Such a shame that most of the talents from 2010-2019 have fallen off, James, Hazard, Coutinho, Isco, so many world class players that have just flopped
In the cases of James and Isco I think that playing for Real Madrid under Morinho, where they didn't get enough gametime to excel made them flopped on the long run. I found that Morinho is responsible for the decline of a lot of good players and talents including James, Isco, Kaka, Drente and a lot of other players also, even Bale. When Bale came he didn't get the left wing spot, due to Ronaldo, where he excelled at Tottenham Hotspur. The real average quality of Morinho as a coach was exposed when he went back to Chelsea and Manchester United after Real Madrid. If those players where in another team and under another coach at that time I think they would be in another situation today.
As someone who stopped paying attention to soccer/ football since 2016 I had no idea what happened to James Rodriguez. So glad there’s a video to explain what I’ve missed
As a Colombian, this is spot on.. You were a little generous at the end with him. The reality is that he is a massive talent but lazy and immature. When he wants, he still has the potential to be the best in the field, the issue is that he just doesn't care enough
I noticed that his level dropped off same time his marriage broke down when he wanted to be a playboy and date Russian and Venezuelan models....es un chivo jejeje
@@karlsylvain I was hoping to see him play with Colombia when I went to watch Mexcio vs Colombia in 2022 at Levi's Stadium. Before the match started, I asked some Colombian fans if he was playing, but they said the national team hadn't called him up for a while. I was disappointed that James Rodriguez wasn't there and that Mexico lost on home turf, but it was a really good game so I can't be too sad.
Hey, it would be interesting (And funny) if you talked about the Chilean National Team. How it managed to perform surprisingly well in 2014 World Cup, then won two Copas Américas, and now can’t manage to qualify for a World Cup
2014-16 Chile NT makes me irrationally angry. It's like they made it their life's mission to deprive Argentina and Messi of the trophy and then peace out leaving Argentina desperate.
James was just one of many players during that era who had a high peak that unfortunately didn't last too long. People like Falcao and Götze come to mind. But when they were at their peak they were a absolute joy to watch. Which is why I too will remember him fondly.
Most players in history have had relatively short peaks. It's just htat nowadays we are more critical and look more at stats plus we had Messi/Ronaldo and nowadays Haaland/Mbappe who combine excellence with consistency. . Shearer had 4 maybe 5 great seasons, rest was quite average (esp. if you exclude penalty goals). Zidane really only had 3-4 stellar seasons. Ronaldo Nazario maybe 3 or 4 as well. Cruyff had a terrific 8-9 year spell at Ajax but only really 1 good season at Barca.
@@nottheonefromearth Only in Porto and Atletico. He was horrible in Man U and already past his peak in Monaco. He had two good season in Monaco, sure. But it was just League 1, without trying to downplay it. And his statistics weren't comparable to his time in Porto and Atletico. And as much as I love the portugese League, it's not comparable to the top leagues too. So if I were to be very strict, he only had two seasons on the top level in Atletico. But don't get me wrong, he was a great player and I enjoyed his performances.
@@daarom3472 It definitely isn't fair to compare everyone with Messi/Ronaldo. I think the main reason why even players like Ronaldinho had a relatively short peak is because they weren't very professional. At least compared to players nowadays. That's why players like Mbappe and Haaland are so good at a very young age and why they perform at the highest level for so long, like Benzema and Ibrahimovic did. Players like Ronaldinho and Ronaldo would have had a very long peak too was it not for injuries and had they been more professional by training their body deligently and taking better care of proper nutrition. Imagine Ronaldinho or Ronaldo Phenomen's passion and natural talent combined with the work ethic of CR7 or Haaland. But I don't want to complain too much. I had the Joy of watching them at their best. Just wished it would have lasted longer.
When Ancelotti was coaching Napoli, he pushed hard to get James from Real. All the insider reports I have read is that James had no interest because he would have to take a pay cut as Napoli don’t have the revenue of Real or Everton (where Ancelotti went from Napoli). He was much more interested in extra $$ and sitting his ass on the bench than going to a team where he would have played a significant role for sure. So I don’t shed a tear for James. He’s gotten everything he’s deserved from soccer - fabulously rich, but a subpar career.
@@BoqPrecisionit’s different we’re talking about millions of dollars either way and a transfer to Napoli opens up more opportunities for more money and a better career
getting this recommended as he gets the second best perfomance hes had on any tournament and about to play the biggest match of his career (having played no more than 61 matches for teams out of the elite in the past 3 years)
This is the kind of thing that makes you appreciated Messi and Ronaldo (yes, I know, every football topic becomes about them, apologies in advance) and how long they really have been able to stay at the top. Guys like James comes around every now and then, have that spark of brilliance, and then "fade away" into "obscurity" (really big relative term here, I am mainly a hockey fan and even our biggest stars are less known than James). Right now we have guys like Haaland and Mbappe touching at level of those two greats but the question isn't are they as good as them now but can they maintain that for season after season, tournament after tournament.
@@omardevonlittle3817 He is very good yeah, close to or even with almost peak Messi/Ronaldo level. But will see how long he keeps that and which teams he plays for in the future.
Mbappe and Haaland both have excellent work ethic and desire to be consistently great. I think ego for Mbappe could be his only downfall, but despite this he would still be able to produce goals and perform at a high level. Whether at PSG or at National level he has shown leadership and big performances in key games. This is what seperates momentary brilliance vs excellent high performing longevity.
@@chopsnz88 Thats true, but there is also just the sheer length of time Messi and Ronaldo have been great. Messi especially has been tremendous at adjusting his game. With Haaland and Mbappe both their "trademark" trait is their tremendous pace so I wonder if they can adjust once that starts to fade a bit (still many years away obviously). I think Mbappe might be the more adaptable of the two, but thats purely speculation.
