In Praise of James Rodriguez

by   |   14/04/2023  37 Comments  [Jump to last]

Apologies for the clickbait title but...

Due to the lockdown and a range of other factors, I only saw James Rodriguez playing live "in real life" for Everton once.  Sad to hear he has fallen off his perch again at Olympiakos.

Nevertheless, as a 60-year-old lifelong fan, I can confidentially assert that he is the best footballer I have ever seen play for Everton.

 

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Reader Comments (37)

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Neil Tyrrell
1 Posted 15/04/2023 at 19:50:55
A great player but the wrong signing at the wrong time for us. Gotta bake the cake first before you put the cherry on top.
Jack Convery
2 Posted 17/04/2023 at 05:59:27
Bring him back on a free right away. Even with a bad leg he's better than what we have. He could be our new Kevin Campbell. Get him before Leicester / Forest / Leeds or Southampton do.

To see him wearing the blue of Everton will get the fans rocking again and hopefully the team a real lift. After all quality is quality and class permanent. Hola James !! and welcome back !!!

Danny O’Neill
3 Posted 17/04/2023 at 06:07:21
To me, it is clear Evertonians didn't get the appreciate James Rodriguez.

I grew up with Sheedy, Reid and Trevor Steven.

You know a good player when you witness one.

A shame that many Everton supporters didn't get to see him in the flesh. That take and pass at Analfield in front of the Kop was sublime. Pure instinct.

Brian Wilkinson
4 Posted 17/04/2023 at 16:59:12
Okay, we bring James in, he plays sublime passes ,the greatest thing since sliced bread, who does he set up?

We are creating chances, just not got anyone who can put it in the back of the net.

If anyone thinks James will make a huge difference, I have to disagree. At this moment in time, fighters like Gueye and Doucouré is what we need.

Now if there was an out-and-out striker available right now, we can bring in I would say go for it.

We are already walking on hot coal with the P&S Rules; throw James's wages and Dele Alli's into the mix and it could take us way over.

If we had half a season left, I would agree with bringing James in; right now, we are in a real fight and for me it's the wrong time to bring James in.

Just my own personal opinion.

Tony Abrahams
5 Posted 17/04/2023 at 17:51:33
I saw a 17 year old kid play for Everton once, and give the best performance I have personally ever witnessed by any outfield Everton player, in all my years of attending Goodison Pk.

James Rodriguez, was a great talent who was on easy street, Wayne Rooney was a 17 year old scouse kid who was forced out of Everton, by the world’s greatest Evertonian.

My own guess is that Bill Kenwright was a boyhood Liverpudlian, the narrative changing bastard.

Will Mabon
6 Posted 17/04/2023 at 18:08:11
All true, Brian.

I could only imagine (dream) of a few splitting through passes to a galloping Simms based on where we are now - but in reality...

James, one of the top ten most gifted players I've ever seen. Sadly plagued from earlier than is often suggested with a fragile physique I believe, the main criticism levelled being a poor attitude from many years ago. I don't know the details of that but he's done himself no favours in recent years, with social media amplifying it.

His vision, control and passing, often on the run with no first touch is staggering. Some of the moving past players, often unreadable by defenders, even without pace. The finishing too.

If only...

Jay Harris
7 Posted 17/04/2023 at 18:13:25
"I wouldnt sell him for 50 million" but I will sell him for 10million down and the other 15 million on the never never and throw some crocks our way.

Ive been fortunate to see some enormous talents at GP - Pele, Eusebio, Alan Ball, Roy Vernon, The golden vision, Sheedy, Trevor Stevens, Kanchelskis to name but a few but none of the current squad get me off my seat except to shout abuse.

The decline since Kenwright took over is there for all to see unfortunately.

Will Mabon
8 Posted 17/04/2023 at 18:17:40
Tony - it still irks, what might have been.

If Kenwright had wanted him, there was surely a way the 27-30 million (wherever it ended up) could've been worked around.

Wanted the money.

For everything he did and the incredible success, I still think Rooney never quite became what he looked to be heading for here. Looked like we had the next Maradona - but maybe I'm dreaming.

Paul Hewitt
9 Posted 17/04/2023 at 18:17:42
Praise?. He was paid £250k a week put in a few good performances, and at the end couldn't be arsed. Praise, I don't think so.
.
Tony Everan
10 Posted 17/04/2023 at 18:35:45
Brilliantly gifted player, who can change a game with a pass that other players can’t see, let alone do. In addition to his stats there must have been another half a dozen where he put it on a sixpence for DCL or whoever to score but they didn’t.

