RuffRob

Pretty strong line up considering who is available and options off the bench.

Godfrey is a few games behind most in the team. He will be fine when he is up to speed.

Plenty - I even think Ancelotti was disappointed with him towards the end of last season. I remember in one press conference toward the end when he said James wasn't player because he was 'a bit tired'!. That was not a helpful or supportive statement of a player and pretty much hanging him out to dry with the fans. I knew how I felt when I heard this. Report this week that Nuno wasn't hired because the club management where concern that he was looking build around rather than move James on. I think the club and Benitez are on the same page when it comes to James - So think you are just stirring say that Benitez is just bullying him out of the club. I think those at the club had seen more than enough with regard to James's commitment to Everton long before Benitez got the job. The club don't want him, Benitez does not want him - we move on.

I am with you on that - would much rather see somebody with passion and pride in putting on a Everton shirt week in week out. He definitely came to player for Ancelotti and not Everton. James leaving will also help underline the end of the Ancelotti tenure at the club and let the new chapter begin proper. Unfortunately, James has now become a unnecessary distraction - it has kind of annoyed me a little that every press conference consist of a 'James' section.

I would go with that as well. Would not complain if Benitez puts Gbmin or Davies in ahead of Allan - just to get in game time and so Allan doesn't play 3 time in a week.

finger crossed with this. I think the money saved this season will do us far more good than James on the bench. Love him or not, there is a bit of an unwelcome circus around him and we can just move on.

unfortunately you can't really argue with the fact's you have laid bare - James is not particular sort after by other clubs and managers. It's been no secret he has been available all summer, and no takes. James was a signing made to please Ancelotti. It turns out Ancelotti himself was a mistake, so I find it really difficult to argue that Benitez or any other manager to go out of their way to accommodate James in the team. Has to be the new managers choice of how this team moves forward. I read this weekend that Nuno was close to signing as our manager, but the club where put off by the fact Nuno wanted to build around James - the club did not want this and he didn't get the job. Now true this is I don't know - but its out there. I would appear that Benitez and the club are pulling in the same direction - and James is just not part of the future of this football club. What is better for the club? - playing the likes of Grey and Iwobi more and building their experience and confidence in a Benitez team or adapting our system and style outside what the manager wants to instil in the squad to somehow shoehorn James in the team when he is fit. A nice as James can be to watch, he just isn't part of the future of this club, so effort is better spent elsewhere.

very hard to judge this performance with so many key players out, and to be too critical of this stand alone performance/result would be a little harsh - we are not Man City or Chelsea who can afford losing 4 or 5 players starters and it not effect our play. Godfrey just coming back, Rondon nowhere near up to speed not ideal. Not an ideal starting line up and a very weak bench. It looked to be the only real difference between Villa at home and us was a bit of a nightmare 10mins for Digne. We where not battered or dominated in this game, so as tough as any defeat is to take - I don't think it was a doom and gloom performance by any means. We created chances and a foot either way or a match fit Rondon and could have just as easily picked up some points.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/demarai-gray-rafa-benitez-everton-21590799 https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2256733/rafa-eats-sleeps-and-breathes-football-it-rubs-off-on-us Since Rafa has been manager we have be reading plenty of articles of this kind about him. Just two that are about today. I just can't help but be happy about his appointment (I was originally against it) I like what I am reading, hearing and so far seeing from him after such little time. You can see he is hard working and loves what he does. I think he is truly in it for the love of the game. He is having a positive effect here and I believe it is all genuine - unlike his predecessor. He is a cut above more than just crooked fat Sam.

I though Townsend was the pick of the bunch of players available as free transfer. So I was glad when we snuck in while Palace dilly dallyied about offering him a new contract. No complains on the return so far, lets just hope he continues in the same vain. He looks like he is enjoying his football If you have players like Townsend in the team that are capable of a decent shot from outside the area - it gives the opposition defence something to think about. He will not score goals like that to often, but defenders dare not give him too much space in that area of the pitch. They need to get to him quick - it make space for others to exploit.

definitely, he was unable to fill DCL shoes and think once he is up to speed, Rondon would be a better focal point of the attack if DCL is out, with Richy back in his more normal role.

shame that shot on the 6yard line didn't creep in. I am desperate for 'other' players to be chipping in with a goal here and there. This has been one of the things that has been letting us down this past few years. A goal just gives a player that little more confidence to have a bit more of dig at goal. You never shoot - you will never score. I definitely think he is shooting a little more - so really want one to come off for him.

This is only Benitez 5th competitive game - I don't mind a bit of caution, especially as not had a great deal of time with this squad as a whole, considering international commitments since he has been at the helm. putting it in to perspective - the football in the first half last night was similar to what we saw for the best part of last season with pretty much the same players, other than a couple of bargain basement signing. Last season that second half will have played out and we will have got beat. Last night we turned the game around - and with sugar on top. We have not had a massive influx of high quality players come in this summer - could also argue that with our record signing Gylfi, top earner James and top scorer DCL not available last night then a 'weaker' took to the pitch. Biggest difference last night - when we needed to roll our sleeves up - we did, the manager made the change (and probably a change that not one of us would have called) and we really got hold of the game. It was like a blitz on Burnley. Very easy to argue it should have been done from the start or changed earlier. However, cautious experimentation is needed for a new manager and his squad of players. They now have a good 60min under their belt at playing Benitez's three at the back - he will play this formation again this season, but against better opposition - so the 60mins last night will not have been wasted - it will stand them in good stead. An amazing 20min of football to watch and 3 points. I will take that all day long in game 5 of the Benitez era.

