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2021/22 James Rodriguez

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TheBigIguana said:
Allan didn't really do it that well last year when we were trying to play slower. Well honestly I don't know what we were trying to do but it didn't work.

I agree, Allan is important but I do think Gbamin is competent and Davies can link a little but will be an issue when we don't have the ball. Regardless I'm concerned that James dropping will slow us down. I don't want us to slow down. We don't have the players James aside to do it and still carry a threat. We need to be direct because frankly the more we pass the greater the chance something is going to mess up.

.This got me thinking about the goals we've scored so far this year so here we go:

Saints:
Richarlison scores off a poorly cleared corner. One pass. And barely a pass at that.
Doucoure's goal is a free kick from Allan to him, a pass to Coleman, a pass to Iwobi (and a poor one at that) and Iwobi knocking it down for Doucoure to score. So that's four passes and one bad one in the mix still.
DCL's goal starts with Pickford going long. Saints head forward, Allan heads forward (hardly a pass but we'll count it), Richarlison goes to Iwobi who returns it for a cross and goal. So again four passes but again one is dubious.

Leeds:
Obviously the penalty is zero but the move before that Richarlison smashes a pass off a defender and recovers the ball and plays one pass before Digne crosses and DCL is held.
Gray's goal is a decent passing move that completely falls apart because Doucoure plays the wrong ball but it comes back to him and he plays the right pass at the second time of asking. Even if you count Doucoure hitting one off a defender to himself still just four passes but really one.

Brighton:
Gray's goal is Coleman winning it to Townsend, he plays to Allan and Allan goes to Gray. So three passes.
Again a penalty, this time the build up is Coleman heading to Townsend, he goes to Allan and Allan plays in Coleman to get fouled. So again three passes.

The clear point here is we can see what is working and we need to incorporate James into that. I don't think that incorporation happens if he's dropping deeper than Allan and Doucoure to pick the ball up. We aren't technically good enough to move the ball and wait for gaps. We need to get it and go, it is working right now even when teams give us possession like Saints did, and until it isn't I'd like to see it persisted with because it suits everyone in the squad aside from possibly James.
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Gary Neville was making a similar point in a match last season. Essentially we're not good enough to fanny about with the ball too long.

Still think James can contribute when we play like this (thinking Anfield and Old Trafford last season) but to your point he will need to play the ball forward quickly. Just with loads more quality than anyone else we have.
 
davek said:
I dont think his contribution last season was especially significant.

The issue for me is this: he will leave in the next 12 months; so why would a manager invest in him, and why also would he do that at the expense of a hard working if less skillful player who fits more the system he seeks to impose for the long term?
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Richarlison will leave within the next year as well Dave, should we freeze him out too? Great idea though, pay James whatever it is between 100k and 1million per week and let him sit in the stands and watch.. come on Dave.
 

TheBigIguana said:
Allan didn't really do it that well last year when we were trying to play slower. Well honestly I don't know what we were trying to do but it didn't work.

I agree, Allan is important but I do think Gbamin is competent and Davies can link a little but will be an issue when we don't have the ball. Regardless I'm concerned that James dropping will slow us down. I don't want us to slow down. We don't have the players James aside to do it and still carry a threat. We need to be direct because frankly the more we pass the greater the chance something is going to mess up.

.This got me thinking about the goals we've scored so far this year so here we go:

Saints:
Richarlison scores off a poorly cleared corner. One pass. And barely a pass at that.
Doucoure's goal is a free kick from Allan to him, a pass to Coleman, a pass to Iwobi (and a poor one at that) and Iwobi knocking it down for Doucoure to score. So that's four passes and one bad one in the mix still.
DCL's goal starts with Pickford going long. Saints head forward, Allan heads forward (hardly a pass but we'll count it), Richarlison goes to Iwobi who returns it for a cross and goal. So again four passes but again one is dubious.

Leeds:
Obviously the penalty is zero but the move before that Richarlison smashes a pass off a defender and recovers the ball and plays one pass before Digne crosses and DCL is held.
Gray's goal is a decent passing move that completely falls apart because Doucoure plays the wrong ball but it comes back to him and he plays the right pass at the second time of asking. Even if you count Doucoure hitting one off a defender to himself still just four passes but really one.

