Mendes working to secure Rodriguez a move away from Everton

If we can get any money for him I would take it.

Is this to confirm that he just doesn’t like playing in the Premier League, what with the nasty weather and the nasty defenders who tackle him so brutishly?

Or is Everton without Carlo simply not contemplatable?

Both are probably correct assumptions Michael!

We can't be paying big bucks wages for 15-20 games a season.
If this creates any incoming fee at all it would be good business.
I just hope we can get some incoming transfers sorted before the pre-season gets under way.
Everyone seems to agree we need a bit of pace and an injection of creativity. James provided one of these attributes.
It still probably comes down to who is given the keys to the revolving door to the manager's office.

Joking aside, I'd say the latter Michael. He is / was here because of Ancelotti.

I don't like the weather argument. He was in Munich for 2 seasons. Munich winters are brutal. And if he's considering Milan, that's on the foothills of the Alps. The winters there aren't exactly Mediterranean.

Germans are physical, Italians and Spaniards play a sly physical game and besides, most leagues, ours included are multi-national now.

Never quite sure why we feel we have the "rights" to weather and being tough. Must be a British thing.

Sad, but I have to agree, with Ancelotti gone it seems inevitable and if we can get money for him, then it makes sense to do so.

Well if he DOES want away it "sort of" disproves the belief of some that it wasn't Ancelotti that drew him here but merely the money because his salary isn't likely to have been reduced is it?

Can we define, "looking to secure a move for between 10-20M", a transfer or signing on fee? And would it depend on one of the Agents other clients being appointed Manager. I know, but it's become a dirty world out there.

Is James not keen on playing for Benitez?

In a way I'd be sorry to see him go, as he's a lovely footballer, but his appearance history isn't good at all, so if he want's a move lets get some dosh for him.

Agents are the scourge of football. Greedy scumbags who just want to move clients every single year for the % fees.

It’s obviously naive to think we can just ban dealing with the worst of them (Raola, Mendes, et al) BUT we should draw a very hard line that we expect contracts to be honoured.

James and Kean would be two examples where we can just stand up now and say “no, you signed a contract and we expect it to be honoured. End of.”

If they want to sulk and strike, then more fool them. Treat them like Koeman did to Niasse, only this time they’d actually deserve it.

If it upsets others - so what, they signed contracts too and would expect us to honour it if their knees popped out tomorrow.

If it stops us attracting players, so what, we don’t want players who aren’t committed to us and think an agreements just a piece of paper.

The very last thing we need is this shit every single year as we try to build a team capable of challenging the top.

There’s also been rumours about Ancelotti wanting Allan to follow him. Combined with James and Kean, that could bring in up to £100m for a new manager.

I would say he had a marginal effect on our team, given his injury problems. I am more concerned about losing Richarlison.

Smashing player not suited to robust footy as exampled at Bayern and his marginal impact here. Sunnier climes where only a few games a year are competitive is his domain.

This idea that he can't cope with English winters and tackling is hilarious to me.

The winters in Munich are much worse and the tackling in Colombian football is pretty vicious. Even if he's go to Milan he can expect a pretty tough time in Italy too.

This weird machismo around English football needs to die. Most players in the Premier League aren't even English these days. Even in the 90s I'd rather play any English side than the likes of AC Milan, where Baresi etc would destroy you.

If he's off it's because he wants to play at the highest level again. He thought he might get that with Ancelotti at Everton, but that dream is gone.

Shame, I'd like to have seen him weave some of his magic at Goodison before the weather turned and his poorly leg sidelined him til April.

Still, we've got Iwobi.

James is a great talent, no doubt about it. I don’t think the weather, or physicality, of the English game has anything to do with it. I just get the impression that, apart from playing for Colombia, his heart isn’t in it anymore.

Like Ronaldinho, he may have reached his peak by his late 20’s and is just carrying on for a wage packet. Without the desire to play, the talent is worthless.

Michael (2) - Probably all of the above, to be honest. Plus he supposedly didn't get on with Benitez at all at Real Madrid, so he's probably even more spooked by the rumors than some of the posters on here.