Interesting stat on Townsend. Some managers just seem to work well with certain player and visa versa. Yesterdays goal was definitely coming. He will not keep these ratio's up, but it is encouraging that he is a good fit for Benitez systems. His crossing is consistently good quality and with decent pace, the stat from last season that he was the premier leagues most accurate crosser is proof of his consistency and quality. Townsend as a signing will at least give us breathing room for a couple of seasons while we get out finances in order.

Townsend cross and goal where on par with anything we have seen from James. Quality. Hope this puts to bed those who call out Townsend as 'shit'. Not the first time we seen quality from him boot.

Top delivery from townsend

It now almost immaterial what James is being paid, at least until January as we can't off load his wages and bring other players. (he is not going to any inferior league where window is still open) We currently now pay both James and Benitez handsomely - The pair just need to get on with it and both do their best to win for Everton. It doesn't mean Benitez is obligated to put James in the starting line up every week, but if we lose and we lacked 'creativity' in such games - the question of why didn't James play will be justified. Equally if the results come and James does not play, then it's justification on leaving him out. James needs to do his level best to adapt his game as much as possible to suit the way the current manager what to team to set up and play. We always take about effort and hard work being the minimum we expect from our players - I think that is all that Benitez what to see from James. This is what all the other players have to do, James just can't be give a special privilege card over the rest of the squad.

https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=41031 sound like he is getting more help and direction from Benitez than he ever did from Ancelotti. Finger cross what they are working on bears fruit. He seem to have improved from last season, and its still early days. I now shudder at how much poorer this team could have got under Ancelotti this season if he hadn't walked on us. Real Madrid may have done us a massive favour.

fucking hell - a bit of good luck for Everton for a change.

I agree, my fear is that he consistently seems to somehow 'bottle' the big moments - the shots on goal or killer final delivery. A player who is obviously blessed with all sorts of footballing skills, just need to find that composure in the big moments.

From being a bit part player, if he can keep up this good form he would feel like a new signing. Might be very much needed this season, with a gylfi like hole in the squad.

Which is pretty much what we all discuss on here anyway - the assumptions and speculation. The if's and the buts and the varying opinions. As frustrating as it can be sometimes, it would be boring if we all agree with each other. And sometimes its good just to have a good wind up

James doesn't seem the 'sacrificing' sort, and if he was indeed on the £77k a week report in this single 'article' then 1) would he really have been that difficult to off load on a free for similar wages to other teams and 2) at £77k you are not far off talking the wages of a 'bench impact player' - so would not really worth busting a gut trying to get that amount off the wage bill of a player who definitely offers something at the very worst!!. He's definitely not a Tosun or Delph waste of space player!!! ten different article might give you 10 different salaries - I am only hypothesising from the facts that we seem very keen to get him off the wage bill and other clubs will go nowhere near his wages, suggesting that the reality might be that the real cost of his wages are toward the higher amounts rather than the lower amounts report. https://salarysport.com/football/player/james-rodríguez/ Fuck knows if the link above has any truth, but seem reasonable - add any signing on fee, bonus etc and could quite easily take it towards and average of £200K - who knows how the accounting is done in the different reports.

I think we can be fairly sure he is not on £90k a week as some have tried to make out. Given James's profile he would have been on massive wages at Real Madrid. I would think £200K+ wage at Real would not be unusual or unexpected. I am fairly sure he didn't take that big a pay cut pay cut to come here ) i.e more than 50%, especially as he came on a free - so we could perhaps be a little more generous in the pay stakes to get him. It is also reasonable to expect that he came in straight away as our top earner - so that would put him straight away around the £140K that has been muted in the media. James only had 12 months left on his Real contract, so pretty poor advice if somebody told him to sign a two year deal on half of what he was going to get in his final 12 months. He is still here after the transfer window - and it sounds like his 'wages' where the No.1 reason why nobody took him on (even if for free) If he was on £90K a week (which are not a ridiculous wages for a free transfer and player of his profile in this day and age), I am sure something could have been agree financial to get him moved on. When he first came - the cost was talked about him costing around the £20M mark - We may have got him on a free transfer, but his cost over 2 years in wages may easy be around that - basically around the £200+ mark. This would suggest to me that it realistic to assume he is on at least around £140k+, and not total unrealistic that it might be closer to £200K a week. Know body really knows, but I think it reasonable to believe his wages are very substantial. Otherwise, not that big a deal getting him of the wage bill!!!

I think our problem has been that we have not brought in players that have the right 'hunger' - They know that Everton will be the peak with regard to footballing level and pay packet (your Bolaise, Siggardson, Tosun types). They where never going to be on Cheslea Man U radars. Coming from lesser teams and peaking earning potential with us. The you have those coming in the other direction - coming down a peg perhaps from teams that may be challenging for honours with us giving them big wages. Your Schniderlin, Walcotts, Delph and even your James types. We have had money available and spent it pretty poorly and not looked hard enough at the attitudes and motivation of the player coming in on for these big fees and wages. I think Benitez is a little more sharper than his most recent predecessors, when it comes to the attitude and motivation of the players he is bringing in to the club. I think Moyes was the last manager we had the would scrutinise attitude as much as he did the technical ability of the players he brought in. And pound for pound he did very well on the money he had at his disposal.