Brighton:
Gray's goal is Coleman winning it to Townsend, he plays to Allan and Allan goes to Gray. So three passes.
Again a penalty, this time the build up is Coleman heading to Townsend, he goes to Allan and Allan plays in Coleman to get fouled. So again three passes.

The clear point here is we can see what is working and we need to incorporate James into that. I don't think that incorporation happens if he's dropping deeper than Allan and Doucoure to pick the ball up. We aren't technically good enough to move the ball and wait for gaps. We need to get it and go, it is working right now even when teams give us possession like Saints did, and until it isn't I'd like to see it persisted with because it suits everyone in the squad aside from possibly James.
Click to expand...

I don't think Everton have ever been successful with slow paced build up. Playing fast and direct is always going to be a better approach when you have a more traditional no.9 like Calvert-Lewin. It's very early days with only 4 games, but we have moved the ball noticeably quicker than the second half of last season. We have created more chances because of it, and that has meant we've scored at least twice each game.

James can be useful as a squad player and for depth. If he is fit then it would be really silly to completely ignore him. If we have forward runners then James has the ability to find them, but he needs to play further forward to do so. I'm not sure where his best position would be in the 4411. From an offensive stance, it's probably behind the forward, but to balance the side, it might need to be more towards the right hand side where we can cover him a bit more. It's one for the manager to work out, but we need to make sure the team is very well drilled when he plays and that everyone knows their role so we can get the best out of him.
 
roy vernon said:
Richarlison will leave within the next year as well Dave, should we freeze him out too? Great idea though, pay James whatever it is between 100k and 1million per week and let him sit in the stands and watch.. come on Dave.
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We have 9 subs every week. 1 or 2 injuries, a suspension or 2, and we won't have the numbers to freeze players out.
 
granter79 said:
System wont work or be the same for every game as the season goes on.
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A system is called a system for a reason.

We will play different teams, but outside of the elite teams away from home (4/5 games) we'll play with pace and we'll play with width and all hands will need to be to the pumps or it wont work.

No way James fits that system.
 
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davek said:
A system is called a system for a reason.

We will play different teams, but outside of the elite teams away from home (4/5 games) we'll play with pace and we'll play with width and all hands will need to be to the pumps or wont work.

No way James fits that system.
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Lets see Dave. Wont take teams long to figure us out or for us to get injuries. Good managers and players can adapt and will have to. This season will be far from black and white as you state above. James will fit a plan B and no way you cant deny we will need that at times.

Whether you like him or not hes a class act as he provided when he played last year
 
granter79 said:
Lets see Dave. Wont take teams long to figure us out or for us to get injuries. Good managers and players can adapt and will have to. This season will be far from black and white as you state above. James will fit a plan B and no way you cant deny we will need that at times.

Whether you like him or not hes a class act as he provided when he played last year
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He's got ability: he's also unreliable getting on the pitch and he lacks pace...crucial in this league and especially for how Benitez is setting up here.

He will be a bit part player...and only if Benitez determines he has any role AT ALL...and that's fine by me given what a spanner he's been for the last 4 months or so.
 
Amokachi1995 said:
Still think James can contribute when we play like this (thinking Anfield and Old Trafford last season) but to your point he will need to play the ball forward quickly. Just with loads more quality than anyone else we have.
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Who in their right minds want to compete with the better teams, just brings false hope, better off knowing our place in the league, making up the numbers and beating lower mid league clubs.
 
davek said:
He's got ability: he's also unreliable getting on the pitch and he lacks pace...crucial in this league and especially for how Benitez is setting up here.

He will be a bit part player...and only if Benitez determines he has any role AT ALL...and that's fine by me given what a spanner he's been for the last 4 months or so.
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Yep agree. As I said wel see how this pans out. I expect him to be gone in Jan but if he get time when needed and contributes that's all we should care about at this stage. Not in a position to not use him when needed. Goals , assist and points all I care about for the team. The manager has set his stall out and its great we have an style of play
 

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