Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

 

2021/22 James Rodriguez

Status
Not open for further replies.
Tubey said:
Because on his day he's magical.

He's the definition of a 'glass cannon'. A luxury player. He's one of the few genuinely world class footballers around, but unlike the others he breaks down constantly. So it's the risk/reward ratio - do you have him and hope he has enough 'moments' to justify his cost, or do you not bother because you can't reliably build a team around him.

If we were a top side, he'd be worth it for the X Factor. But we don't, so on balance, for me, he's not worth keeping.

There's no one to "blame" for this situation. Benitez needs to manage the club his way, it's what we've been screaming out for - direction. Ancelotti was allowed to bring in Allan and James, Benitez doesn't want the latter for how he'll set up. That's fine. It is what it is.
Click to expand...

Thing is Tubey, while I agree with your point, the reason we can't 'afford' the luxury player is genuinely because we can't literally afford him.

Regardless of Benitez/James here, I am frustrated by that, because we're a mess and it's mostly self-enflicted. COVID has played its part, but the buck lands directly at our DoF and board.
 
What fans dont realise is you don't need creativity to be successful in the PL.

Liverpool won a league title and Champions League with a midfield of Henderson, Milner & Fabinho/Winjaldum.

City have tons of creativity but often dont have a plan B in terms of a Dzeko type to go direct to when passing it around isn't working.

You all just have to trust the manager that the players coming into the club over the next 1-2 summers will benefit HIS system and not one that Silva played, or Ancelotti brought James in to try play in - same way any that leave are leaving because they either/both dont suit our system or they haven't the right mentality.
 
NathDogg said:
Probably because Benitez told him to sling his hook or he knew what was coming following their time together at Real!

I agree that there are a few factors that may be at play, but by far the biggest is the manager not wanting the player. The club would have made it work if Benitez wanted him to stay, it's stupid to think otherwise. He is known world wide commercially, and was front and centre on the home kit launch - don't for a minute think the club are the main driver of this.

Also, and this has me puzzled, if James is such a lazy, feckless, slow, one paced, injury prone, ineffective fraud of a footballer, who didnt do anything of note wearing an Everton shirt, as many are saying on this forum, how is he one of our "few saleable assets?!"

Who in their right mind would bother taking a chance on such a flop? What am I missing?

Based on that logic, I'd sooner have iwobi ahead of James, cos he's never injured and runs faster...
Click to expand...
Not true at all, just your opinion.

And there was plenty of noise about him wanting out well before we had appointed RB.
 
BlueToff said:
and @Bebeto hmmm, depends if the players have been fully vaccinated

I guess a lot of them won't have been.

The rule change only applies to those with two vaccine does, and if they were at least two weeks previous too.

So for example, only people who were double vaccinated by/on August 2nd/3rd would currently not have to legally isolate if they were a contact of someone who had tested positive
Click to expand...
I'd be surprised if James hasn't been vaccinated. He's been to Colombia, then to America and then to Liverpool, looking very
cheerful here btw.
 
ForeverBlue92 said:
What fans dont realise is you don't need creativity to be successful in the PL.

Liverpool won a league title and Champions League with a midfield of Henderson, Milner & Fabinho/Winjaldum.

City have tons of creativity but often dont have a plan B in terms of a Dzeko type to go direct to when passing it around isn't working.

You all just have to trust the manager that the players coming into the club over the next 1-2 summers will benefit HIS system and not one that Silva played, or Ancelotti brought James in to try play in.
Click to expand...
But they also had a front three of Mane, Salah and Firmino, the best passing defender in world football and the league's two most creative full-backs that season.
 

BlueToff said:
Thing is Tubey, while I agree with your point, the reason we can't 'afford' the luxury player is genuinely because we can't literally afford him.

Regardless of Benitez/James here, I am frustrated by that, because we're a mess and it's mostly self-enflicted. COVID has played its part, but the buck lands directly at our DoF and board.
Click to expand...

Not really. I think there's around five sides maximum, probably less, who could afford to pay James Rodriguez £200k a week to be injured half the season.

If he were on £50k a week, there's no problem. But he's not; that's not on the club. The club met the needs of their manager at the time and brought him in under request, and it's laughable to think we'd have turned an Ancelotti request down first season in.
 
Jeff Jones said:
I'd be surprised if James hasn't been vaccinated. He's been to Colombia, then to America and then to Liverpool, looking very
cheerful here btw.
Click to expand...

I don't know mate. He was 30 over the summer, just as he'd returned to training.

I don't know how it works but I'd be surprised if he's had both.
 
Tubey said:
Not really. I think there's around five sides maximum, probably less, who could afford to pay James Rodriguez £200k a week to be injured half the season.

If he were on £50k a week, there's no problem. But he's not; that's not on the club. The club met the needs of their manager at the time and brought him in under request, and it's laughable to think we'd have turned an Ancelotti request down first season in.
Click to expand...
I mean it is isn't it? We gave him those wages.

Personally I'm happy we did because I've loved having him here, but it was still our decision to make.
 

BlueToff said:
I mean it is isn't it? We gave him those wages.

Personally I'm happy we did because I've loved having him here, but it was still our decision to make.
Click to expand...

You can pin a fair bit on club incompetence when it comes to the transfer market, but with James - where you have a world class proven manager coming in and requesting a set player - I can't blame the club for acquiescing to that request.
 
BlueToff said:
I don't know mate. He was 30 over the summer, just as he'd returned to training.

I don't know how it works but I'd be surprised if he's had both.
Click to expand...
I think there are Covid rules about crossing bordersl into some countries and I don't think being 30 has anything to do with it.
 

Status
Not open for further replies.

Welcome to GrandOldTeam

Get involved. Registration is simple and free.

Register
Back
Top