2021/22 James Rodriguez

[Death]

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He’s so committed to the cause

Shocked he didn't go on a random mountain cruise with this lad.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

I'm well aware we are crap lol

But we were crap last year too with him in our squad. The idea he is one of our best players of the PL era is just nonsense. One of the most talented of course, but not even in the top 50 for contribution.

Our front 4 yesterday looks a lot better with our 2 top strikers. We are decimated by injuries and thats a recruitment issue.

Richarlison and DCL are crucial players missing yet people are more concerned about James. I just dont get it.

People are concerned because James is our best player. As highlighted earlier the poor management of his injuries last season led to extended periods out. Managed properly, and actually allowed to play he would bring the undoubted quality to our play. Instead, we have Gordon, Iwobi, Townsend, and co ahead of him. Now that is something to really 'not get'

 

[Marius57]

DCL and Richarlison were both injured take any side outside the top 7 or so's best two forwards and they wont have much on the pitch.

You haven't been happy since fixture one mate and its sad tbh.

If sat in 6th with 3 wins out of 5 is this demoralising then maybe you should take a break from Everton for a while?

Things could be much worse like watching us last season or under Silva/Alladyce.

Watching us at the same point as last year and we were better off, not much worse. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

 

[Brennan]

Yes. That flight is today. Its happening.

But him running into James may have happened two weeks ago and he may have posted that today while at the airport for another flight. We don't know.

So you’re suggesting he met James two weeks ago, wearing the exact same clothes as he was wearing today, both times at Manchester Airport. Then he chose to post the images at the same time, writing a caption which seems to make it obvious that he met him today.

Are you James’ spin doctor ? If not you should send him your CV.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

How can you say this with such certainty?

We've played 2 of the weaker sides in the league. Done well v Brighton and Leeds, and then got soundly beaten by the best team we've faced.

Sure, let's say injuries, but we all laughed at the Kopites for doing just that last season.

I'm all for transforming the squad and if JR leaving is part of that it's fine. It's not fine when it weakens an already light squad though, with no way of getting anyone else in.

Im seeing nothing but improvement in the players fitness/pressing, the fact we can actually score goals from open play and not play for set pieces like last season, counter attack with pace for once and have a change in mentality minus the odd player losing their head (Keane, Digne).

People thinking Benitez coming in and given £1.5m would have us playing Man City esque football, dominating possession and tonking teams 3-0 week in week out are frankly deluded.

This squad is going to take another 1-2 summers to overhaul and if people haven't got the patience for that then for their own blood pressure they are best following Rugby League for a season or two.

 

[ToffeeTim]

People are concerned because James is our best player. As highlighted earlier the poor management of his injuries last season led to extended periods out. Managed properly, and actually allowed to play he would bring the undoubted quality to our play. Instead, we have Gordon, Iwobi, Townsend, and co ahead of him. Now that is something to really 'not get'

He's not our best player. I have nothing else to say on this matter.

 

[Brennan]

I swear, some people on here would apologise to James for interrupting if they came home to find him smashing their wife.

 

[Marius57]

I'm well aware we are crap lol

But we were crap last year too with him in our squad. The idea he is one of our best players of the PL era is just nonsense. One of the most talented of course, but not even in the top 50 for contribution.

Our front 4 yesterday looks a lot better with our 2 top strikers. We are decimated by injuries and thats a recruitment issue.

Richarlison and DCL are crucial players missing yet people are more concerned about James. I just dont get it.

Not sure people are more concerned, can have more than one concern. But there isn't a clear issue between the manager and the player in the other cases. And it's a clear issue that if it isn't resolved, is likely to to cause further issue down the line.

 

[Deleted member 48881]

So you’re suggesting he met James two weeks ago, wearing the exact same clothes as he was wearing today, both times at Manchester Airport. Then he chose to post the images at the same time, writing a caption which seems to make it blindingly obvious that he met him today.

Are you James’ spin doctor ? If not you should send him your CV.

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Lol those photos are from the same post, swiping right. ofc he wore same clothing. are you new to instagram?

I didn't say anything for certain also. Only it could have happened.

 

[BlueToff]

Im seeing nothing but improvement in the players fitness, the fact we can actually score goals from open play and not play for set pieces like last season, counter attack with pace for once and have a change in mentality minus the odd player losing their head (Keane, Digne).

People thinking Benitez coming in and given £1.5m would have us playing Man City esque football, dominating possession and tonking teams 3-0 week in week out are frankly deluded.

This squad is going to take another 1-2 summers to overhaul and if people haven't got the patience for that then for their own blood pressure they are best following Rugby League for a season or two.

Okay, I mean we scored most of our goals from open play last season when James was fit. That's because CA was far too reliant on him to be our creative fulcrum. As he couldn't stay fit, we often then had to resort to set-pieces.

Now, I too think we look fitter, and it's good to have more pace in attack. We do lack composure and quality though and that showed yesterday.

You mention set-pieces. Well, they're a big part of the game and we actually look properly abysmal at them now at both ends of the pitch. Whatever the faults of the last manager, we were good at set-pieces and being good at set-pieces is never a bad thing. Being reliant on them if one player isn't fit, is obviously a bad thing. But there's a big difference.

Nobody is thinking Benitez would have or should have us playing man City esque football. For one, Benitez wouldn't have a clue what to do or how to implement it and two, nobody actually expects that at all. But we need more than just energy because energy runs out, as we saw yesterday, and then quality takes over.

People have got the patience. We've all had to be patient, what does another year matter. But when you're bringing in the likes of Rondon, who isn't fit and is 32 and you're giving him a 2-year deal, and then binning off James, then questions should be asked.

I hate how the club is run. It's a shambles.

 

[Marius57]

Im seeing nothing but improvement in the players fitness/pressing, the fact we can actually score goals from open play and not play for set pieces like last season, counter attack with pace for once and have a change in mentality minus the odd player losing their head (Keane, Digne).

People thinking Benitez coming in and given £1.5m would have us playing Man City esque football, dominating possession and tonking teams 3-0 week in week out are frankly deluded.

This squad is going to take another 1-2 summers to overhaul and if people haven't got the patience for that then for their own blood pressure they are best following Rugby League for a season or two.

Literally noone thought that.

 

[Narntwinnysivven]

There’s no way he’s coming to play here for £90 bags a week. He’s the highest paid player in the city and he’s phoned it in every since he laughed his head off signing that contract with Don Carlo.

 

[BlueToff]

There’s no way he’s coming to play here for £90 bags a week. He’s the highest paid player in the city and he’s phoned it in every since he laughed his head off signing that contract with Don Carlo.

Ah if that was phoning it in, shows how crap the players we're left with are then

Considering he led us for pretty much every creative category

 

[Rollo Tomassi]

I swear, some people on here would apologise to James for interrupting if they came home to find him smashing their wife.

Dont think his groin would be up for it.

 

[Aberblue]

How can you say this with such certainty?

We've played 2 of the weaker sides in the league. Done well v Brighton and Leeds, and then got soundly beaten by the best team we've faced.

Sure, let's say injuries, but we all laughed at the Kopites for doing just that last season.

I'm all for transforming the squad and if JR leaving is part of that it's fine. It's not fine when it weakens an already light squad though, with no way of getting anyone else in.

Or to put it another way, we comfortably beat Southampton, which Man City and Man United couldn't do, and are the only team to have taken any points from Brighton.