Win, lose or draw, I would love the chance to go to Goodison next season to, at last watch, in the flesh, one of the most skilled players to ever wear the Royal Blue shirt. What he can do with a football is much more memorable than anything else we are likely to see there for the foreseeable future.

Michael#2

Both about right.

A great footballer but perhaps a luxury player we can ill afford to have knocking around the treatment room which is where his best position seems to be at this moment in time. Another in the "Delph" of his career

If he's played is South America I don't think rough defenders are a new experience. He was Carlo's man. Never felt like an Evertonian to me despite wearing the shirt, and probably not so much to him either. Dropped into a simply abject squad above which he was head and shoulders as a player, so it is only a matter of time before he departs. Shame it's likely we will never get to watch him live, but just enjoy the occasional memories he gave us, and move on.

Would loved to have seen him in a blue shirt this season, especially since he missed the Copa and should be fully fit and raring to go.

Did kind of fall out of love with him though, posting pics on his private jet while his team mates were getting a frapping at the Etihad. Not exactly showing team spirit.

Spot on John 17.

The control and slide pass for Richarleson's goal at Anfield was worth whatever we are paying him ten times over.

He is the X factor. The player that wins matches with skill and quality that most on the pitch can only dream about.

I personally would hate to see him leave. In his short time with us I would have to say he is one of the most gifted footballers to ever wear the shirt.

He came to Everton to play for Ancellotti, and he will now leave Everton, because Ancellotti is no longer here. Rumours of him going to AC Milan, and us getting a centre-forward as part of the deal? but we do need pace, and we do need real hard workers, more than we need Rodriguez’s guile imo, right now.

Such a shame we never got to see him in the flesh, but just because I think we need the other things I mentioned more, it’s always great watching the flair players, and I’m sure Rodriguez would have enjoyed us, as much as we’d have enjoyed him, but I honestly see no point in keeping him at Everton now.

I'm not too fussed. Talented though he is, he created as many problems as he solved. If Leon Bailey or similar takes the right flank position the team will be better for it.

I think it’s simply a case of inverted “pulling power”.

Just another of Ancelotti and Mendes carpet baggers. Bleed the Club and then swan off. Good riddance.

I fully believe this article, these "dandies" are only ever your friend as long as the weather is fair.

He already said he plans to retire soon. Like Colin says another Ronaldinho or from our perspective hopes versus duration another Etoo. That said I wonder if this is Mendes playing games to get Nuno on board. If so don’t play his games

Of greater concern than the fickle James leaving is the fact that Carlo Ancelotti was allowed to subvert our recruitment policy under Brands (if we ever had one) and bring short term old timers to appease Ancelotti.

The club can make more than the transfer fee with our association with him. Plus he is pretty good when fit and managed well, and not pandered to. We should keep him just to give me a reason to go to Goodison, especially if the FSW is in charge. Concentrate on trimming others first then revisit it in January, just after his 12 month contract extension.

I always think its a balance Tom. Bring in experience (James, Allan), someone probably hitting peak (Doucoure) and young potential (Godfrey & Nkounkou). I actually think that was one of the best and most considered transfer windows we've had in years. A couple more like that and we'll sort this squad out. Both for the short term gain and longer term benefit.

And it seemed the DoF was working with the manager too. Not like previous where everyone seemed to be doing their own thing with little in terms of communication and coherence.

Danny O’Neill @ 31

I've enjoyed watching James and Alan for the most part while they been fit enought to play and in James case actually willing to play, I can also see a place in our team for the odd Pirlo here and there.

I would though have preferred that Brands went out and found younger versions of James and Allan that we can develop and add value to.

Brands could have then said to Ancelotti: "Have these Carlo, two excellent prospects, full of energy and willing to learn" and then Brands could have added: "After all Carlo you are committed to the Everton project in the long term and we are building for the future aren't we?"

I see that Brazil have now asked Everton if Richarlison can be released to play in the Olympics, despite reports saying Brazil were not planning to include Richarlison in their Olympic squad. I just wonder if this change of mind by Brazil is at the behest of Richarlison, who has always said he wanted to play in the Olympics. But I just wonder knowing that Everton will probably refuse permission as the Olympics only finish 2 weeks prior to the season kicking off, is this a way of Richarlison asking for a move as the club denied him his chance to play in the Olympics.

