It's not when you consider Mou will transform us into a counter attacking team next season. We have seen glimpses of that this season. How many times a counter was binned because Zlatan didn't had pace. Or mata. Or Rooney. Jose always had quick players in his attacking unit.
The interesting thing is that the general consensus in a german Bayern forum I frequently read is that they would swap Costa for James in a heartbeat. In fact they are desperate to get rid of Costa because he hasn't done much since he had his purple patch in the first few months after they signed him. The main thing they dislike is his attitude, it seems like he doesn't give a feck anymore.
Not every player in the attacking unit of a counter-attacking team needs pace.
No but most of them do, and the ones that don't need to be pretty staunch and capable of retaining great balance under duress. Otherwise they are too hit and miss.
He didn't say Rashford didn't have pace. He said the long ball was up to a player who doesn't have pace (Fellaini), who then headed it down to Rashford if you remember.
No, it wasn't, you've entirely misunderstood.
His movement for the goal was good. Almost scored a second too.
). He is a proven world class level player and is only 26 (a few months younger than Griezmann).Firstly, Poba does not and will not be playing behind the striker/CF! Pogba will be the CM part of the DM+CM in a 4-2-3-1 or the LCM when we play 4-3-3. He will be the central play maker as a CM and not an AM. That is how Mourinho has been deploying him and he has been adapting quite well. The rest of the team will be built around Pogba's ability and role.
Secondly, James is a level above Mikhi and 2 levels above Mata. He has a very high football iq and can play any of the 3 spots behind the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 (or any of the attacking trio in a 4-3-3). Good at set pieces and a great finisher (though not as good as Griezmann but better creative wise and more rounded). A simple look at his goal and overall play today shows his quality. He also works hard for the team (and one can see traces from his stats like distance covered, tackles, ball recovery etc)
He is captain of the colombian NT. He was the highest goal scorer at the last world cup, top assist in ligue1 (in his only season at Monaco) and best midfielder in la liga in his first season at Madrid. His recent problems are more on the failings of Zidane (who plays an injury prone Bale and clueless Vasquez ahead of him, but then Zizou also leaves Morata on the bench and doesnt know to defend a draw when they are down to 10 men
His only problem is his injury record but his price tag would be less than Griezmann. You might not like the kid but try not to belittle or misrepresent his abilities.
PS: Sample stat comparison of James and Griezzman on squawka
http://www.squawka.com/comparison-m...es_won/successful_take_ons_%/interceptions#90
Off field problems are as much a function of the individual as they are of their environment, and most S. Americans football stars are known to party quite a bit. If you are worried about off field issues, then if given the opportunity you would not sign players like Ronaldo (fenomeno) or Ronaldinho. As long as he is performing on the field, I am less concerned about how he spends is private life. There are stories here and there, but if he is as bad as a character as some try to portray him, things should have been messier given how things have gone. To me he has simply been poorly managed at Madrid and not given the opportunity he deserved. I have no problems with a quality player grumbling for being left on the bench or do you expect him to be happy about it?
And yet he is behind the BBC, Modric, Kroos, Isco, Asensio and Vasquez in the pecking order. He's a fraud.
