After five years, the Colombian telenovela "James Rodriguez" is finally over.
The 2014 World Cup top scorer arrived in Real Madrid in 2014/15 with a price tag of €75 million; He is now leaving the club after receiving only 729 minutes of play in the last season, with a price tag of €25 million. He will substitute wearing the shirt of one of the world's top clubs for hopefully more minutes in the club which finished in the Premier League's 12th spot. The 29-year-old Colombian star is closing his Real Madrid chapter and opening a new one - in Everton.
Here are a few reasons that can keep Everton fans optimistic about James's arrival, along with some reasons for concern about their new Colombian star.
Why James Will Succeed?
Wants to prove himself
His years in Real Madrid were his worst, no doubt, and that made a lot of fans doubt his abilities. The wonder kid from Envigado did not deliver, but he is still managing to keep up good numbers: an average of a goal or assist in every 95 minutes of play. Whenever James plays, good things happen, and more often than not, he is usually involved. He will be one of the most technical players in this league, and everyone knows his excellent vision and mighty left foot. James is also arriving at his most crucial year in his career regarding the National Team with the 2022 qualifiers and the 2021 Copa America which Colombia will host. The pandemic postponed both tournaments and allowed James to arrive in good form.
Carlo Ancelotti
Earning your coach's confidence is one of the most important things for a footballer. Ancelotti has already coached James once, and this initial familiarity might prove advantageous. His best season so far was under Ancelotti's guidance in Real Madrid - and he also coached him in Bayern Munich until the Italian was sacked. As far as mentality goes, James needs his confidence back, and Ancelotti could be the one the help him bring it back. We'll have to wait and see just how soon James will be sent into action, as expecting too much too early from a player who barely played in the last two years might also prove risky for the coach.
Adapting
When a player arrives in a new place, he needs to adapt twice: To the club and the city. In Bayern, James had a decent first year, but after his second year, he asked the club not to waive his buyout clause because he couldn't adapt to life in Germany. He tried to learn the language and failed; the warm Spanish people were replaced by people who James defined as "machines" - and the cold weather was the straw that broke James' back. In Liverpool, James will speak English and experience a much milder climate. Also, having his co-patriot Yerry Mina with him as a teammate will probably help.
Why James Can Fail?
Inconsistency
In the last couple of years and especially last season, James barely played competitive football - this will affect his form at the beginning of this season and potentially beyond. Along with his good performances there where games he did not show up, figuratively speaking, while suffering injuries too often. James will have to work extremely hard to get into his excellent form and show his real ability. Even though he'll play under a coach who appreciates him, he will be exposed to criticism once again if he won't get into his form as soon as possible.
Premier League debut
It'll be James's first year in the Premier League, and even though he is the kind of player who can succeed anywhere, England is probably the worst option for him among the top leagues, at least on paper. The Premier League is the most physical and fast league in the world, maybe James's most significant disadvantages. His technique can surely help, but his lack of speed or physical strength can cause him a lot of problems.
Pressure
Although James will want to prove that he can still play his best in one of the top leagues in the world, sometimes it creates the opposite effect. If things won't pan out as expected, the fans won't be too patient with him. Knowing the chance, Ancelotti took in signing him can put him under a lot of pressure. He also knows that Colombia's most critical missions will take place in the upcoming months and even though he is their key player, gaining good game form is vital so he can justify Carlos Queiroz's support. Everton is probably James' last chance to succeed in a big league - let's hope the pressure will bring out the best in him.
Photo via Everton official Twitter account.
