2021/22 James Rodriguez

[The Littlest Yobo]

I think the club/manager needs to announce the situation with him. If he's fit and doesnt make that squad tonight due to manager opinion then massive questions need asked of Benitez personal issues over the club as a whole.
If James doesnt want involved it should be made public and a scapegoat made of him.
Either way there needs to be clarity.

This. I am by no means a James fanboy - I think he’s totally unreliable - but I can see that others think different and when you see an empty space on the bench, it’s hard to justify him not being involved. Either way, Benitez needs to come out and honestly explain what the situation is. His excuse at the press conference this week for non inclusion was just nonsensical, tbh. And having seen Rondon fade faster than Marty McFly’s photo tonight, there is no way that Benitez can cite lack of match fitness as a reason for not picking him.

 

[4737carlin]

If we can get his wages off the books in January it will help us improve the squad.

 

[BlueStevie35]

We want Rodriquez back.

There’s no q in his surname

 

[Zatara]

There is no way he is worse than Alex Iwobi.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

There’s no q in his surname

I mistook a g for a q. Oh well if that's the biggest mistake i make in life, then i won't be doing too bad i suppose.

 

[NathDogg]

Should have been on the bench today - joke of a call from the manager, especially considering the injuries.

Anyone who says otherwise is chatting wham.

 

[mceverton]

There is no logic to not having a player of his quality on the bench, especially given the limited options, not saying he would have changed the game but to not have him there makes no sense

 

[Ryu79]

Should have been on the bench today - joke of a call from the manager, especially considering the injuries.

Anyone who says otherwise is chatting wham.

This is an outrage. An apology owed to Andrew Ridgeley and the singer songwriter, George Michael.

 

[NathDogg]

This is an outrage. An apology owed to Andrew Ridgeley and the singer songwriter, George Michael.

Did that last Christmas...

 

[everton1953]

He must have sinned greatly for Davies to be on the bench. Or his attitude is crap.

 

[MACCA75]

Does anyone remember that time we had James Rodriguez available but the manager left him out and put Anthony Gordon on instead.

 

[Ring master]

Rafael Benitez says James Rodriguez was "concerned" about his fitness ahead of the trip to Aston Villa and so was not selected.

The Everton boss named only eight substitutes for the game at Villa Park this evening with injuries ruling key players out of the trip.


Jordan Pickford, Seamus Coleman and Richarlison, joined Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Fabian Delph on the treatment table.

Injury also ruled Jean-Philippe Gbamin out of the fixture.

Benitez called up Ellis Simms to the matchday squad despite the young striker having only returned to training this week.

Rodriguez missed the opening games of the season after isolating because of Covid regulations but after it was agreed not to include him in the squad for the trip to Brighton, he was overlooked for Monday night's game with Burnley despite saying he was "ready".

But Benitez said Rodriguez told him he did not feel ready to play at Villa and the club must now wait and see if he can feature against Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night.

"For this game, he was a little bit concerned about his muscle," Benitez said.

"He was having a little problem and we decided we have to wait, so he was not available. That's it."

"We will see if he's fit for the next game and then we will decide."

 

[Carloblues]

There is no way he is worse than Alex Iwobi.

even if he played with his headphones on holding his laptop live on twitch, he'd still be better than iwobi

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Should have been on the bench today - joke of a call from the manager, especially considering the injuries.

Anyone who says otherwise is chatting wham.

Deffo mate, especially when he's earning £400k a week.

 

[blue to the bone]

Rafael Benitez says James Rodriguez was "concerned" about his fitness ahead of the trip to Aston Villa and so was not selected.

The Everton boss named only eight substitutes for the game at Villa Park this evening with injuries ruling key players out of the trip.


Jordan Pickford, Seamus Coleman and Richarlison, joined Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Fabian Delph on the treatment table.

Injury also ruled Jean-Philippe Gbamin out of the fixture.

Benitez called up Ellis Simms to the matchday squad despite the young striker having only returned to training this week.

Rodriguez missed the opening games of the season after isolating because of Covid regulations but after it was agreed not to include him in the squad for the trip to Brighton, he was overlooked for Monday night's game with Burnley despite saying he was "ready".

But Benitez said Rodriguez told him he did not feel ready to play at Villa and the club must now wait and see if he can feature against Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night.

"For this game, he was a little bit concerned about his muscle," Benitez said.

"He was having a little problem and we decided we have to wait, so he was not available. That's it."

"We will see if he's fit for the next game and then we will decide."

What a parasite