As an Olympiacos fan, its good to have him on the team. He showcases talent that is nowhere to be found in a tiny football country like Greece, along with Marcelo. 2 days ago, he scored an amazing goal out of the box, and delivered one assist in a 5 0 victory. When celebrating his goal, he went to the fans and made a gesture like "keep talking" probably because the team suffered criticism after blowing a 2 0 away lead last game in an away match that ended 2 2, although I cant imagine anyone actually criticising James himself, as he has been performing amazing every single game. When the coach subbed him off in order to rest him for more important games (score was like 3 or 4 nil) he was visibly angry and slammed the bench. I think this match with the 1 goal 1 assist 1 angry celebration and 1 angry reaction to substitution pretty much sums up his character. Still he s an amazing player to have in the club, and definitely the best to have played in Greece for the past years.
@@djbarrerap Yesterday he was the best player on the pitch constantly running and controlling the game. I'll take a little bit of immaturity with that kind of work ethic. James is special just like Ronaldo and Messi so it's to be expected!
@@frxnix Rodinei is a more susscessful transfer than James or Marcelo. Marcelo was overweight when he came and during the first few games he was playing like an amateur player. James was decent but had injury problems and he was quite unprofessional.
James is another example which showcases the need to evolve one's game style if you want to stay relevant in the ever evolving football landscape. The likes of James, Juan Mata, and Mesut Ozil were best suited as a luxury number 10 or second striker in a fluid 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system. But very few if any teams have been using such systems since 2015 or 2016. The modern midfielder even if they're offensive minded, needs to press well, and do their bit in terms of tracking back as well as play in multiple positions and systems. One has to just just look at how David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modric, Thomas Muller, etc changed their game and became much more complete players in recent years. It's a harsh, but, undeniable reality, one needs to adapt and evolve with the passage of game.
Honestly I think he could still have found his niche... He would have done great in the current PSG setup or in Morocco-style defensive teams His real problem was his insistence to stay at Madrid
@@איתןשי I agree. Its admirable that he wanted to prove himself in Madrid but at some point you have to cut your losses. Ancelotti was the only manager who really believed in him at club level
Özil was screwed by the management. Yes he was a bit out of touch at the later end, but still he was adapting and creating chances. The fact that arsenal's finisher was s--t was the reason why he failed.
@@subratr5807 😌 I disagree since I was talking more about Ozil during his Premier League stint games and not La Liga. Yes he was great during the home games between 2013 - 17 but, he really struggled to dominate the tough away games... especially against the top 6 & Arsenal's boggey teams such as Stoke. After 2017, his home form was also spiralling downwards since he was not able to compete with the much more athletic and dynamic midfielders...apart from the occasional flashes of brilliance during the home games or some cup ties, he was unable to consistently perform like Kevin De Bruyne or David Silva or Bernardo Silva etc who also started their careers in similar positions to Ozil but were able to evolve their game.....
Good post, I agree. Except Thomas Müller, just good as second striker, not as left or right winger. He won the 'fight' against Kovac a former Bayern Trainer who would constantly put him on the wings, then he basically was second striker again. He is also the lung and a second Trainer on the pitch, that makes him valuable also.
At the 2024 Copa America James is the best player of the tournament and leading in assists. He is playing well and his coach, Nestor Lorenzo, is utilizing him perfectly. Hopefully this performance can help him revive his career at the club level as he is still an outstanding player and a joy to watch!
nah I rather he focus on the national team... some people are club players and some are national players. like Ronaldo is the opposite, he is an outstanding club player but a lackluster national player.
As an Olympiakos fan, I am absolutely delighted to have James in the club. He sure is a bit of a "diva", but with players of that caliber you really need some special treatment, otherwise it will just never work. Our current coach, Michel Gonzalez (of Real Madrid fame) has given him an oldschool number 10 role and he is delivering the goods. Honestly, this is what football is all about, the spectacle and having a great time at the end of the day, and James serves that in spades. I couldn't care less about "top flight" football, it's all budget flexing and boring.
I loved this kid in 2014 and hated watching him stagnate on the bench in Madrid, but he collected a lot of silverware for not too much sweat and got a fine paycheck in the bargain. Who among us would not take that path if it was available?
YES, finally a James Rodriguez video :D Thank you so much for this! I think James is so underrated as a football player..I actually really loved the era when Cristiano, Marcelo and James were playing for Real Madrid.
I remember watching him in the 2014 World Cup as a kid and I honestly thought he was as good as Maradona. It's a real shame that his career fell off and I hope he can somehow get back to the form he has before. Congrats on 200k 🥳
@willastheman7884highlights. Many many highlights. This is why it’s tough to compare players now (messi, cr7) to players then (Pepe, maradona). Watching live is different than highlights
still one of the nicest goals ever scored at a WC, will be forever etched in my memory Edit after watching: I think it's important to look at these as cautionary tales, work hard with your talent.. if you don't then it'll fade away
I think you dealt with the problem right at the beginning. The old style number ten is a luxury that teams can only afford nowadays as long as they stay consistently at the top of their game. They often have a short lifespan in the top leagues of Europe where than can be isolated comparatively easily unless they can learn to adapt. Many, especially the fragile ones like James cannot.
My favorite player, watching that goal against Uruguay in 2014 made me cry and made me be proud to be Colombian. I used to get bullied all the time for being Colombian but he really made the pride of being Colombian GROW ❤️
There are shades of Ozil here: immense natural talent, strong self belief and marketable. All that said, his difficulty in adjusting to managers and systems undid him. The manner in which the big teams slowly rejected him speaks to problems outside of football. Silly speculation but injuries don’t explain everything. Sad loss to football.
@@BoqPrecision Saudi Arabia beat Argentina in World Cup, never underestimate anyone because if you don't work then you won't fit anywhere in today's world. Football has changed a lot from the time you look down on such leagues buddy, there will be a comeback for individual talents because any system runs itself down for a maximum of a decade, that's how business works as well, today's football is business.
@@Noor6848 I do not look down on the Saudia football league. And your right, the only team to beat the World Champions suggest an exciting place to play and watch football. My problem is that Ozil, for all the terrible stressors that German and English football put him through, couldn’t show them his true greatness. He let the bastards get him down. I don’t blame him for this, after all he went through hell in Germany but I do think he handled Arsenal badly and foolishly.
