2021/22 James Rodriguez

[Egil Olsen]

This still misses my point but yes our style doesn't suit him at all. Even with the ball it doesn't suit him. We don't have players who can pass accurately and consistently.

Your point is that he hypothetically might be ok to press if X, Y, and Z are present?

 

[larrygobfiend]

He’s played you like a fiddle. Do you really think he wants to hang around now his Daddy’s gone?

 

[TheBigIguana]

Your point is that he hypothetically might be ok to press if X, Y, and Z are present?

Yes but talking about how much possession the team has isn't important to the equation at all. If we were a team engaging high he'd be OK. His issue is he doesn't have the speed to cover large spaces so in a team that condenses space it isn't an issue. We don't, and can't, do this so it creates an issue that is more fit than player related. The difference here is you're feeling the need to criticize the player when the issue as it usually is with Everton is the club not having a plan. James is still great (when fit of course) but he's not all powerful enough to just do it in any system and team.

 

[Groucho]

I hear what you are saying , but call it the cynic in me it seems every decision the club are making nowadays is very much the wrong one.
I cant abide seeing a top quality player leave the club but they seem content to keep Iwobi , Delph , Kenny , Gomes & Davies.
As it stands James is way down the list of many problems we have at the moment.

It’s not the club’s decision if he wants out though. No good keeping an unhappy player who has openly stated he would never have come if it wasn’t for Ancelotti.

His social media antics could well reflect his dressing room attitude and it’s no good for anyone.

There’s one Spanish-speaking employee on the club’s books who is currently splitting the fans and it isn’t Benitez.

 

[Martin Alvito]

Just on the bit in bold - 14 direct goal contributions, most chances created from open play etc - we need to replace that.

Also, Everton didn't have one player in the top percentiles (whatever that means) of ball carriers on Saturday. I don't think that's a tactical think by RB, I just think we didn't have those players (and don't have them in the squad).

I don't really see my post as being contrary? James can't run with the ball. He moves around players okay but then needs to release a pass. As you say, start of last season the movement was there, in a system which suited Digne, DCL and Richarlison. Second half of the season it wasn't.

Anguissa is a good ball carrier and I'd be happy with him in midfield, though not sure he offers creativity as such he gets the ball into the final third so could be a good option for that role. It's something we need in midfield, and imo that should be a three-man midfield for solidity and balance and to let players do what they're good at.

However, Gbamin had good progression stats from 18-19, so could he do that job? Meaning we could go and add another attacker (or attacking mid) to help with the creative burden?

The contrarian part of your take is with respect to Iwobi. We agree that Rodriguez did much of his work early on when we had movement. Once the injuries started to mount and we lost that, he became less consistently effective.

I think he got frustrated the way an Iniesta would get frustrated by players that won't follow the Gretzky dictum and go to where the ball should be.

I think that the odd individual bit of magic from Rodriguez in the second half is still worth more than Iwobi, though the wage discrepancy is a problem.

I'm 100% on board the three-man midfield train. Whether or not Gbamin is the answer to replacing the forward passing of James, we need another answer due to the risk of injury.

 

[Egil Olsen]

Yes but talking about how much possession the team has isn't important to the equation at all. If we were a team engaging high he'd be OK. His issue is he doesn't have the speed to cover large spaces so in a team that condenses space it isn't an issue. We don't, and can't, do this so it creates an issue that is more fit than player related. The difference here is you're feeling the need to criticize the player when the issue as it usually is with Everton is the club not having a plan. James is still great (when fit of course) but he's not all powerful enough to just do it in any system and team.

If you want to push high in the field, you must have good first defenders. This is because the room is behind the line of defense. This is the most dangerous room in football. What happens is often one of two things: 1) The defensive line falls deep (which is correct), but it creates a large space between the lines - something that the opponent utilizes, and can create positional and numerical superiority. 2) The defense does not fall deep, and the opponent can hit an unpressurized pass behind the defense (positional advantage). Opponents will also always play against where the pressure is weakest, and create numerical superiority around that player. We saw opponents do it against JR and Coleman throughout last season. A pressure will never be so compact that it covers the entire field.

 

[Sheedy's right knee.]

Imagine this: the new manager is telling you there's no more passengers, everyone will give their all and all will get their chance if they put themselves on the line for the club and take the manager's instructions...and then that same manager 'accomodates' a player who cant be trusted to turn up for games, plays a lot less for the first team than anyone else will be expected to, and uses his social media platforms to court other clubs.

No chance. His mentality is counter to all that's being demanded and we need shut of him, he cant be utlised. That's a Carlo Ancelotti viewpoint that even got him a slap in the face when he pissed off back home early late last season.

I hope there's another mug club out there prepared to pay him the cash that Brands agreed to pay him.

Is it really that black and white. If he had that scant disregard for playing the game at all he would never have made as footballer period never mind been a world star. We are so polarised in our views of footballers and their lifestyles when in reality we haven’t got a clue, and that includes you.

 

[Shibbywiggles]

Hope he joins Atletico and scores the winner against Real to get Ancelotti the sack. A nice F you for ditching us and giving up on ‘the project’ after 18 months of spouting what was clearly bollocks.

 

[blulouie]

It’s not the club’s decision if he wants out though. No good keeping an unhappy player who has openly stated he would never have come if it wasn’t for Ancelotti.

His social media antics could well reflect his dressing room attitude and it’s no good for anyone.

There’s one Spanish-speaking employee on the club’s books who is currently splitting the fans and it isn’t Benitez.

That is all assumption mate.
Unless you know differently that he wants out or has an attitude in the dressing room.

Not too sure on the which Spanish one splitting the fans either.

 

[davek]

Is it really that black and white. If he had that scant disregard for playing the game at all he would never have made as footballer period never mind been a world star. We are so polarised in our views of footballers and their lifestyles when in reality we haven’t got a clue, and that includes you.

I can look at the evidence before me just like anyone else.

It tells me he's a player that cries off all too easily and thinks esprit de corp is a French car.

 

[chicoazul]

I’m seeing some Lukakuism going on here, likely from the same folk.

 

[R.Reddington]

 

[maccavennie]

76 days since Ancelotti left

James is still here.

 

[neil999]

What motto?!

 

[Drico]

Would it be too much to ask that he stay off social media for a while? It's all very well saying he was misrepresented, but you can only be misrepresented if you're on there in the first place. Time to be a pro, James: head down, get fit, get into the manager's plans. Alternatively, get your transfer. Everything else is self-inflicted/deliberate noise (delete as applicable).