Journalist Cunningham praises ‘top drawer’ Everton star Rodriguez
Journalist Matt Cunningham has showered praise on Everton attacker James Rodriguez, declaring him better now than he was at Real Madrid.
The Colombian playmaker was seen as a major coup when he joined Everton from Real Madrid in the summer, with Carlo Ancelotti crucial in bringing him to Merseyside.
In 19 Premier League fixtures this season Rodriguez has scored six goals and assisted a further four.
After a spell out injured Rodriguez was back to his best against Crystal Palace on Monday, oozing class with 92% pass completion [WyScout] as well as scoring Everton’s opening goal, though the Blues would ultimately draw 1-1.
Talking on the Football Social Daily Podcast, Cunningham praised the inflience of the 29-year old on the way that Everton play.
Cunningham said: “He’s [Rodriguez] a classy player. I was surprised when they [Everton] got him, but I also didn’t think he would be as good as he has been.
“I don’t think he was this good at Real Madrid, and what we saw for Colombia in that one World Cup where he scored the goal of the tournament and he was unbelievable, I don’t think was a true representation of Rodriguez.
“But the Rodriguez at Everton, he’s been top-drawer, and when I watch him play, he changes them a little bit; they look a bit lacklustre going forward and then when he plays, that entire dimension changes.
“If Rodriguez could have stayed fit, he’s got to only benefit them. He’s been fantastic all season, and he’d probably be a shoo-in for a Player of the Season award and people would be talking about him in that vein because when he plays, he really does make a difference to that side.”
Form is temporary…
James Rodriguez has always been a supremely talented player and at his very best during the prime period of his career he was often unbeatable.
James possesses incredible technical ability, unmatched at Goodison Park, with Everton having never seen a player wearing their colours move the ball with such deft precision and purpose.
Of course, injuries ruined Rodriguez’s career in Spain, and he never seemed to be viewed favourably by manager Zinedine Zidane, but his talent was always there – so long as he could remain fit. Thankfully, apart from the odd few games here and there, he’s largely done that on Merseyside.
Player of the Season does seem like a stretch though, with Rodriguez missing too many games to claim that gong for Everton. Ben Godfrey and Abdoulaye Doucoure are both likely to be in with a shout, having both turned in consistent performances week in and week out.
Without Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, Everton would never have landed James last summer, and yet somehow they did. The task now is to continue building upon that, to continue attracting exciting players to Goodison Park and to finally deliver some much needed and massively coveted silverware.
In other Everton news, the Blues could be willing to take a significant loss on £135k-per-week ace as summer exit looms.
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