I think he kind of views his time in Qatar as a humiliation. He is doing very well in Olympiakos this year (he is there together with Marcelo). I think that he sees this as an opportunity to kind of redeem himself, play a good season in Europa or Champions League and show the world that, despite the fact that his glory days are long gone, he is still there and he still has some quality football left in him.
nah clubs are overrated. I rather he focus on the national team... some people are club players and some are national players. like Ronaldo is the opposite he is an outstanding club player but a lackluster national player
Thank you for making this video. As a Colombian, I was a follower of James. I also still come to RUclips to watch his amazing goal against Uruguay (and of course remember exactly where I was), and his goals at Madrid.
Out of all the Real Madrid players that ultimately failed, James breaks my heart the most. What he showed on that pitch was pure talent, and an amazing synergy with both the midfielders, and the forwards. Such a shame that Zidane's system was built in such a way that didn't allow him to be part of it, and that he had some questionable work ethic, because ky Lord in heaven, did he have the footballing qualities to be a legend of the best club on the planet
As a Colombian American who just started getting into soccer in 2011 he was the first player I identified with and followed from club to club, at his best he was one of the purest 10s in modern football. I still remember him putting colombia on his back during the 2018 qualifiers.
as well as James, seems like players like isco, ozil (other factors though), Coutinho, dele alli suffered massively from their roles and skillsets as 10s not really matching the midfield meta of the modern game
To me, this is why James became a let down. He's never been a true #10, and should never have been shoehorned into that role. Coaches are as much or MORE to blame than James himself. He would have thrived in a role like Thierry Henry or Ryan Giggs had, up front, on the wing. He has never been a playmaker like those he was compared to at the beginning of the video - Laudrup, Totti, Riquelme, and Platini.
Now hes plying a at a world class level and colombia just tied maturanas recored for 27 undefeated games, and were in the semi finals in the copa america.
I am an olympiakos fan and all i have to say is that i am a very excited that we have this kind of player here. He is doing fantastic in his first 3 months. Really now one expected him to be that good considering his last years where a dissapointmen. evreytime he touches the ball the crowd applaudes. For sure, tho, his prime has ended but he still has some years left. If we do good this year, he will maybe have a chance to play in the europa/champions league again in 2024, who is the reason he came back to europe
Very nice vid. I would also add that James showed great potential in Argentina because Banfield was the classical yo-yo team, that was used to fight against relegation rather than for a title. With James they completely demolished that tournament winning the 1st division title for the first time in their history. Even if he played only for two years, he is one of Banfield's greatest heroes. Banfield's coach at that point was Julio Falcioni, who had a very similar approach like Ancelotti, and therefore gave James freedom rather than stick him into a strict system.
Zidane doesn’t like Colombians, that’s why we fired him after the 2020/2021 season, he was getting REAL weird. James is one of my idols and it broke my heart seeing him decline. To me his still one of my favorite players of all time. Viva Colombia
I hate that #10's just aren't a part of the game anymore. Those were the players who made football a joy to watch and got you off the edge of your seat. It's just not entertaining watching less technically gifted players covering a lot of ground. Even the likes of Foden don't get to play as a #10. The new #10's are #6's and that's why I love watching players like Verratti
I started watching you a few months ago and have watched every upload since. The 200k is thoroughly deserved and you're one of the best around. Thanks for the great content- onwards and upwards!
As an Everton fan it was ludicrous that he signed for us (a bit like Kanchelskis in 1995/6) and he showed his class on many occasions. He also showed his weak side by the end, taking 2 games off for every 1 played and not enjoying the winter much. Had the club not completely messed up in appointing Benitez, who knows what he may have done - I suspect not much without Ancelotti.
As a Real Madrid fan , James and Ozil were the best 10 we had in the last 10 years , i know not a lot of Madridistas share the same opinion i have about James but to me he was better than Isco and I wish both him and Ozil could have had more time in Real Madrid but the game is shifting more heavily to running and engine like midfielders and less to play makers and CAM or you have to be able to do both like Kevin De Bruyne to be relevant these days but James was a joy to watch even some say we have a team A and Team B in 2017 , he was playing for the quote and quote B team but he would have been one of the best in the A team anyways , certainly one of the best CAM in the last 10 years for me and a club legend for sure .
A huge boost to his mentality was playing in the Argentinian league. It's rough and hard but very passionate, and produces lots of good players who strike the ball from afar and use aerial passing, since our fields are so bad playing a tiki-taka style is impossible. Had he stayed in Colombia he would have surely lost focus earlier in his career.
Great video; could you please make a video on Oscar, the once Brazilian wonderkid and young prodigy who scored stunning goals at Chelsea and formed a trio with Hazard and Mata, but then left to China and was forgotten about ever since.
Can never forget how good James Rodriguez was in the 2014 world cup and in his 1st season at Madrid. That Colombia team with Rodriguez , Falco and Jackson Martinez was scary on paper and all 3 of them had problems that stopped them reaching their potential :(
@@MikoyanGurevichMiG21 Yh at time I was convinced they'd goon to win the tournament even without Falcao as the main guy. They definitely wouldn't have lost 7-1 to Germany in the next round like that awful Brazil side without neymar lol.
i sometimes look back and inagine what couldve happened if falcao never got injured. He was at his peak form at atletico and arguably the best striker in the world.
you are absolutely right, but let talk about James been the best player on the copa america 2024... the fact that when he uses the colombian shirt he is amazing
Proceeds to win 3 consecutive “man of the week” awards at this Copa America and is about to potentially lead Colombia to a Copa finals (potentially). No decline ever, on the international stage
RIP pelé. The first football superstar. Grandfather of this beautiful sport that I love. One of the greatest of all time has joined the likes of Maradona and Cruyff. He will always be remembered. 🙏🙏
Your channel teaches me the history of the game from years ago and now. Plus u teach the technical side of the game that someone that grows up with it only knows. Like I’ve played USA Football since 8 I just know things about it that someone that didn’t can’t know.
