Rodriguez among five players missing for Saints clash

Let's see who we get.

Surely with our lack of attacking options one or both would be worth having on the bench.

James has been left abandoned by Ancelotti but Kean should knuckle down and stop throwing his toys out of the pram.

Lets hope they both find other clubs before the window shuts and EFC do not give in to a loan deal again.

It's utterly depressing, really. James, on his day, can win a game on his own but we can only guess if he really wants out because Ancelotti's gone, whether it's Benitez pushing him out because he doesn't want him, or the club have said he has to go to raise funds/save on wages.

The not knowing is the frustrating part but, ultimately, it boils down to one of the few genuinely creative members of the team no longer being there.

What a way to start the season, 2 weeks ago these lads were all together as a group in the US, now cast asunder. Gives me the creeps thinking if we cant get rid of them do they just hang around - what a way to treat Gomes if its correct he's been banished as well.

Mike, was Gomes missing at Old Trafford due to an injury or did I imagine that?

Moise Kean does not want to play for Everton Football Club, and is on about £53k per week. He is highly rated by some, but I think he's benefitted from playing up-front for teams that are flat-track bullies and when given a tougher assignment (i.e playing for Everton) he looks totally out of his depth.

Moving them both on gets rid of 2 problem players, reduces the weekly wage bill by roughly £200k, and sends out a clear message about the sort of unity and direction that the club wants to take. I hope it happens and we can recruit one or two talented players who are champing at the bit to play for this magnificent club.

And if the underwhelming sideways merchant Andre Gomes can be offloaded too then Rafa and I are starting to really get into sync.

This isn't a Rafa issue. They are well outside the lines of acceptable professional behavior. If we can't dock their pay, embarrass them into silence.

Rodrigues saying he doesn't think he will play as if it is his decision and Kean effectively giving the same impression I find hard to understand. Though Rodriguez at the end of last season seemed to be able to decide he was too tired to play.

Benitez in his talks with them must have come the conclusion is that they where not prepared or going to fit into his plans. In the case of Rodriguez earlier report must have been true, of Benitez effectively telling him to sling his hook. It does make sense to move Rodriguez on to get a possible fee.

Everton are going to need to move these two on and get in players. They can't surely be contemplating going into this season with a depleted squad.

I want to known if this is Brands or Rafas decision?

They are Everton player's until they are sold. Unless everything has already been agreed in terms of their sale, this is no way to treat people.

Players themselves may yet have to be reintegrated should they fail to be sold ASAP. They're unlikely to care much about the management, team or club after being treated disrespectfully.

We are in effect continuing to 'wee' every last penny down the drain.

Benitez would be a fool to deny us seeing James in the flesh when he is only a couple of results away from a toxic reaction.

The whole club is a farce from top to bottom.

Having said that there were others who performed the same way but are still pencilled in for this new season or so it seems.

If these two are released soon then it may free up some salary space that may be used to replace them.

Attacking wise we will be shorthanded if what we have left come up short or get injured.

The two new guys are not real target men nor goalscorers so it's going to be tough until something is done in the market.

Andrew (12), I'm not sure where you've plucked these numbers from, but Spotrac (usually a reliable source of such info), has his wages at £90k a week. Hardly the highest earner at the club. That honour goes to Mina.

There are a whole host of others on more than James, incl "he who shall not be named".

https://www.spotrac.com/epl/everton-fc/payroll/

He, like us and Moshiri, was left high and dry by Carlo. Better for him and all of us that he moves to another club.

As for Keane, after he got pulled as a sub by Duncan, Everton was never going to be the club for him.

Any player that wants away should be allowed to go provided we don't get short changed on the transfer fee. It's common sense really.

I wonder how Allan is feeling at the moment?

There are all sorts of sites that have a punt at club salaries. Considering that a lot of contracts have annual uplifts and other performance-based stipulations that can affect the basic wage from one year to the next, sites like Spotrac are just snapshots that are rarely up to date.

