James Rodríguez

[Hafnia]

1 hour ago, BedfordBlue said:

Not so sure about the hiring Brands bit hes wasted loads of money on rubbish think last summers signings where down to Carlo

 

James and Allan were previous players of Carlos... That stands to reason.  Godfrey and Doucoure?  The bid for hojberg and Gabriel who whilst chose different clubs would have been very good signings. 

Brands and his scout network will be behind them. 

[StevO]

You know it was just a joke right? 

[dunlopp9987]

https://www.espn.com/soccer/everton/story/4350306/colombias-james-rodriguez-i-joined-everton-to-play-for-carlo-ancelotti

Hard to figure this one out. My initial thought was "oh that's not the right thing to say to a fanbase", as it could maybe be construed as a dig towards the club. But I also don't think it's some well-kept secret that had it been a different manager, James would've never considered coming here.

[Shukes]

That’s exactly what we brought Carlo in for.

[Gwlad]

11 hours ago, Shukes said:

That’s exactly what we brought Carlo in for.

And why Koulibaly could end up here.

[Wiggytop]

Thought I’d stoke the flames.....

I was OK with him taking the free kick, I can’t remember the last goal we scored direct from a free kick, so the three so called specialists have been a bit shit.

[dunlopp9987]

1 minute ago, Wiggytop said:

Thought I’d stoke the flames.....

I was OK with him taking the free kick, I can’t remember the last goal we scored direct from a free kick, so the three so called specialists have been a bit shit.

The problem for me is, we haven't had a lot of great chances to score on a direct free kick lately because we've barely been threatening in the final third. Although the angle favored a righty like Richy or Siggy, I still would've had James taking it because he's the only one we have who can create magic out of nothing

[StevO]

40 minutes ago, dunlopp9987 said:

The problem for me is, we haven't had a lot of great chances to score on a direct free kick lately because we've barely been threatening in the final third. Although the angle favored a righty like Richy or Siggy, I still would've had James taking it because he's the only one we have who can create magic out of nothing

I’m sort of with you on this. Everyone else is a bit disappointing, but it wouldn’t surprise me if James did something we didn’t expect. 

[Bailey]

I think we are going to have a big problem with James.

He is clearly our most talented player but he turned up for about 10 minutes last night. He spent most of the game ambling around the pitch doing the bare minimum. 

I wouldn't say that is ever acceptable but I understand it more with a player who has less responsibility but he was playing as one of a midfield 3 yesterday and you can't get away with it. As an example at one stage Gomes, Davies and Richie all towards the left hand channel. James gave it a token gesture. Palace then worked it to the spare man James should have pressed. That was a common theme and one of the reasons Palace managed to pass the ball to a teammate despite their bests attempts not to. 

He is a wizard with the ball but Carlo needs to find a way to either get him to work as hard as the rest of the players or find a role that means he doesnt have to. 

[StevO]

50 minutes ago, Bailey said:

I think we are going to have a big problem with James.

He is clearly our most talented player but he turned up for about 10 minutes last night. He spent most of the game ambling around the pitch doing the bare minimum. 

I wouldn't say that is ever acceptable but I understand it more with a player who has less responsibility but he was playing as one of a midfield 3 yesterday and you can't get away with it. As an example at one stage Gomes, Davies and Richie all towards the left hand channel. James gave it a token gesture. Palace then worked it to the spare man James should have pressed. That was a common theme and one of the reasons Palace managed to pass the ball to a teammate despite their bests attempts not to. 

He is a wizard with the ball but Carlo needs to find a way to either get him to work as hard as the rest of the players or find a role that means he doesnt have to. 

Playing him on the right hand side of a front three, with license to roam, and Doucoure on the right hand side of a midfield three to cover and link, and Coleman behind them. Worked great. 

[Hafnia]

I'd play him as a false 9.  

By far and away our best finisher - best finisher I've seen in our club.  His goals against man United and palace show that, throw in his other goals.  

Reminds me of Robbie Fowler.  

Id drop DCL or shift him out right and try that where they can swap and change 

[Matt]

1 hour ago, Hafnia said:

I'd play him as a false 9.  

By far and away our best finisher - best finisher I've seen in our club.  His goals against man United and palace show that, throw in his other goals.  

Reminds me of Robbie Fowler.  

Id drop DCL or shift him out right and try that where they can swap and change 

I would not move our leading goal scorer regardless of how good James is and considering he won’t do a fraction in of the work DCL does, it makes even less sense. 

