I think "Colombian Mbappé" is the real deal. (Obviously not serious about him being as good as the Frenchman with the comparisons, but the real deal as in he can be a very solid player out wide for us in future competitions.)
We don't need nor want to be searching for classic 10s, James isn't playing like a classic 10, he's working his ass off defending and pressing. James has all the skills and is central like a classic 10 but really he's adapted to a modern system, and we are having success because James is allowed the freedom to move around and get on the ball because we have Arias and Rios who can also pop up in multiple areas and means almost the whole midfield is fluid. Yaser isn't a classic 10 and we shouldn't be trying to make him into one, frankly also there really aren't many players in the world who have the skill that James has, guys like Arias and Yaser are fantastic players with a wide array of skills and who can defend or move wide, that's the best type of skillset to develop, we're not likely to get another James and shouldn't hold other players to that standard.
2026 a lot of our guys are aged out. -Ospina/Vargas - will be 37 by then..... tough (Montero don't think he is that good..... hope Mier and 2 others pop up) -Uribe - 36.... he 2 years past his prime already -Mojicia - 33..... I mean none of us like Mojica or thought he should have been called but man.... this dude sweats the jersey and has ran his ars off.... just dont know if he going to be able to do that in 2 more summers -Quintero - 33 at that point - Cordoba - 33 maybe not too old but getting there Do you bring a James if he isnt a starter for the NT at 35/36 by the end of the Cup? I mean we can hope he still has the legs but if he doesnt come then we have to change our play style. I dont see Carrascal being good enough(dont even think he should be called), Yaser(isnt as smart or sees the game as well as James and is more of a Winger) , Quintero at 33(I mean he can barely run now and has never had any stamina..... I am not a fan nor have never been so hope he has a massive game if he come on tomorrow) I mean we starting to make a lot of wingers and wide players we just need another Rios/Arias to pop up and we will be ok. I just hope we qualify early this time around and then play new guys. Play without Diaz and James. Try new guys more. Hopefully the WC 26 lets teams bring more players tho that might be a cheat code for the bigger countries. Always nice to bring some youth players to be ready for the next one.
Keepers can play forever. Vargas has waited so long for these moments. He will try his best to be ready for the next couple of tournaments. Montero has played well for Colombia and has never given up a goal during the run of play. Mier seems to be on the right track to give them both a run for their money for the starting job. Assuming he continues to play well in Mexico and improves/ moves on to a bigger league. It will be a great position competition between the three of them heading into '26. Between Solis, Puerta, & Portilla I think Uribe's time may be up. But he is one of the only captains on the squad so you just never know. Mojica sucks but he is playing hard and doing his role well. I do not think there is anyone who can do his role better in a couple years. Maybe Cabal or Fuentes but both of those guys are a bit too defensive with no crossing accuracy. I mean, it is not like Mojica is the best crosser either mind you, but he does get in a good ball in the area from time to time. JuanFer is probably going to try his best to play until 2026 but his body may not be able to do it. Cordoba is built like a tank and has been waiting his whole life for this opportunity similar to Vargas. Unless he is injured due to all the battering he is taking I think he will be ready for 2026. Playing in a World Cup when just a few months ago he probably thought he may not even play for Colombia is incentive enough to try his very best to get there. Lorenzo loves Carrascal. If he his healthy and playing in Europe he will be called. Yaser is 20 years old. He sees the field very well for a player his age. Yes he can play both wings. Yes he can play a bit centrally like Arias. But that is because he is versatile not because he has deficiencies. You know how I feel about James. He has to grow up and improve his club situation. If that happens he will be in the squad and possible starter. Even if it does not happen he may be on the squad cause Lorenzo thinks he can inspire him (and so far so good on that notion, but can it last another couple years? Big gamble.)
I am not the only person who needs proof that in two years he will be ready physically and mentally. Stop making it seem like it is a slam dunk he will be ready for 2026.
I didn’t say that. There is no slam dunk anyone will be ready or healthy but as long as James keeps producing with the yellow, he will and should keep getting called up even if besides La selección he only plays soccer at the ymca or Xbox He will and should keep getting called up and playing until he doesn’t perform one day you’ll understand that
Probably not tbh. If you're still saying "He has to grow up and improve his club situation. If that happens he will be in the squad and possible starter" on the eve of a final when James proved you completely wrong, than its hopeless.
It’s wild and I’m not one of those people that want players called up and paying based on nostalgia. I don’t want to see Falcao anywhere close to the yellow and I really hope we are done with Cuadrado I think Cristiano is holding Portugal back as he adds nothing. when James no longer produces, I’ll be the first one to scream STOP PLAYING HIM but the man literally produces time and time again and even now at 33 with no club, is the best player in our team and has honestly been the best player on both tournaments and this dude is talking about HAVING TO IMPROVE CLUB SITUATION TO CONTINUE playing for the selección. Madness
What he has accomplished the past few weeks is incredible and eye opening. The good thing is that Lorenzo has found this system that works for Colombia AND James. It's crucial everyone is bought in and the rest of team is willing to work that bit more to benefit from what he brings. I truly believe that's been the difference with Lorenzo vs what's happening at club level where coaches either didn't want to or can't afford to ask their teams to buy into tactics that imply them covering extra ground for him when there is a high risk his calf will go any game. With Colombia - the team is comprised of kids that grew up idolizing him. They'd rub in front of a bus for the guy, nevermind running a bit more. And now they have tasted what happens when they do, and that if you give him a dead ball he is just special. The best part is that if he does get hurt we have two or three guys that can play the role pretty well. Quintero is a genius and I really believe Yaser will come good. We have an actual strategy! And players to go with it.
