James Rodriguez| Is considering his options

I didn't say that Herrera was going somewhere, I'm talking about depth and eventually improving that position.

We played our best football with a midfield three, James Rodriguez doesn't fit that midfield three, he also isn't ideal wide. So it's not about not needing players to add depth, it's about who should be targetted and it's the same problem with Griezmann.

Do you think we may revert to a 4-2-3-1 eventually with the retirement of Carrick? He's a very difficult player to replace.
 
Do you think we may revert to a 4-2-3-1 eventually with the retirement of Carrick? He's a very difficult player to replace.
We have to replace him, easy as that. If you don't have a very special type of player (like Kante), 2 players don't have the legs for the modern game. Only strenghtening parts of the team that don't need strengthening is a mistake we made one time to often lately. We need to replace Carrick, simple as that. Verratti.
 
Numerous people here saying you'd replace him with Mata? Don't think James would be any better than he is in the PL.

You guys have absolutely no need for him. Would be a Real Madrid type signing just for the hell of it.
 
Do you think we may revert to a 4-2-3-1 eventually with the retirement of Carrick? He's a very difficult player to replace.

We shouldn't, we have found the best organization for our best player. Everything should be done with Pogba's interest in mind because Pogba is our key player.

Edit: And Carrick's replacement could be french, I'm probably going to fast but Cyprien has the right profile.
 
We shouldn't, we have found the best organization for our best player. Everything should be done with Pogba's interest in mind because Pogba is our key player.

I just don't see a player of Carrick's type and ability out there. I can't see Veratti being available but even he doesn't have the physical stature of Carrick. I really wanted Krychowiak but he is a more limited player. How has he been for PSG this season?
 
We will ship Schneiderlin and Depay, i would loan him out with an option to buy. If he proves himself to be very good, buy him. There is no risk but a potential great gain. That would also mean the end of Rooney in the summer with a direct replacement.
 
I just don't see a player of Carrick's type and ability out there. I can't see Veratti being available but even he doesn't have the physical stature of Carrick. I really wanted Krychowiak but he is a more limited player. How has he been for PSG this season?

He has been shite and Verratti isn't the only player around. From the players I know Cyprien and Weigl have the profile and I'm sure that other posters will have names.
 
He wouldn't play for us a lot for the same reason he doesn't play a lot for RM. He is a 10, and we play without 10. I thought even the last person understands now that we play best with a 4-3-3 with Pogba being the attacking central midfielder. It's clearly what Pogba is best at, this formation is clearly where we are best at. James wouldn't fit anywhere, nothing else then a big waste of money. We need wingers. The rest was already very good answered by @JPRouve



Rodriguez would not improve our first 11, for everything else he is to expensive. Griezmann would play at RA, just like Messi or Bale, and he is the one we need

Sell Rooney then!!
 
Sell Rooney then!!

Wouldn't make a difference to the choice of buying James or not. I think a lot of people are underestimating the effect certain players have within a team, "in the dressing room" (which is by all means a lot more then the dressing room). Stupid stuff you see Pogba and Lingard doing together can bring more to a team then some world class player
 
Wouldn't make a difference to the choice of buying James or not. I think a lot of people are underestimating the effect certain players have within a team, "in the dressing room" (which is by all means a lot more then the dressing room). Stupid stuff you see Pogba and Lingard doing together can bring more to a team then some world class player

Well if Rooney is still going to get game time then yes, of course its going to make a difference. And you can't tell me that whenever Rooney plays, Rodriguez would not have more of an impact on the pitch? Especially under Mourinho? And if the 'dressing room' effect is the only justification for keeping Rooney then feck me!

So as long as we play Rooney, James will always be an upgrade.
 
Why would anyone not be excited if we were to sign James Rodriguez, unless your name is Juan Mata or Wayne Rooney, that is? He's a bum's off seats kind of player, he's absolutely class if he's played in the right system. He excels on the counter attack, but he has the technical ability to play in a more controlled possession way too. He can also play from the right.

The only reason that I can see to not want him, is the fact that it would probably block any path for Griezmann to join us (if that's even a possibility). Any question marks about temperament or attitude shouldn't be considered. Trust in Mourinho - if he wants him, then great. If he doesn't, then we can move on to other targets or develop from within.
The thing is he is living Real Madrid to not be rotated. So unless Pogba is going to play 8 full time, he really wouldn't work here on current evidence. For I have doubt's he has the consistent desire to track back if used wide. And his attitude to work rate is the reason Zidane has been benching him. Now imagine unded Mourinho. He'd only work here if he were willing show the type of desire Mata does and only Jose can make that call.
 