If you think James (or his agents!) was happy to move to Everton, from Real Madrid, to be on a basic salary of £90k a week after being on over £200k per week for several years, then you are living in a dream world; I imagine he would have at least wanted parity with the club's highest earner. No idea if Real Madrid agreed to pay the shortfall on any wage discrepancy, such was their desire to get him off their books - but they supposedly agreed a sizeable percentage of any future sale as a way of trying to avoid losing him for free when his contract with them expired in 2021. Either way, with his CV, I'd be completely amazed if James is only taking home £90k per week, and I have heard rumours that he is actually costing us £200k per week.

He has the best vision I have seen in an Everton shirt.

Wish they both stayed. Kean looked like he didn't want to be here. And James stated he came to us because his favorite manager, who left, wanted him.

Who are we getting in is important. I wonder who.

Contrary to that perception James said he was happy at Everton and planned to stay post Carlo. After returning to FF and supposedly being told he's not wanted now he's taking a “I want to go where I'm wanted” attitude which seems reasonable if he has been told to leave.

Mark Ryan

I don't see Rafa - malcontent that he is - taking orders about picking the team from anyone. If as Lyndon suggests they're being held back to prevent injury then I expect that's something Rafa is on board with in hope of replacing them.

All of that having been said, no offers have been incoming and James could injury himself posting on Instagram so I'd use him regardless as a sub if nothing else. We've no other creativity!

Time for talk is over - deeds now, no bottling it.

Jim (34) - Townsend was not rejected by Palace. I believe that there were contract negotiations at the end of the season between Townsend and Palace but he decided to move to Everton.

No one else is coming in. Not of any note at least. Who'd want to come to us at the moment? I wouldn't.

But we cant spend the season dwelling on who might have stayed. who should never have been allowed here .What might or might not happen.

We are where we are. As of tomorrow there are matches to be won and they have to be won with whoever Benitez decides to play.

Sell him, Kean, Gomes and Delph, get Perrera, Rondon and Guta in. I think Kenny might go and I would sell Davies and Iwobi. We missed a trick by not going for Willock.

We must have players lined up to come in, it's just case of getting our deadwood out.

I think he only has a 2 year contract. Assume as players enter the last year of a contract, most clubs assess the worth of a player to the team and more often or not try to extend the contract. Can't see this happening here so on that basis and if, as is being reported, Rodriguez is not that interested in staying, best to get as much value from a transfer.

However he has no desire to be here and it is now unfortunately best he moves on. James isn't our future but highlights the stupidity of the Benitez appointment and is a stark warning of what's to come. Not only will he polarise the fan base but he will polarise the players when we need every player on side and contributing.

However, if there is anyone deserving of a repeat of that treatment it is Moise Kean. He was shown the crowds love, and has never given us a single ounce back. He's a prima-donna who thinks he's better than he is. For me, forget any transfer (only Inter a possibility and I doubt they will) just put him in the u23's and any missed training = a fine. 12 months out the game might change that gobshite attitude of him and his cockroach agent.

James on the other hand, I have sympathy for. Carlo was a mentor to him, and that's WHY he came here. He gave us a chance, and I think that if he met the crowd he'd realise he can be loved here like he is in Colombia. I think the issue is Rafa doesn't like him. Something from Madrid maybe.

Overall though I agree with most: what a shitty, negative way to start the season. My prayer is that Gordon, Broadhead, Simms, Dobbin et al are ready and given a go. We are so lightweight in attack it's unreal.

I'm sure Rodriguez is an awkward customer, he's very talented and has no doubt been flattered and accommodated throughout his career. But this is where a world class manager earns his pay. It's not by getting some clogger like VVD at the RS to go and kick people, moronic thugs do that anyway. It's not about getting over the hill mediocre players like Andras Townsend or Gbamin to run about for another season.it's about keeping Kevin de Bruyne, Lionel Messi, Chritiano Renaldo or James Rodriguez interested enough to deliver world class football alongside players of half their ability.