I followed him very closely over the years, cos I am a Colombian football fan. Apart from attitudes and other rumors that I cannot 100% verify, I think the worst mistake he made was to go back to RM second time when he knew ZZ was there still. He was playing well in Bayern in those 2 seasons and the team style suited him (cos he didn't need to come back as much as they always have control of the ball), there was nothing wrong to go to another less extravagant team where you can find your own spot. I think if he chose to stay there he would have a much better ending to his football career. I hope players like Luis Diaz will make better decision in his own career to bring back the glory days to Colombian football. Falcao made a wrong choice to go to Monaco when he was one of the best strikers in the world that time, the rest was history......
it's such a shame that no. 10s are not used in football anymore... they were bringing grace and beauty to the game; i think the creative attack-oriented football was way more enjoyable and brave than the speculation and counter-attack football that is played now, and this is not to say that I don't like defense... actually there were plenty of amazing defenders 10-20 years ago but i find this collective pragmatic defense, closing all the angles and aligning your players at the edge of the box is kind of a game killer
1 year later and James has been arguably the best player in Copa America and Jude Bellingham brought the 10 role back to life… crazy how many things can change in a year lmao
I'm colombian and, I remember exactly where I was when I saw the goal against Uruguay. This video explained really well what happened to James, thanks.
I remember watching him play week in & week out at Madrid. So slept on, he has one of the best left foots I ever seen & easily up there with Ozil in terms of crossing the ball… they guy was bending it like Beckham seriously! His free kicks were so damn good as well. I miss him at Madrid scorning bangers under Ancelotti. I was upset with the way Zidane treated him but it was due to Casemiro playing cdm & that did bring so much success… but James was just one of my 5 favorite player growing up.
I literally looked up “what happened to James Rodrigues” this morning and then an hour later this is uploaded. Eerie! But in all seriousness, James was one of my favorite players after the 2014 World Cup and it’s so disappointing to see him unravel in this way.
2014 we saw James at his peak and was balling at Madrid under Ancelotti. However like Özil and Mata, he failed to adapt to the modern game plus his injury record didn't help him. At Everton he showed glimpses of his talent but yet again injuries ruined him and with Benitez joining Everton he had to leave for Qatar and now plays in Greece.
Interesting that Tony Kroos was also recruited to the Madrid at the same time as James but solidified his presence in the club. I know that they do not occupy the same role but can you do a video about how Tony succeeded his career in both both Munich and Madrid unlike James ? Would love to see that !
I think his personal life really affected his game. It’s not easy to have your partner leave you when your game is on the decline. Honestly feel bad for the guy
Such a shame that most of the talents from 2010-2019 have fallen off, James, Hazard, Coutinho, Isco, so many world class players that have just flopped
You could also say nmbr 10 has fallen
it’s the fall of the classic 10s
Being a regular 10 isn't needed anymore, kind of sad... Look at Ozil
Balotteli
In the cases of James and Isco I think that playing for Real Madrid under Morinho, where they didn't get enough gametime to excel made them flopped on the long run. I found that Morinho is responsible for the decline of a lot of good players and talents including James, Isco, Kaka, Drente and a lot of other players also, even Bale. When Bale came he didn't get the left wing spot, due to Ronaldo, where he excelled at Tottenham Hotspur. The real average quality of Morinho as a coach was exposed when he went back to Chelsea and Manchester United after Real Madrid. If those players where in another team and under another coach at that time I think they would be in another situation today.
Its crazy this video popped up on my feed during his 2024 copa performance.
It’s not that crazy it’s called an algorithm
As someone who stopped paying attention to soccer/ football since 2016 I had no idea what happened to James Rodriguez. So glad there’s a video to explain what I’ve missed
Npc comment 😹
Why did you stop?
Hugely overrated player whose told he’s amazing (beyond reality) like lukaku, overhyped from a World Cup.
@@adamafrah8543 how?
@@solarmaru49 exactly! He was never world class or anyone near there matter of a fact!
dude literally tore up Copa America... when he shows up its truely beautiful
6 assists. Looking very comfortable on a very good Colombian team.
The comeback
And he is back in La Liga
@@OsapWorld he is 33 y.o
As a Colombian, this is spot on.. You were a little generous at the end with him. The reality is that he is a massive talent but lazy and immature. When he wants, he still has the potential to be the best in the field, the issue is that he just doesn't care enough
Tal cual
they didnt even make the 2022 world cup!! this guy was god in 2014!!!!
I noticed that his level dropped off same time his marriage broke down when he wanted to be a playboy and date Russian and Venezuelan models....es un chivo jejeje
I need 2 kilo Coke
@@karlsylvain I was hoping to see him play with Colombia when I went to watch Mexcio vs Colombia in 2022 at Levi's Stadium. Before the match started, I asked some Colombian fans if he was playing, but they said the national team hadn't called him up for a while. I was disappointed that James Rodriguez wasn't there and that Mexico lost on home turf, but it was a really good game so I can't be too sad.
Just broke the record for most assists in a copa America! My hero Arriba Colombia!!!
Hey, it would be interesting (And funny) if you talked about the Chilean National Team. How it managed to perform surprisingly well in 2014 World Cup, then won two Copas Américas, and now can’t manage to qualify for a World Cup
They were on the Bielsa cycle. Peak hard and early, fall off dramatically.
Peak Vidal and Sanchez
2014-16 Chile NT makes me irrationally angry. It's like they made it their life's mission to deprive Argentina and Messi of the trophy and then peace out leaving Argentina desperate.
Prime Sanchez,Vidal,Medel,Vargas,Claudio Bravo what a team it was!!!
it seems pretty simple. they don't have good players anymore as that generation got old and they have nobody to replace them.
Who’s here after he came back😏
was about to comment the same thing
What club does he play for?
@@Wanda-r3y Sao Paulo in Brazil
@@Wanda-r3ysau Paolo but he’s lighting up the copa and might move back to Europe
@@Wanda-r3y Sao Paulo. Brazilian soccer is mighty fierce, though.
He got rich, and stopped trying. He’s not the first, and he won’t be the last!
can’t argue with that
Such a wasted talent man...
True, ronaldinho same thing
mbappe next
@@ggh_-ts6pn nah Mbappe is actually passionate about football
James was just one of many players during that era who had a high peak that unfortunately didn't last too long. People like Falcao and Götze come to mind. But when they were at their peak they were a absolute joy to watch. Which is why I too will remember him fondly.
