03 Sep 2021 15:44:41
When I employed people I agreed the wage they would get and what they would deliver in return. If they then didn't deliver I binned them.
Now I know it's a little different in the crazy world of football. But surely if a guy is being paid 200k a week then he should at least be expected to give 100% effort for that money. Barring injuries of course.
So my point is, if James is not meeting the levels of fitness required, or is not bothering to push for a first team place. Then can the club terminate his contract?
Or is this not possible as the manager has stated he is not part of his plans. Therefore he could argue that he is not been given fair opportunity to produce the goods.
Think given the guys history the club walked blindly into this one. Pity really because there is a quality player in there, what a waste.

1.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 18:26:14
The manager has said he can move on if he wants.
Last season he scored half a dozen goals and half a dozen assists so he's good for the wages.
This season who's saying he isn't fit or not giving 100%? Are you just making this up or do you have insider knowledge? A spy at finch farm?
He wasn't in Rafas plans so was up for sale, now he's still here Rafa will have to suck it up and play him. If he doesn't then that is up to him but leaving our best player out of the squad is a dangerous thing to do and could backfire if results take a dip.

2.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 18:50:12
He's been isolating for the same length of time as Godfrey so why are people only talking about James? It was the club who said he was surplus to requirements but there were no takers. He's back training now so it's up to him to get back in the squad and make himself useful until the next window.

3.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 18:56:41
Read it again Smit before you try tearing it apart. I clearly said if he is not meeting the levels, at no point do I suggest he isn’t.

4.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 19:03:42
Difficult one because at the end of the day we decided to pay him that amount. So would imagine if he is fit and ready to play then he's fulfilling his contract.
Would disagree though that six goals and six assists is worth 200k a week. Yes the guy is one of our best players, but if he only plays half the season then what's the point?

5.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 20:12:02
Maybe the lad should take a look at how the young man at Utd conducts himself. 34 and fit as a fiddle. Trains, works hard and looks after himself, and fans at every club he has been at adore him.
Time for James to prove Rafa wrong and show him why he was once deemed world class. Then maybe, just maybe he would be adored by the blue masses once again.

6.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 21:02:30
Six goals and six assists last season maybe he could get more if we are playing more attacking football this season, as he was the player who tried to always play forward.

7.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 21:17:23
Carlo clearly tucked up Rodriguez as much as if not probably more than he tucked up everyone else associated with the club.

Let’s see how Rodriguez performs if he is given a chance in the team and then decide whether we should be complaining about him.

He clearly came to Everton for Carlo and played well for us last season and was our most creative midfielder last season. Carlo unfortunately left him high and dry by leaving and he now has a manager managing him who has had issues with him previously.

However both Rafa and Rodriguez need to sort those issues out for the benefit of the club - let’s judge both of them when we see how this situation develops or is resolved.

8.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 21:38:34
And my point is. Why would you suggest that unless you have inside info, which is what I asked.
You say considering his history, what history? Do you know his agent? Him? His previous managers?
I'm assuming you're reading the papers and assuming they are correct.
What a waste? A waste of what? Because he gets injured?
You're questioning the integrity of a player who has done a decent job for us last season, our 3rd highest in goals and top 2 in assists.
Hes still the best player we have in terms of ability and on last seasons figures was more productive than all the rest apart from DCL and Ricky.
So let's not assume he isn't committed, fit or giving his all without some facts, after all he's played a part in all the pre season games hasn't he?

9.) 04 Sep 2021
04 Sep 2021 05:38:48
Who says Rodrigues is the best player at our Club? The lad can pass a ball, he can score goals but other very important aspects are Teamwork, defence, workrate and fitness. Put him in the middle and he drifts wide where opposition then attack at will. Put him wide and then Dacoure is wasted having to spend most of his time covering our right side instead of playing his natural game. Benitez is no mug, he will have done his homework. Yes James is skillful but a luxury.

10.) 04 Sep 2021
04 Sep 2021 08:36:52
Who would you say is a better player Bill?
I'm intrigued.

