Guess we should find out soon where this game will be finally played. Also not good news to see James leave the game with an injury with less than a month away from this game.
Official, no James Victime d'une déchirure profonde de la cuisse gauche mardi, James Rodriguez sera indisponible 10 semaines. pic.twitter.com/6VvzmTG4Nl— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) August 3, 2017 He'll be out for fu*king 10 weeks. Edwin Cardona should be in form very soon, he'll replace James. I would also like to see Yimmy Chara in the NT this time, he deserves it.
Venezuela is the worst team in SA right now. Have like 4 points.... I know they are our papas and all but not being able to beat them even without James would be pretty sad especially if it is played outside of Venezuela. Issue is they always go Super Saiyan god mode every time they play us. As with everything happening to their country they will be even harder to play.
Yeah. I've never seen somebody who walked off the field as calmly as James did be out for that long. 10 weeks would mean he'd miss all 4 remaining matches...
Even if not 10 weeks, for sure he won't play this months and it sucks. On the other hand, a team like Colombia shouldn't depend on one player.
If 2-3 weeks is right he'll be available. We shouldn't depend on one player but this would be a huge loss. Bayern said it was a right thigh muscle injury, meaning that if he was to be out 10 weeks he would have torn it pretty bad, i don't think he would have walked off so casually if that was the case. Edit: .@jamesdrodriguez & @Thiago6 are both set for a short spell on the sidelines. Get well soon, lads! 👍➡️ https://t.co/GGjGb22YVc #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/Prux97Iebh— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) August 2, 2017
The only positive is that this eliminates Jamesdepencia and makes the team as a whole step up. Sometimes teams play better without its star player ie. the Knicks in 2000, when Ewing went down.
The only positive I can see from this is that it looks like Falcao is going to be captain again. (God willing he will be healthy. *Saying a prayer as I type this.)
August 31 so he may be ready if that is true. But he may not be. You never know with hamstring injuries since it does not take much to re-aggravate things.
Yup. That's very likely. We need him in top form. Hopefully Pekerman uses Izquierdo and Cuadrado on the flanks, Cardona on the center and Falcao up top.
If it's just 3 weeks, I think Pekerman calls him and keeps him closely monitored to see if he can make it or not.
What's worrisome is Brugge has played 3 matches so far this season (Champions League qualifiers among them) and Izquierdo hasn't started any of them. This would be my ideal formation otherwise.
Vs Venezuela I wouldn't cancel an option of Cuadrado-Gio-Cardona and Falcao up front. Gio is in good form, plus can give us the long distance threat against an average minus goalkeeper.
GioMore and Cardona on at the same time would be interesting. Both are the kind of guys who want the ball and want to push forward.
With both of them we will control the midfield and we'll have long distance threat. I would save the faster players to the match vs. Brazil, Gio is too slow for this one.
It is difficult to argue against this. He has arguably been the most dangerous player in the Colombian league this season. Very dangerous in transition on counters, can pass the ball for assists and can shoot for golazos. The only problem I see (and we have discussed this before) is what position can he play within Pekerman's system? I think the only time he played was against Serbia in a friendly (I could be wrong) and he played almost like a defensive midfielder. At Junior he is playing more like a supporting striker to Teo. And you say maybe he can be best fit in Caudrado's attacking role next to James. Him being so versatile could be to his detriment cause it is difficult to figure out where he can play and what his natural position is. Although once it is figured out he could be a good option to throw out there in a super sub speedy role that we have been lacking since Cuadrado has become starter. It is good to have an option on the right side like him late in games. Factor in him becoming a star in Barranquilla and it may be a no brainer to have him play at least the home games off the bench.
With James and Izqueirdo injured I would start him against Venezuela depending on Muriel's form. Who else do we have? Copete or Berrio? Pekerman also called up Castillo but he is injured.
I don't know about starting but getting some playing time is a real possibility. Assuming Pekerman even wants to call him up.
And I don't think Izzy's injury is serious. Belgian media seem to think it is just minor and sitting him out is a way to keep him fresh for the next team he may play for.
Worried about LB and back up Goalie.... Ospina going to have 0 minutes. Hopefully it Rueda gets the job in Brazil he can get him on loan. Is Diaz still part of the team now that he left Colombia and at 34? Fabra don't think Pekerman really likes him because he doesn't know how to defend. Would be shocked if he starts someone new tho. Especially with Brazil the next game