Journalist David Prentice bemoans ‘frustrating’ James Rodriguez
Everton were without marquee summer signing James Rodriguez when they took on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.
The Blues lost 2-0 and were outclassed by Thomas Tuchel’s men, who have yet to lose since the German replaced Frank Lampard in late January.
Colombian playmaker Rodriguez was unavailable for the third successive Premier League game, having also missed Everton’s wins against Southampton and West Brom.
Speaking on The Liverpool Echo’s Royal Blue Podcast, Sports Editor David Prentice bemoaned the recent loss of James, describing his absence as ‘frustrating’.
Prentice said: “It’s frustrating because he has made such a huge impact when he has been available.
“So it’s frustrating, but I think Carlo brought him in with that in mind – knowledge that he’s not played football consistently for some time. He’s 29 now, he’s of an age where injuries might be picked up a little bit more frequently.”
Case for depth needed
Every time James has been missing for Everton this season, it has served as a stark reminder that the Blues need to increase their squad depth in the summer.
Andre Gomes has shown flashes of brilliance this year and Gylfi Sigurdsson has impressed perhaps more than most would anticipate, but neither offer the same technical mastery that the Colombian does.
If we want to mount a challenge in Europe next season, providing we can qualify for the competition before the end of the current campaign, we’ll need to have a surplus of talent waiting in the wings in the eventuality that a player misses competition through injury.
Everton cannot become too reliant on James, and in all fairness, they haven’t over the past few games. The former Madrid man wasn’t needed against West Brom and Southampton, though Chelsea were too difficult an opposition without James’ creative spark.
It is frustrating that Rodriguez could be on the bench once more this weekend, but his injury record also serves as a reminder that Everton’s recent transfer recruitment has largely targeted experience, and now we need to turn that focus to younger and fitter players that still carry a similar calibre.
In other Everton news, Tom Davies must step up in the absence of Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure.