Very creative but would get overrun in midfield.
If we played the 4 centre backs deep with Allan /Doucoure in front i think we'd get away with it.
Opposition would be worried about James/Digne feeding DCL/Richarlison on the counter.
I didn't mean that in relation to Thiago. James when healthy has been a top 10 to 20 player world wide and people think he's a one hit wonder.
On Thiago I get why our fans are annoyed by his treatment in the RS media, but he's a really good player. And last year he was a key cog in a Bayern side that was the best side by a margin. However he hasn't fit in the RS side so far because they're used to juice heads who run a million KMs but can't do much else and haven't adapted.
Tbf, Thiago has been absolutely superb in recent seasons.
I still think he's getting far too underrated on here, just as much as he's getting overrated in the general media!
Totally different types of midfielder too. Thiago is a 6, James is a 10. So yes, very much like comparing Davies and De Bruyne in that regard.
in our current setup (4 CBs) i think Thiago would have suited us. Allan / Doucoure box to box and Thiago sat behind them.
My view is that we can find a more 'suitable' player to Thiago though if Ancelotti wants a deep playmaker.
He's managed and developed some of the best in the world and Im sure he can spot one who could run the central area.
Thiago is a knock-off Xavi. At his best, he controls the rhythm of a game, but he offers little enough penetrative threat. James makes no attempt to control the tempo, he deals in fantasy and flair. They are very different players. I live in Germany and watched both at Bayern. I have never been a fan of Thiago. His game always seemed to me to be self-regarding and limited. Keep the ball. That's a huge skill, of course, but it's often deeply sterile. James has always been worth watching, but could be in and out. At this best, he is glorious, one of the world game's great creative wits. I happened to much prefer Andres Iniesta to Xavi, who I felt offered far too little thrust in front of goal. Iniesta had that little bit of devilment that made him a much more thrilling player to my eyes. Then again, maybe I just don't like players who appear to be "all that" out the pitch but as soon as they face a keeper, or a proper defender, one-one-one fall apart. Iniesta was rapier-like and consequential. Xavi, to my eyes, was more of a metronome. And watching clocks is rarely fun.
That said, I have no issue considering Xavi a great player and one of the most significant players of his generation. He also made a huge impression with Spain, just as James did with Colombia. Thiago's international impact has been minimal.
The way Id probably compare them is that Thiago is a 'Barca' type player and James is Madrid type.
One of course a disciple of tiki-taka, keeping the ball at all costs yet not particularly suited to anything but that role as a 6.
The other a high impact player who can win games from nothing...someone who can be having a poor game or just not seeing the ball and then BANG he wins the game for you.
You do probably need a mix of these types of players depending on how you play but if both players were at the same level and 21 years of age you'd be seeing James as the £100mil+ player and Thiago as probably half that amount.
For Thiago's deep role we've seen players like Carrick and Veron sitting deep in midfield in the premier league. Some successfully and others not so...even Jorginho who looked like a controller in Italy looks like a Thiago clone in the premier league.
i wonder if the intensity and physicality of our league means that a playmaking 6 must be truly outstanding if coming from overseas or, as with others would need some time to adapt.
Thiago would slot into citys team in my opinion and is with out doubt a good footballer. but James Rodriguez is probably on a level of player just below Messi and Ronaldo. All this boolocks about the team been light weight if he playing is rubbish in my opinion. You can build a team defensively and offensively round a players of his quality. people who protect the ball and players who run into space. He always looks like he has more time on the ball than anyone else on the pitch. That is no accident.
With James, i think he'll benefit from DCL/Richarlison and Digne being in the side from an offensive perspective.
Although Doucoure and Allan are a necessity in the middle it would be ideal if we could add a 'baller' who could link the crossfield play between Digne and James.
Either that or play James centrally where he's effectively going to dictate our play.
6 in the prem needs to be a allan
maybe thats the problem either way i hope they keep starting him
Allan and Doucoure imo are both best box to box.
I think we either play James in front of them as a 10 or we bring in a 6 behind them.
Actually i think were one centre mid from being able to play the old Milan 'diamond' midfield.
kimmich has been outstanding replacing him
Always been very underrated despite obviously showing potential world class ability amd leadership since coming into the team.