That type of play was what we have been starved of and what we crave. The only other player in the PL who can do what James can do is Kevin De Brunye, one of the world’s best midfielders.

After a while though opponents cottoned on, fouled him heavily out of every game , he’s not as strong or robust as say De Brunye , and got no protection from referees whatsoever. He carried injuries or was out injured. Half way through the season mentally and physically it became too much. The game was up.

Phil Wood
11 Posted 17/04/2023 at 19:17:21
Brilliantly gifted player who came to Everton after his bright flame had burnt out.
The version we got was not robust enough for the Premiership. Showed glimpses of greatness but it wasn't enough at the time.
Watch videos of his former playing career and enjoy him for what he was.
The Premiership does not carry passengers.
Kieran Kinsella
12 Posted 17/04/2023 at 19:27:00
Isn't it time to forget this joker? He wasn't even here that long and was part of a team that finished in 12th place. Now he has done his usual "I am fatigued by February so I jet off back to Colombia routine."

We had Eto'o "A Gift from God," not that long ago and he had some amazing games. But when he left, no one waxed lyrical about him because we knew he was a past it, unreliable, expensive luxury. James was no different. At least Kanchelskis was fit during his entire year, helped us into the to six, and was sold for profit. James like Warzycha had some memorable moments in a season where we were going nowhere and doing nothing whilst paying him and his colleagues money we didn't have.

Ian Hollingworth
13 Posted 17/04/2023 at 19:32:01
12th place wow wouldn’t we all love that now.
Our current squad will continue to struggle in the bottom half of the league as it contains very little, if any quality.
Dale Self
14 Posted 17/04/2023 at 19:40:49
I’d rather have Attilio Lombardo. Current condition.
Stan Schofield
15 Posted 17/04/2023 at 19:42:47
I was brought up on Alex Young and Colin Harvey, and the great football we played in the 60s, with arguably the World’s best midfield of Ball, Harvey and Kendall.

I consider James Rodriguez the best ball player I’ve seen since Harvey. He would have graced both the early 60s and late 60s sides, fitting them like a glove.

Fans who are more accepting of mediocrity and dull football might have a different view, but given my upbringing, as far as I’m concerned if you don’t have players like Harvey and Rodriguez, then football is barely worth watching. After all, it’s supposed to be entertainment, and the beautiful game.

Bobby Mallon
16 Posted 25/04/2023 at 05:35:19
I think we are going down, so I want to go down playing some exciting bloody football. Not watching this negative shite.

Fucking go for it! It worked for Bournemouth

Alan McGuffog
17 Posted 25/04/2023 at 06:57:02
But therein lies the rub... as someone once said. If we had players who could excite then we wouldn't be in the shite.

A lot of our players are deficient in the basics – movement off the ball, passing into space, even laying off a 10-yard pass. So I agree that not only are we down but we'll go down playing like an ale house team but without the fight.

Danny O’Neill
18 Posted 25/04/2023 at 07:20:26
Stan, I was brought up on tales of Alex Young, the Holy Trinity as well as Labone and Gabriel. I never saw them, but I learned about them.

I then had Duncan MacKenzie and Andy King giving me hope. Bob Latchford.

Then Reid, Sharp, Bracewell, Steven and of course Sheedy came on the scene. There is my Sheedy mention for the day, but what a player Bracewell was and could have been if not for injury.

On Kanchelskis, I'm not sure about being fit all of the time. Didn't he get injured weeks in and was out for a month?

But what a great player of Lithuanian descent who was born and grew up in Ukraine and opted to continue playing for the Soviet Union / Russia. One the few genuinely class players we've had in the last 25 years.

Destroyed Liverpool at Anfield. That was a good day.

Danny O’Neill
19 Posted 25/04/2023 at 07:37:10
I forgot to mention the subject of the thread.

Had the supporters got to watch him, I guarantee that even his critics would have forged a different view.

There are very few players who play every game, especially in the modern game.

I'd take 14 James Rodriguez performances this season.

Christopher Timmins
20 Posted 25/04/2023 at 09:02:14
Danny, I don't get the James Rodriguez thing, the facts are that he was injury prone and when he left, he did not depart to a top European side.

Was it not also the case that he did not want to play at the back end of Carlo's regime?

Kevin Sheedy or Trevor Steven he was not!

James Marshall
21 Posted 25/04/2023 at 10:07:44
With James in the team, I reckon I could score a few goals in the Premier League.

