What's the problem with James?

James needs to understand that the 80m we spent for him will not guarantee him a starting spot, especially under Z.

As to why people aren't criticizing Z for benching James even though Rafa was criticized for the same thing. It's easy. Z is winning while playing beautiful attacking football, with ten goals in two games. Rafa benched James and still played like crap even against scrubs.

The dilemma James is in is that he will never play in his best positions as long as the BBC exists.

- He can't play as a LAM as long as Ronaldo is here and that spot/set of functions wouldn't maximize James' abilities anyways. (Although i remember him playing well against Atletico at the Spanish super cup in those spots last season).

- He can't play as a RAM because Bale is there, despite the fact that i personally think it is clear he has proven to be a way better choice for that spot.

- He can't play as a CAM because Ronaldo and Bale cannot play the side roles as fully and integrated as needed for the top level competition.


And even if Ronaldo does leave in the summer, Perez might make a galactico (by this i imply a purchase that does not have much of a necessarily sporting substance behind it) signing that would still put his and/or Isco's starting presence in the line.

James should just focus on acting, thinking, and playing like a professional and we will eventually see how this unfolds. If he is smart, he and Zizou need to make the best efforts they can to integrate him into the right kind of role for him in the midfield. I think he could very well do much of what Isco is doing and believe he sort of did with Carlo anyways. Our success as a team should come from embracing what we have and making the best out of it, something that even Carlo couldn't succeed at for whatever reasons.

Calma, lets also be careful at letting the hyperrealism of the media shape our feelings on James.

when hyping goes wrong ...

The Demon of Carthage wrote:James needs to understand that the 80m we spent for him will not guarantee him a starting spot, especially under Z.

As to why people aren't criticizing Z for benching James even though Rafa was criticized for the same thing. It's easy. Z is winning while playing beautiful attacking football, with ten goals in two games. Rafa benched James and still played like crap even against scrubs.

no its because large majority of madrid fans are isco fanboys, isco acted like douche couple times as well no? who cared? nobody and here he is starting, why wouldn't james feel pissed? he is acting stupid of course but lets not play dumb because your fav is starting again.

Mr Nick09 wrote:James is entitled, he is a galactico, he was signed for 80 mil to be a Madrid star, being on the bench is not his natural.

And let this be a reminder that Benitez was mocked and clown for his relationship with James. Sometimes we blame the wrong people ...

You forget that Rafael Benitez made enemies of even Ramos, Benz and a good amount of other players. Stop looking for opportunities to defend that Fat PoS, Nick. Reminder that I didn't forget you were in favor of that Loser in the first place.

That said, James is not doing himself any favors. There were signs since the summer. Especially since there were reports of him wanting a new contract despite not winning Real Madrid key titles like the League or CL.
Seeing how his agent is Jorge Mendes, I fear another Di maria situation as Madrid is rightfully against an improved contract. James was acting fine until that report came out.

edit: thinking more about it, are we actually prepping to get rid of james? Since that report early in the season of James wanting an improved contract we had the following: lazy in training, night life antics, speeding, and other stuff.
I don't like where this is headed.

finally, I will see y'all in february. later.

I some ways nick and chad are right tbh. Right in the sense that it was possible that benitez wasn't at fault in the james fiasco, I mean, even if madrid were not playing that well, what was the guarantee that madrid would have done better or improved with james on the field?

Now Z benches james and its apparently for a good reason (admittedly madrid are playing well now) but I want to believe fans would still have had a reason or another to look for ways to blame benitez for not playing him. Remember there are things the camera doesn't catch off the pitch, so who knows benitez might have had good reasons to have treated james the way he did. I believe nobody even knew james was outspoken till he was benched by benitez.

Secondly chad is right in that, isco has equally acted like a douche too which somehow went unnoticed by fans. So zidane playing isco now has nothing to do with isco's exemplary attitude and ability but just a personal preference toward isco like most fans hence, no one questions zidanes choices.

Fans love zidane, fans love isco, fans dislike benitez (justifiably though) so, it was always bound to end up with bias opinions at the end of the day.

@nick what makes james an entitled galactico? What galactico level pedigree did he have prior to joining madrid? Like say ronaldo (the only entitled galactico at madrid)? The price?

Well, if that's what you think then welcome to madrid. Yeah, I'm might not be a fan of real but I've been following them since 1996 and more actively since 2001 and I've seeing that that's not how things work here especially since the fiorentino regime.

For you to have some sort of immunity, fiorentino needs to really like you as a human being i.e R9, Benzema, and to some extent Zidane or benching you will bring him some sort of shame and disrepute e.g bale, figo (for the mockery it would bring him for not being able to get his desired/original target Neymar instead, and the world record transfer fiasco of figo from eternal rivals barca) and not just for your price tag alone. Anelka is a big example even if extreme, antonio cassano is another example too (maybe better example), you also saw how michael owen's case turned out despite him being decent enough in that time frame or more recently kaka too.

Those are just a very small sample but my point is that at madrid you don't just get entitled out of the blue except flo loves you or there's much at stake if u get benched. Both of which I doubt james has at the moment in real madrid.

