[Image] Until it is my time, I will keep clapping for others.Submitted by Bishan_cfc t3_y72xgw in GetMotivated
deckard1980 t1_istcb9v wrote
Reply to comment by Alukrad in [Image] Until it is my time, I will keep clapping for others. by Bishan_cfc
Had a great world Cup then couldn't cement a place at Real. Get this: he had to play for Everton
weegee19 t1_istfc1o wrote
Would mostly blame it on injuries. James was mostly class when fit but a couple of seasons later he simply no longer fit.
sharings_caring t1_istvend wrote
Staying at the top for a long time is a lot harder than Ronaldo and Messi make it look
weegee19 t1_istw8kf wrote
Yes
fudgie1 t1_isu86n6 wrote
That's part of it but there's also a larger trend in world football working against him in that the popular tactics have been shifting away from his best position. It's getting harder for attacking midfielders to find a role on many teams whereas 20-30 years ago it was the most important position.
weegee19 t1_isuax8x wrote
I think he absolutely could have adapted if injuries didnt stymie his progress, but youre also correct in that regard.
karlverkade t1_isvmw73 wrote
He was also slooooooowwww, so adapting was doubly difficult for him. Other CAM’s could make it work, but he was basically a slow 6 trying to play 10 in an increasingly speedy game. It was maddening to watch him run…like, he was incredibly fit so your brain just expected him to get to the place faster and he just didn’t. Not to mention that he never learned to use his right foot for anything other than standing, and that means that a slow, one-footed attacking mid basically has to be perfect skill-wise. Any tiny little slump was extremely noticeable because he had no speed (or right foot) to fall back on.
Baumschmuser123 t1_isv3nn7 wrote
He was also not easy to work with.
DawdlingScientist t1_istw8ff wrote
He was outstanding in his first season I believe. Then Isco had the most insane form/career peak I’ve ever seen and took his natural position. I think low key Zidane just didn’t like him.
Hard to argue with Zidane when we won the cl that season he didn’t even include James on the bench but ya. Tough one, poor James.
lonelyfool7 t1_isw5lse wrote
Zidane was just a fan. He really wanted Isco to work. I think he always had Isco over Bale as well for preference.
dskoro t1_istvs2o wrote
Get this: he got benched at everton
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