I have not seen a suggestion that he is refusing to play but I firmly believe that he will leave at the first viable opportunity.
What I don't understand is the suggestion that Benitez won't play him because of some petty reason.
Every manager wants to put out the best team at his disposal and to win every match.
A manager refusing to pick a player for non football reasons makes no sense to me.
Benitez feels that his team is better or better balanced or more hard working or more effective without JR and that is a footballing decision.
The manager sees his players every day in training and picks his team from there.
I find it more peculiar that in spite of Everton wanting the player to leave and James clearly wanting to leave that no club could be found to take him.
I want to believe you are right. I have actually said numerous times in here that I believe Benitez to be a pragmatic manager.
But here are the facts leading upto Monday night.
James returned to pre season training on time and played a part in all of our pre season games. He missed 2 weeks training after the Utd game as he was self isolating, but has been back in full training for 3 weeks (apart from the few days break that all none International players got). Not picked for match days squad on Monday.
Godfrey has also been out since the United game but we understand that he actually had covid rather than just self isolating. Returned to trainibg a week after James, but started on Monday. It was clear from the game that he wasn't fit.
Gbamin also out through self isolating, returned for the Huddersfield game, and then was out again with toothache or something. Only returned to training last week. Considered for enough for bench.
Davies. Out injured since the Huddersfield game. Returned to training on Thursday. Considered fit enough for bench.
Rondon. Not played since end of Russian league, no preseason and only trained with the club for less than 2 weeks. Considered fit enough for bench, introduced late on and understandably looked like a pub player due to lack of football and preseason.
James was the only senior fit player not included in the matchday 20 (apart from the 3rd keeper) and even Gordon was selected ahead of him. The reason given was fitness, but there were at least 3 players out there that were conceivably less match ready than James, and 2 of them actually showed it on the pitch.
Players like Townsend have come out and said that James is working hard in training, and James himself has said that he is fit and available for selection and committed to Everton.
Now, at this stage, I'm not saying that Benitez is leaving him out because of non footballing reasons and I said on Monday that I'm still giving him the benefit of the doubt, but the above are undeniable facts (no pun intended) that are hard to ignore. With another weeks full training behind him I expect to see him on the bench for the Villa game, and hopefully get a few minutes game time before starting against QPR.
If he is still not making the squad then I think it's valid for people to question the managers motives for omitting him. If it is due to some long standing issue between the, then, in my opinion, the manager is being unprofessional in putting himself ahead of the good of the club. But let's not jump the gun. I still expect him start making the squad.