All that matters is what they can produce on the field, all of the guys you mentioned haven't been producing and at times were given chance after chance to the detriment of their team. With James it's just the complete opposite, he was actually limited chances the team was worse, he plays and produces and the team is constantly better with him. Ronaldo for sure is holding Portugal back, James has been our best player and it's so obvious that he's producing and doing things that make the whole team better every time he plays. When that stops I'll call for him to be left out like I did for Falcao and Cuadrado.
I do not think it is wild to imply that if he is not playing at his club and he does not act maturely he may be left off the squad in two years. All of that combined with his usual injury concerns (and he is not getting any younger) should be concerning to anyone. All that has to be proven to me.
He has nothing to prove to anyone at this point. With all of his issues, he has been our best NT player ever
Feel free to follow predictions on my Twitter. Will disclose a tendency table with predictions of all tipsters right after the final kicked off. Buena suerte Colombia! 🌎 Copa América Prediction Contest🏆 FINAL📅 Date: July 14🕗 Kick-off time: 20:00 (local time)🏟️ Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida 👮♂️ Referee: Raphael Claus (🇧🇷 Brazil)🌡️ Weather forecast: 29° ☀️🇦🇷 Argentina v 🇨🇴 Colombia#CopaAmerica2024final #ARGCOL— International Football Guru SK ⚽🇩🇪🗺️ (@sk_football1907) July 14, 2024
That is a different argument. When pertaining to the subject at hand and replying to CrzD's original post about 2026 the jury is still out. It is not a sure thing that he will be playing like this in September in Qualifying let alone June 2026.
You're recontextualizing what you said. You do this frequently. You wrote, ONCE AGAIN, "he HAS to grow up and improve his club situation." Whatever maturity he lacks and having the worst club situation possible right now, James is our best player. Moreover, he's unanimously considered the player of the tournament so far by anybody who's given an opinion on it. By the standard YOU KEEP ON SAYING, James should not be on the roster--let alone playing. Your standard for him would have prevented Colombia from having the BEST PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT. You've said SEVERAL times elsewhere, you think Colombia would be fine without James. By your thinking, Colombia would be better off by NOT having the BEST PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT. Stop doing this. Reevaluate your opinion. We all get things wrong.
Now that I've read it closely, there's just too many things that boggle the mind. Do you really think Lorenzo is calling James because he thinks he can "inspire" him? You think that that's why, and not the much more logical liklihood that Lorenzo thinks James is a good player who has abilities to help the NT? Moreover, do you seriously think James himself doesn't get inspired to represent Colombia? I don't want to debate these things. I just want to know if you really think that. Most importantly, what is the "big gamble"? How is giving one spot of 23+ to one of (probably THE) greatest player your NT has ever had, directly after one of the best tournaments he's ever had, a "gamble"? When you make a "gamble," you win something or you lose something. We're about to WIN a Copa America for the first time in 23 years on the back of James' assists. Now tell me what we might lose by keeping James on the roster? Literally the only thing possible is a space for somebody who gets left off the roster. Ok. So give me your player who should be on this team over James. I'll wait. This should be interesting... And don't give me a "we have no idea how things might emerge or turn out" cop out response. It's based on nothing, hypoethetically cannot be wrong, and just destroys any sort of productive discussion. Before you say that, then, let me say this: "We have no idea if James won't be the player of the tournament for the 26 WC which Colombia will win."
The context is clear. The discussion was about age and players that will be able to be on the roster of ‘26. In my opinion James has to be mature and have a solidified club situation going forward for him to be ideally starting. Lorenzo can only do so much. He so far has done well in guiding James and taking steps to improve upon his mental state. But knowing how volatile the situation is I am skeptical as to whether he will be on the squad. He could be injured in an MLS bench for all I know come ‘26.
For all you know, he shouldn't have been on this roster. Just repeat the same EXACT thing instead of engage in any actual debate or discussion. I've had enough. See you all at game time, brothers
some of his posts read like something I would hear out of an american press conference or a FS1 pregame show with Lalas and that Hercules guy
One thing I will like to note is James wasn’t playing for his club. He called the federation to send him training coaches and a psychologist. They did both…. I know I shit on them for being cheap but man that’s cool of them and helped out big time that 50-100k at most they spent got them to a final now wish they would do that to get us friendlies at home in Barranquilla against better teams or allow more players in call ups or more assistant coaches for Lorenzo if he wants it like Canada, us, Mexico are kind of fkd friendly wise because everyone’s playing qualifiers. maybe force them to come play us in Barranquilla then play them at their home stadium hope to see us again play in December and January with none euro guys to find more options and give Montero or Mier minutes on goal
the colombians with mental problems is like a plague, the majority of the players suffer these mental blockages.
Alot of it starts with the clubs and our inability to have kids scouted and in academies at a young age. Look at the top euro countries, these players are in school and training from the time they are 7 or 8 and are being molded and taught how to deal with mental aspects of the game, how to be professional etc. Our guys get it for sure, but it's a lot harder if you aren't getting trained in all aspects of the game especially professionalism from a young age. Why so many of our guys tend to bloom late, our league and club situation needs to step up and honestly with how valuable transfers and how much talent we have it doesn't make any sense we're not doing it better.