but with our record with injuries that can't be too far away.

No indeed. I think we'll get a good look at him at QPR. I think that game will tell us quite alot about how motivated he is.

 

[messymascot]

I'd be very surprised, given that he has had a full pre season training if he wasn't far fitter at this moment in time than Rondon.
As to his motivation....that's down to him and the manager.
Some players , especially at elite level are highly self motivated. Other players might need motivation from the manager , that's part of their job. Right now I can't see any reason why James isn't on the bench other than Benitez's arrogance and ego.

Could well be the reason. That could bite him later on in the season if that's the case. It isn't always going to be perfect sunshine for Benitez. He needs as many options for winning games as possible. James is certainly one of them.

 

[Carloblues]

Thats exactly my point, Niasse as you say was a headless chicken but he got himself a game, if James has the same commitment to the Everton shirt he finds a way too, its on him, if not enjoy Newcastle

But your missing my point, if niasse didn't run around like a headless chicken he brings absolutely nothing to the table, Rodriguez doesn't have to run around like a headless chicken to still bring plenty to the table

 

[ToffeeM4n]

Right now I can't see any reason why James isn't on the bench other than Benitez's arrogance and ego.

100% this

 

[Barnfred 55]

No indeed. I think we'll get a good look at him at QPR. I think that game will tell us quite alot about how motivated he is.

It will tell us quite a lot about how fit he is. I hope he get's a bit of game off the bench against Villa if he's going to start the QPR game. We saw the effects on Godfrey of being thrown straight in after a lay off. It will be interesting to see who else starts that game. Who we play at both full backs and in midfield. Rondon may get his first start and he's another who, not surprisingly, looked very rusty last night.

Bottom line is that it will be wrong to judge him, positively or otherwise based on this one game. He could be off the pace or, conversely he could look imperious against a second string QPR team without breaking sweat.

 

[Kev50]

It will tell us quite a lot about how fit he is. I hope he get's a bit of game off the bench against Villa if he's going to start the QPR game. We saw the effects on Godfrey of being thrown straight in after a lay off. It will be interesting to see who else starts that game. Who we play at both full backs and in midfield. Rondon may get his first start and he's another who, not surprisingly, looked very rusty last night.

Bottom line is that it will be wrong to judge him, positively or otherwise based on this one game. He could be off the pace or, conversely he could look imperious against a second string QPR team without breaking sweat.

er no. if he stinks the place out I'm gonna be judging all over the place.

 

[Barnfred 55]

er no. if he stinks the place out I'm gonna be judging all over the place.

You're already judging him all over the place now, before he's even played. lol

I don't know how things are going to pan out. I'm not even sure now whether Benitez is even going to play him until he absolutely has to through injuries. But if he does return and contribute to our success then there are a few people in here I'm looking forward to reminding of their posts and you, my friend, are at the very top of that list.

 

[jazzy]

er no. if he stinks the place out I'm gonna be judging all over the place.

Does that equally apply to the manager if we fail to beat a team which has a smaller budget?

 

[Barnfred 55]

Does that equally apply to the manager if we fail to beat a team which has a smaller budget?

Benitez has a history of playing second string sides in the cup competitions.

He says he knows scousers, but there are many Evertonians that would rather win a trophy this year than qualify for Europe. I'm not one of them because I think building for the future is more important, but I'm old enough to have enjoyed success in the past. Many of our young fans haven't.

If he continues to select second string line ups and goes out of the competition to lower opposition, it will be interesting to see how that plays out with our fan base.

 

[stevie blott]

I'd be very surprised, given that he has had a full pre season training if he wasn't far fitter at this moment in time than Rondon.
As to his motivation....that's down to him and the manager.
Some players , especially at elite level are highly self motivated. Other players might need motivation from the manager , that's part of their job. Right now I can't see any reason why James isn't on the bench other than Benitez's arrogance and ego.

Yeah it could be Benitez ego, it could also be James not doing enough in training. It could also be that James isn't quite upto speed just yet. Just keep on keeping on though, this place is full of fun at the minute

 

[messymascot]

It will tell us quite a lot about how fit he is. I hope he get's a bit of game off the bench against Villa if he's going to start the QPR game. We saw the effects on Godfrey of being thrown straight in after a lay off. It will be interesting to see who else starts that game. Who we play at both full backs and in midfield. Rondon may get his first start and he's another who, not surprisingly, looked very rusty last night.

Bottom line is that it will be wrong to judge him, positively or otherwise based on this one game. He could be off the pace or, conversely he could look imperious against a second string QPR team without breaking sweat.

I'm guessing QPR team will look a little something like this.

Begovic
Kenny Holgate Branthwaite Godfrey
Gbamin Davies Gomes
James Rondon Iwobi

If James still out the picture Gordon. Give him 60 minutes and see what he's like. Maybe get 25 against Villa as well. Then he would be back on bench v Norwich. He could yet contribute to a successful season then say bye bye no hard feelings. Some of the fans in here don't deserve nice things. We knew what we were getting last season otherwise he'd still be in Madrid first team squad.

 

[jinkyali]

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

Ye he was brilliant tbh off the bench last night.

 

[jinkyali]

It would be irony if its indeed benitez ego and arrogance that's stopping James being included when in reality it was James attitude toward games last year that cast a shadow over his availability

 

[Kev50]

You're already judging him all over the place now, before he's even played. lol

I don't know how things are going to pan out. I'm not even sure now whether Benitez is even going to play him until he absolutely has to through injuries. But if he does return and contribute to our success then there are a few people in here I'm looking forward to reminding of their posts and you, my friend, are at the very top of that list.

no doubt you will be slamming Benitez at the same time for not having picked him sooner. And all the while Everton, after that stinking shocking season with that moribund bunch of bums, now sit at the top of the table. With you having cryarsed through the whole event. God knows what you will be like when we actually hit a rocky patch, but let's hope it doesnt happen in the near future.