James Rodriguez| Is considering his options

I too prefer Isco and by all accounts, his attitude is better too.

Who do you think is better @Vato, James or Isco?
For me, Isco is the better player. Certainly more easy on the eye than James. The stats prove different though, but one of the main reasons for this is that Isco plays a bit deeper. I like to compare him to Iniesta, which is a phenomenal player but you wouldn't tell if you were just looking at the stats.

Isco's close control and technique is on another level to most of the team except maybe Marcelo, his vision aswell. James on the other hand, has a better nose for goals and is physiquely stronger. But yeah, if I had to choose one to stay, it'd be Isco hands down.
 
For me, Isco is the better player. Certainly more easy on the eye than James. The stats prove different though, but one of the main reasons for this is that Isco plays a bit deeper. I like to compare him to Iniesta, which is a phenomenal player but you wouldn't tell if you were just looking at the stats.

Isco's close control and technique is on another level to most of the team except maybe Marcelo, his vision aswell. James on the other hand, has a better nose for goals and is physiquely stronger. But yeah, if I had to choose one to stay, it'd be Isco hands down.

I take it you watch alot of Madrid games. Could you advise on James's label as being slow, weak and lazy by most of the posters who i assume don't watch him as often as you/if not at all.
 
I take it you watch alot of Madrid games. Could you advise on James's label as being slow, weak and lazy by most of the posters who i assume don't watch him as often as you/if not at all.

That post made me think about something that I said earlier, James isn't weak per se but he isn't a fighter, that's the attitude problem that I mentioned.

«Pour James Rodriguez, c'est un problème de mentalité, a lâché l'entraîneur monégasque. Il pense comme un attaquant mais il doit aussi défendre. En voyant qu'il ne joue pas, il comprendra. Mais il sait (pourquoi il ne joue pas).»

What Ranieri had to say:" Concerning James Rodriguez, it's a problem of mentality, he thinks like an attacker but he has to defend. Now that he isn't playing, he will understand, but he already knows why he doesn't play".
 
I take it you watch alot of Madrid games. Could you advise on James's label as being slow, weak and lazy by most of the posters who i assume don't watch him as often as you/if not at all.
I have no idea at all what goes on off the pitch, I only watch (most of) our games and that's it. I wouldn't say he's slow but he looks slower than he did and his passing has been quite sloppy in the last few games he played. Don't know if that's due to lack of game time or general fitness though.
 
I'd take James if we could get him for £20-25m, which is pretty much what he should be going for given his output at Madrid. Stick him on the right, Ibra in the middle, Martial on the left.
 
I'd take James if we could get him for £20-25m, which is pretty much what he should be going for given his output at Madrid. Stick him on the right, Ibra in the middle, Martial on the left.
Unfortunately it'll take at least double that. Which is why I think our priorities lay elsewhere as I see him being a #10 not a RW. Wouldn't say no though if we can afford him without impacting our spending on other areas.
 
I'd take James if we could get him for £20-25m, which is pretty much what he should be going for given his output at Madrid. Stick him on the right, Ibra in the middle, Martial on the left.
I think he'd be wasted out right. One of his best abilities, and one that very few of our current squad has, is great control within tight spaces and under pressure. This comes in particularly useful in middle of the park, where play is more likely to become congested.
 
To me 35m£ would be reasonable, for more it's too risky.
 
We shouldn't go over £30m for him considering he seems out of favour.
 
I think people are overrating Isco & underrating James on this forum.

I don't think he is the player we need the most, but if he is made available for a reasonable price, we should take him. I think Mourinho could take him back to his WC 2014 level. Everyone here is talking about his attitude, laziness and how he is a luxury player, but I think playing for Real does him an injustice, with all 3 other players in the front 4 being afforded more freedom & priority than him. He excels as the main man, doesn't hide from responsibility in the game & has the balls to try something audacious at any moment. He is a match winner, and we don't have enough of those right now.
 
I think him having played with Martial before is a plus. If Jose takes over, then it could be a very busy summer. I wouldn't be to bothered by his recent season in Spain. I think we were interested a few years ago and he's at an age where he's shown good quality.
 
Bit like Mata, no point in signing him if we can't utilize him in his best position.

Should be looking to sign him as well as a right winger.

But we can utilize him in his best position, I suppose that people think that Rooney will start as a #10 but not only Rooney could be our veteran striker instead of Ibrahimovic but he could also be benched like SAF did three seasons ago.
 
Bit like Mata, no point in signing him if we can't utilize him in his best position.