[markjazzbassist]

2 minutes ago, Matt said:

I would not move our leading goal scorer regardless of how good James is and considering he won’t do a fraction in of the work DCL does, it makes even less sense. 

also he won't have all that space to run the show.  makes no sense.  with the summer incomings we will see where carlo would like james to be.

[Hafnia]

10 minutes ago, Matt said:

I would not move our leading goal scorer regardless of how good James is and considering he won’t do a fraction in of the work DCL does, it makes even less sense. 

Teams are set up to contain DCL.  I have been and remain a big DCL fan but he's not a finisher in the way Rodriguez is. 

In old money he makes a good target man Niall Quinn type partner for a smaller fox in the box type player. 

Don't get me wrong there are games where James as a false 9 won't work but I think in a pivot involving Richarlison it could be a goer. 

 

[Hafnia]

10 minutes ago, markjazzbassist said:

also he won't have all that space to run the show.  makes no sense.  with the summer incomings we will see where carlo would like james to be.

A false 9 very much has the space to run the show.  His in game intelligence would be devastating for centre halves.  If he drops deep and Richarlison steps up does the defender go with James or mark the space for the ball around the corner from Rodriguez. 

 

[Bailey]

14 hours ago, StevO said:

Playing him on the right hand side of a front three, with license to roam, and Doucoure on the right hand side of a midfield three to cover and link, and Coleman behind them. Worked great. 

That worked until sides starting attacking down that side. The Utd game gave us a glimpse of that and I think that is why Ancellotti has moved him inside since.

1 hour ago, Hafnia said:

I'd play him as a false 9.  

By far and away our best finisher - best finisher I've seen in our club.  His goals against man United and palace show that, throw in his other goals.  

Reminds me of Robbie Fowler.  

Id drop DCL or shift him out right and try that where they can swap and change 

I think I would as well. I am not sure how well it would work but I think it is something I would try, in the same way City did it with De Bruyne. It would require a big change from the rest of the team, such as genuine wide players and technically good midfielders that can hold onto the ball.

[Hafnia]

2 minutes ago, Bailey said:

That worked until sides starting attacking down that side. The Utd game gave us a glimpse of that and I think that is why Ancellotti has moved him inside since.

I think I would as well. I am not sure how well it would work but I think it is something I would try, in the same way City did it with De Bruyne. It would require a big change from the rest of the team, such as genuine wide players and technically good midfielders that can hold onto the ball.

I recall Naismith playing that role.... He had the intelligence and finishing ability to do it.  This is Rodriguez - an absolute genius.  Although Naismith did have the edge on lost players when it came to workrate. 

I think with Doucoure it would work as he is strong at making runs from deep - decoys or genuine pass options.  

[Bailey]

3 minutes ago, Hafnia said:

I recall Naismith playing that role.... He had the intelligence and finishing ability to do it.  This is Rodriguez - an absolute genius.  Although Naismith did have the edge on lost players when it came to workrate. 

I think with Doucoure it would work as he is strong at making runs from deep - decoys or genuine pass options.  

I think he did. One of the games was when we played Arsenal and Lukaku started on the right wing under Martinez.

There is a big difference between the way that side played football and the way this one does though.

 

[Hafnia]

Just now, Bailey said:

I think he did. One of the games was when we played Arsenal and Lukaku started on the right wing under Martinez.

There is a big difference between the way that side played football and the way this one does though.

 

Ancellotti admitted one of his biggest mistakes was not buying Baggio because he was a 10 and he couldn't fit him in.  

Hes since said you don't pass on players like that - you adapt your team to fit them in.

There was times the other night where James took the ball in places and with a composure you only see from elite players and it sticks out how technically superior he is to most players in the league. 

[Matt]

5 hours ago, Hafnia said:

Teams are set up to contain DCL.  I have been and remain a big DCL fan but he's not a finisher in the way Rodriguez is. 

In old money he makes a good target man Niall Quinn type partner for a smaller fox in the box type player. 

Don't get me wrong there are games where James as a false 9 won't work but I think in a pivot involving Richarlison it could be a goer. 

 

Brilliant, let them try and contain DCL. It’ll take 2-3 players. I could mark James out of the game if that was my job.
 

I do like the idea of him being a support striker, if that’s what you’re getting at?

[markjazzbassist]

james said when he signed his job is to create and that's what he's good at.  carlo has had him at 3 clubs now, i would think he knows how to best utilize him

[StevO]

6 hours ago, Bailey said:

That worked until sides starting attacking down that side. The Utd game gave us a glimpse of that and I think that is why Ancellotti has moved him inside since.

