James eager to repay Everton and Ancelotti's trust

A great interview. He comes across as a well-balanced and serious young man with a very clear idea of why he's here. Now, all we need is for him and the rest of the team to replicate the form of the first four games. Looking back at some of the fluid interplay and movement in those games, I had forgotten how good we were. No accident that we were top.

Now it now looks like we are a different type of team. Gritty. Static. We are getting results but we certainly aren't as fluid. Have we (and James) lost some belief in the fluid style of three months ago? Have we simply been sussed out by the opposition? Or are we about to push on again with greater fluidity as the season progresses with James at the heart of everything we do?

I can't wait to see! COYB

Victor.

We beat West Brom, Brighton & Palace. The only decent team we beat was Spurs. We look much more likely to stay in touch with the European places with performances like the Leicester and Chelsea games.

Ancelotti needs to find a way of combining the two styles at the right times. Rodriguez needs to show his desire to help out defensively too.

I think we've lost a bit having him in the team, especially playing on the right of a front 3.

We'd be much more balanced and effective if we had right-sided version of Richarlison in the team and whether that means James plays centrally or not, we'll see.

What a player. Most exciting player I've seen in blue since Andrei Kanchelskis. Up until the derby anyway. Hopefully those few magnificent weeks weren't a flash in the pan.

It might sound knee-jerk or drastic but I think Richarlison has gone, either in his head, or he has lost whatever he had for us. Seriously, we may need to cash in now or at least get a serious system or alternative in this window. At the moment, he's costing us points along with the usual midfield suspects.

I think James continuing to play on in the derby game was an understandable but huge mistake by him and the manager. I'd still prefer to have him in the line-up than not - we might miss out on Europe whichever style we employ, but I'd much prefer it to be because we were bold and went for it rather than us being too cautious and timid and let it slip out of our grasp.

If James wants to repay the trust shown to him by Everton and Ancelotti, Champions League football next season would pay off the debt in full.

Because he only plays a handful of games per season, does anyone know if he gives Spanish lessons on the side?

I've plateaued in my Spanish attempts and wondered if he was up for doing something productive.

We now have options that we haven’t had for a long time. We can play expansive attacking football in great style where the ball is made to do more of the work, and we can play a hard defensive, more dour, game. Both styles are effective. The first style depends on Rodriguez being in the side, whilst the second style caters for when injuries remove our most creative players.

For me, James has a pass and great vision, and not knowing the full cause of his most recent injury, it will be good to have him back in the squad.

For me, his best position would be as a central attacking midfielder, enabling any gaps to be countered by other runners in the team.

If he's fit for Wolves, I hope he's at least in the squad, as Wolves on their day can turn any one over. That's a 6-pointer in my book, and we have to then start winning consistently at home, and to break the jinx at our old ground next month.

Clearly a superb technician who I still have great hopes for. I loved watching his sublime left foot early season!

Who was the boxer who said it's hard getting up for training at 5am when you're wearing silk pyjamas? Has he got the heart and desire to go the extra mile for us? I hope so but I'm not 100% sure?!

Play him (at No 10) and Richarlison as a No 9 vs Rotherham to see how they can combine and hope it all goes to plan!!

He really could be a legend here if he puts in the required effort and can stay injury free!!! Fingers crossed!!

If he is fit and injury-free, we have a sublime, game-winning player. Definitely one of the best players in the Premier League.

The issue is that, if he's not 100% fit and has niggling injuries, the balance between creative genius and defensive liability starts to hover on the wrong side of equilibrium.

“Although in both spells, their association was cut short by the manager being sacked”.

Let's hope Carlo doesn't get a hattrick – bit of a Jonah this boy by the sound of it!

[Only joking, by the way...]

An elite player.

You could draw a 10-metre circle outside the penalty area and say don't move out of this for the half. Get the ball to him, and he'll do more damage than most Number 10s in the Premier League – even in this restricted space with his distribution of the ball.

Next summer, with even better players bombing forward left and right of him, it's going to be the best thrilling football in the land.

Enjoyed that. Comes over as a very humble individual.

I particularly enjoyed his thoughts on the Premier League being more physical and faster. But then the conversation being taken into how he plays the game in slow motion.

