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If it is a matter of hours, if everything is said and the difference is a few million euros in a transfer that interests Rea Madrid almost as much as James Rodríguez himself, then it is time to talk about the move and how to it would fit into the tactical module of Everton of England.
This time, unlike his first outing outside the ‘merengue’ team, he will not reach a dominating team. And that already makes a huge difference because since 2014 he has always been in the dispute for the titles.
The Everton who would trust him has just finished a fairly discreet campaign, in 12th place in the Premier League, far from the European positions and giving the image of being an unbalanced team. Although inactivity was mediated by the pandemic (which affected all 20 teams equally), it ended with more defeats than victories (15 by 16) and a worrying balance in goal difference, which was negative as a result of the 56 goals it received, versus the 44 he scored.
That was, strictly speaking, the first point Ancelotti tried to resolve: his important defensive shortcomings. And he improved it, it must be said, thanks to the appearance of men like Mason Holgate, who provided security and gave a more favorable margin of action to goalkeeper Pickford. Mina, unfortunately, has not managed to become indisputable due to injuries, but in theory he is the second center-back.
But the offensive chapter is point 2 on Ancelotti’s agenda. And that’s why, surely, he’s thinking of James. Everton is a side that gets bogged down at the start due to imprecision in delivery and a lack of imagination when facing solid defensive structures, as are most in the Premier League. And the lefty brought just that to Ancelotti at Real Madrid: surprise, intelligence, filtered pass, shot on goal.
What have the toffees done so far?
The module that was best accommodated was 4-4-2, which put Richarlison, the most pointed forward, facing the option of occupying spaces on the inside, which made it a goal option but also a pass option for Kean or Calvert- Lewin. However, that required a lot of support from Delph and Sigurdsson on the brand, which was not always the case, and an additional demand for Digne and Sidibe for the bands, who ended up sacrificing many times on the return.
What could they do with the arrival of James?
A module that is very good for the Colombian, but it would be necessary to try in his possible new team, is the 4-2-3-1, with Richarlison or Kean as the only striker, James as playmaker and the accompaniment, for example, by Gomes , Calvert-Lewin, Sugurdsson or even Walcott to complete the drawing at the ends. It would force to correct the positioning of men like Delph and Davies, who should be the support in the center of the field.
The other plan may be to keep the 4-man scheme in the background but a variation from 4-4-2 to 4-2-2-2, with two referents in the area like Richarlison and Moise Kean. Here, James and Gomes would be the bodyguards and again Delph and Davies would have to multiply in containment to release their load and give them links with the attackers. The Colombian would go down the right wing (as he has played before in the Colombian National Team) and the one sacrificed could be Sigurdsoson, who in fact has not felt very comfortable in Ancelotti’s rehearsals.
Brand and internal competition, again …
The issue, however, is that in a league as physically demanding as the Premier League, it is very likely that, in the position where James was used, he should join with great determination to support the brand, since precisely a large mole of the era of the Italian in Everton is that the team lengthens a lot when it comes out and suffers every time its midfielders try to return to defensive positions, because that opens options for the rival that, in general, they always charged.
The additional point is that James arrives with a lot of expectation but, like everyone, he must earn his place. It is clear that the least happy to see him arrive would be Sigurdsoson but there are also Bernard, Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi and Morgan Schneiderlin with a desire for revenge this season, all clear chips on offense, which could be added by Allan from Napoli, another player with a profile similar to that of the Colombian and contract figures on the same level, who would also be about to sign a contract.
It depends on James, on his discipline, on his ability to adapt quickly and well, better than those who already have the advantage of knowing the Premier. It’s good that he comes to a team where Ancelotti’s confidence can make a difference. But it’s a new universe at 29, with all the good and bad. Everything is already a question of attitude and time …