As we go into this season with players being forced to grovel to every crap political abomination around, I wonder if I'll even be looking at the results by Christmas, as Everton record another unlucky 1-0 loss to Chelsea, West Ham or Brentford.

I have never, ever looked forward to going (back) to the match tomorrow so much - for obvious reasons.

I have never, ever been so underwhelmed by an Everton squad kicking a season off.

Give me strength.

We will be in a relegation battle this season under the fat dinosaur Spanish waiter and his boss coco the clown

On one hand, we've a player who came to play for a manager he trusted. Let's not kid ourselves he that he came to Everton because we are Everton. I think most know why he is / was here.

Then, we've changed managers. That manager will have his own thoughts, own plan and that will include what players he wants. Stating the obvious, but if it's not his type of player, then he goes.

Finally, maybe the financial side, but I'll be honest, I don't confess to know the intrinsic details of that.

Bottom line, and as a supporter, I will be disappointed if we lose James. We need more quality like this, not less of it. But he has to want to be here and the manager needs to want him in his plans. If either or neither of those align, it doesn't work.

I feel for the "starved generation" of Evertonians that may never get to see a player of genuine quality in the flesh gracing Goodison.

I'd add that James is blatantly too slow and too weak. He won't play again at a top level club in my opinion.

Kean has not been a good fit from day one and when he has played he's been hopeless. Another dreadful 20m + purchase

Gomes is also too slow and too weak.

What a waste of money and time

All bought under Brands time.

Onwards and upwards. Desperate that we get rid for real money so we can get new faces in

Rodriguez? I'd love to see him play; and might well do yet (a week being a long time in football, as they say)
However, from what I can remember of his history before coming here, he's had a very patchy one since the world cup when he was brilliant. Benitez has seen him and weighed him up as a player, as have other managers. They have found that although extremely skilful, there are problems with his attitude.

Just since coming to Everton, what happened in the last part of the season, he pronounced himself injured and then swans of to Columbia in his jet and pronounces himself fit. I don't think that went down well with our players, and nor did Ancellotti's Laissez Faire management style during the latter part of the season.

If it's the manager who has made the decision not to have him in the team, then I back the manager. If it's the club, who are looking to bring in some money, then I back the club.

As for Kean, it's very likely that he's wanting away from the club and to get back to Italy. It's easy to say, just play him, he's our player but we don't want in the team someone who's not interested.

As for Gray and Townsend being mediocre. From what I've seen of them in the friendlies, both of them have impressed and are likely to prove good team players.

My guess is that once the window shuts and neither Kean nor Rodriguez have received suitable bids they will be forced to turn their minds and focus back to Everton and will be re-integrated back into first team properly.

Chris@53 I don't believe for a second that Rodriguez is being forced out. If he turned up to training in good condition with a smile on his face and raring to play for Everton I'm sure he would be very much in contention, but his twitch comments suggest he's had one eye on leaving since Carlo departed and I don't blame Rafa for wanted to leave out people who don't wanna give their best for the club.

We're going into the season woefully under prepared squad wise, short at right back, short up front with no cover for DCL and lacking a dynamic pacey central midfielder.

The man had threatening banners posted by his home and still took the job. He didn't fancy James at RM whether that was down to lack of fitness, attitude or both.

Put simply, James is Ancellotti's man. James had to follow Ancellotti round to get game time and missed loads of games.

Shame we likely won't get to see him as he is undoubtedly super talented when on his game but we need to get used to it. Our punt at Hollywood failed dismally (as did all before it).

Kean I could not care less about other than getting an appropriate fee for him. If we loan him out again it's just further evidence of the mess that has been Evertons recruitment strategy during the Moshiri era.

James' performances and appearances over the second half of the season especially when he shot off to Columbia, suddenly fit again, I don't think impressed his fellow players, and as far as I'm concerned, Ancellotti had already, left mentally.

Then again, the financial position the club is in, is open to question. Do we need to get wages off the books, can we sell, send on loan or use what players we have. It might be, that if no one come in for either, then they might well start thinking about playing for this club, rather than wanting away.