(My post is restricted to fiorentino perez's regimes though not sanz's or calderon's)

I don't get this contraversy? The team is now playing well as Zidane has gone with a better tactical formation and as has been explained above James is in competition with Isco for the one possible opening for him. I don't buy into this theory exponded here that this is not the right spot for him. It is where he played well under Ancelotti and it was Isco he beat out for that spot.

The fact that he is unhappy with that is too bad. As Bankz said above he is not really a galactico, despite the price tag and he is not the first high paid star that hasn't been in starting lineup. Figo, Beckham, Owen, Anelka, Kaka, Cassano, Robinho, Robbin, van der Vaart, Synieder, Ozil, Di Maria is just a small list of others who at some point were in the same position. Hell, even Raul was in this position at one time. And none of these benchings had anything to do with favourites. It always is the coach's choice as to best tactical lineup. I'm sure Flo has some influence in this, but at end of day, the coach has to decide what is the best lineup he can get results with.

As Madrid fans (not of individual players), we should be pleased with this positive turnaround Zidane is making, rather than getting hung up on a spoiled prima donna unhappiness. Like with Ozil, he can either man up and accept the competition or leave.

Bankz wrote:I some ways nick and chad are right tbh. Right in the sense that it was possible that benitez wasn't at fault in the james fiasco, I mean, even if madrid were not playing that well, what was the guarantee that madrid would have done better or improved with james on the field?

Now Z benches james and its apparently for a good reason (admittedly madrid are playing well now) but I want to believe fans would still have had a reason or another to look for ways to blame benitez for not playing him. Remember there are things the camera doesn't catch off the pitch, so who knows benitez might have had good reasons to have treated james the way he did. I believe nobody even knew james was outspoken till he was benched by benitez.

Secondly chad is right in that, isco has equally acted like a douche too which somehow went unnoticed by fans. So zidane playing isco now has nothing to do with isco's exemplary attitude and ability but just a personal preference toward isco like most fans hence, no one questions zidanes choices.

Fans love zidane, fans love isco, fans dislike benitez (justifiably though) so, it was always bound to end up with bias opinions at the end of the day.

This is such a bs. Zidane preferring isco to James has nothing to do with ability ? What? Personal preference based on what?

Isco plays that role better than James with out a shadow of doubt. Even Kovacic plays that role better than James but James gets the sub role ahead of kova bcz of his status.

"James' isn't a focused player right now and that's the main reason why the board is worried. It's something beyond tactics, Xs and Os. The Colombian press is starting to suggest this exact same thing as W Radio reporter Iván Mejía said that James "does not train well, he has lost his sense of proportion. He goes out every night, he goes 200 km/h with his car and he is not humble anymore." Mejía also added that James "will be a one-hit-wonder if he doesn't start taking training sessions more seriously." The report said that Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo and James "sabotaged Benítez's plans" as the Colombian "wants to be around Cristiano Ronaldo at all times and be one of his protegees."

Interesting title

http://www.managingmadrid.com/2016/1/19/10789254/real-madrid-james-rodriguez-2016

1. Coach asked 2 players to warm as Bale got injured
2. Both of them did that without any hesitation or question
3. When the actual substitution happened, Jese went in and James went back to the bench
4. Coach then looks up, sees James and then tells him to continue as he will go in soon (He would not know that unless told)
5. Coach has an arm around his shoulder minutes later, they talk freely and I can’t see any indication of a friction

Correction:

1) Zidane tells both to get up
2) James is taking his time, Jese has to point out to him to get up along with Zidane
3) Aftee Jese goes in, sits back down when he has been asked to warm up
4) Zidane explains to James why he is unhappy gesticulating with his arm of his intentions
5) James looks visibly angry, kind of like how i looked as a kid when my parents explained to me i could not play video games
6) Couple this with his treatment of Benitez and you opt against giving him the benefit of doubt

And whats this Isco unprofessional i am hearing?? The fact that he laughed on the bench? Or that he was too quite and didnt speak out when he was benched? Isco is a model and honest professional and human being

Granted the media have created a mountain of a molehill with this whole incident. This would not have been reported last year but there is nothing negative to write about yet so attacking players is the best way to sell papers. James has just made their lives really simple by giving them the ammunitoon

I honestly fail to see the problem here. What's our main goal? Is it to win and play well or is it to play X or Y? Are we looking for the best for Real Madrid or the best for X or Y? Are we football fans or babysitters? We really need to stop and think about that for a second. Because right now, most of us aren't thinking clearly and our priorities seem to have shifted.

Here's how I look at things: If the manager is playing well and winning, I have nothing to complain about. When he stops winning and/or doesn't play well/or picks Danilo, I'll be the first in line to rip him to shreds.

Z so far has done two mistakes: play James at LCM and Kova at RW. Something like that inevitably harms the team and he was lucky we were already 5-0 up and against a modest team when he did that.

Granted, Z's job is to make sure to get the best out of everybody. So far he hasn't done that with James. Is he a manager with no plan B? Is he unable to get the best out of everybody? We'll see.

"James is going to shine in what remains of the season". This is the phrase that can be heard around Valdebebas right now, where the Real Madrid heart beats and Zinedine Zidane has been re-energising everyone for the last three weeks. His team, and in particular James Rodríguez.

