From Colombia With Love - The James Rodriguez Welcome Thread!

Two formations work with James.. 4231 and 442. both of these not only work for James but they will also get the best out of Isco and Asensio since both of these guys are not true wingers but more attacking Mids.

 

James plays best as a free CAM, he's had great success as a second striker as well, and we know he can do decent work on either wing, at least better than what Ronaldo and Bale put up on a weekly basis (in Ronaldo's case, I am referring to pure wing work, not overall performance). Plus, he's put in a shift in midfield a couple of times this season.

So that's two positions (CAM, SS) I would have no problem playing him in full-time, and at least one of those positions can be used in a standard 4-4-2, a diamond 4-4-2, and a 4-2-3-1, while he can also be used in 3 other positions for depth.

That's 5 in total. How is he tactically inflexible? If he was anymore flexible, he'd be spandex.

 

The only formation where he doesn't fit is the one we play. If we dismantle the BBC, James is very much welcome to stay.

 

Well he technically can. 1.Right mid in a 4-4-2. 2.Second striker in most formations 3. A number 10/CAM 4. Left wing 5. Right wing 6. False 9 (almost the same shit as SS but whatever).

It's reaching but James can play any of these roles as well as Bale can play the right wing.
Hell,Messi was a striker for over a decade before switching over to right wing etc.

 

Well yeah. That's exactly what we're doing by having Ronaldo at the left wing and Bale at the right wing.
My point is that James isn't that limited and almost any formation barring 4-3-3 suits him.

 

James would only make us play that one particular way if the idea is to make him a permanent starter and play him as a CAM from the get-go. Is that the idea? Has he even earned that? I don't think so, and I don't think the only alternative to that idea is to just sell him.

If we keep him, we have a world class player on the bench, who could be the super sub in almost any game, brought in at almost any offensive position, and comfortably be the starter every time somebody is injured, or suspended, or being rested. He'd see (substantial) minutes every week, enough for him to fight for a permanent spot in the line-up.

And, if he does make that line-up and earns the CAM role, then it doesn't matter that it's "inflexible" and forces others to adapt to it, because by the very fact that he earned it, it means that adapting to James was the best thing all along.

 

I just re-watched his goal again on youtube without the commentators and the sound from the crowd is impressive.

 

Play James on the LW and have him feed through ball and crosses to Ronaldo all day with Marcelo cutting inside with his insane dribbling. He can score the occasional wondergoal when he's in the middle or has a free kick. We shouldn't let him go, I think James should stay and BB should leave.

 

Gutted his goal couldn't get us at least 1 point.. Still feeling the pain.

 

If ZZ is still here next season which he probably will be, I don't really think he'll be interested in figuring out how to best fit James in. He is like another Morata on the squad in terms of how he isn't interested in playing that too much.

His best bet is moving to a team that plays to his strengths and succeed there. I have no doubt he can.

 

It is clear that James is most effective playing behind CF`s and being primarily active in final third. I doubt anybody denies that. But still, he can perform great in other positions higher up the pitch. 4-4-2 covers that, because left and right midfielder are not deep positions. So, this is were we disagree. He already played as right midfielder in 4-4-2, and i think he was great, not to mention Madrid looked great. He does not have to have pace nor ability to beat his opponents in such layout - but true it would be added value. He just needs his creativity , and roam between center and the line as left/right midfielder in 4-4-2 do. Him providing service to Mbappe would be lathal.

In terms of defense, James outperforms Bale at certain areas. More tackles and more interceptions in La liga for example. Also, with 4-4-2 we would easier mitigate losing possession of the ball. In current layout, we are incredibly vulnerable to that, because our BBC is 3km away from midfield, and our Fullbacks are positioned high up the pitch. Meaning, we often start defending with 5-6 players behind, our midfield is strechted beyond belief which offers tons of space to opponent. In 4-4-2, situation changes, because you have extra man behind the ball and fullbacks position themself differently.

If Zidane does not rate him, then in any case he should leave.

p.s: I think this team would improve if for starters Zidane would make just two changes, which would not impact system drastically. For starters replace Benzema with Morata. And secondly, replace Bale with James / Isco playing centrally behind CF`s. Also, Isco should be playing at the moment, because he performs better than Kroos and Modrić.

 

Wife came and mentioned that he told her he wants to stay in Madrid for years. Quite sad really that it didn't work out

 

With the numbers of teams around that could use a CAM of his caliber, I will be shocked if he doesn't move on. Yes, he could potentially start in a 4-4-2, but it is nowhere near the production you could get out of him in the CAM position at another club. The likelihood of Madrid adopting multiple formations which would be optimal for him is just not likely.

On another big club, where he is playing as a clear CAM, he becomes the linchpin of that team and clear star.

 

Lol that's so James.... Kid just don't want to give up and make that shit work, that's why he is aggurably the best Colombian player of all time

 

Gareth saying he is good to play and then get reinjured and in the process humiliating Zidane is the best thing that could happen for James. Zidane should be thinking long and hard about keeping him, in any event the next month will determine his faith.

 

#scoresonegoalfromzerotohero

 

James is not the only who who has come off the bench to have good performances. Isco was arguably our best player this past month yet when the time came for one of our biggest matches of the season, he doesn't see a minute. Morata scored a hattrick, something Benz has yet to do this season, and he actually gets buried on the bench. While I wouldn't use the word humiliating, I'd say our bench guys have been proving they are more than capable for a while now yet their situations still haven't changed.

 

James it is better for him to leave he is good but he has never shown anything to be better than bale or suggest a change in formation.

Hazard next year would be more versatile and a much better fit for this team and system.sorry.

 

In a game of that magnitude, under the criticism he has been facing - 10 men down and being subbed on... you damn right from zero to hero - its a show of character, which is what this club is all about.

 

In isco's case, the formation is an issue. You can't necessarily experiment in big games so zidane sticks with the tried and true can't fault him for that.

Morata has been given chances earlier in the season but his link up play leaves a lot to be desired. Benzemas just works better with ronaldo.

Things are slowly changing, iscos new contract, asensio's rise to prominence - to be honest its a good problem to have as a coach to have 13-14 players that can be considered starters when all are fit.