11.) 04 Sep 2021
04 Sep 2021 10:07:03
When he played we were weak down his side and teams exploited that. He is not the player you are making him out to be Smit, as great players put 100% in every game and he doesn’t. It is clear we function better as a unit without him. Think Rafa knows this, and that is the reason he doesn’t fancy him.

12.) 04 Sep 2021
04 Sep 2021 10:46:19
Very talented on the ball with a superb left foot. In my opinion though there are a number of things that make you a top player and the only one he possesses is ability on the ball.
Smit you say "let's not assume he's not committed or giving his all" - we don't need to assume do we because anyone that watched any of his games last season could see he wasn't committed or giving his all.

13.) 04 Sep 2021
04 Sep 2021 11:35:58
james was good last season he's the one on the ball who can flick that pass to dlc or ricky for chance to score don't understand why he has to track back he's an attacking threat i said when he joined he's not a winger his best postion is behind the striker hope rafa can get him back in the team cause at times he can cause teams problems when on the ball.

14.) 04 Sep 2021
04 Sep 2021 11:38:32
He had a role in the team last season and it wasn't to track back. In the 1st half of the season he registered the most sprints in the team, hardly a stat of someone not trying.
Yes he has injury problems and the manager knew that and played him accordingly. If he didn't have injury problems do you think he'd join a mid table team?
Look at the best players in the world. Messi, Ronaldo, Aguero, Neymar they don't track back because they aren't asked to. The same as Colman can't get forward as much due to his age and injuries.
For natural and technical ability he is miles ahead of anyone we have, still scores goals and still creates in one of the toughest leagues in the world was our 3rd highest scorer and 2nd highest creator despite his injuries. The lads won everything twice at club level and has played for the best teams in Europe.
Ability wise he's street's ahead of anyone we have.
I'm not sure which games you were watching towards the end of last season but we were awful towards the end, played dire football and James was nowhere near the team. Let's not rewrite the season we were 4th in February and finished 10th. James was injured from around that time so I'm not buying it we function better as a unit without him.

We function better this season with a different manager and players but without seeing James in the team we could be worse or better, who knows?

15.) 04 Sep 2021
04 Sep 2021 12:43:28
It's mad that a load of posts on here of late are lauding Iwobi this season yet are questioning James? Comical really. Iwobi has played well for 3 games and the fan base now wants to give him a chance! The club have told James he is surplus to requirements and the fan base quickly try and make out that James isn't good enough, he wants out, he doesn't try etc etc. Fans are extremely fickle.

16.) 04 Sep 2021
04 Sep 2021 15:55:34
Smit better all round player (s) Richarlison, Decoure, Alan. Played in their correct positions. Rodrigues would be a good 10, but the lad has no discipline, he will wander, leaving someone else to fill the gaps. Already said he is a very good skillful player, but a Team needs more than that.

17.) 04 Sep 2021
04 Sep 2021 16:55:03
Bill. Alan doesn't score goals, and before you say that's not what he is in the team for then isn't that the same as asking James to track back?
James last season made some passes that our lads could only dream of, he scored goals that our forward players will probably never be able to score and he's done the same for every team all his career. That's why he's played for the teams he has and won what he has.
The pundits, managers and players all call him world class and that is what his career has been. People questioning his tracking back, not giving 100% is ludicrous. You don't get to where he has and win what he has by not giving 100%.
Guaranteed if he hadn't got injured in January when we were top 4 we would have got the extra 4 points for European football. Maybe more.

18.) 05 Sep 2021
05 Sep 2021 10:14:45
I wouldn't personally be putting him in a bracket with Messi and Ronaldo Smit but game of opinions so fair play to you for seeing it that way.

In one of your posts you mention other people trying to rewrite history. In your latest post you stated that last season James scored goals that our forward players will never be able to score - obviously that's fact because you wouldn't be rewriting history, but they've slipped my mind. Which ones is it you're talking about?

19.) 05 Sep 2021
05 Sep 2021 19:28:57
TD the one against united for me was the best but Leicester was also a pearler.
Brilliant individual skill and goals.
All our last season seemed to be prodded in from inside the box. No Digne screamers that we're used to.