2021/22 James Rodriguez

[BlueToff]

That would be really bad PR if we have players that are not double vaccinated at this stage...or even single dose vaccinated...

I'd guess most are single dosed mate but the players have been jetting off all over the world this summer for one reason or another. Do you think Richarlison, for example, will have had both jabs yet?

It's probably on the clubs to sort but that's hard because each county has it's own rules and only now are we seeing vaccine surplus. Wasn't exactly feasible back in April and May for football clubs to be demanding vaccines to get all their players and staff done was it?

 

[BlueToff]

Not having that at all mate - first 20 minutes first half we were the better side then Keane cocks up and has us under the cosh - pretty much on top for most of the second half as well imo.

You just have to ask what would James have done to make a 3-1 win that much better?

Couple of long passes to Digne nothing if anything would have had us on the backfoot as we wouldn't have been able to get forward as much with Doucoure needing to babysit him defensively.

The first half was no different to what it was under CA. Pedestrian football that went hoofball far too quickly. I'm not blaming Benitez, and he saw the mistakes and rectified it.

Second half much better, we had a good 10 mins around the first goal, sat off for 15 and soaked up pressure, and then played well last 20 mins. So okay, I'll say 35 mins total of playing well.

A 6/10 display with a few moments of quality. But that was it. I don't see anything wrong with that btw as that's probably enough to beat 10/11 teams in this league most days.

 

[davek]

Not sure what you think is so funny really.

13 Goal contributions vs 11 for Digne last season.

Guessing you think Digne isn't productive either.

You dont think - in a thread that's being used by his fan boys to claim he's irreplaceable creatively - that you saying approvingly "there were only 21 players in the entire league who contributed to more goals than him" isn't laughable?

Ok.

 

[Toffeelover]

Hang on. It was part of Brands' remit. I'm not saying it wasn't hard, but it was still part of his job.

And now, it's actually players brought in under his tenure which are the main issue.

Bernard, £120k, just shifted. Delph on near £100k, Gomes on £120k. Even Mina, who I really rate, was given north of £100k...

We can't absolve him of the responsibility. Ultimately he is the one constant.

Who were the managers then? What players have been shifted then? Allan and James were down to Carlo.

It never is just one person's job but a number of people are involved in buying and selling not to mention the players themselves.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

The first half was no different to what it was under CA. Pedestrian football that went hoofball far too quickly. I'm not blaming Benitez, and he saw the mistakes and rectified it.

Second half much better, we had a good 10 mins around the first goal, sat off for 15 and soaked up pressure, and then played well last 20 mins. So okay, I'll say 35 mins total of playing well.

A 6/10 display with a few moments of quality. But that was it. I don't see anything wrong with that btw as that's probably enough to beat 10/11 teams in this league most days.

That game last season would end 1-0 to either side or 1-1 as the same problems are in the squad (players with no legs like Coleman, James, Gomes, Siggurdsson, Allan to a lesser extent) players lacking any real pace/quality like Iwobi.

Why as a fanbase we have to have patience and let the manager slowly get rid of these types of players and bring in his own signings.

If punting James/Kean/Gomes etc allows us to bring his own men in then thats what has to be done regardless of how good they may be in a totally different system/formation/league.

 

[Toffeelover]

That game last season would end 1-0 to either side or 1-1 as the same problems are in the squad (players with no legs like Coleman, James, Gomes, Siggurdsson, Allan to a lesser extent) players lacking any real pace/quality like Iwobi.

Why as a fanbase we have to have patience and let the manager slowly get rid of these types of players and bring in his own signings.

If punting James/Kean/Gomes etc allows us to bring his own men in then thats what has to be done regardless of how good they may be in a totally different system/formation/league.

Who would have selected the team for those games picking the slow tops?

 

[sbbefc]

I'd rather he stay, he made some very key contributions in some big matches last season. We haven't had many players of his class at the club. Not for a very long time anyway. Consistency and injuries were known to us when we bought him so no surprises there.

Looks like the die is cast though. Definitely not the end of the world but it is a shame imo.