David @ 30. That is a very valid point and a view I share with you.

It's not necessarily a popular view in some quarters least of all because the current 'perception' is that the good ship Everton is hapless and rudderless. But to my eye there has clearly been some strategic thinking at the club behind the scenes which the signing of James was part of as a means for the club to 'monetize' his name.

On signing James the club advertised it in bright lights on an iconical building in Bogota, Colombia's capital city, on billboards in New York's Time Square and I believe in Florida with its considerable Latin American demographic. As a result there was a huge upsurge in 'brand awareness' of Everton in both Latin and North America.

The club now has commercial links with Colombian businesses; Everton became the first football club in the world to use TikTok’s live geo-stream focused on one territory (Latin America) for the Anfield derby, generating an astonishing 7.3 million video views; earlier this year we started a partnership with a Miami-based sports consulting and marketing agency headed up by Jurgen Mainka. Mainka is the former deputy general secretary and chief commercial officer at Concacaf (the South American equivalent of UEFA) where he made a huge impact helping to monetize and expand their club continental competitions. Mainka has also held senior positions at four Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, including Beckham's Inter Miami, and has an impressive network of contacts we could further benefit from; for only the second time in recent years, this summer we will participate in one of those prestigious (and profitable) pre-season tournaments in the USA.

You can read more here:

Everton's International Strategy

Should monetizing James' name to expand Brand Everton be the sole criteria to keep him at the club? Of course not. We need him fit and on the pitch. In that way he becomes a double asset.

But I'm not going to class his signing as a 'failure' or the club 'incompetent' when, again to my eye, they have cleverly leveraged his name to Everton's benefit.

James is like that stunning girl/woman on the nightclub dance floor. You think she's several leagues above you and there's no chance. However, you get so drunk you ask her for a dance and miraculously she says Yes. Stuffed full of Dutch courage, you ask her out on a date, and even more miraculously, she agrees.

You are over the moon... except for that annoying little voice at the back of your head, saying: 'You do know this won't last more than a week'!

Jay, excellent post and thank you for the link and information. There are lots of reasons why Everton should keep him and any links to the latin market will only grow stronger the longer we keep him in a blue shirt. Something l would like to see live in a couple of months.

Jay (30) That was a really informative and excellent post. I said earlier, that if he wanted to go we should cash in. I suppose it all hinges on whether he is willing to stay.
I'd hope so, as he's the best footballer (from the bits I've seen and listened to on Radio Everton) since Alex Young! That's how high I rate him. He has said (I think I saw a statement from him, saying he would stay.)
All the points that you've raised Jay say that he's an absolute gem both as a footballer when he's fit and for raising our profile in the Americas, especially as we're going to the USA for a tournament. I suppose that if Mendes wants to arrange a swap, Real Madrid but be thinkingh they'd get the better of the bargain.
So your points have changed my mind! As well as a great footballer, he could be a magnet for South American players and fans alike.

It's interesting to note that James played under Benitez before he was sacked by Real Madrid in 15/16 after Benitez had replaced the sacked Ancelotti. I've no idea what the relationshipo was like between James and Rafa then, but if Rafa lands up as our manager it could have a significant bearing on whether James stays to see out his contract or not - and possibly even extend it if things were to go well.#

It would be nice to think he would commit himself into another year here.

Most talented player I've ever seen in an Everton jersey.

Problem is, he's good for the first 10 games of the season, then he's injured. Like every season.

Get rid.

Cracking footballer but not really an Everton player or what we need right now. But knowing us it will probably be a loan….

Hopefully he’ll take Sigurdsson and that useless lump of shite Iwobi with him but I won’t hold my breath.

The longer this (typical Everton) manager search goes on the less time we have to clear out the garbage. And thus it’s looking like another season of treading water at best, barring a miracle. And let’s be honest, miracles only seem to happen over the road following their deal with devil.

At this point I think I have an understanding with James. I keep my attachment to his obvious skills in check and he positions himself for a possible move. I'm sure we'll work something out.

Danny #32, I know I go on about this, but if we continue last summer's approach for the next few seasons we absolutely won't sort the squad out.