Falcao did at most teams where he played at, obviously there are some exceptions..
Most players in history have had relatively short peaks. It's just htat nowadays we are more critical and look more at stats plus we had Messi/Ronaldo and nowadays Haaland/Mbappe who combine excellence with consistency. . Shearer had 4 maybe 5 great seasons, rest was quite average (esp. if you exclude penalty goals). Zidane really only had 3-4 stellar seasons. Ronaldo Nazario maybe 3 or 4 as well. Cruyff had a terrific 8-9 year spell at Ajax but only really 1 good season at Barca.
@@nottheonefromearth Only in Porto and Atletico. He was horrible in Man U and already past his peak in Monaco. He had two good season in Monaco, sure. But it was just League 1, without trying to downplay it. And his statistics weren't comparable to his time in Porto and Atletico. And as much as I love the portugese League, it's not comparable to the top leagues too. So if I were to be very strict, he only had two seasons on the top level in Atletico. But don't get me wrong, he was a great player and I enjoyed his performances.
@@daarom3472 It definitely isn't fair to compare everyone with Messi/Ronaldo. I think the main reason why even players like Ronaldinho had a relatively short peak is because they weren't very professional. At least compared to players nowadays. That's why players like Mbappe and Haaland are so good at a very young age and why they perform at the highest level for so long, like Benzema and Ibrahimovic did. Players like Ronaldinho and Ronaldo would have had a very long peak too was it not for injuries and had they been more professional by training their body deligently and taking better care of proper nutrition. Imagine Ronaldinho or Ronaldo Phenomen's passion and natural talent combined with the work ethic of CR7 or Haaland. But I don't want to complain too much. I had the Joy of watching them at their best. Just wished it would have lasted longer.
add coutinho to that list
When Ancelotti was coaching Napoli, he pushed hard to get James from Real. All the insider reports I have read is that James had no interest because he would have to take a pay cut as Napoli don’t have the revenue of Real or Everton (where Ancelotti went from Napoli). He was much more interested in extra $$ and sitting his ass on the bench than going to a team where he would have played a significant role for sure. So I don’t shed a tear for James. He’s gotten everything he’s deserved from soccer - fabulously rich, but a subpar career.
which i guess is reasonable. Not everyone is destined for greatness or even want that. I'm glad he's well taken care of at least
So you will choose a warehouse job with constant lifting, that pays less than an office job where you get to sit about and type on a computer?
@@BoqPrecisionit’s different we’re talking about millions of dollars either way and a transfer to Napoli opens up more opportunities for more money and a better career
I wouldn't say his career was subpar
getting this recommended as he gets the second best perfomance hes had on any tournament and about to play the biggest match of his career (having played no more than 61 matches for teams out of the elite in the past 3 years)
This is the kind of thing that makes you appreciated Messi and Ronaldo (yes, I know, every football topic becomes about them, apologies in advance) and how long they really have been able to stay at the top. Guys like James comes around every now and then, have that spark of brilliance, and then "fade away" into "obscurity" (really big relative term here, I am mainly a hockey fan and even our biggest stars are less known than James). Right now we have guys like Haaland and Mbappe touching at level of those two greats but the question isn't are they as good as them now but can they maintain that for season after season, tournament after tournament.
Mbappe is miles clear of this conversation. Hes better than them all by alot.
@@omardevonlittle3817 He is very good yeah, close to or even with almost peak Messi/Ronaldo level. But will see how long he keeps that and which teams he plays for in the future.
@@omardevonlittle3817 Haaland better
Mbappe and Haaland both have excellent work ethic and desire to be consistently great. I think ego for Mbappe could be his only downfall, but despite this he would still be able to produce goals and perform at a high level. Whether at PSG or at National level he has shown leadership and big performances in key games.
This is what seperates momentary brilliance vs excellent high performing longevity.
@@chopsnz88 Thats true, but there is also just the sheer length of time Messi and Ronaldo have been great. Messi especially has been tremendous at adjusting his game. With Haaland and Mbappe both their "trademark" trait is their tremendous pace so I wonder if they can adjust once that starts to fade a bit (still many years away obviously). I think Mbappe might be the more adaptable of the two, but thats purely speculation.
You need to do "The Stranger Renaissance of James Rodriguez"
As an Olympiacos fan, its good to have him on the team. He showcases talent that is nowhere to be found in a tiny football country like Greece, along with Marcelo. 2 days ago, he scored an amazing goal out of the box, and delivered one assist in a 5 0 victory. When celebrating his goal, he went to the fans and made a gesture like "keep talking" probably because the team suffered criticism after blowing a 2 0 away lead last game in an away match that ended 2 2, although I cant imagine anyone actually criticising James himself, as he has been performing amazing every single game. When the coach subbed him off in order to rest him for more important games (score was like 3 or 4 nil) he was visibly angry and slammed the bench. I think this match with the 1 goal 1 assist 1 angry celebration and 1 angry reaction to substitution pretty much sums up his character. Still he s an amazing player to have in the club, and definitely the best to have played in Greece for the past years.
You guys also got Brazilian legend Rodinei! He is kind of a meme player in brazil but was a good locker room player. Cheers
@@frxnix Rodinei had a good first game for Olympiacos, looks solid on offence and defence.
Immaturity, there you have it.
@@djbarrerap Yesterday he was the best player on the pitch constantly running and controlling the game. I'll take a little bit of immaturity with that kind of work ethic. James is special just like Ronaldo and Messi so it's to be expected!
@@frxnix Rodinei is a more susscessful transfer than James or Marcelo. Marcelo was overweight when he came and during the first few games he was playing like an amateur player. James was decent but had injury problems and he was quite unprofessional.
As a Colombian it’s sad to see his decline but always grateful for all the moments he gave us
and now hes performing in the current Copa America crazy
James is another example which showcases the need to evolve one's game style if you want to stay relevant in the ever evolving football landscape. The likes of James, Juan Mata, and Mesut Ozil were best suited as a luxury number 10 or second striker in a fluid 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system. But very few if any teams have been using such systems since 2015 or 2016. The modern midfielder even if they're offensive minded, needs to press well, and do their bit in terms of tracking back as well as play in multiple positions and systems. One has to just just look at how David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modric, Thomas Muller, etc changed their game and became much more complete players in recent years.