It wasn't me, but someone else much more educated on here than I; probably Tony or Dave Abrahams if I recall. Players of this type have the ability to play in slow motion and see things that us mortals don't. They don't need to necessarily run fast to play the game quickly. It's in the brain and the decision making.

A superb skilful player when fully fit, but I'd play him at No 10 instead of Sigurdsson.

Jason #2, I beg to differ.

All games in this league are difficult. Liverpool have recently drawn with Fulham, Newcastle, West Brom & lost to Southampton. Look at Chelsea. Look at the table. It's not been as tight for many a year.

To say we were only playing lesser teams is to miss the point, which was about the movement and fluidity in our play. When we have our strongest lineup totally fit and rearing to go, with both full-backs high up the pitch, I hope that fluidity returns, and with it, I feel we can put most teams to the sword.

I believe in the potential of this team and in James at the heart of it.

Yes Christie, that's where I want to see him play. In the Number 10.

In fact I'd have him, Richarlison and a new player as a marauding 3; no fixed positions, just a roaming 3 in front of Allan and Doucouré, supporting Calvert-Lewin.

Twenty posts and nobody has picked up on the most important thing Rodriguez says if we want to have success.

“We need to follow the same path,” which sometimes feels impossible for some unknown reason with Evertonians.

Did any of the Spanish speakers (like me) catch that when asked about Calvert-Lewin, James said he was capable of notching 30 (treinta) or 40 (quarenta) goals per season? That didn't come through in the subtitles, where they only wrote that he could score 30. Talk about dampening expectations...

He's certainly got the talent to make good his wishes, it's whether lady luck and his legs will allow him to do so?

I wish the lad well and hope he can string to together a good run.

It looks like, so far in this thread, the consensus on the best position for James is as a Number 10.

Let's see who starts vs Rotherham, and who is rested for Wolves.

Great words from James – onwards and upwards!

#5. We lose one game in 5 and Richarlison is costing us points? Clown.

James is obviously working seriously on his conditioning, which lapsed a bit at Real Madrid. Check him out:

https://www.givemesport.com/1634791-everton-star-james-rodriguez-now-has-an-incredible-physique-after-real-madrid-struggles

Should put to rest any concerns about his desire and commitment.

Can't wait for him to get up to speed again -- love watching him play, love what he gives us. And unlike some here, I couldn't care less what he gives us defensively.

Jason #14, great comment but that circle would actually be off one corner of the penalty area, rather than in the middle. James' best passes are his far post chips and lobs, so he naturally gravitates to one flank or the other to get those angles. Playing the #10 role for sure, just not in the middle of the pitch.

Brian #5, I do hope it's a nice day on whatever planet you're orbiting, but sorry, that's just plain ridiculous. Richarlison hasn't checked out in any way, shape or form -- his effort remains the best on the club. He's just not playing very well right now. It happens.

Any thought that we should "cash in" is pure Looney Tunes in my opinion.

Apropos of nothing very much, I've just watched some Pirlo stuff on YouTube. Never fails to cheer me up.

Pirlo makes me smile, Tony. When everyone else was running around like idiots, he was the calm in the eye of the storm.

We need his skills to compliment Richie and DCL like in the first few games but he has to get involved and be consistent.

Naturally we want to see more goals from the midfielders but if they can start making more opportunities for DCL and Richie then I will be happy.

What a class player.

To get the most from James and Gomes etc we need runners.

Players with a bit of pace, willing to break quickly and offer a clear outlet for player's to find them with a 30-, 40-, 50-yard pass into space.

We're probably one of the few Premier League teams who prefer a high air ball to Calvert-Lewin rather than a direct ball to an on-rushing forward.

Pirlo, Fernandes, Scholes would be crucified for giving the ball away with poor passing and vision playing for us.

We have missed a Kanchelskis type player for far too long. Don't mention far-post crosses, I don't think it's allowed at Everton.

Every game, every attacking corner or free-kick, I'm waiting and shouting for our players to spread out and someone to get out past the back post ready to attack the space. I do the opposite every time we defend a set-piece.

We just don't do back-post crosses or seem to know where the space is.

I found it a motivational interview, based on his hopes and his perception of Ancelotti's ability and the fact he selects him to play. There is no doubt that Moshiri is ambitious and committed, but there are also parties here for the ride, which will make little contribution, particularly in the off-pitch management.