Personally, I'd love to see James because of his skill; but if the manager decides not to play, he's done it for a reason (and it's nothing top do about liking him or not) I back the manager.

We accumulated 59 points last season to finish 10th. Ancelloti ran up the white flag at Goodison from Xmas onwards. In another year that could have seen us in the Euro spots. 61 pts got 4th in 2005.

I don't agree that we are relegation candidates all of a sudden because of two players who want out and played about 30 games between them last season. Nor are we likely to trouble the top spots.

Its same old same old really.

I contacted them and asked why he can't be selected considering he's playing and scoring in the pre-season friendlies and they said his registration and status with the club isn't confirmed so they can't list him.

He is registered with the club and his status is that he's owned by Everton (he even appears on the Official Prem website which feeds Fantast Football). However, they obviously haven't registered him for something to do with the league otherwise he would be on the official Premier League FF app.

It's a really bad situation because we need a striker, he's a great talent and we want £50m for him to make the whole saga worthwhile. No one will pay that but at his age and with how he played at Juve and then PSG last year that's what we should be looking at

The refresh your memory:
Link

Equally, you haven't got the first clue whether his fellow players were impressed/unimpressed by his fitness availability.

The nearer Saturday's kick-off comes the more I feel we'll spend the season trying to dodge relegation with awful football under a manager who shouldn't be here. I've never felt this much uneasiness about a new season.

Meanwhile, a widely regarded world class footballer and a young talent most pundits were surprised came to Everton will be falling out of the loft in search of their suitcases.

Sad that we'll never get the chance to watch him play live.

As for Kean, he can feck off whenever he likes as he couldn't hit a barn door. Even his goal in Florida was a lucky rebound.

Two players with a combined weekly salary in the hundreds of thousands. And all they're being asked to do is train, and then kick a football around for a couple of hours on the weekend.

Yes, I know they want to leave but, as yet, it seems that there are no imminent suitors. So, in the meantime, is it too much to ask for them to give 100% for the club they agreed to play for? Thousands of fans will be paying ~£40 to watch the game on Saturday. How many of their entrance fees will be going straight into the pockets of the two players with their feet up?

Now we don't know if they're refusing to play, whether they're in peak condition or whether Rafa simply doesn't want them around the squad. In any case, we should be able to call on them to do a job to the best of their ability lest, sod em. Withhold their pay.

I sure wish I had a job where I could be paid week-in-week-out even when I didn't have to actually do any work.

Regardless of the internal politics of manager & player, we shouldn't want rid of the likes of James or Kean. We want more of them. But they need surrounding by better players.

And to flip an argument I've seen used on here a few times. If Moise Kean from Italy who banged in an average of one goal every other game for one of Europe's current top clubs was Mike Kean from Garston, we'd be screaming to lay off the kid (he's 21). There is potential there and he's going to get better. And tell me a decent striker over the years that hasn't had attitude?

Sadly, it looks like the player doesn't want to be here, but with our collective attitude towards him, why would he want to be?

Anyway, stop dragging me down. I'm going to enjoy tomorrow either way!

I'm hoping someone comes in for Moise Kean, because it sounds like he's being young and petulant, and think that if Benitez could get rid of all the players who don't want to be here, (isn't this Brand's job?) we might finally begin to have a better chance.

We have appointed a DoF, but not implemented the model properly and allowed him to do his job. Especially with the last and current managerial appointments.

I won't repeat myself from the summer as what I suggested didn't happen and we have Benitez. But we're not allowing Brands to set strategy and shape the squad for a head coach to just coach. Too much interference from ownership, chairpersons and "alpha" managers. He's literally stuck in the middle.

To your Rodriguez analogy, I can only assume a healthy wage is keeping him in position. That and his new found board status, because professionally, if I was Brands, I'd have walked long ago.

And since it doesn't sound like there's an immediate suitor for either (the latest on Twitter is that Inter haven't expressed any real interest in Kean), I hope that Benitez is prepared to actually utilize them this season.