The defensive responsibility has to fall to the right midfielder and right back to give James that freedom, otherwise he would just play as a number ten. Not every tactic will work against every team (hence why Roberto didn’t play Lukaku on the right every game, just against a weak full back at Arsenal) and United were just better at closing down that plan than most other teams. 
I would suggest Carlo started moving James around as we lost Digne, Coleman, Allan and Doucoure all at various different parts of the season. If we had everyone fit in this squad I think he goes back to this.
It’s no coincidence he’s used this same tactic with James a lot at every club he’s been to. It makes the left back and centre backs have to make a choice to follow him or leave him, giving him plenty of choice with the ball. 

[Bailey]

2 hours ago, StevO said:

The defensive responsibility has to fall to the right midfielder and right back to give James that freedom, otherwise he would just play as a number ten. Not every tactic will work against every team (hence why Roberto didn’t play Lukaku on the right every game, just against a weak full back at Arsenal) and United were just better at closing down that plan than most other teams. 
I would suggest Carlo started moving James around as we lost Digne, Coleman, Allan and Doucoure all at various different parts of the season. If we had everyone fit in this squad I think he goes back to this.
It’s no coincidence he’s used this same tactic with James a lot at every club he’s been to. It makes the left back and centre backs have to make a choice to follow him or leave him, giving him plenty of choice with the ball. 

That is true about Carlo however at the other clubs he has a bit of a better supporting cast! If the team that James plays for keeps the ball a lot more than the other side, it makes him far more dangerous. If you spend more time defending, like we do, his role causes a problem. 

I think he has moved him around because he can't get away with using James that way with us. At least not at the moment anyway. 

[Palfy]

10 hours ago, Hafnia said:

I'd play him as a false 9.  

By far and away our best finisher - best finisher I've seen in our club.  His goals against man United and palace show that, throw in his other goals.  

Reminds me of Robbie Fowler.  

Id drop DCL or shift him out right and try that where they can swap and change 

I’d play him up front if we could find a creative number 10 and drop DCL, then maybe we can play through team’s with decent possession and ability. 

[Hafnia]

13 hours ago, Matt said:

Brilliant, let them try and contain DCL. It’ll take 2-3 players. I could mark James out of the game if that was my job.
 

I do like the idea of him being a support striker, if that’s what you’re getting at?

How could you mark James out the game? Not being funny Matt he can take the ball with 2 players marking him closely.

I did say I'd play DCL on the right and he would interchange with James.......  Example. When we have the ball deep then DCL makes himself available - as we progress and transition then James takes up the strikers positions. 

[Hafnia]

13 hours ago, markjazzbassist said:

james said when he signed his job is to create and that's what he's good at.  carlo has had him at 3 clubs now, i would think he knows how to best utilize him

You seem to be forgetting the players he had finishing for him in his 3 previous clubs. 

James is the best creator and finisher in the club, a false 9 would not prevent him from creating - it would likely enhance it. 

[Matt]

46 minutes ago, Hafnia said:

How could you mark James out the game? Not being funny Matt he can take the ball with 2 players marking him closely.

I did say I'd play DCL on the right and he would interchange with James.......  Example. When we have the ball deep then DCL makes himself available - as we progress and transition then James takes up the strikers positions. 

You sit on him and kick him a bit early on 

[Hafnia]

22 minutes ago, Matt said:

You sit on him and kick him a bit early on 

No not having that.  Seen him get booted all over the place by numerous teams.  He's carried a knock since vvd knee but come back from if now.

You honestly think his south American roots allow him to cry out of games. 

[Matt]

18 minutes ago, Hafnia said:

No not having that.  Seen him get booted all over the place by numerous teams.  He's carried a knock since vvd knee but come back from if now.

You honestly think his south American roots allow him to cry out of games. 

I’m clearly exaggerating but I’ve seen him sulk in games when he’s been roughed up early on and effectively stop playing for large chunks of time. It’s a price we pay for his ability but also why I would never play him as the central CF

[Hafnia]

Just now, Matt said:

I’m clearly exaggerating but I’ve seen him sulk in games when he’s been roughed up early on and effectively stop playing for large chunks of time. It’s a price we pay for his ability but also why I would never play him as the central CF

I've seen him look pissed off too - rightly so.  The number of times his ankle gets stamped is a fucking joke - when he plays he first time pass watch how often a player leaves a bit on him and how often the ref ignores it.   Newcastle was a disgrace.

Does it slow him down? Maybe, he doesn't down tools though. 

If he played for the media darlings he would get looked after.