That's because we keep having to replace older, deteriorating players every 2 or 3 years. And because we get peanuts for them, we have no money to reinvest in their replacement.

So if we keep doing summers like 2020, we'll spend a lot of money treading water.

An amazing (to me) article today possibly from echo. The RS are looking to sell young welsh RB Neco Williams for about £10m.

If they do this, they will have recouped £30m in three years from reserve right backs (the others being Camacho and Ki Jana-Hoever).

The RS adopt a very deliberate buy to sell model which allowed them to rebuild quickly after Hodgson and then make big strategic signings to win the league. They are all about sell on value and would absolutely not buy the sorts of players we bought last summer.

We on the other hand, buy a broken galactico, two midfielders who will be worth almost nothing at the end of their contracts and the excellent Godfrey. It doesn't work. Apart from Godfrey.

I seem to remember that elongated r/s gobshite crocking him in the calf, early on at goodison before he tried it against the wrong feller.
I think Jay Wood has made a good case for giving him more time with us, for this coming season at least.

They've been very good at that Robert. Very good.

For every Torres, Suarez and Coutinho they bought at relatively low cost, they sold them for profit and replaced at relatively low cost again. I think Coutinho was the most outrageous example.

I just think right now we do need a balance of some ready made, experienced players coupled with some prospects.

But that's just me. I always think a team needs the balance between youth and experience. Very teams achieve success on youth alone. And I know Alan Hansen had egg on his face when he famously stated you won't win things with kids, but the likes of Ferguson's United of that era are freaks that rarely occur.

It's only my opinion (which isn't right or wrong), but I think a repeat of last summer and by next year, we could have had 6 young prospects and 4 - 5 experienced players to nuture them alongside whatever the academy can throw out.

But now we're going to have a new manager. We don't know who that will be so we don't really know the direction of travel, so my sounding off is pretty much irrelevant.

The RS are Operating a moneyball approach, every purchase must have a sell on value, the only older players they sign are free transfers Milner springs to mind. They have only spent top dollar for the real deal spine of the team Alison and St VVD.

Except we didn't waste money on James, we got him on a free transfer. If we get a transfer fee for him, it's a profit.

I’d be happy for the club to have some level of ‘luxury’ player(s); isn’t that what we crave, entertainers who can get us results? We’d really have to pay top money for a team of them so a smattering is probably our level right now.
It’s getting the balance right that is crucial, some kind of value for money. The club are probably going to know better than us the physical and mental preparedness of James for a crack at another season in the EPL. I’d hope that the return of the crowds and a decent start would enable the player to really fall for the club and give us a decent amount of first class displays.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what Everton don’t need and that is getting rid of our best players. We have to keep Allan, James and Richy. They are the players who being here will attract other, better players to come to us. We really need a manager who those three look to and say I’m staying as he will take us places with this club. Come on Everton make an old Evertonian a happy fan.

Very injury prone, and his heart and head are elsewhere. I'd be glad to see the back of him.

Bobby@49: Spot on. I’d include DCL and Digne as well. If our best players are sold anytime soon, it really does signify a stalling of Moshiri’s supposed ambition to get us to the top, and it’ll definitely be a continuation of midtable or worse for the foreseeable future.

However, if we let less able players go, and replace them with higher quality, to complement the quality players we already have, then we’ll be making progress.

This is the essence of where we are, and the question of who the new manager will be is of secondary importance compared with the matter of keeping our top players and signing more.

I'd love us to be able afford luxury players, in both senses: having the luxury in terms of the money; and having sufficient other quality players to not have to rely on a luxury player to track back, tackle etc.

Long-term success on the pitch would allow us that luxury player - but would require the quality players first in order to achieve lasting success. Unless - we have a luxury player just good enough to contribute enough often enough.

I'm torn on James, probably falling just into the "keep him" category. I think our Mr Gaynes (?) might have shown the stats to support that - number of games played; time on the pitch per gamer; contributions through goals and assists.

But not my decision to make, and he and his agent might make the decision for us ere long.

Mancs are paying £72M for Sancho apparently. Got to be a real kick in the teeth for young Greenwood, you'd think. Cheeky £20M bid as James replacement on the right wouldn't be a bad idea… If James stays, it's competition or both with James in ‘quarterback' providing the passes?