He (James) goes on about only joining Everton because Ancelotti was here, and that the team isn't very good so surely Benitez is actually defending the club - something he vowed to do in his first interview.

People are going to be all too eager to lay into Benitez, but a little reality check appears to be needed in my view.

James and Kean have both made it very clear they don't want to be at Everton. I don't see how that's the fault of Benitez. He's making his opinion on the matter clear by making them train alone - seems like a reasonable thing to do in my view.

Maybe they aren't as committed as some other player, but what good can come out of weakening your team and putting yourself at a disadvantage?

I firmly believe that Koeman wrecked Everton and every manager since has been dealing with the mess left behind by him and Walsh.

Not sure the headline is correct, to be honest. It was certainly said, at the presser, that there are five players unavailable but I'm pretty sure Benitez said "two" were in isolation.

I feel a bit sorry for Benitez... and I used to hate the fucker; he looked shocked in the presser that he has a dog's dinner of a squad he has to get a tune out of.

The only thing I have heard him say about James is that they would like to improve his fitness.

The window doesn't close until 31 August and most clubs in Everton's position are waiting till late in that day to see how desperate teams are to either sell or buy, up until the last minutes.

Yes, Everton have players they believe they may be able to sell but are unwilling to lose too much money on them, and clubs who want to buy have to be prepared to accept their wage demands – that is the holdup on most transfers today.

We don't know the politics and possible offers being played out for any of our players; however, in the present climate, the players supposedly up for sale could well remain with us. If Everton are paying a player's wages, then that player should be available for selection.

It's okay for Benitez to tell players they're not in his plans, but he'll look a right dickhead if any of those players are still here after the window closes, and, at some time in the future, we need that player to play.

In a perfect world, all players surplus to requirements would move on before the window closes; unfortunately, we're not in a perfect world...

I was beginning to half-believe that was the case.

I think that's vice versa. It's so maddening that we have hired a manager who can't get on with our best player.

Then again, Rodriguez just may not want to play for us anymore... same as Kean.

James, as I've said before, was in our team that finished 10th last season so he aint any miracle worker, he'd be off as well if he got a good offer.

We do look like a very moderate side as we stand though and I don't know yet where the goals are going to come from. ,We need to strengthen the squad in midfield and more importantly get a goalscorer from somewhere.

We've probably lost Sigurasson, who knows... Delph is a complete sicknote, Gbamin – again, who knows? Will he stay fit.

I think defensively we are pretty strong; scoring will be our problem again I fear.

It strikes me that Benitez wont stand any shit from anyone and will want players who will give 100% for us. I don't think the play will be pretty but I think we will have a team of fit triers.

James is a great player when on song but he will not give us 20 games this season and that's best case IMO. Ancelotti was happy to let him miss weeks at a time regardless of whether he might have been able to play with a bit of desire. Benitez isn't.

Isolating... my fucking arse.

Gbamin was present as was Delph, is Gilfi included in the 5??

Who are the other 2 missing??

I don't think he has any empathy with our club but seeing as he had been out of work since returning from China, after a poor season he was desperate to get back managing in the Premier league and look who came calling. I hear some ex reds players saying he will do a good job, no doubt they said the same when he went and got Newcastle relegated. Lets hope we get off to a good start despite him being in charge, I don't like the man I want him gone asap, but I just hope he doesn't put us in a perilous position before that happens.

“I understand when I signed maybe Everton fans, or fans in general, didn't understand why this club, with their ambition, would get a free transfer from Crystal Palace” said Townsend, who is aware of the perception his career was on a downward trajectory. “A lot of people wouldn't have expected me to get this opportunity. I had a spell at the start of my career with Spurs fighting for the top six, then I had a spell when I was battling relegation each year and fighting to get into the top 10 was a good season. I feel I have a lot of doubters wondering if I am good enough to play at this level. My hunger is probably more than it was in the past. This is what gets me out of bed: trying to prove those people wrong.”

