2021/22 James Rodriguez

[NathDogg]

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.

Think Id sooner have the glass cannon than what we will be left with - iwobi/Delph/Gomes etc aka water pistols in the Sahara.

 

[BlueToff]

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.

OK, but we've got a lot out of it too. Look, I'm not angry with them for giving him those wages.

I'm angry at them for giving Andre Gomes £120k a week, Delph near £100k a week etc etc, and adding to the issues caused by Walsh/Koeman

 

[Nymzee]

Its not a stat referring to goals but rather assists or actions leading to them. EG, final pass, winning a foul that leads to a goal etc

Always presumed a goal is the biggest stat for goal contribution myself.

 

[Tubey]

Think Id sooner have the glass cannon than what we will be left with - iwobi/Delph/Gomes etc aka like water pistols in the Sahara.

I don't think it's either/or. If we free up £200k a week and get a modest fee, we'll bring one or two in instead as we'll be inside FFP.

FFP seems to be the key factor. We need to get rid of James/Kean to act; unfortunately clubs know this and are playing us down to deadline day to grab bargains.

 

[BlueToff]

Always presumed a goal is the biggest stat for goal contribution myself.

Well, goals and assists is what counts as 'direct'.

If @Brennan is counting all goal contributions, then you do include things like key passes, penalties won etc

 

[Tubey]

OK, but we've got a lot out of it too. Look, I'm not angry with them for giving him those wages.

I'm angry at them for giving Andre Gomes £120k a week, Delph near £100k a week etc etc, and adding to the issues caused by Walsh/Koeman

I think James was worth the £200k a week when we had Ancelotti.

I don't think he's worth £200k a week now we have Benitez.

You have to respect managerial approaches and let them get on with it. It's nobodies fault, nobody has done anything wrong in this situation IMO.

 

[Brennan]

Always presumed a goal is the biggest stat for goal contribution myself.

Right, but as i've explained, the stat isn't about goals scored.

 

[Brennan]

I don't think it's either/or. If we free up £200k a week and get a modest fee, we'll bring one or two in instead as we'll be inside FFP.

FFP seems to be the key factor. We need to get rid of James/Kean to act; unfortunately clubs know this and are playing us down to deadline day to grab bargains.

Is he on 200k a week ?

No idea myself but people were laughing in here at the idea he could be over 100k

 

[BlueToff]

I think James was worth the £200k a week when we had Ancelotti.

I don't think he's worth £200k a week now we have Benitez.

You have to respect managerial approaches and let them get on with it. It's nobodies fault, nobody has done anything wrong in this situation IMO.

I don't think the player or manager have. I do get a bit worried who the manager sees as his replacements but we'd wait and see on that...

I do think the club have to take responsibility for where we're at financially though. COVID is a caveat, fully, but we've had three years to shift players, three years to get players for key positions in (RB, RW were both needed in 2018-19, for example), and haven't done it, meaning we're in a position now where we need to a) shift players to get those key positions filled and b) get the signings absolutely right with no room for mistakes which, in the right-back case, is of vital importance.

 

[Tubey]

I don't think the player or manager have. I do get a bit worried who the manager sees as his replacements but we'd wait and see on that...

I do think the club have to take responsibility for where we're at financially though. COVID is a caveat, fully, but we've had three years to shift players, three years to get players for key positions in (RB, RW were both needed in 2018-19, for example), and haven't done it, meaning we're in a position now where we need to a) shift players to get those key positions filled and b) get the signings absolutely right with no room for mistakes which, in the right-back case, is of vital importance.

Yeah that's overall transfer policy, not the James signing.

I've made no secret that I think Brands is completely useless.

 

[BlueToff]

Is he on 200k a week ?

No idea myself but people were laughing in here at the idea he could be over 100k

Yeah well, this is another convenient thing.

Back late last year, it was supposedly closer to £120k. Now I was told - and reliably believed this - that he was our highest earner, which would have meant (not that I know for sure) more towards £150k.

Now this summer, it seems to have been put out there from the club side that it's £200k weekly wages we need to shift.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

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.

But still no creative no10 that everyone thinks you need to succeed...

 

[Tubey]

Is he on 200k a week ?

No idea myself but people were laughing in here at the idea he could be over 100k

That's what has been widely reported recently, and it's plausible as he decided to leave Madrid where he was on ridiculous money. He could have sat there, maybe went out on loan and picked the money up, but we had to put up a certain level of wage to attract him; Ancelotti had pull for him but not enough to make him quarter his wages IMO.

 

[Brennan]

Well, goals and assists is what counts as 'direct'.

If @Brennan is counting all goal contributions, then you do include things like key passes, penalties won etc

It's a stat which looks at the moments leading up to goals, so includes things like dribbling into the box and then another team mate scoring, winning a foul that is then scored, pens, or a key pass that leads to a goal.

Which I think seems like a good way to look at a creative midfielder's conributions, along with goals obviously.

Just cannot wrap my head around how people think he's not productive enough. Not right for the team, lazy, etc. I can agree with.

 

[Brennan]

That's what has been widely reported recently, and it's plausible as he decided to leave Madrid where he was on ridiculous money. He could have sat there, maybe went out on loan and picked the money up, but we had to put up a certain level of wage to attract him; Ancelotti had pull for him but not enough to make him quarter his wages IMO.

And would make more sense as to why he's not got a future here. Playing 20 games a season and 200k can't work for a team in our position.