2021/22 James Rodriguez

[Kev50]

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

no. obv anyone can have a bad game. But if he looks like he cant be bothered, (like he did in preseason) then that's unacceptable.

 

[BlueToff]

I said yesterday, our problem with 3 at the back is that we have 2 full backs who aren't wing backs, so don't comfortably fit into the midfield 4. That has 2 consequences, we end up sitting too deep and the midfield 2 start getting overrun. Which is why Gray and Townsend end up dropping back and then the striker becomes isolated.

Played well, like Germany and Chelsea, it's a very effective system. But the wing backs are what makes it a success or a failure.

also though you need players in the middle to progress/hold onto the ball so the wing-backs can push up

 

[BlueToff]

Nobody told me that.

It's been all over mate and the Everton videos the other day literally had him front and centre in training as he was with Rondon a lot. Allan was on holiday, Dom was down in London, Davies went off somewhere.

Benitez in his presser on Friday even said James is training and James himself said he's available to play.

Benitez's decision whether he does or not, but he should absolutely start getting in the squad or he's a £150-200k p/wk player being told to sit and twiddle his thumbs at home.

 

[Barnfred 55]

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.

You are a sick and twisted individual aren't you. Why so bitter about James.? What's he ever done to you to deserve this rhetoric?.

Anyway show me where I've been slamming Benitez. I didn't want him as manager but since the start of the season I've given him a lot of credit in here for how he's set the team up. I've always acknowledged that James wouldn't be a regular starter in his preferred system and the best he could hope for is a lesser role, mainly from the bench. I have also always said that I believe Benitez is both pragmatic and professional enough to play James rather than allow a long standing grudge to impair his thinking. Him not getting on the bench last night doesn't bode well but I'm still going to give Benitez the benefit of the doubt on that. And I haven't even criticised the manager for not picking him on the bench last night, and whilst we are winning I won't do.

I've held my hands up about Gray and Townsend being uninspiring purchases albeit using the caveat that it's still early days.

And the only thing I have cryarsed about is starting with a back 5 last night, but I cryarse every time any Everton manager starts with that formation. I make no apology for that. I've actually been very optimistic about the coming season and fully expect us to be challenging top 6 if we get a bit of luck with injuries.

Feel free to prove any of the above wrong. I think you'll find anything though. It's all in your sick little mind.

 

[Barnfred 55]

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.

Yeah. All we can do is see what happens. Not sure how much movement we're going to see from that team to make the most of James' vision. Certainly can't see the full backs bursting into space.

I'm really worried with what I've seen of Kenny lately tbh. He looks scared to me and totally bereft of confidence. I used to be a fan but he's digressed badly over the last year or so. He was better as a teenager.

 

[messymascot]

Yeah. All we can do is see what happens. Not sure how much movement we're going to see from that team to make the most of James' vision. Certainly can't see the full backs bursting into space.

I'm really worried with what I've seen of Kenny lately tbh. He looks scared to me and totally bereft of confidence. I used to be a fan but he's digressed badly over the last year or so. He was better as a teenager.

Kenny has gone backwards. At the start of last season I had him on par with Coleman now even though Coleman is declining he has moved back ahead.

For me the QPR game is more about getting him 60 minutes in his legs. I'm not bothered if he isn't spraying passes everywhere just needs to try and regain some sharpness. Then we can utilise him when team is set up to maximise his passing skills.

 

[Noisy noise annoys]

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.

QPR will destroy that back four

 

[Barnfred 55]

QPR will destroy that back four

QPR have got a very heavy schedule in the Championship mate. They play Bournemouth tonight and our league cup game is sandwiched between games against WBA and Stoke, who sit first and third in the league. QPR are fourth.

I honestly believe there's a good chance they'll field a second string against us mate.

 

[Kev50]

You are a sick and twisted individual aren't you. Why so bitter about James.? What's he ever done to you to deserve this rhetoric?.

Anyway show me where I've been slamming Benitez. I didn't want him as manager but since the start of the season I've given him a lot of credit in here for how he's set the team up. I've always acknowledged that James wouldn't be a regular starter in his preferred system and the best he could hope for is a lesser role, mainly from the bench. I have also always said that I believe Benitez is both pragmatic and professional enough to play James rather than allow a long standing grudge to impair his thinking. Him not getting on the bench last night doesn't bode well but I'm still going to give Benitez the benefit of the doubt on that. And I haven't even criticised the manager for not picking him on the bench last night, and whilst we are winning I won't do.

I've held my hands up about Gray and Townsend being uninspiring purchases albeit using the caveat that it's still early days.

And the only thing I have cryarsed about is starting with a back 5 last night, but I cryarse every time any Everton manager starts with that formation. I make no apology for that. I've actually been very optimistic about the coming season and fully expect us to be challenging top 6 if we get a bit of luck with injuries.

Feel free to prove any of the above wrong. I think you'll find anything though. It's all in your sick little mind.

Barnfred? Barmcake would be better. There are hundreds of posts of you moaning about this season. But I aint going through them if you've forgotten them.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Barnfred? Barmcake would be better. There are hundreds of posts of you moaning about this season. But I aint going through them if you've forgotten them.

Find one then. Just one. Since the start of the season and relating to the football and not the spat between James and Benitez. Apart from playing 3 at the back last night you won't find one. And I can probably show you dozens that prove you wrong.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

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.

Hi mate, don't judge Kev and the boys too harshly, for, in the middle of the journey of life, they have found themselves within a dark Kopite-infested woods where the straight way was lost.

I agree with Kev's analysis of James ability. Well in @Kev50 ?

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

no. obv anyone can have a bad game. But if he looks like he cant be bothered, (like he did in preseason) then that's unacceptable.

I'm with you here mate. You know a player when you see one ?

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

"Hamez, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing"

 

[stretford blue]

QPR have got a very heavy schedule in the Championship mate. They play Bournemouth tonight and our league cup game is sandwiched between games against WBA and Stoke, who sit first and third in the league. QPR are fourth.

I honestly believe there's a good chance they'll field a second string against us mate.

They will definitely make quite a few changes promotion is there main aim this season

 

[BlueToff]

no. obv anyone can have a bad game. But if he looks like he cant be bothered, (like he did in preseason) then that's unacceptable.

I mean, he really didn't look like he couldn't be bothered. We played with half a team, it was pre-season and they were doing double-sessions every day.

He's playing catch up now because of the isolation period and the fact he was going to be moved on in an ideal world. But he needs to play games and he can only do that by being included in the squad.

Rondon came on last night and looked like he'd been on the ale. Davies has been injured for nearly 3 weeks and only had 1-2 training sessions, yet was on the bench. So match fitness can't be used as an excuse. He can only get that by being involved and he should be in every 20 he's available for.