2021/22 James Rodriguez

[Anthony Lim]

Not a fan of his twitch comments or cryptic social media posts. If you want to leave then it's fine, but this stuff is unprofessional. Keep it in house.

mostly social media account are more of personal rather than professional... he can do whatever he wants to his social media, it's up to the people how to interpret any posted content.. i'm doubting the atletico transfer though.. not buying that.

 

[ToffeeTim]

mostly social media account are more of personal rather than professional... he can do whatever he wants to his social media, it's up to the people how to interpret any posted content..

Of course he's entitled to say and post what he wants, I'm not saying he can't. But my opinion is that talking about whether he will play etc is unprofessional.

 

[BlueToff]

Like you say mate, he doesn't care. We are pit stop on his farewell tour to retirement (or the MLS) and if he stays he'll play when it suits and now doubt be great and he'll be injured or fatigued when it doesn't - more than likely around a jam packed festive season but regardless of whether he's here or not the club need to be looking to add more goal and assists. Massive season for Doucoure i think, i understand the logic with Townsend and Gray and we saw that in the first game with 17 crosses which Dom and Richie could thrive off of but we seriously lack goals from the rest of the squad and that can't fall on James.

Well like I said we've got to replace those 14 goals. Keep in mind, Sigurdsson directly contributed to 18.

So, that's 32 goals we need to replace. The three players we have in attacking mid positions atm are Iwobi, Townsend and Gray (assuming James leaves). Our main reported target is McNeil.

Between them, they directly contributed to 20 last season. That's six more, combined, than James managed in 26 games. Combined, those four players played 100 more games than James, yet only contributed to six more goals...

Edit: In fact, I'm just gonna bold that last point.

As it stands, we don't have McNeil, so that's 2 goals and 5 assists (7 combined) to take away. Leaving us with 13 between three players over 90 appearances in total. So one less direct goal contribution, from 64 more games.

 

[DanB90]

Him leaving wouldn’t be so bad if we could replace him with some more creativity, considering the games he misses. But I can’t see that replacement coming in, given our financial situation.

 

[MACCA75]

In my mind he left the day Carlo did, so I’m already over it. We do need a top quality replacement though which seems unlikely.

 

[jamieni]

Him leaving wouldn’t be so bad if we could replace him with some more creativity, considering the games he misses. But I can’t see that replacement coming in, given our financial situation.

I imagine we’ll buy in other areas if we sell James and one or two others.

My concern is the impact he had in big games last season such as against the RS and Utd when he added the extra quality required won’t be replaced.

 

[BlueToff]

I imagine we’ll buy in other areas if we sell James and one or two others.

My concern is the impact he had in big games last season such as against the RS and Utd when he added the extra quality required won’t be replaced.

Assisted 2/4 goals against the RS, and played the pass through to Digne for DCL's equaliser in the 2-2.

Scored that equaliser at OT.

Won the pen v Spurs which got us level, we should have won that game too he created six chances or something mad in that match.

Scored what should have been the winner v Palace. He was off the pitch when they scored and it was him going off that cost us because we had nobody to hold onto the ball.

Scored the screamer v Leicester that would have won us the game if not for Pickford's howler.

That's just stuff off the top of my head. Also set up Rich and DCL when those two missed that sitter v Sheff Utd. PLayed those two great balls out to Digne in the Fulham game.

We've not got another player who can do that.

 

[Brendan Janus]

Hasn't got ninety minutes in him, lightweight !!

 

[jamieni]

Assisted 2/4 goals against the RS, and played the pass through to Digne for DCL's equaliser in the 2-2.

Scored that equaliser at OT.

Won the pen v Spurs which got us level, we should have won that game too he created six chances or something mad in that match.

Scored what should have been the winner v Palace. He was off the pitch when they scored and it was him going off that cost us because we had nobody to hold onto the ball.

Scored the screamer v Leicester that would have won us the game if not for Pickford's howler.

That's just stuff off the top of my head. Also set up Rich and DCL when those two missed that sitter v Sheff Utd. PLayed those two great balls out to Digne in the Fulham game.

We've not got another player who can do that.

To be fair there aren’t too many players around with his ability. Certainly none we could attract.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

In my mind he left the day Carlo did, so I’m already over it. We do need a top quality replacement though which seems unlikely.

Wouldn't necessarily say a replacement like for like is needed more for me a proper holding midfielder that could allow us to move Doucoure further forward as he shown on Saturday he can get in the box and cause opposition problems.

Correa could also come in and replace James as a 2nd striker behind DCL in the 4231 role and also be able to go up top in a 442 transition.

No point in fans moaning about why no one in the squad can replace his creativity when the window hasn't shut yet.

 

[davek]

I’m not sure this is the disaster some are making it out to be.

It's a stick to beat Benitez with.

The feller isn't all that for us in reality.

Nice technique, but not that productive.

Thanks for the pass in the derby and adios.

 

[roy vernon]

I think the byword now is stability. Less ambition maybe and living within our means until we get the new stadium built.

Sad to see James go but Benitez will have his own ideas. Hopefully he can prove us all wrong and bring success but not sure that’s his remit.

Sadly mate I think you’re right. I believe Benitez’ brief is steady the ship whilst we cut the wage bill. That doesn’t mean I think that Benitez will not try to get Europe, just that I believe he was told that there is little or no transfer budget, other than what is raised by sales and that anything from 12th upwards will be regarded, by the board, as acceptable.

 

[davek]

Let's hear his fanboys justify this.

GTF.

 

[BlueToff]

It's a stick to beat Benitez with.

The feller isn't all that foir us in reality.

Nice technique, but not that productive.

Thanks for the pass in the derby and adios.

lol

FFS Dave.

He contributed - directly - to 14 goals last season.

That's more 'productive' than everybody in our squad other than GS (currently suspended) and DCL, last season.

Created our most chances from open play, second most chances in total. Only played 26 games.

He's the very definition of productive

 

[BlueToff]

Let's hear his fanboys justify this.

GTF.

He said on Friday that he has to isolate for another 8 days.

So why would he be playing?

If it's not all a lie - which it could well be from both him and the club - then he can't play. He won't have trained and his 10-day isolation would be from Wednesday last week to Saturday this week.

Depending on when the others got pinged, we could well be without Godfrey and Gbamin too.

They were both at the training ground for Richarlison's return on Thursday, but both out isolating on Saturday, so I would assume they won't be involved either.