Stan, I don’t think there is anything wrong with selling your “best” players as long as you have a long, well drawn up list of replacements that fit your philosophy. This is what Atletico do. Leicester have also had success doing this, although they’d struggle more without Vardy, perhaps. Everton don’t, as we’re utterly feckless, lack leadership and don’t have a philosophy to speak of (or any discernible identity whatsoever bar being a bit nice). I think Atleti used to recycle strikers for fun. We sold Lukaku and (Kenwright) replaced him with fucking Rooney…on double the money. That’s THIS Everton, although some of the older members will remember us selling us Alan Ball, which is still a mystery,.so it’s not exactly new.

Rob #23, amen.

Jay #35, excellent points and accurately assessed IMO.

Regarding the twin theories of James' possible departure, I too dismiss the weather/physicality arguments. James has never shied away from either. However, the fact is he didn't come to Everton to play for Everton. He came to play for Carlo. So unless we bring in a new manager who elicits equal respect, it's perfectly understandable that James would leave.

To bring him to Everton last season, the conversation probably went like:

Carlo: "James son, come and join me at Everton."

James: "Who, boss?"

Carlo: "Don't worry, just come and play for me. You get good money and play when you feel like it."

James: "Okay, for sure!"

Anyway. Good riddance if he wants to leave. We need players who are committed to the club, clearly he wasn't. Took the biscuit by jetting off back to Colombia before that Man City game. No player is bigger than the club. Au revoir.

This is the rich man's Kevin Kilbane.

Got him on a free, got money when he left.
Add in Jay's piece about the commercial interests in SA then this is one excellent piece of business.

I'll be gutted if he goes and we don't see the best of him. Real touch of class we've not seen for a while. But, as long as we make a profit and invest in someone decent then I'll be happy.

Nick@53: Yes, it started with Alan Ball (and it took the shine off the game for me when he went), and continued through Linekar and onwards. Yes, it’s fine doing this if you’ve got adequate replacements, but we’ve never had those, there won’t be any any time soon if Richy et al leave, and then the whole cycle of mediocrity will continue unabated.

Maybe he doesn't have a get-out clause; otherwise, why would Real Madrid let Everton get a transfer fee and not them, considering how much debt they have?

So, if that is true, why the hell would we let him go? Even if he only played half the games, he would still be a mile ahead of any other player we have. We just need an Arturo Vidal type player to cover in midfield.

James was a good player both on the pitch and commercially. I notice in South America through an initial interest in an article on 'The Everton Club' in Uruguay and led me to a site connecting other Everton teams in Chile and Argentina, and the extraordinary impact signing him had. The Millionairos Club from Colombia that is playing Everton in the Florida Club is heavily blogged on this site.

It all depends on the attitude and character of James - he is still relatively young, and has a a few good years of football left in him if he can take care of his body. He did well in his 1st season - in 23 PL appearances, he had 6 goals and 5 assists, which is very good. His 'disappearance' during crucial parts of the season was unsettling for the team, but he gave Everton fans some great memories. He has a chance to create a legacy for himself at Everton, and the fans would simply adore him if he were to give his best. He could become a superstar here - but it all boils down to this - does he want to be a part of a team of superstars or a big fish in a small pond (sorry, but true) ? Achieving success with Everton will surely enhance his reputation in Colombia and maybe give him a better chance of representing his country. I suspect that the appointment of the manager will be crucial in whether he stays or goes. Somebody like Roberto would surely make him think twice. But appointing, for example Duncan or Potter - no disrespect to these guys, but their inexperience counts against them when it comes to big stars - would likely make James consider moving away.

Personally, I hope he stays - with a manager, we could get the best out of him. Otherwise, if James does not fancy the challenge, then 'Thank you for the memories and good luck' and pocket the rumoured 15-20 million and reinvest in an up and coming star (Matheus Pereira of WBA for me)!

One for our resident scouts to comment on.

Jeremy Doku, the young Belgian squad player, caught my eye the other night. Plays for Rennes in France. Only 19 or 20 and raw still, but pace to burn. Looks like he has all the potential in the world.

