2020/21 James Rodriguez

[TheBigIguana]

that depends on where you want him to play.

for a winger, I would expect him to mirror the effort of richarlison but we all know he can’t so not sure why you say he is doing what is expected of him.

play him in a free role with little or no defensive responsibility and I’d agree with you he is doing exceptional well with 1 tackle per game.

I'd encourage people to go back and watch Richarlison's effort covering overlaps since his return. Honestly I don't think at the minute pointing to Richarlison as the example of hard work while skating James is fair at all. Essentially he's just more athletic.

 

[TheBigIguana]

The problem for us and James is the days of being able to carry a player like him are far gone. Maybe you could get away with it if you were Liverpool or City but we just aren´t good enough for him to not put in the graft.

His fitness levels should be getting worked upon massively down at the training ground. The thing is, if he gets an extra sharpness to his game it will also help receive more of the ball and get him half a yard for more goal scoring opportunities.

He created a massive chance in second half stoppage time. His fitness isn't an issue in that he can last 90 minutes when needed. At his age his ability to go 90 minutes every week is probably not going to improve.

 

[dannyboy]

He created a massive chance in second half stoppage time. His fitness isn't an issue in that he can last 90 minutes when needed. At his age his ability to go 90 minutes every week is probably not going to improve.

I know he´s magic on the ball but he doesn´t see it enough for our liking. Maybe he can´t improve his fitness but I think everything should be done to try and get him to a better level than he´s currently at.

 

[Axlswhk]

I'd encourage people to go back and watch Richarlison's effort covering overlaps since his return. Honestly I don't think at the minute pointing to Richarlison as the example of hard work while skating James is fair at all. Essentially he's just more athletic.

being athletic is what we need at both flanks, That’s what I’m saying. Richie is able to recover and make substantial contribution, it may not be directly winning the ball, but his ability to track back provide a team effort to make things more difficult for opponent.

James can’t do it, not going to blame him for that, he would give up after 20 yards sprint and it does unbalance us in some way.

 

[kenada_blue]

He created a massive chance in second half stoppage time. His fitness isn't an issue in that he can last 90 minutes when needed. At his age his ability to go 90 minutes every week is probably not going to improve.

He creates at least 1 big chance or is heavily involved in major attacks every game. If we had more clinical player in the side, no one would be questioning James' fitness.

It's no fluke he got crazy assist figures at Real and Bayern.

 

[TheBigIguana]

being athletic is what we need at both flanks, That’s what I’m saying. Richie is able to recover and make substantial contribution, it may not be directly winning the ball, but his ability to track back provide a team effort to make things more difficult for opponent.

James can’t do it, not going to blame him for that, he would give up after 20 yards sprint and it does unbalance us in some way.

What I'm literally telling you is that Richarlison not tracking all the way back and covering an overlap made it less difficult for an opponent at times in both of the last two games despite his athleticism.

 

[riddick]

He's not a luxury as the moment he goes out of the team we would score less and still concede the same. If you're familiar with football you'll find that is not how you win more matches.

Well, I would counter his is kind of a luxury as he is a player you have to "indulge" their limitations. Hell, Lukaku was essentially the same thing. Lukaku scored goals but offered nothign else. James is simply just not going to be a defensive forward and I have no desire, at all, to want him to be.

It's the jobs of Doucoure, Allan and Carlo to mitigate the "issues" that James not tracking back as often creates.

This is sounding so much like a criticism of James and it's not meant to be at all btw. Just having a brain fart of how to phrase it.

 

[Axlswhk]

What I'm literally telling you is that Richarlison not tracking all the way back and covering an overlap made it less difficult for an opponent at times in both of the last two games despite his athleticism.

that may be down to lack of discipline and effort which can be changed.

with James it’s impossible, unless the passage of play is heavily in his favour.

you see the difference?

 

[TheBigIguana]

He creates at least 1 big chance or is heavily involved in major attacks every game. If we had more clinical player in the side, no one would be questioning James' fitness.

It's no fluke he got crazy assist figures at Real and Bayern.

He's also on aggregate our best player in the middle third. At least half and maybe more of our transitions from defense to attack involve him at some level. Allan and Doucoure don't come close to doing enough on that front and they both have serious holes in their game without the ball. Take him out of the team and we've gotten worse in attack and midfield to the point that even if we did get better at the back because we had better cover down that flank, and I think the issues are clearly elsewhere so we wouldn't, it couldn't be worthwhile.

 

[roy vernon]

James, is a proper Everton footballer, he is one of those players who, when they are on the pitch, even when the team are playing badly, can win a game for you with one piece of magic. Problem is, it’s so long since we had a player like him, some people have forgotten how special it is.

We shouldn’t be talking about why he isn’t pressing high up or busting a gut to track runners, we should play him as a 10, so he doesn’t have a winger to track or a fullback to help out, and just enjoy his genius.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Well, I would counter his is kind of a luxury as he is a player you have to "indulge" their limitations. Hell, Lukaku was essentially the same thing. Lukaku scored goals but offered nothign else. James is simply just not going to be a defensive forward and I have no desire, at all, to want him to be.

It's the jobs of Doucoure, Allan and Carlo to mitigate the "issues" that James not tracking back as often creates.

This is sounding so much like a criticism of James and it's not meant to be at all btw. Just having a brain fart of how to phrase it.

I'd encourage people to watch what Son does for Spurs these days. They're in with a chance of winning the league because they've literally told him to stop coming back. We could do that with James and be just as good, honestly we are as an attacking side in the same ballpark as Spurs already, but we don't have anyone with the discipline of Sissoko and Hojbjerg in midfield so we are constantly wide open.

 

[riddick]

I'd encourage people to watch what Son does for Spurs these days. They're in with a chance of winning the league because they've literally told him to stop coming back. We could do that with James and be just as good, honestly we are as an attacking side in the same ballpark as Spurs already, but we don't have anyone with the discipline of Sissoko and Hojbjerg in midfield so we are constantly wide open.

Right. Hell, keep him on the halfway line all game if we want whilst out of possession, the guy can and has produced moments of brilliance in just about every match this year, most times multiple times a match. It's not on James to make sure the midfield isn't overrun, its the midfielders and Carlo.

 

[Axlswhk]

Right. Hell, keep him on the halfway line all game if we want whilst out of possession, the guy can and has produced moments of brilliance in just about every match this year, most times multiple times a match. It's not on James to make sure the midfield isn't overrun, its the midfielders and Carlo.

exactly, we must stop playing him a role with substantial defensive duty. Let him play in a way that maximise his strength and limit his weakness.

 

[Baines' left foot]

Lad will be off in six months time anyway wondering why he even bothered coming over here. Richarlison and Digne off with him.

If anyone thinks those three will be here next season they need their heads checking.

 

[TheBigIguana]

If anyone thinks those three will be here next season they need their heads checking.

You actually think we will sell three of our four best players in one summer? Come on.

And specifically on James finding a spot where a transfer for him seems plausible isn't super easy to do. It's why he is here in the first place.