The only issue I have with the departure of the beautiful James is that Senor Benitez appears to have no problem fielding useless never-will-bes like Iwobi, Davies, Holgate, Kenny, and Gomes. I completely get Benitez's desire to have a team of hard working players as default - and then add a smattering of quality over the top. I also sympathise with the notion that Rodriguez is something of a circus act with a dubious attitude these days. If Benitez wants rid, fine. He's the manager and it is right that he lives and dies by his decisions, where at all possible. But if James must be purged, why the lenience shown to the previously mentioned detritus? Why is Alex Iwobi being indulged? Why is Andre Gomes being persisted with? Why are Davies and Kenny still at the club? Why is Holgate being sponsored by Wrigley's?
Some of those - notably Gomes and Iwobi - are on lucrative contracts, so surely if there is a need to balance books they need to go too?
I respect the manager's right to make his mind up on a player and get him out the door. Managers must make the final decision when it comes to players. But his willingness to suffer suspect mediocre players who can be relied on to let you down does not speak well for his sense of fair play. Benitez is well within his rights to dispense with James. But he will now be judged by me not on his dismissal of the golden boy, but on his willingness to tolerate the characterless dross that infests our current squad. If we find ourselves in the bottom quarter of the table this season, he will deserve all the opprobrium he attracts. If he can get us mid table or better, he will get next summer to resculpt the squad in a more expansive image. If we are still tolerating the Iwobis and Gomeses this time next year, Benitez will be gone be the following Christmas because moderates like me, always the majority at any club, will revolt. He's fine once he has the reasonables on side - and he does right now - but once we turn, it'll be a mere waiting game for the axe to fall.
You're right, but I can only speak for myself. I rate both players and always have, despite their flaws - and Carlo was very close to achieving something tangible for us last season but was let down by the squad. While he did indeed stink out the home ground last season, his away results will not be bettered this term. One can only hope Senor Benitez can mitigate the inevitably poorer away results with immeasurably better home ones.