I have had 3 knee operations, 1 ankle op, broken my back twice, have a spinal implant and a small bleed on the right side of my brain. I still reckon I'd bag a few!

That's how good James is. I'd take him back for a few games – fuck it, we're likely to be going down anyway so what's the worst that could happen – other than me getting injured.

Dave Abrahams
22 Posted 25/04/2023 at 11:10:16
James (21),

All those serious injuries you've had and got on with and you're praising a man(?) who didn't want to play because he felt a twinge somewhere.

Should have been felt from a kick up the arse by the man who brought him here then washed his hands of him and then did one to a more safe and lucrative job.

James Marshall
23 Posted 25/04/2023 at 11:16:34
Dave - its all pie in the sky anyway. Fantasy football chit chat. There's not a hope in hell of James ever playing for us again, I just like the idea of having him fit and healthy and playing for us.

There's about as much chance of me getting a game, with all my injuries and turning 50 in August!

Dave Abrahams
24 Posted 25/04/2023 at 11:42:31
James (@23),

Fair enough, but even at 50, your spirit could give some life to some of our present players. While I appreciate the skill Rodriguez had, if he had your spirit, I'd have appreciated him a lot more.

Let's hope the team has a good go on Thursday and lifts all our spirits.

Ray Robinson
25 Posted 25/04/2023 at 14:40:31
We all accuse Kenwright of teary sentimentality – and quite rightly so – and yet many still pine for the return of James Rodriguez.

Undoubtedly, a very fine footballer and a shame I never got to see him play live, but honestly – why would anyone want an overpaid, injury-prone, couldn't-be-arsed footballer back in a blue shirt?

I loved Kanchelskis too but there's also an over-sentimental reaction to him too. He couldn't wait to get away in his second season.

Move on, the past has gone. I love tradition and my memories but they're history! I'm more concerned about the next 6 matches, starting with Thursday.

Danny O’Neill
26 Posted 25/04/2023 at 15:31:07
I'm not so sure anyone is pining.

Just a shame that we didn't get to watch him.

I don't think many expect him back. But he could have made more of a difference in 10 matches than some who have taken to the field this season.

Christopher Timmins
27 Posted 25/04/2023 at 15:59:26
Ray #25,

The only thing that matters between now and the end of May is the next 6 matches.

John Pickles
28 Posted 25/04/2023 at 16:00:42
Not so long ago, we had James, Digne and Sigurdsson, now we don't.

We now have the worst scoring record of any English team.

I wonder why?

Ray Robinson
29 Posted 25/04/2023 at 17:01:24
John, yes our plight is more to do with the loss of Richarlison and Siigurdsson, plus Calvert-Lewin's absence, than anything else.
Derek Thomas
30 Posted 26/04/2023 at 08:01:57
We're still paying Gomes who strolled about looking elegant without doing much. We are right now still paying that big galoot, Onana, who (potential notwithstanding) strolls about doing not much.

Why not pay Rodriguez to stroll about looking elegant for 6 games – who, for all his faults, always knew where Calvert-Lewin's head or foot was, or anybody's for that matter – and had the wherewithal to drop it right on to him.

Stan Grace
31 Posted 28/04/2023 at 14:17:47
Any chance of the repeated 'link' being removed?
Andrew Grey
32 Posted 28/04/2023 at 14:22:09
Great player Rodriguez but I would have to add Samuel Eto'o and Paul Gascoigne into the mix.
Christine Foster
33 Posted 11/05/2023 at 18:26:08
I see the Echo is reporting the clubs interest in re-signing James, and as much as I praised him for his quality and enjoyed his skills, I cannot see him in an Everton shirt again. Sadly that day is done.. funny thing is, we now have the steel in midfield to make up for his defensive frailties,
Tony Everan
34 Posted 11/05/2023 at 18:33:11
Do they mean the Chilean Everton?
Danny O’Neill
35 Posted 11/05/2023 at 19:36:43
Dave Abrahams, you just spooked me with Thursday.

We are playing Sunday I hope!!

Christine. I would take him back tomorrow.

Even if we only got to watch him 10 times, most Everton fans would love it.

Dave Abrahams
36 Posted 11/05/2023 at 19:51:50
Danny (35), Danny I was talking about the Newcastle game, look at the date of my post!
Paul Hewitt
37 Posted 11/05/2023 at 21:18:23
If we resign Rodriguez then this club clearly hasn't learned anything.

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