The Colombian is thankful for the mini-preseason that Zidane and his helpers have given the 'Los Blancos' squad over the last three weeks. The plan has been designed to have the team in shape for the game against Espanyol. Although it is something that, as MARCA has reported, should bear fruits further down the line, when the demands of the Champions League will require Madrid to put in the extra effort that has been saved during January as a result of the Denis Cheryshev scenario.

For James, after a season plagued with setbacks, these intensive weeks were just what the doctor ordered. A phase that according to Zidane and his backroom staff, the Colombian has come through with flying colours. James is now at the same level as the rest of the group. The number 10 is also following a personalised plan adapted to his characteristics both as a footballer and from a positional point of view

JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMES

Answer to the topic: Nothing!

I believe i have said it somewhere on this forum before; If there is one player on this team that has strong balon d'or potentials, it is james. The others - bale and benzema need Ronaldo to leave this team before they can show what they are truly made of, but James has the quality to compete for the trophy even with ronaldo as his teammate.
The only time i doubted his quality was his first few games for madrid; we all did. We were all hurt by Di maria's sale and anyone who was going to replace him had to be phenomenal.
Isco and modric remain my favorite players but james' got it in him.

shadexticos wrote:Answer to the topic: Nothing!

Not the answer. Clearly this is proving to be a poor season from the Colombian. Let's see if he stays this summer, I hope so but I don't know if he will.

There is talk here that keeps coming back is the Columbian likes to party!!!!

I can't really figure him out. He played so called out of position last year and looked good. He even looked good playing for his NT this season. This year he looked out of shape, disinterested, upset, disconnected, like he is missing some basic skills, unmovivated, lost, etc, etc.

He does have the same issue as Isco (an AM trying to play a CM role), but it is very obvious that Zidane choses Isco when he wants to sub one of them in.

I believe the only issue to him staying or leaving this summer is noone will pay anywhere close to the price that was paid for him!!!!

I think it's comparable to bad marriage. It's time to move on. Excellent player but not fit for our game. He deserves to get a team built around him.

futbol_bill wrote:There is talk here that keeps coming back is the Columbian likes to party!!!!

I can't really figure him out. He played so called out of position last year and looked good. He even looked good playing for his NT this season. This year he looked out of shape, disinterested, upset, disconnected, like he is missing some basic skills, unmovivated, lost, etc, etc.

He does have the same issue as Isco (an AM trying to play a CM role), but it is very obvious that Zidane choses Isco when he wants to sub one of them in.

I believe the only issue to him staying or leaving this summer is noone will pay anywhere close to the price that was paid for him!!!!

futbol_bill wrote:There is talk here that keeps coming back is the Columbian likes to party!!!!

I can't really figure him out. He played so called out of position last year and looked good. He even looked good playing for his NT this season. This year he looked out of shape, disinterested, upset, disconnected, like he is missing some basic skills, unmovivated, lost, etc, etc.

He does have the same issue as Isco (an AM trying to play a CM role), but it is very obvious that Zidane choses Isco when he wants to sub one of them in.

I believe the only issue to him staying or leaving this summer is noone will pay anywhere close to the price that was paid for him!!!!

Well for me it keeps coming back to attitude and that payrise he wants that he doesn't deserve. Who the hell asks for a payrise after a trophyless season?

Mendes is his agent isn't he? also a factor. Never liked Jorge Mendes, he's half the reason Di Maria left us.

I think he needs to leave! he doesnt have the right attitude..When players find themselves in such precarious situation, i believe the smartest thing to do is to resume preseason early in order to increase theirs chances of playing their way into the team. One preseason match is enough to make or break a player.
Imagine a scenario where he returned early, plays 45 minutes and gives an absolute stunning performance, i believe the coach would be hard pressed to give him cotinuity....Versus the situation he finds himself where isco, asensio and even kovacic could put in a wonderful performance which would convince the coach to play them more at his expense.

He said he wants to convince the coach, but i believe the first step would have been to come back early from his holidays.
He made the same mistake last season, resumed late and lost his shirt.
He is threading the same path again.
He is such an incorrigible human being! he doesnt deserve a starting spot.

I agree. Especially after such a poor showing in the Copa America. I was wondering why he hadn't joined up with the group a little earlier.

Again I'm not sure what was was spoken between James and Zidane, but unless he picks up his game he's just going to continue seeing more of the bench.

I definitely think he should've come back earlier because that shows dedication. All the ones who don't have a safe spot in the team or needed to convince the coach they deserve to stay came back early eg. Lucas, Morata and Kova. Heck even all of Marcelo, Navas, Kiko, Carvajal, Danilo and Casemiro came back early. Only the established starters are taking their full break + James which shows poor dedication by him. As Shade said him coming back on the 29th will set him faaaar back the pecking order and if we smash Sevilla without him then rip his RM career because barring any injuries ZZ will play those he trusts

I think he's finished and enjoys getting a fat paycheck from the bench.

Didn't he train in Colombia with his old club to get fit for the season? not saying it compensates for him not coming early but it's at least something.