Tony - Doku is everything you say. An excellent player now and potentially a proper champions league player. I'd love to see us invest in this sort of player (Hlozek the Czech is another) because it's an opportunity to buy genuine class. Once these players have shown their stuff for Leipzig or Seville they're out of reach.

I don't know him Tony, but I know his sister, Sue.

I'll get me coat!

Gotta laugh at some of the ridiculous comments from some of our fans on Twitter, the usual” he’s shite anyway” or don’t let the door hit you on the way out” or the old classic of “I’ll drive him there myself”, the lad is an absolutely brilliant footballer who has also been let down by Carlo when he pissed off to Madrid, I know he was taking liberties towards the end of the season but it will be such a shame not to see him performing in front of a full Goodison

He’s a croc. Best years are behind him.
Getting a fee is a bonus

Does anyone know for sure if we got the player on a free transfer, or a low transfer fee, far as I was aware it was a loan, with the option of extending for a further year.

But if it was a free transfer, then any transfer fee will belong to Everton..

Best player to wear the blue of Everton since Rooney (first time around). Shame it seems that it will be so short-lived and never in front of a crowd.

Quite happy to see him go. He cannot last the pace or physicality of the Premier League.

We need players who can play for 90 minutes and not in short bursts several times a match.

Flashes of class but we need consistency. We haven't the strength to carry players.

Real shame but I agree totally with Phil. There must be a very short list of top clubs for him to go to though, that can afford his (presumably) exorbitant wages for such limited appearances.

It is a shame, Ray.

He's been a favourite player of mine for a long time but the admiration is being soured lately.

It appears his agent is working very hard to essentially find somewhere else that will pay him to do what he's done for some time now: play half a season at most whilst earning the big dollars.

The physicality of the Premier League may now be the excuse/in for another contract elsewhere in Europe. Seems he is very unfortunate to have injury problems that would have called time on less gifted players at any kind of upper professional level a long time ago.

The uncertainty of the self-management of his fitness and availability is untenable in the game, and apparently his national team have come to a similar understanding. Perhaps he should retire.

Take the money and thanks for some great memories. For me his goal v Leicester at home was othe goal of the season.

As many have said he’s a Monday-Friday footballer whom with Everton was predictably liable to injuries.

In some aspects, like Louis Saha, in my view.
A great talent but talent needs a heart, guts, and desire.

And it would seem he will end up at our old bosses club, as that’s what he does.

But hopefully a lesson learnt by Everton.

If the talk of a swap deal for him with Rafael Leao has any truth in it that would be an outstanding bit of business by Everton, IMO.

Brian #74 " it that would be an outstanding bit of business by Everton"

Not Everton, that.

Seriously, I'm so disillusioned now, that I'll make a prediction:

Within the next 20 years, a major football club will be bought by an agent.

Instead of building a new stadium etc. to make a margin before selling, he will simply do commercial deals and trade players.

The game has lost its soul.

Matt @75, While not owning Wolves, Mendes is basically their de facto DoF and I believe on the board. All transfer deals are pretty much his players.

Technically the Glenn Hoddle Academy project a few years back was essentially what you are saying, apart from it being more of a passage to professional football for players who slipped through the cracks. They ended up taking over that Spanish team and had all their players turn out for them. Quite a few ended up getting professional contracts elsewhere from taking part in it.

Matt, you should get odds on that as that has a strong chance of happening. Although being an agent could be a lot more profitable.

Looks like Nuno is going to Spurs. I'd had preferred him to Rafa, or plan B Dunc and Plan C Unsworth. Awell, onwards we go. Its dragging on though.

Joe, l'd prefer my mums cat to Rafa. I think it went quiet for a week so that the fan base had time to calm down but now l expect him to be anounced tomorrow or Monday.

As for James. His agent can shop him around all he wants, he's under contract with Everton who have an option for another year. Plus, lets not lose our Columbian fan base just yet.

As ever, news of an agent touting a player away from the club is met with a pretty even split of "get rid, rubbish anyway" or " cannot let him leave, too good, we need to keep these players"
Well, in truth both sides are wrong.

