2020/21 James Rodriguez

[Bob Elstone]

Was quiet today and seemed to step up towards the end of the game. Obviously fitness is miles off.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

Is he injured then? Seen some folk say he looked injured when coming off.

 

[Mrk]

Looked better when he moved back out on to the right wing - assume teams find it much harder to mark him there.

 

[KaiserEFC]

He’s a very very very good player. Unfortunately, you can be the best player that’s ever lived but if you’re never fit it counts for zilch.

 

[Neiler]

He’s a very very very good player. Unfortunately, you can be the best player that’s ever lived but if you’re never fit it counts for zilch.

Have to say, I might have made a different decision to Carlo today, not sure I would have started him or Digne in the predictable grock fest of the 3rd round with lower league players trying to have a cut of you.

But then I don’t have 3 CLs under my belt.

 

[johnjoeefc]

Have to say, I might have made a different decision to Carlo today, not sure I would have started him or Digne in the predictable grock fest of the 3rd round with lower league players trying to have a cut of you.

But then I don’t have 3 CLs under my belt.

I totally see your point Neil but I would argue that had he not started against rotherham then he may not have been up to speed against wolves and offered a similar lethargic performance in a much tougher game that would have been costly.

But if he is fit for Wolves I think I would perhaps have him on the bench and bring him on at half time if required, I feel that if he starts it may swing the pendulum too much in their direction and its a game we have to be looking to win.

 

[arbok]

Im guessing when James got smacked in the face with the ball and Everton drawing with a championship team, James was already thinking about picking up the phone to Florentino Perez and pleading to go back to Madrid.

We can't always depend on James to thread a ball through like that, did the rest of the team generate anything, besides Tosun's goal. I can't even remember.

 

[arbok]

Is he injured then? Seen some folk say he looked injured when coming off.

Nah I don't think he's injured - they took him off straight away, meaning he's probably playing against Wolves.

 

[Mathieubleucoyb]

Looked better when he moved back out on to the right wing - assume teams find it much harder to mark him there.

Its good when he moves to the right temporarily. But keeping him on the right just exposes Coleman. We actually lost consecutive games with him on the right because epl teams know James has the same defensive ability as Davies.

 

[roy vernon]

Without James Rotherham are in the 4th round draw, and really, they deserved to be.

 

[arbok]

Its good when he moves to the right temporarily. But keeping him on the right just exposes Coleman. We actually lost consecutive games with him on the right because epl teams know James has the same defensive ability as Davies.

James should have a free role when in possession. When he came into the midfield to start picking up more of the ball and dictating the play, it looked more promising. The moves broke down with other players not completing passes or passing it backwards.

Both Digne and Coleman looked didn't look solid defensively. Once again - way too big of a gap between the full backs and CBs, but Rotherham didn't expose us. When they got past Digne, they should have scored. With 4CBs, the CBs either have the pace to go with the opposition winger and close him down or our wingbacks like Iwobi and Richarlison or even a DM provide cover.

Technically Digne and Coleman should be doing this - but they're not and need to learn if they want to stay in the side, because full backs position were vulnerable again.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Bigduke1234]

Can’t have been match fit, competitive run out should have done him good but please Carlo, it’s 4 cb for wolves!!!

 

[alphabet]

Too bad there's no winter break in England to get the guy match fit 100%.

We have a guy here that's not played much games last season, guy without pre-season training camp to add to that. Pretty sure he played first month or two just off of being fresh. You can't play a whole season based on being fresh, you need actual training and conditioning.

Hopefully he doesn't get injured again for the remainder of this season and we get him through a proper summer camp regime so we can have his legs fresh for the whole season, not just a couple of months.

Sad thing is, even if he's looking like a beat horse past 70 min mark, he's still the only one that can reliably create chances for us. Good thing is, even without him we streaked to 12 points.

 

[Neiler]

I totally see your point Neil but I would argue that had he not started against rotherham then he may not have been up to speed against wolves and offered a similar lethargic performance in a much tougher game that would have been costly.

But if he is fit for Wolves I think I would perhaps have him on the bench and bring him on at half time if required, I feel that if he starts it may swing the pendulum too much in their direction and its a game we have to be looking to win.

Absolutley its a judgement call alright, i think i would have gone to other way given how vital he is for us and the nature of that game, but it worked out fine - i hope!!

 

[JMT]

I think Ancelotti was hoping to batter these give James the ball and let him get some assists and hopefully be 2-3 nil up and then drag him off, Obviously never played out like that.