 

[Egil Olsen]

JR is a very good player. My criticism of him has been that he is not in the physical shape that a top player should be, and that he is not mentally robust enough. In addition, football has developed to the point that everyone on the team must contribute when the ball is to be recovered. Most people think of tiki taka when they think of Guerdiola's Barcelona, but the most significant was the offensive marking and the way they pressed the opponent immediately after the ball loss. This is perhaps the foremost characteristic of modern football, and especially if you want to dominate the matches through ball possession. There is no doubt that JR is technically good enough, but it takes far more to be at the top of European football in 2021. A weak point, and the opponent will deliberately take advantage of it. We also saw this clearly last year. So it has to be included in the equation when you look at JR's statistical contributions.

I provided a player analysis on a player at my local club. Everyone said that this player was very good, and absolutely essential for the team. He plays defensive midfield. I found out that he won the ball from the opponent by far the most of all on the field, but I also found out that he had clearly the most passing errors, and that the sum of this was actually negative for the team. When I analyzed where on the field he lost the ball, this became even more critical. The opponent's tactic should simply be to lose the ball to this player, and then put pressure on the player. Then you will most likely produce many great goal chances. So statistics must always be considered in a larger context. Nevertheless, I was able to use this information to tell the coach that the player in question must develop his passing game, and when he regains the ball, it must be sent (most often) to the nearest teammate.

 

[Sheedy's right knee.]

It’s good to have options. Variety in the squad means we can have flexibility in our tactics.

 

[NathDogg]

You dont think - in a thread that's being used by his fan boys to claim he's irreplaceable creatively - that you saying approvingly "there were only 21 players in the entire league who contributed to more goals than him" isn't laughable?

Ok.

I don't think any of James fanboys are saying he's irreplaceable mate, but I do think we need to find a way to replace what he can bring to the side and the chances he creates, especially against the tighter, better defences.

Do I trust Brands and Benitez to do that?!? I'm not even sure they will get any further funds if/when James leaves.

Also, and I think even the James haters/Benitez fun boys and yourself can admit, that it's very sad that we won't get to see James play in front of a full house at Goodison park in the royal blue jersey, even once.

Football should be about excitement and entertainment, and usually when James is on the pitch, that is what you get plus chances and goals. He gets bums off seats when the balls at his feet.

My son is gutted James looks destined to leave us, and that's probably the saddest part of it all.

 

[manxtoffee]

I don't think any of James fanboys are saying he's irreplaceable mate, but I do think we need to find a way to replace what he can bring to the side and the chances he creates, especially against the tighter, better defences.

Do I trust Brands and Benitez to do that?!? I'm not even sure they will get any further funds if/when James leaves.

Also, and I think even the James haters/Benitez fun boys and yourself can admit, that it's very sad that we won't get to see James play in front of a full house at Goodison park in the royal blue jersey, even once.

Football should be about excitement and entertainment, and usually when James is on the pitch, that is what you get plus chances and goals. He gets bums off seats when the balls at his feet.

My son is gutted James looks destined to leave us, and that's probably the saddest part of it all.

Would you like a hanky?

 

[NathDogg]

Would you like a hanky?

Not yet Frendalino, but thanks for the offer

Come back to me when he actually leaves tho, don't forget about me....

 

[davek]

I don't think any of James fanboys are saying he's irreplaceable mate, but I do think we need to find a way to replace what he can bring to the side and the chances he creates, especially against the tighter, better defences.

Do I trust Brands and Benitez to do that?!? I'm not even sure they will get any further funds if/when James leaves.

Also, and I think even the James haters/Benitez fun boys and yourself can admit, that it's very sad that we won't get to see James play in front of a full house at Goodison park in the royal blue jersey, even once.

Football should be about excitement and entertainment, and usually when James is on the pitch, that is what you get plus chances and goals. He gets bums off seats when the balls at his feet.

My son is gutted James looks destined to leave us, and that's probably the saddest part of it all.

We need to get someone creatve in behind the strikers, for sure.

But that player also has to have a work ethic too.

 

[BlueToff]

Who were the managers then? What players have been shifted then? Allan and James were down to Carlo.

It never is just one person's job but a number of people are involved in buying and selling not to mention the players themselves.

The DoF has been the one constant and it has been his remit to help ease FFP burden over the last 3 years. For a number of reasons, some of which aren't on him in any way, we are far worse off. But you know, it's still a failing.

 

[NathDogg]

We need to get someone creatve in behind the strikers, for sure.

But that player also has to have a work ethic too.

His fitness is the issue for Me, not his work ethic.

He works when he is on the pitch, more offensively of course, but he still works and tracks back - the shout of James being lazy is just well, lazy.