2020/21 James Rodriguez

[BlueToff]

One moment of magic is all you need though.

We can support a player like him if we use him properly instead of chucking him out wide and expecting him to track back and "put a shift in".

Obviously we would need a lot more around him to shine. Typically we would get rid of him, build a good side and then be crying out for a player like him to be the cherry on the cake.

It's not even his positioning or his work rate - Benitez will demand that.

It's not about what he does defensively, it's about not being so reliant on him to build any attack and ultimately, when he played under Carlo, that's what it was, and there was evidently a severe lack of coaching otherwise.

 

[Connor]

I’m expecting him to leave but I also wouldn’t be shocked if he stayed and then left on a free next summer

 

[Toffeelover]

Well FSW knows all about his abilty.

 

[ArtetaMoney]

We’ve got people genuinely saying get rid in the James, Richarlison, Allan, Pickford, Digne and DCL threads at the moment. Add Godfrey to that list and in my opinion that’s a list of all of our best talents, it beggars belief how people think selling all of our best players will help us do better!?

It's because they think we can just buy better players. Like we haven't spent an absolute fortune trying to do that already and the list you've said is the best we've got.

 

[Runub]

So I'd tend to want the club to get better players in and see what we can do with someone who does have world class qualities, but unfortunately can't be relied upon 100%.

That's fine, as long as you have a strategy to work around it.

That would do for me as well. Here’s hoping

 

[ToffeeTim]

Just because he's training doesn't mean he will stay. I still think it's more likely he goes than stays.

 

[catcherintherye]

There's little benefit to keeping him if he doesn't want to be here either.

He'll be 'injured' a lot, let's put it that way.

Yes.

I love James as a player, and thoroughly enjoyed watching him from the TV last year. It will be one of my big big regrets football wise never getting to see him in person. I think he did excellently for us last season all things factored in. However he clearly played through injury a fair bit. He just won't be doing that next season if he's kept here.

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

Everyone wants us to get CL footy, challenge up near the top of the table. You know how that happens? World class players, difference makers in games. Guys that do what James did last year:

• That ball at Mordor
• His goal vs Palace
• His goal at United
• His ball near the end of the Burnley game away that Iceland didn't finish
• Etc

If there is any way we can keep him, we should. Even if he plays half the games. Because the above is what only he can offer us in this squad. Rafael will be pragmatic enough to have a Plan B when he can't play. It's better than giving him away to Milan or wherever.

 

[Sassy Colombian]

I hope he is Sassy.

Just to clarify I was talking about @Death no Benitez lol

 

[zukai12_]

Think he stays summer and jets off to Spain or Italy in jan window

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

Everyone wants us to get CL footy, challenge up near the top of the table. You know how that happens? World class players, difference makers in games. Guys that do what James did last year:

• That ball at Mordor
• His goal vs Palace
• His goal at United
• His ball near the end of the Burnley game away that Iceland didn't finish
• Etc

If there is any way we can keep him, we should. Even if he plays half the games. Because the above is what only he can offer us in this squad. Rafael will be pragmatic enough to have a Plan B when he can't play. It's better than giving him away to Milan or wherever.

Plan B could be Coutinho, rotating the pair of them.

 

[larbert toffee]

Just to clarify I was talking about @Death no Benitez lol

Oh, him.

 

[Sassy Colombian]

We'll see.

If the club actually have ambition, we keep him for the last year of his deal and see what we can do with some new players plus James.

There's little benefit to us letting him go.

From a marketing perspective, it'd be mad for him to go before we play in the Florida Cup, too

From a fan perspective I would be too. I want to see him playing in a couple of weeks along with Mina and the other squad members.

 

[Kever10]

Everyone assuming Benitez will want rid like taking a new managers position at any club and finding you have James Rodriguez in the playing staff isn't a huge bonus.

In some ways, Ancelotti may have been a little lazy in his approach with James. It was almost a case of, if we have James, just set up tight, he is the quality that makes the difference.

If Benitez can implement a system that can utilise his abilities, its in his own interests as well as the club to use him. Bring more pace into the side, more dynamism around the midfield and forward positions, and just watch him pull the strings.

 

[Sassy Colombian]

I thought that he would never set foot in Liverpool again? I’ve really enjoyed the James experts being wrong and coming up with conspiracy theories at every opportunity but maybe you could all shut up now?
The best one was over Christmas when he was ‘already in Colombia celebrating with his family’ and then a few hours later got named in the lineup!

Many of the experts also continue claiming he is unprofessional footballer but he showing up to first day of training is what a professional would do. Even if he has differences with Benitez he is facing him in person.