James is class. The problem is its been that long since we had that level of player that many cannot see it, let alone work out how to get the best from him.
He has raised the profile of the club almost single handedly in South America, so commercially and from a base interest around zero, we are seen not just as another EPL team. We have James, We have (had) Ancelotti..The world sat up a little..

Bump...Ancelotti gone, James probably disillusioned completely, Allan too, both trusted Ancelotti, both probably not wanting a cold wet winters night playing Brentford in a half empty stadium as a footnote to their careers.
Everton are at the crossroads, a big one. They made a statement as to who and what we are, where we want to go, brought in a manager of repute and raised the club and the expectations.
Go forward with a quality coach, you get credibility and the project is still going forward. Appoint an up and coming no name and you are on a slippy slope backwards. It has to be a name. Whether we like it or not, too much is at stake commercially for Moshiri to chose a Howe or Potter, so a Klinsmann, Benitez, Martinez it has to be.
Not because they are a million times better, but they have better front media and profile wise. I suspect this is exactly the reason why no manager has yet been appointed, the also ran have been eliminated, the names have it.
Is a new manager to be had from the current crop of Euro coaches? One can't help thinking that despite all the fuss being made of Rafa, if he was going to get it, it would be done and dusted by now. No reason for it not to be unless we are waiting to see what happens to Martinez or like!
The outcome will tell us the aspirations of Moshiri (but maybe not the chairman)

That’s a terrific post Christine and probably very close to the truth.

Like a few others on TW, the delay has got me thinking along precisely your lines but no way could I have articulated in the manner you have.

Great post Christine but would Moshiri swallow his pride and reappoint the first manager he sacked?

Roberto splits the fan base just as much as Benitez does so it’s not an easy choice. I think it will be one of them and I’m glad it’s not me having to do it.

David, has your Mum's cat ever referred to us as a small club or played a zonal defence at corners? If not then it's my preferred choice too.

I think Christine is spot on, for maybe the millionth time.

Whomever we appoint as manager is going to dictate whether players like James and Allan stay, or effort to leave.

Personally, I'm just over glass cannons. E'to'o, James, and some other not-as-near-good crocks we've signed and payed a small fortune for as they were continually injured or under-performed.

I was hopeful of James coming in and stamping his talent all over the Everton squad under Carlo. He got hurt, odds were he would, and we fizzled. Then Carlo left. Turn the page.

James is a sick note. We just won't get the necessary ROI ratio concerning play on the field vs. wages paid while on the sidelines hurt.

We need to move on. We have to unleash Brands, for good or bad, and start bringing in kids who can play and have sell-on value.

The likes of James simply don't fit that business model. We toss, and have tossed, a lot of money down the drain on managers and ineffectual players. This must change, now.

Time to bite the bullet and say goodbye to James.

We need the players who are currently with Porto, Benfica, Bordeaux, Celtic, etc who are looking for that elusive next step. We need to sign them while affordable, promise to play them, and hire a manager who isn't afraid to play them.

And we need world peace - which might be more likely than the above.

James Rodriguez is on £90,000 a week. Less than our highest paid.

Christine makes a valid point, and I would add that Moshiri and more likely his mate Usmanov have been far too impatient, they expect things to be achieved immediately but haven't realised that Football is like no other business, not even show business has so many pitfalls and variables standing in its way to becoming successful.

I believe it has already been mentioned elsewhere, that to raise private funding for the new stadium, the owners and the club will have to demonstrate that the team isn't going to crash and burn in the next three to five years, that's why they bought in Ancelotti, and probably why they're thinking of bringing in Benitez a recognised name who can offer a sense of a safe pair of hands to those who wish to lend the money or invest in the stadium, this is why other younger and less experienced managers have apparently been left off the owners preferred list.

it's also the main reason why the fans won't be listened to in regards to the incoming manager, the income from match-going supporters is a drop in the ocean in comparison to the financials that the new stadium will bring to Usmanov and Moshiri, more likely when they sell Everton to the next owner.

Moshiri and Usmanov have already bet heavily on the 'project' not because they need Everton in the Champions League or other European competitions but because they need Everton to retain its place in the Premier League, anything that threatens that will not be acceptable to the pair, however, I think that creating a negative atmosphere at Goodison is possibly more threatening tp Everton's place in the top flight than anything else I can think of. When the people who have the cash, have no understanding of the game or the people who follow it, they are already on the slippery slope to disaster.