James will be an upgrade on many players that we have, like Rooney and mata, but none of them start.
James will add quality in our team and add to our cutting edge in the final third, but if we are going to spend all the money to get him, then he has to be played at no.10, which is not possible right now. If he has to eventually played on the wings(a department that needs upgrades), we might as well sign a more pacey player at that price.
At the beginning of the season Mou talked about pogba being the perfect no.6, there could have been a spot for James in that formation(if mata and Rooney are sold). But in the formation that we have now, which is also working very well, there is no place for a 60million player.
 
Sell Rooney then!!
You just don't get it, do you?

Rooney isn't the reason why people wouldn't want James. Rooney right now is a squad player and for the kind of money that would require buying James, it wouldn't be fur a squad player but one that improve our starting 11 which James won't be doing in a 433 system.

He started having a hard time a Madrid because he couldn't play in a 433 system and is only bright as a number 10. His dilemma at Madrid us a most similar to Mata with finding himself in a system that didn't suit him.

We really don't need him at all. And even if we were playing a system with a number 10, he still wouldn't have been needed given Mata excels well and strives in such set ups and usually delivers the good.
 
James will be an upgrade on many players that we have, like Rooney and mata, but none of them start.
James will add quality in our team and add to our cutting edge in the final third, but if we are going to spend all the money to get him, then he has to be played at no.10, which is not possible right now. If he has to eventually played on the wings(a department that needs upgrades), we might as well sign a more pacey player at that price.
At the beginning of the season Mou talked about pogba being the perfect no.6, there could have been a spot for James in that formation(if mata and Rooney are sold). But in the formation that we have now, which is also working very well, there is no place for a 60million player.
This.
He lacks pace so he wont be a good fit at all on the wings. If we are planning to change the formation and play with a diamond then he would be invaluable. But as things stand, unless Martial gets his performances up, we need a LW
 
You just don't get it, do you?

Rooney isn't the reason why people wouldn't want James. Rooney right now is a squad player and for the kind of money that would require buying James, it wouldn't be fur a squad player but one that improve our starting 11 which James won't be doing in a 433 system.

He started having a hard time a Madrid because he couldn't play in a 433 system and is only bright as a number 10. His dilemma at Madrid us a most similar to Mata with finding himself in a system that didn't suit him.

We really don't need him at all. And even if we were playing a system with a number 10, he still wouldn't have been needed given Mata excels well and strives in such set ups and usually delivers the good.

Everybody's an expert! At the end of the day we're not linked with him anyway. Do Chelsea really need him?? Not really. Would he improve their squad? Course he would! Would I take him? In a heartbeat! I think he would be a revelation at United.

If Jose fancies him and comes in for him, who are we to argue? I would be over the moon but if he stayed at Madrid, I wouldn't lose any sleep. I'd rather he didn't go to a rival though. As I've said before, we don't need Griezmann at the moment but would you turn your nose up at that if he became available? A lot of people want him here.
 
You just don't get it, do you?

Rooney isn't the reason why people wouldn't want James. Rooney right now is a squad player and for the kind of money that would require buying James, it wouldn't be fur a squad player but one that improve our starting 11 which James won't be doing in a 433 system.

He started having a hard time a Madrid because he couldn't play in a 433 system and is only bright as a number 10. His dilemma at Madrid us a most similar to Mata with finding himself in a system that didn't suit him.

We really don't need him at all. And even if we were playing a system with a number 10, he still wouldn't have been needed given Mata excels well and strives in such set ups and usually delivers the good.

The best football this Real Madid team played was 22 games winning streak in Carlo's second season while Bale was injured and just before Modric got injured.
4-4-2 with Benzema and Ronaldo up front and Isco and James as wide midfielders.
It's still a 2 man midfield, but my point is that James is not so limited. He was also playing as a winger in Porto.
Having said that, I do agree with you, United really don't need him.
 
Everybody's an expert! At the end of the day we're not linked with him anyway. Do Chelsea really need him?? Not really. Would he improve their squad? Course he would! Would I take him? In a heartbeat! I think he would be a revelation at United.

If Jose fancies him and comes in for him, who are we to argue? I would be over the moon but if he stayed at Madrid, I wouldn't lose any sleep. I'd rather he didn't go to a rival though. As I've said before, we don't need Griezmann at the moment but would you turn your nose up at that if he became available? A lot of people want him here.