Should be looking to sign him as well as a right winger.
4231 we could, yes it's LVGs boring slow formation but with better players in those positions.

Zlatan for Rashford
James for Juan
Martial LW
Any tricky right winger *cough Mahrez*
Rooney will be played and in Midfield.
Schneiderlin will become Mou's Matic.
Shaw LB
New CB to partner Mike
I like Valenica as RB but could see Mourinho signing a player like Mario Gaspar
And hopefully we keep David

Zlatan
Martial - James - Mahrez
Rooney - Schneiderlin
Shaw - Mustafi - Smalling - Valencia
De Gea
Looks pretty solid to me
 
I'd take James if we could get him for £20-25m, which is pretty much what he should be going for given his output at Madrid. Stick him on the right, Ibra in the middle, Martial on the left.
He's better than that. But I'd play him in the centre in either a 4411 or a 4231.

Also a lot of marketing potential with this kid. He's got star quality.
 
The last two seasons, Isco has been better overall IMO.
Agree.

But when James was at his best for your lot (last season), he was excellent, wasn't he? Would I be correct in saying his top level his very high?

He's not been consistent enough, though. This season has been awful for him.
 
At least he wants to be here if he wants to move on, not like Di Maria last year. Splash the cash i would say, anything to get the muppet juices flowing.
 
Sign James for the #10 position and either Mahrez or Sane for the right wing.
 
I really rate him but the last thing we need is another Di Maria style transfer....
 
Top quality player but wouldn't go anywhere near this transfer if i had any say in it. Should be concentrating on bringing in a striker and a right winger before any luxury players.
 
I can smell whoring for a new contract but you can also expect many other things from the Madrid circus.

Ambitious manager like Mourinho could easily use James to team's advantage.
 
Surely this would be a transfer in the favour of United.
Not really wanted by Real
Not had the best of seasons
Not many can afford to throw too much at him

If Real demand too much, surely they'll just get stuck with him
 
Don't you think that the 60 Million asking price is too much for this player?
 
Surely this would be a transfer in the favour of United.
Not really wanted by Real
Not had the best of seasons
Not many can afford to throw too much at him

If Real demand too much, surely they'll just get stuck with him
Exactly and as his favoured position isn't really a priority right now I think we'd hold a fair bit of leverage. Offer a reasonable price and if they want stupid figures then walk away.
 
Don't you think that the 60 Million asking price is too much for this player?

I have two answers:

For this player? No, because he really has top class talent.
For this player in this situation? Yes, because Real Madrid don't need him, he wants to leave and United can take a different direction.
 
He's not a 60 mil player, closer to 35 mil is his value and we shouldn't be trying to outbid ourselves because there aren't many teams out there that appeal to him salary wise and willing to pay massive money for a #10 right now. I also don't think the drop off from him to Mata is that large to justify the large investment.
 
I have two answers:

For this player? No, because he really has top class talent.
For this player in this situation? Yes, because Real Madrid don't need him, he wants to leave and United can take a different direction.

I saw him play some times but wasn't that highly impressed.

Having said that he could come here and be a great star so I look at this with an open mind.
 
He's not a winger so he'll be in contention for the same roles as Rooney, Mata, Januzaj, Lingard, Andreas Pereira: #10-a-like. Not the player United most need. How about we buy a fast right winger who can cross and go past their man, or a taller-footballing-left centre-back, or Carrick's replacement, or a fabulously expensive 40 goal/season forward. I already think Rashford is a 25+ goal/season forward.
 
He's not a winger so he'll be in contention for the same roles as Rooney, Mata, Januzaj, Lingard, Andreas Pereira: #10-a-like. Not the player United most need. How about we buy a fast right winger who can cross and go past their man, or a taller-footballing-left centre-back, or Carrick's replacement, or a fabulously expensive 40 goal/season forward. I already think Rashford is a 25+ goal/season forward.

I think he's a Alexi Sanchez type of player. Not really suited to be a striker, winger or disciplined enough to be an attacking midfielder. He's a catalyst in a hard working team. He will pop up in different positions and do well during a game. Free kick "specialist". He's just a very good attacking weapon who happened to end up in a club where there are even better players.
 
Not sure about this guy.

Seems pretty clear that Real overpaid for him, which means we'd likely overpay for him too. That doesn't particularly bother me though as that's our MO these days anyway.

It's more that (fairly or unfairly) it feels to me like the type of singing that could easily end up being a flop. Especially given our recent record with signings in similarish positions.

If we had a manager in place who had identified him as key signing then I might feel differently but as is it seems like a cut-price Madridesque "sign the shiniest toy available" signing.