Sam Allardyce: Everton stay going to be problematic for James Rodriguez
Sam Allardyce believes that failure to get a move away from Everton in this transfer window is going to be problematic for James Rodriguez.
All summer, the Colombia international flirted with a Goodison Park exit, but did not get his way and with a year left on his deal, is set to continue working under Rafa Benitez.
Discussing this development on Sky Sports News after the window shut on Tuesday night [11:00pm], the former Everton manager stated that James appears to be sulking after not getting his way this summer.
He said, “He wouldn’t be a Rafa-type player – Rodriguez is an instinctive player, he wants freedom, he doesn’t want to be restricted and he doesn’t want the handcuffs on.
“It’s a big problem with Rafa and their outlay. It’s a big problem for Rafa and a big problem for him.
“The only person, in the end, that will lose will be him because who will want him in the end if he doesn’t turn out and give 100 percent for Everton? – it appears that he is sulking somewhat.”
Time to reintegrate him
James is certainly unlikely to be popular among the Goodison Park faithful or Benitez after his rather unprofessional behaviour over the summer.
However, his quality is undeniable and Everton could do with someone of his skillset especially against low blocks.
He’s sharp on the ball, has an eye for the killer pass and is capable of finding the back of the net from long range.
Keeping him away from the squad won’t benefit anyone as he’ll still be on the club’s payroll.
Rather have him in the team, doing what he does best and maybe after a few months he’ll start enjoying life on Merseyside and would be open to extending if no concrete offers came his way by the January window.
It remains to be seen how Benitez handles this situation once the players return after the international break.
In other Everton news, ‘Fantastic’ – Michael Owen blown away by what Toffees ace did v Brighton
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