To play in which position ?
Are you sure that a player that doesn't played much the past year would be a benefit for us ?
Do you think that we should improve firstly our number 10 position ?
What about Mata and Rooney then ?

During the summer I was ok with him coming at United yes, but now no more. At the time I tough that he would compete with Mata in the 10 position behind Zlatan and with a lot of pace next to him in Martial and Mkhitaryan. BUT, came Pogba and our absolute need to play 3 men in midfield.

I would rather splash 50M this winter on one or two defenders and keeping our options in front.
 
So let me offer my 2 cents as a real madrid fan who's actuallu watched james a lot these past 3 years. James is great. His workrate is great, IQ, skill, vision, finishing, he's even got deceptive pace(truly it's acceleration he lacks, not pace). He'd massively improve your team, provided mourinho doesn't shackle him to a flank but gives him enough freedom to cut in and pick his spots. A front 3 of james-zlatan-miki, with pogba linking up with them would be terrifying to behold. You'd have to switch permanently to a possession based style, because that's where they would thrive, and i'm not sure mourinho would be willing to do that.

He can't really play in midfield for you because you already have pogba there, and switching to a 4-2-3-1 likewise makes little sense.
 
Word on Twitter is that he already applied for a work permit, with Chelsea as leaders for his services. Don't mean to overrate him, but I am legitimately worried that he might push an already strong team to European elite level. He has the tools for it, just a matter of bringing it all together and Conte can do just that.
 
Word on Twitter is that he already applied for a work permit, with Chelsea as leaders for his services. Don't mean to overrate him, but I am legitimately worried that he might push an already strong team to European elite level. He has the tools for it, just a matter of bringing it all together and Conte can do just that.
Don't see how or where James fits into our side. Same goes for any of United, Arsenla, or City.
 
Our £89m player plays best in our current system so that's a no to Mr Rodriguez. Right now we need someone to replace Carrick rather than a player who does not fit into our current system. Javi Martinez used to be an option but he is too injury prone and I think he is a cb now or was that a Pep thing?
 
Don't see how or where James fits into our side. Same goes for any of United, Arsenla, or City.

He is very adaptable, dating back to his days in Porto and Monaco. He's not a Mata type player (I rate Mata dont get me wrong) where he'll play like an 80m #10 but is a 25m winger at best. I think he'll come out guns ablaze and surprise a lot of people.
 
We have to replace him, easy as that. If you don't have a very special type of player (like Kante), 2 players don't have the legs for the modern game. Only strenghtening parts of the team that don't need strengthening is a mistake we made one time to often lately. We need to replace Carrick, simple as that. Verratti.

This. Verratti is the muppet signing we need. Nobody else.
 
I always thought he was a bit overrated, but if Real are letting him go cheaply why not give it a try?

We shouldn't give it a try because ever since Sir Alex retired we have spent so much without a clear plan, buying players we didn't need. Rodriguez is good but he is leaving Madrid because his talents are not required in a 4-3-3 same formation as ours. 4-3-3 works for so many of our players so we should only be buying players that fit this system
 
So let me offer my 2 cents as a real madrid fan who's actuallu watched james a lot these past 3 years. James is great. His workrate is great, IQ, skill, vision, finishing, he's even got deceptive pace(truly it's acceleration he lacks, not pace). He'd massively improve your team, provided mourinho doesn't shackle him to a flank but gives him enough freedom to cut in and pick his spots. A front 3 of james-zlatan-miki, with pogba linking up with them would be terrifying to behold. You'd have to switch permanently to a possession based style, because that's where they would thrive, and i'm not sure mourinho would be willing to do that.

He can't really play in midfield for you because you already have pogba there, and switching to a 4-2-3-1 likewise makes little sense.
That's why it's such a pointless signing.

We have to be doing our best to get the most of our all time highest signing and playing him in a system that yields a return on our investment.

That system is a 3 men midfield.
Wasting money on James would get the Muppets into a frenzy and get the phalluses out around here,but couldn't we use that money to get players that improve our current system.For me,that shows a team with a plan.
 
Word on Twitter is that he already applied for a work permit, with Chelsea as leaders for his services. Don't mean to overrate him, but I am legitimately worried that he might push an already strong team to European elite level. He has the tools for it, just a matter of bringing it all together and Conte can do just that.
Can you even do that?

Surely you need a definite job before applying for a work permit(This would require a valid agreement between the two teams,a signed contract between the player and club,etc)

Sounds like Twitter B.S. to me