I would have prefered more information on his injury and fitness. After the initial good start, once James was targeted, Everton were less effective and James was found wanting in his offensive duties.

Increasingly, I think that Everton's tactics and formations will have to be varied and selection rotational, since opposition teams are very adaptive of developing tactics to counter teams on good runs, who don't.

James will be a bit-part player in this, not playing a full 90 minutes, and more likely as an impact sub, and more effective as a result. He needs to keep himself fit to play though.

The days of one saviour player are gone in the Premier League.

Like Brian #5, I have concerns regarding Richarlison.

Sorry to hear about Colin Bell. He was a great footballer. Man City fans that I have known for years still think he was the best-ever Man City player.

Mike # 25

Yeah I agree, based on facts so far this season, definitely seen James doing some really good things when aligned around the right corner of the penalty box, more than centrally so far.

I was picturing, after seeing the amazing Siggy nutmeg through ball, his goal into the far right corner from 20 yards, and the pre-assist balls James makes as a connector from right to the left; all from the centre on occassion; James can do more damage when central if he was there more often when the right team is around him.

I think having that new bombing right-back who is just like Digne so crosses come in from both sides, plus Richie or Iwobi breaking into the box to make a diagonal pass would in the future be well orchestrated by James in this area. Would be near impossible for the opposition to stop him, left right or centre.

Putting football aside, what a great ambassador to have in James represent Everton. After watching the interview, makes you feel a little pride in that he's 100% a committed blue!

Jerome #32,

Surely no-one on this thread sees James as a saviour. Can't we just see him as a very important focal point in our armoury, based on the simple fact that he is supremely talented?

Alongside Digne, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and perhaps a new face, he is central to the way we build up our attacking play. Unique, special, pivotal? yes! Saviour? In footballing terms I don't know what that means.

I certainly agree with you on tactical flexibility. That's very much part of Ancelotti's modus operandi and we will see more of it. For me though, all the best (successful) teams have a clear attack-minded identity and it'll be interesting to witness the forging of this identity over the next year or so.

Yes, I agree he is a great player when fit, a game-changer in fact, but I think he should be used strategically depending on whoever the opposition is. Like this weekend, I would be reluctant to include him from the off, or even on the bench.

I suspect there will be an all-out effort from Rotherham to register a giant-killing, and tackles could be flying in if there is a chance of grabbing a goal should it be a low scoring game. No point in risking another injury to James, when he has just come back, no keep him for the more high profile opposition where I think he will be more effective.

Glad we have him in our ranks, plus we have inherited millions of Colombian Evertonians with his signing, alongside Yerry Mina, which must be good commercially off the field too. Imagine if we had Alfredo Morelos as well!

A top class football player but I wonder, the more I watch him, if we are completely wasting the lad playing him out wide. In my opinion he's a number ten all day long, he's creative, he can pick a pass and he will probably get you 10 to 12 goals playing in the middle just outside the box.

At Everton, going right back to the Moyes era, we've always had this annoying trait of playing square pegs in round holes.

A good example, Dinyar Bilyaletdinov. For me this guy was never in a million years a wide midfielder, technically he was extremely blessed with that left foot and he would have prospered at number ten.

James Rodriguez, a player not cut out for tracking back defensively, he leaves us light and exposed down the flank and he will become a liability out there if we don't spot this. We are a team crying out for a creative central midfielder but we have one already in him.

When we brought James here, I thought he would be like our modern-day Dennis Bergkamp. Maybe he won't be quite as productive as the Arsenal great and, although I still think along those lines, I doubt we will truly see the best of James until he's moved central.

Victor #35,

Whilst James is good in his own right, though offensively there are questions, no matter how good he is, he is only as good as those around him, and what he can add to their play. Everton can be tactically outmanoeuvred and resort back to the Everton of old that we know so well. When Ancelotti's tactics are slightly off, this can arise relatively quickly. This seems to be a collective malaise that affects most of the players.

Michael Ball, a former Evertonian, who was a pundit at the West Ham match, commented on the lack of Everton's leadership on the field. With no crowd, players' communication was easily heard. Whilst West Ham players were vocal, communicating to one another with urgency, Everton were like on the training ground, not playing in a game challenging at the top of the Premier League.