It's a harsh, but, undeniable reality, one needs to adapt and evolve with the passage of game.
Honestly I think he could still have found his niche... He would have done great in the current PSG setup or in Morocco-style defensive teams
His real problem was his insistence to stay at Madrid
@@איתןשי I agree. Its admirable that he wanted to prove himself in Madrid but at some point you have to cut your losses. Ancelotti was the only manager who really believed in him at club level
Özil was screwed by the management. Yes he was a bit out of touch at the later end, but still he was adapting and creating chances. The fact that arsenal's finisher was s--t was the reason why he failed.
@@subratr5807 😌 I disagree since I was talking more about Ozil during his Premier League stint games and not La Liga. Yes he was great during the home games between 2013 - 17 but, he really struggled to dominate the tough away games... especially against the top 6 & Arsenal's boggey teams such as Stoke.
After 2017, his home form was also spiralling downwards since he was not able to compete with the much more athletic and dynamic midfielders...apart from the occasional flashes of brilliance during the home games or some cup ties, he was unable to consistently perform like Kevin De Bruyne or David Silva or Bernardo Silva etc who also started their careers in similar positions to Ozil but were able to evolve their game.....
Good post, I agree. Except Thomas Müller, just good as second striker, not as left or right winger. He won the 'fight' against Kovac a former Bayern Trainer who would constantly put him on the wings, then he basically was second striker again. He is also the lung and a second Trainer on the pitch, that makes him valuable also.
At the 2024 Copa America James is the best player of the tournament and leading in assists. He is playing well and his coach, Nestor Lorenzo, is utilizing him perfectly. Hopefully this performance can help him revive his career at the club level as he is still an outstanding player and a joy to watch!
nah I rather he focus on the national team... some people are club players and some are national players. like Ronaldo is the opposite, he is an outstanding club player but a lackluster national player.
Watching this in 2024 is insane😂
As an Olympiakos fan, I am absolutely delighted to have James in the club. He sure is a bit of a "diva", but with players of that caliber you really need some special treatment, otherwise it will just never work. Our current coach, Michel Gonzalez (of Real Madrid fame) has given him an oldschool number 10 role and he is delivering the goods. Honestly, this is what football is all about, the spectacle and having a great time at the end of the day, and James serves that in spades. I couldn't care less about "top flight" football, it's all budget flexing and boring.
Πες τα αγορίνα
At least you can surely say that he really did come to Greece to play ball and not just make money and enjoy the sun
The dude would look like a superstar in a third rate league
Yea he is absolutely looking like a star in the Greek league and is good for Olympiacos fans too.
Atleast in FC Porto he was a beast
I loved this kid in 2014 and hated watching him stagnate on the bench in Madrid, but he collected a lot of silverware for not too much sweat and got a fine paycheck in the bargain. Who among us would not take that path if it was available?
YES, finally a James Rodriguez video :D Thank you so much for this! I think James is so underrated as a football player..I actually really loved the era when Cristiano, Marcelo and James were playing for Real Madrid.
I remember watching him in the 2014 World Cup as a kid and I honestly thought he was as good as Maradona. It's a real shame that his career fell off and I hope he can somehow get back to the form he has before. Congrats on 200k 🥳
@@yeeeet01 he said he was a kid mate read
Bro I was a child 💀
@willastheman7884highlights. Many many highlights. This is why it’s tough to compare players now (messi, cr7) to players then (Pepe, maradona). Watching live is different than highlights
@@Brathaa pepe????
@@stxfdt1240 I’m sure he meant to say Pelé. Unless he’s serious about it being Pepe…
still one of the nicest goals ever scored at a WC, will be forever etched in my memory
Edit after watching:
I think it's important to look at these as cautionary tales, work hard with your talent.. if you don't then it'll fade away
Van Persies was better.
As a Colombian, I really wish he could’ve continued the way he did. Brought pride to the country and everyone who is Colombian
I think you dealt with the problem right at the beginning. The old style number ten is a luxury that teams can only afford nowadays as long as they stay consistently at the top of their game. They often have a short lifespan in the top leagues of Europe where than can be isolated comparatively easily unless they can learn to adapt. Many, especially the fragile ones like James cannot.
He's the prime example of what happens when talent stops working hard.
I owe him an apology, I was not familiar with his game.
😂@@spinyslasher6586
My favorite player, watching that goal against Uruguay in 2014 made me cry and made me be proud to be Colombian. I used to get bullied all the time for being Colombian but he really made the pride of being Colombian GROW ❤️
why would u get bullied for being Colombian?
There are shades of Ozil here: immense natural talent, strong self belief and marketable. All that said, his difficulty in adjusting to managers and systems undid him. The manner in which the big teams slowly rejected him speaks to problems outside of football. Silly speculation but injuries don’t explain everything. Sad loss to football.
perfect candidate for Saudi Arabia league
@@BoqPrecision He went to Qatar already, I assume he would have stayed there if everything outside of football was to his liking.
@@BoqPrecision Saudi Arabia beat Argentina in World Cup, never underestimate anyone because if you don't work then you won't fit anywhere in today's world. Football has changed a lot from the time you look down on such leagues buddy, there will be a comeback for individual talents because any system runs itself down for a maximum of a decade, that's how business works as well, today's football is business.
@@Noor6848 I do not look down on the Saudia football league. And your right, the only team to beat the World Champions suggest an exciting place to play and watch football.
My problem is that Ozil, for all the terrible stressors that German and English football put him through, couldn’t show them his true greatness. He let the bastards get him down. I don’t blame him for this, after all he went through hell in Germany but I do think he handled Arsenal badly and foolishly.
Don't talk nonsense Ozil looked like a fish out water...what marketability
James got me so many points on my fantasy premier league. Always came in clutch for me. Legend
I think he kind of views his time in Qatar as a humiliation. He is doing very well in Olympiakos this year (he is there together with Marcelo). I think that he sees this as an opportunity to kind of redeem himself, play a good season in Europa or Champions League and show the world that, despite the fact that his glory days are long gone, he is still there and he still has some quality football left in him.