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/12/andros-townsend-everton-i-feel-people-doubt-im-good-enough-for-this-level?utm_term=357895bd32f5b6112b456298e107c13f&utm_campaign=TheFiver&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=fiver_email

But football is a team game and especially in the EPL there is no place for slackers. One malcontent or bad apple can poison a dressing room. Better to have players totally committed to Everton. So I say get rid, especially if we can get a transfer fee.

So now you know where I stand.

i don't see how we have a better chance of getting results against any team if James is not playing. I would like to see him fit playing with Goodison full and behind him, let him feel loved get him buzzing again and who knows what he will produce.

Kean can go - no problem with that.

James was left in the sh*t by his mentor. Carlo was left in the sh*t when James kept declaring himself unfit to play. James will never run through a brick wall for EFC - quite a few of them won't - however he's are most skilful and intelligent player and as such we need that in him. De Bruyne would and does spill blood for Man City, and would whoever their manager was.

It grieves me that we will never see him parade his ability in front of us at Goodison. I know he will be amazed at the adoration he would receive the moment he did his 1st piece of magice.

As for tomorrow a draw. A hard long season awaits us - though I hope to be proved wrong.

Soton will be up for it and the first game of any season can bring some some crazy results.

But I like to believe that Rafa has taken in the landscape of FF, and will provide some potency and game changing play.

But the first game is the first game of every season.

Remember Alan Bailey, and the Everton team v Birmingham City...40 years ago? That team in reflection and compare to now. Different times and football was a different world.

Scary, very scary, where the time has gone.

Let's take the positives and hopefully a fighting victory tomorrow.

Every player playing for the Everton shirt and blood, sweat and tears for 96 minutes.

What's Our Name?

That rollercoaster of ecsatasy was partly because of James and the magic he brought to each game.

In summary:

What the fuck is going on?!

Benitez needs to win the game and he and all of us know that Southampton will fancy this because of all the shite going on with us. Who knows what the fuck is going on, we just seem to be in a mess but I still think we will win.

Benitez didn't fancy or trust Rodriquez at Real Madrid, and it really didn't make a difference due to the squad they had. With us, he is the only player with vision and pin-point accuracy.

I agree it is a shame that Goodison maybe will not get to see this guy in the flesh for he would undoubtedly feel the love.

As for Kean, the quicker we can get him out to fuck, the better – Balotelli Mk 2.

I made a comment on another thread about Mancini not selecting him for the Italy squad and that speaks volumes.

Hope it's a good day for all going to the game.

I'd forgotten it was Kendall's first game until I just watched it again on YouTube. I hope that Benitez gets a similar reception one day, because it will only mean one thing!

We are just in the same position as about 10 teams in the Premier League... Arsenal being one of them.

If we don't add a couple of capable midfield attackers by the end of this month, 'cannon fodder' will be an appropriate description. Most of the other 10 teams you mentioned have improved themselves, some significantly. We have not.

But I have to say again, it's scary where times gone. But we get by and get on with life - Everton.

But hope eternal.

Let's worry and think about all matters Everton, and fekk the rest as they don't count.

What's Our Name?

How many 90 degrees will we see?

You can argue that he doesn't fit a certain style, but I'll disagree. You find a place for him. It can't just be 11 marathon runners, you've got to have someone directing them.

All seems very inevitable now but it's hard to get anything but deflated that we've effectively swapped James Rodriguez for Andros Townsend. With no offence meant to Townsend at all.

I don't even particularly feel 'backs against the wall' for this fixture. Everything just feels a bit 'meh' around the club.

I was never a fan of Rafa coming to the club but, unlike James and Kean, he wants to be here. In all honesty with FFP and players not wanting to be at the club Rafa is literally fucked. How do you build or transform a team in the situation he's been put in??

If we can rid ourselves of both of these players before the end of the window, he can at least be given a fighting chance. I'm hoping for a positive result against Southampton but fearful that we won't win. We have a mid-table squad at best so shouldn't expect anything more.

We really are the ultimate 'life's a box of chocolates' club.

I hope to be pleasantly surprised, but then I'm daft and have been since before Carey took his taxi.