West Ham seemed to have that extra yard and, if a player didn't, his teammates let him know in no uncertain terms. Everton still don't have that type of player and James isn't that type of player. Ronaldo says that he often has to play through the pain barrier; James won't. Ronaldo never gave an interview like that in his life.

We should be very excited about this player as he is still in "transition" to the demands of the Premier League. Providing he stays sound, then he will be a game-changer.

As for his best position? I have been of the view since he arrived that he should be played as a No 10, and many posters here are saying the same. It will be interesting if Carlo sees it this way? I live in hope.

Brian #5, we need Allan and Digne back fit, to get a good balance back to the team as a whole. That's where we're at at the moment. Few addition this summer and keeping the important players is what's gonna take to get on with Carlo's project with making European football certain every season.

As far as I understand, when we are on the attack James is given a free license to find space & use his vision to hurt opponents. Ergo, he’s not set up as a winger. Where James can truly make a difference is with Digne, Coleman & Richie high up and mobile. He has to find space in this physically intense league. And he will with the help & focus of his teammates and coaches. Once he has possession we need greater mobility & fluidity when attacking. Most of our open-play goals/chances at the start of the season attest to this.

The pressing challenge for James and the team as a whole is how to rapidly regain a solid defensive shape when possession is lost high up. The general solution to this conundrum is not to have two separate lineups to account for different opponents, but to better coordinate in-game transitions. This is what Ancellotti points to when he blames most of our defensive lapses on poor attitude, intent and concentration.

Don’t you just love this game!

This guy needs to get himself fitter,and get around the park more and then he needs to play regularly. Then let him talk.

Rodriguez certainly has his uses but playing out RW he was soon used by opponents as a good reason to channel attacks down our right side. It's not that he doesn't work hard but positionally he likes to wander (thats putting it kindly).

I'd almost be tempted to save him for the lesser teams. Play different styles.

Against the top 6 teams or so who would expect to have more of the ball than us play:

Pickford
Holgate Mina Keane Godfrey
Doucore Allan
Iwobi Sigurdsson Richarlison
DCL

With the aim of working hard, being tight and nicking a goal or two through counter attacks or set pieces.

Then against teams where we should have more of the ball play:

Pickford
Coleman (or upgrade) Godfrey Keane Digne
Allan Doucore
Iwobi Rodriguez Richarlison
DCL

The obvious issue is the need to have better substitutes/alternatives for the front 3. Bernard, Tosun and Gordon have not made much impact this season, certainly from the bench.

Eddie #43, fitter than this?

James Rodriguez now has an incredible physique after Real Madrid struggles

Looks like he's putting in the work.

Sam #44,

That's it. The different formations have worked as you say, for the reasons you give.

You are right about our impact subs, though Bernard of late has been better. Gordon may become better, but it's a big ask, even though many on here expect the impossible from him.

Tosun needs really good final-third play to be effective. The players around him are not good enough for that and he has only played with James once. On as a straight sub for Calvert-Lewin with Everton deep in the final 10 minutes will never work.

I am concerned by Richarlison's performance since his return from suspension. You are definitely on the right wavelength in your post.

The accuracy of his long-range pass is a class above the rest in the squad. In recent games, he hasn't been able to pick many of those passes in because the opposition players tracked him down once he's in their half. Forcing him to get the ball from the deep.

I guess the player movement/interchange with James is key going forward. Allowing him more space and time to get the ball and create. Doucouré is that player but currently he's been too busy to plug holes in defence. And top priority is to get a Digne (right-footed version) at right-back.

Lester, I think Seamus Coleman has been playing well of late but I reckon we need a better back up than Jonjoe Kenny. To me, Kenny is an old-fashioned type of full-back and a good one at that. However, the modern game demands a Digne, Robertson, Chilwell type.

While I am on here from sunny Adelaide, I wish all ToffeeWebbers a great 2021 with a special wish to all of you in UK and in high tier lockdowns at present. Keep up your spirit and keep on keeping on. Stay safe and be well!!

Also, to those in USA, may the dust settle quickly on the current divisiveness in your country. My daughter lives currently in Portland, Oregon, and we chat regularly on-line. It is at times like this that the people of a country can decide to come together rather than carry on in the same old, same old way. I hope that time will bring a better unity to the people of the great USA.