Quality is permanent my friend
@@billyjean5934 quality is often ephemeral
Now he’s ballin in the copa America
nah clubs are overrated. I rather he focus on the national team... some people are club players and some are national players. like Ronaldo is the opposite he is an outstanding club player but a lackluster national player
I still miss James Rodriguez at Everton. People underestimate how good he was for us
PLEASE we need the follow-up of his comeback
Thank you for making this video. As a Colombian, I was a follower of James. I also still come to RUclips to watch his amazing goal against Uruguay (and of course remember exactly where I was), and his goals at Madrid.
got recommended this during the cops america where he has 6 goal contributions in 4 games. lol
Out of all the Real Madrid players that ultimately failed, James breaks my heart the most. What he showed on that pitch was pure talent, and an amazing synergy with both the midfielders, and the forwards. Such a shame that Zidane's system was built in such a way that didn't allow him to be part of it, and that he had some questionable work ethic, because ky Lord in heaven, did he have the footballing qualities to be a legend of the best club on the planet
Here after best player in copa 2024🤌🔥
As a Colombian American who just started getting into soccer in 2011 he was the first player I identified with and followed from club to club, at his best he was one of the purest 10s in modern football. I still remember him putting colombia on his back during the 2018 qualifiers.
Its football not soccer😑
football*
@@OnlyBlix cuadrado got overshadowed by james in 2014. he was another star in the making at the time
cuadrado, falcao, armero, zuñiga, abel, yepes... nice team
Football***
haven't watch yet but by the title I know it's going to be a sick video , keep up the good work fam 👍
as well as James, seems like players like isco, ozil (other factors though), Coutinho, dele alli suffered massively from their roles and skillsets as 10s not really matching the midfield meta of the modern game
To me, this is why James became a let down. He's never been a true #10, and should never have been shoehorned into that role.
Coaches are as much or MORE to blame than James himself.
He would have thrived in a role like Thierry Henry or Ryan Giggs had, up front, on the wing.
He has never been a playmaker like those he was compared to at the beginning of the video - Laudrup, Totti, Riquelme, and Platini.
@@MrVvulf James was far too slow to be that kind of winger
Now hes plying a at a world class level and colombia just tied maturanas recored for 27 undefeated games, and were in the semi finals in the copa america.
I am an olympiakos fan and all i have to say is that i am a very excited that we have this kind of player here. He is doing fantastic in his first 3 months. Really now one expected him to be that good considering his last years where a dissapointmen. evreytime he touches the ball the crowd applaudes. For sure, tho, his prime has ended but he still has some years left. If we do good this year, he will maybe have a chance to play in the europa/champions league again in 2024, who is the reason he came back to europe
Video needs updating !!!!! This is our champ.
"That" goal that he scored at the world cup in 2014 was spectacular. Always worth a rewatch.
I´m from Colombia, and I´m amazed with the way you tell the events and all the research behind this. Just subscribed for more videos.
Very nice vid. I would also add that James showed great potential in Argentina because Banfield was the classical yo-yo team, that was used to fight against relegation rather than for a title. With James they completely demolished that tournament winning the 1st division title for the first time in their history. Even if he played only for two years, he is one of Banfield's greatest heroes. Banfield's coach at that point was Julio Falcioni, who had a very similar approach like Ancelotti, and therefore gave James freedom rather than stick him into a strict system.
Came here after the Colombia vs Uruguay game and am pretty excited about the Copa America final, we all deserve a second chance, all the best James!
Zidane doesn’t like Colombians, that’s why we fired him after the 2020/2021 season, he was getting REAL weird. James is one of my idols and it broke my heart seeing him decline. To me his still one of my favorite players of all time. Viva Colombia
Cultures clash
Maybe that's why I don't like the french either
I hate that #10's just aren't a part of the game anymore. Those were the players who made football a joy to watch and got you off the edge of your seat. It's just not entertaining watching less technically gifted players covering a lot of ground. Even the likes of Foden don't get to play as a #10. The new #10's are #6's and that's why I love watching players like Verratti
Tyler Adams
Here a year later to say he is a Colombian legend, nothing more. Amazing Copa America🔥
I started watching you a few months ago and have watched every upload since. The 200k is thoroughly deserved and you're one of the best around. Thanks for the great content- onwards and upwards!
why this video popped up as he’s killing copa america?
As an Everton fan it was ludicrous that he signed for us (a bit like Kanchelskis in 1995/6) and he showed his class on many occasions. He also showed his weak side by the end, taking 2 games off for every 1 played and not enjoying the winter much. Had the club not completely messed up in appointing Benitez, who knows what he may have done - I suspect not much without Ancelotti.
The day James signed for Everton was the day I knew he was finished.
You misspelled Real Madrid.
I completely forgot he played for everton
Goat football channel. Thank you for your hard work and great content brother
As a Real Madrid fan , James and Ozil were the best 10 we had in the last 10 years , i know not a lot of Madridistas share the same opinion i have about James but to me he was better than Isco and I wish both him and Ozil could have had more time in Real Madrid but the game is shifting more heavily to running and engine like midfielders and less to play makers and CAM or you have to be able to do both like Kevin De Bruyne to be relevant these days but James was a joy to watch even some say we have a team A and Team B in 2017 , he was playing for the quote and quote B team but he would have been one of the best in the A team anyways , certainly one of the best CAM in the last 10 years for me and a club legend for sure .
Definitely not a club legend. That's the dumbest thing I've heard. He never contributed to getting a title
Wow playing football manager, thought I'll search for some James Rodriguez stuff and you posted this a day ago, good timing!
A huge boost to his mentality was playing in the Argentinian league. It's rough and hard but very passionate, and produces lots of good players who strike the ball from afar and use aerial passing, since our fields are so bad playing a tiki-taka style is impossible. Had he stayed in Colombia he would have surely lost focus earlier in his career.
As a colombian I'll go ahead and say it, we're mentally weak.
We're not used to success, when it comes it spoils us.