Buying players purely for their commercial impact is not the way to build a team, and it may explain why we have such a disparate squad. When you continually try to cut corners you end up going round in circles.

I have no doubt that Ben Godfrey will be off like a shot should the right club come in for him BUT ever since he's arrived he's visibly pulled his tripe out for the team in every game he's played. That's what football fans are interested in, not "monetizing" whatever our football numpty muppets in charge think they can prise out of anyone anywhere to line their own pockets.

So, if Rodriguez wants away just let him go and "monetize" for some other numpty muppet in charge elsewhere.

The older I get the more I miss the passion that used to be part and parcel of most player's outlook, even though in days of yore they too wanted the best deal for themselves. Nowadays it's a rare sight to see passion in footballers at all, and especially from most of those stealing a living at Utterly Stultifying Mediocre Finch Farm.

If we are waiting until the end of the Euros to see who might be ready for a fresh managerial challenge (different budget second time around!) that could also bring others who have been moonlighting at the competition into the frame.
How does Christine view Frank Lampard in terms of someone who might have that high enough profile despite being wet behind the ears?
Surely he can communicate authoritavely even with the superstars as someone who has ‘been there, seen it, done it’ and he’s been in able to study the methods of a heap of the most vaunted managers up close.
Or is he easily dismissed as not impressive enough so far, or a major flight risk?

Some hilarious comments. How selling your best player seems like a good strategy to so many is beyond me. Madness.

I would love him to stay. A summer off will have done him good, and not making the national team would have hurt. He obviously enjoys playing for Colombia. A motivated James could be a very good thing!
He showed in the early spell of last season, when we had all the main players available, that he can make things happen. Even Gomes looked good along side him.
But ultimately he came to play for Carlo. It happens. Staff who gave good relationship with manager follow them in multiple industries. Chefs often bring members of their team along to next jobs, managers take coaching teams with them.
Now Carlo has gone, it’s probably down to whether he can get a shift somewhere in better money or playing in a higher level competition. He’s hardly alone in Liverpool in terms of being a South American, and gas spent two years in a far colder city, So the whole “doesn’t like the weather” thing is a bit off.
Fingers crossed from me that next season he will stay, and with the stands full give us all some memories!

Si, for me Lampard is a almost a good candidate for the job solely because of his time at Chelsea I see him as having more than our own Duncan, in terms of experience, but not big enough a name for Moshiri. I do think he has his head screwed on but in his eyes would see Everton as a perfect stepping stone to the England job.

Rodriguez is a superb talent and seeing his name in the starting XI was always a thrill. His performances were impressive. I’d like him to stay.

But if he’s really not up for it then there is not much point. And if there’s any chance of us getting anything near £20m for a player keen to leave and who might only play 5-10 games then it makes sense.

I’d be amazed if any club anywhere paid a fee for Rodriguez never mind giving him the wages he is getting/ got off Everton.

Christine. We all know he has class. His attitude is deplorable. Good riddance. He acts like a sulky petulant schoolboy. Mind you, if he's selling shirts in South America, maybe we should keep him. This does not make him ' best' player.

James@88 I agree not one of our players is fit to lace his boots, if he goes and with Rafa in charge we are in for some more turgid dull football next season especially if we are relying on Gylfi to step up and supply the assists, plus as Jay Woods says he has got us known on his side of the Atlantic

It depends if Rafa gets the money to spend Mick, have turgid players, then you will get turgid football.

If Rafa gets some of these players, out of the door, it is a start.

As for the Red shite connection, think Brian Clough managing league Champions Derby County, then a couple of seasons down the line, he is Managing their fiercest rivals Nottingham Forest, so it can be done.

One thing is for sure, we have to get behind him early doors, until the need to otherwise.

As for James, unplayable on his Day, but not a 90 minute player, and misses too many games for my liking, so if it is Rodriguez who wants the move, then let him go.

No real desire to play for Everton, no real desire to play in England and an all round poor ROI. Let him go.

He's already down on my list of fourteen to hopefully leave my beloved Blues.