"James is a luxury player, he's lazy, he's a Prima Donna. Who cares if he has world class ability, you can't count on him. We need players who work hard and give 100% every week. At the end of the day, all we want is guys who'll fight for the badge."

"Interesting. So you must be a big fan of Tom Davies?"
"No, he's terrible. Get rid."

James and Kean have options, that's probably the difference.

I might sound anti-Benitez but the truth is I couldn't care less about Benitez. Which is kind of part of the problem. I do care about the fools who hired him. It's an obviously bad hire - and it will go south very quickly. If his head isn't being called for within 10 games I'll be shocked. I almost feel for Benitez, but then, he knew this too and still took the job. What basket case this club is.

There's a lot of hyperbole on here are times. 'Worst team I've ever seen' and all that stuff. But I don't think I've ever felt this disconnected or unexcited about a season.

Thank you. Someone else who's noticed the glaring problem with midfield after James and Sigurdsson: productivity.

Doucouré says he will be playing a more advanced role which could help. But at Watford in that role, he was a bit of a free spirit, scoring the occasional 30-yarder. He wasn't a creator.

Obviously Davies, Allan and Gomes have the creative talent of a colour-blind hedgehog — in a bag. So we are hoping Townsend becomes to Calvert-Lewin as Hinchcliffe was to Big Dunc? Or that Gray suddenly evolved into Fernandez?

We have 5 isolating. I won't tell you who. James, Kean, and Gylfi aren't available. Why? Well we have 5 players isolating, but I won't tell you who.

I'd have much more respect if the club or manager said that James and Kean aren't available as they don't want to play for the club, or because we don't want them at the club.

Feeding us bullshit like this just widens the disconnection between the fans and the club. We're supposed to be on the same team.

It's just cover for those out the door. Maybe 1-2 players are isolating, but I don't know how you believe any of the three players you mentioned are isolating.

Way too suspicious. I'm with you. First thing I thought of when I saw that news.

He says he wants to be at a club who wants him… I'm sure there are plenty of retirement villages who would be happy to take him and his zimmer frame.

The guy is just a waste of space who is not a team player, he has no heart and his best attribute is not running and when he is tackled he goes down and cries like a baby. My grandma could mark him out of a game… Quicker we get rid of him and Kean, the better.

One of our players who will probably never play for us again due to circumstances beyond our control. James, one of the most talented players we have ever had, seemingly refusing to play.

Suddenly, no money being available because we have massively overspent in recent years. Years of underachieving... yet all of the culprits are still at the club, including Kenwright, Ferguson and Brands.

This season heralds disaster. As we saw from Brentford last night, not all of the clubs coming up are rubbish. Will there be three teams worse than Everton? I wouldn't be so sure.

I want to go back to Goodison and be entertained with our team having most of the ball. Before the pandemic, when players can pass and keep the ball, defending is done by the opponents.

10 years ago, he was nearly really good. No amount of hunger can turn back the clock. We all seem to believe average players can become much better if only they tried harder. They can become more effective with hard work in a team unit, but individually they don't get better by being hungry.

Quality players have natural ability, or a particular skill that sets them apart. A team of average really hardworking players gets you relagated after one or two seasons. We are heading in the wrong direction with signings like Andros.

Along the way he created the Everton Collection, the world's greatest football memorabilia collection, and the Everton Former Players Foundation charity, since emulated by many big European clubs.

I usually object to non-medical PhDs calling themselves “Doctor” but I make an exception in Dr France's case.

Unless Moshiri has a brother owning a football club, who the hell is going to buy him? Most football clubs don't throw money away like buying a bin bag with a couple of bricks in a box off a bloke in a transit that spotted someone who he believes will swallow his spiel that it is a box of brand new Rolex watches for £20.

Ah well, here's to looking forward together watching Tom Davies and Allan chugging around the pitch (giving 100% mind) but failing to get near the opposition and giving the ball away every second opportunity.

Now he wants to play on a bigger stage. He has zero commitment to EFC so let's all drop the pretence that a few Mersey cheers will somehow change his mind.