Damn I also thought it's probably the money that changed him😭
Could be said about most of Latin America
Great video; could you please make a video on Oscar, the once Brazilian wonderkid and young prodigy who scored stunning goals at Chelsea and formed a trio with Hazard and Mata, but then left to China and was forgotten about ever since.
I will always love his position, such creativity and class will never go away in my eyes.
Can never forget how good James Rodriguez was in the 2014 world cup and in his 1st season at Madrid. That Colombia team with Rodriguez , Falco and Jackson Martinez was scary on paper and all 3 of them had problems that stopped them reaching their potential :(
That quarterfinal against Brazil was such a disgrace, Colombia deserved to go through to the semis.
@@MikoyanGurevichMiG21 Yh at time I was convinced they'd goon to win the tournament even without Falcao as the main guy. They definitely wouldn't have lost 7-1 to Germany in the next round like that awful Brazil side without neymar lol.
i sometimes look back and inagine what couldve happened if falcao never got injured. He was at his peak form at atletico and arguably the best striker in the world.
@@anthonyvallejo9127 Agree , he was the best striker in the world then imo. No question
Congrats on 200k. Well deserved, I love watching your videos. Keep up the good work!
James Rodríguez and Ozil were indeed the last traditional number 10s.
you are absolutely right, but let talk about James been the best player on the copa america 2024... the fact that when he uses the colombian shirt he is amazing
Proceeds to win 3 consecutive “man of the week” awards at this Copa America and is about to potentially lead Colombia to a Copa finals (potentially). No decline ever, on the international stage
😂 nah fr
Why did this get recommended to me right now? Dude is the best player in the 2024 Copa America
RIP pelé. The first football superstar. Grandfather of this beautiful sport that I love. One of the greatest of all time has joined the likes of Maradona and Cruyff. He will always be remembered. 🙏🙏
As a greek I must say that now he really gives joy to so many fans here… people have evonomic troubles but on sunday james make them happy!!
I don't care what anybody says i believe he was a gem and performed well as a 10 for Madrid
Your channel teaches me the history of the game from years ago and now. Plus u teach the technical side of the game that someone that grows up with it only knows. Like I’ve played USA Football since 8 I just know things about it that someone that didn’t can’t know.
this aged poorly after he has 6 assists so far, the most ever in Copa America history for any player
Loved watching him play, I’d been wondering where he was. Thank you for the video as always, love your content and clear passion💪🏼
he plays with marcelo in greece team olympicaos
COPA 2024. Beast. So many teams could use him. Big teams.
I followed him very closely over the years, cos I am a Colombian football fan. Apart from attitudes and other rumors that I cannot 100% verify, I think the worst mistake he made was to go back to RM second time when he knew ZZ was there still. He was playing well in Bayern in those 2 seasons and the team style suited him (cos he didn't need to come back as much as they always have control of the ball), there was nothing wrong to go to another less extravagant team where you can find your own spot. I think if he chose to stay there he would have a much better ending to his football career. I hope players like Luis Diaz will make better decision in his own career to bring back the glory days to Colombian football. Falcao made a wrong choice to go to Monaco when he was one of the best strikers in the world that time, the rest was history......
it's such a shame that no. 10s are not used in football anymore... they were bringing grace and beauty to the game; i think the creative attack-oriented football was way more enjoyable and brave than the speculation and counter-attack football that is played now, and this is not to say that I don't like defense... actually there were plenty of amazing defenders 10-20 years ago but i find this collective pragmatic defense, closing all the angles and aligning your players at the edge of the box is kind of a game killer
1 year later and James has been arguably the best player in Copa America and Jude Bellingham brought the 10 role back to life… crazy how many things can change in a year lmao
It's always a great day when the Legend Uploads 🔥🔥
I'm colombian and, I remember exactly where I was when I saw the goal against Uruguay. This video explained really well what happened to James, thanks.
Lmaooo insane RUclips showing me this as he’s revitalizing his career in this copa run
Not at all surprised the channel grew, you make great football video essays!
I remember watching him play week in & week out at Madrid. So slept on, he has one of the best left foots I ever seen & easily up there with Ozil in terms of crossing the ball… they guy was bending it like Beckham seriously! His free kicks were so damn good as well. I miss him at Madrid scorning bangers under Ancelotti. I was upset with the way Zidane treated him but it was due to Casemiro playing cdm & that did bring so much success… but James was just one of my 5 favorite player growing up.
I literally looked up “what happened to James Rodrigues” this morning and then an hour later this is uploaded. Eerie! But in all seriousness, James was one of my favorite players after the 2014 World Cup and it’s so disappointing to see him unravel in this way.
This video is officially outdated. He's killing it in the Copa.
Congratulations mate, you deserve all of your success!
2014 we saw James at his peak and was balling at Madrid under Ancelotti. However like Özil and Mata, he failed to adapt to the modern game plus his injury record didn't help him. At Everton he showed glimpses of his talent but yet again injuries ruined him and with Benitez joining Everton he had to leave for Qatar and now plays in Greece.
James is still the only player to win a Puskas goal from a World Cup game
Thank you for making this!!
anyone come back after the copa semis
Interesting that Tony Kroos was also recruited to the Madrid at the same time as James but solidified his presence in the club. I know that they do not occupy the same role but can you do a video about how Tony succeeded his career in both both Munich and Madrid unlike James ? Would love to see that !
Kroos been class since he was 18! A pleasure to watch
Kroos is like Scholes he'll probably get better still
Kroos is more of a midfielder that tracks back rather than a forward mid fielder like James
James was amazing at Everton, we loved him
just want to say that good job on your vids, they are well researched and interesting, very enjoyable
So uh...he admittedly HAS been cooking in this Copa América so far.
Your content has been amazing all year tinashe, this channel and tifo football are the highest of quality.
Great video, man. Would love to hear your thoughts on Arsenal so far this season and Martin Ødegaard's development. Keep the content coming!
Norwegian wonderkid 4 life what more to say?
Follow him religiously, and you nailed this video! subscribed!
I think his personal life really affected his game. It’s not easy to have your partner leave you when your game is on the decline. Honestly feel bad for the guy
Stumbled across your channel. I love it.
Who's also watching after James won the Copa America?