Everton have boasted some incredible talent over the last decade or so, and yet somehow the club has regressed.
It’s startling to see superstars, and leading figures in their respective positions, come to Goodison Park, shine, but somehow leave the Toffees in a worse place than before.
That is predominantly down to Farhad Moshiri’s ineptitude and the failure of the scouting system beneath him to build on these assets, but the Dan Friedkin era promises to expunge that recent history in favour of a more sustainable model.
So, in seeking to usher in this new period of prosperity, they can no longer be tempted by the luxuries of the past
Joao Virginia begs James Rodriguez to make Everton return
That being said, there is one player who most Evertonians would love to see play for them in the flesh once again, especially given how few actually got to see him shine live.
Well, of all the people who are seeking to engineer this transfer, it is the Toffees’ Portuguese shot-stopper Joao Virginia, who has taken to Instagram to implore James Rodriguez to make a Goodison Park return.
The 33-year-old, who joined the club for just one year under Carlo Ancelotti, was swiftly forced out by Rafa Benitez after the Italian traded Merseyside for Madrid.
However, by all accounts, he had no intentions of leaving.
Virginia’s comment was only a small one, but he begged Rodriguez to reconsider a return, writing after his run to the Copa America final: ‘Amazing brother, come back.’
James Rodriguez has hinted at an Everton comeback before…
Would James Rodriguez work in Sean Dyche’s system?
Unfortunately, whilst almost every Evertonian would love to see Rodriguez in the royal blue of Everton again given most were starved of that pleasure due to the pandemic, there would simply be no place within Sean Dyche’s system for a player of such luxury.
Having enjoyed the bulk of his career either playing just behind the striker or off the right wing, he would be competing with Jack Harrison and Abdoulaye Doucoure for those spots.
And whilst on the surface such a comparison is laughable, given all the Colombia international has achieved throughout his storied career, it is more about how they fit into the hard-working philosophy compared to the work-shy magician.
Even during his one year at Goodison Park, he seldom did the hard yards, but got away with it because Carlo Ancelotti had forged a system that allowed him to roam freely.
He had no obligations, and thus could pop up anywhere to devastating effect.
But in Dyche’s system, the right winger and attacking midfielder both have key parts to play in his pressing, with the formation changing to a 4-4-2 out of possession to cover as much ground as possible.
They are happy to relinquish possession, and it is unlikely that the two-time Champions League winner would be content sitting behind the ball relentlessly, forced to feed off scraps.
Rodriguez is a truly world-class operator, and shows no signs of slowing down with age.
But, unfortunately for Everton, that ship has likely sailed.
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