Oh, hang on. !!

On a separate note, should the players not all have been fully vaccinated by this stage?

Why? He is the only creative midfielder we have on the books and I doubt he will be replaced by anyone, better or not. It wouldn't surprise me, if he did go, that we would sign Barkley on a free! Oh dear... I must stop drinking Australian white!

>>>I usually object to non-medical PhDs calling themselves “Doctor”

Why is that Roger?

#142

>>>Have been enjoying your pre-match excitement Danny. Safe journey! Just starting our ritual here for the first time in 18 months. Despite all the recent misery, I'm starting to feel a bit giddy. After a pint, I may even allow optimism back in!

Here's hoping we all have a great day!!

The same fans who moan about the deadwood are criticising the club for pulling the only levers available to them to get these wages off the books.

if we want to see skill technique and more I would happily take 10 games of James than what any other midfielder at Everton will produce this season and in seasons to come. I doubt I will be entertained or treated to a piece of skill from anyone in the pitch wearing blue but I live in hope.

Media trash talk is always rife these days especially during a transfer window and it is not always wise to read into too much. Only the club and the player know the truth.

What they do or have done on the pitch is what is important and the truth is that coming from a big club doesn't mean you are a shoe-in even if you get the big wages.

Everton have had more than their share of one season flops and most of us have to agree that the likes of Kean and James have been overall disappointments.

Today I just want to see 100% commitment on the field no matter who plays as it just wasn't evident in so many games last season.

The issue with Rodriquez and his inability to play regularly - the reasons for which seem many and varied - is he becomes a "special case". In other words the notion of some being "more equal" than others arises in the changing room which is never a good basis for any team.

He's a great technician but I understand the manager not tolerating that sort of shite. Yet, oddly enough, it delivers a great opportunity for Benitez to stamp his mark on the club. He should say these things about Rodriquez at the presser and offer anyone "out" who complains. Most love that sort of stuff bar the sensitive souls who cried when Allardyce called them out.

Great believer in "every cloud" etc

I don't doubt his quality and I would be happy if he would play 20 games and give his best to the team. The problem is that the man is not committed. Therefore he is unreliable. A luxury player who demands special treatment. If he was so good then why aren't there a queue of clubs banging on our door to take him off us?

The world and his dog can see that he is not fit enough and his loyalties are even more questionable than average. He may produce the odd goal and one or two good assists but balance that against his injury problems and his attitude and you see that the downside counters the good things and team morale plummets when one player is given special treatment.

It's a team game and our new boss rightly wants guys who want to play for Everton FC.

It seems that James and Kean do not... end of story.

Eddie (#172); What special treatment or are you referring to a long-term injury he may be carrying which his national team manager queried but had to back down, and is the odd goal or assists as many as others offer? Presently, it appears it is the manager who doesn't want him, if press reports are to be believed.

Myself, I hope we hang onto any player that shows, even in flashes, ultimate skill. I seem to remember a story about those across the park who used to hang a picture of Alex Young standing arms crossed, watching from a distance in, I think, a 5-0 derby shellacking.

Usually by "Doctor" we mean a medical person. I guess it is normal when a person with a higher degree is in the context of their academic environment, but in everyday society it just seems to me a bit pretentious. But that's just my opinion. Some might say they have worked hard for it, so why not use it at every opportunity. Perhaps it helps getting restaurant seats, I don't know.

The term doctor originated in medieval times and applied to many academic pursuits. It was a license to teach. It was not adopted for medical practitioners until the 19th century so in fact you would probably be better getting irritated at the the quacks.
Both my sons have PhDs, I think they mainly just use opentable.com

No fortunately they got her looks and my brains. They'd have been fucked the other way round

If it comes to it, the word means teacher, from the Latin docere, to teach, so perhaps schoolteachers, or indeed any worker with a training role, could call themselves Doctor.

And you're right no reasonable person would be upset, but then again is it reasonable to be irritated by someone calling themselves a title earned through eight years of university based academic study?