Thursday 9 July 2015

James Rodriguez Looks Every Bit Cristiano Ronaldo's Successor at Real Madrid

James Rodriguez Looks Every Bit
Cristiano Ronaldo's Successor at
Real Madrid

It was a celebration we'd seen often, James Rodriguez
jogging toward the corner flag, elbow tucked in, finger formed
like pistol pointing at the crowd. On previous occasions we'd
seen the celebration performed with verve, but this time it
was somewhat muted, coming in the middle of Real Madrid 's
mauling of Getafe in a game of little-to-no consequence on
the season's final day.
Yet, in this exhibition-like 90 minutes, the act preceding
Rodriguez's celebration had stood out, leaving behind it a
vivid image that felt like a forerunner for a future Real Madrid
will soon face.
In the moments earlier the Colombian had stood over a free-
kick, lining it up as though he was preparing to be the decoy.
This was Cristiano Ronaldo territory after all. Ronaldo's
domain. His area of authority. But Ronaldo then did the
unexpected, pausing and clearing the way for Rodriguez.
Appreciative, the 23-year-old curled it over the wall and past
Jordi Codina with astonishing ease. Goal. Celebration.
Two team-mates, separated by seven years but connected by
the Galactico tag, embraced.
At the time it felt symbolic, and with each day that passes it
continues to do so. Ronaldo will soon need a successor at
Real Madrid, someone to pass the torch to, someone to
whom he can hand over the keys to the kingdom. Coming off
a 61-goal season, the Portuguese isn't ready to do so just yet.
But when he is , when the time comes, Rodriguez is waiting,
primed to take them.
Overblown? Maybe. But consider the whole package; there's
something to it.

At Real Madrid there must be a headline act—something or
someone who can take Real's show of glamour to a place
nearly all others can't. The headline act must be a cocktail of
star power, worldwide appeal, good looks, marketing potential
and a penchant for the spectacular. Rodriguez is, and has, all
of those things. And he blends them together with an alluring
silkiness.
He's an archetypal Real Madrid star.
If you were to put together a showreel of the Colombian's
2014-15 season, it would be as eye-catching as nearly any in
Europe. There was his lashed volley from an absurd angle
at Los Carmenes against Granada; his swerving, long-range
thump at the Riazor against Deportivo La Coruna; his
outrageous, first-time blast at the Bernabeu against Almeria;
his dual one-two special at home against Malaga.
Naturally, the World Cup sensation's reel couldn't match the
sheer volume of Ronaldo's, the dazzling feet of Lionel Messi 's
or the tenacious power of Luis Suarez's. But maybe only Messi
could put together a more breathtaking visual package. On
highlights alone, Rodriguez had nearly every player on the
continent covered, accounting for practically half of Real
Madrid's most memorable strikes on his own.
What's more, he did it in just his first season at one of
Europe's behemoths. At 23. Following extreme scrutiny.
Burdened by a £63 million price tag.

When Ronaldo first made the switch to the Spanish capital
from Manchester United in 2009, the Ballon d'Or winner
totalled 33 goals and seven assists in his opening season,
playing as the focal point of the club's attack. After joining
from Monaco, Rodriguez tallied 17 and 16, respectively, his
total contribution similar while operating as one third of a
midfield three.
"The 3-in-1 James," Marca dubbed him, rejoicing in the way
he "runs, scores and assists." On that occasion, the Madrid-
based daily pictured Rodriguez in silvery-white armour, a
purple cape on his back, a Superman logo splashed across his
chest and a glow emanating from his outline.
"The Colombian cat arrived in a jungle with an overpopulation
of midfielders and took no time to let roar," Marca added, and
at other points labelled him "St. James," "James the
jellifier," "James—the great Whites' hope" and most
significantly, "King James," playing on the nickname of
another worldwide phenomenon.

Marca , of course, has never been shy to anoint a star, but the
regularity with which it did so last season was notable.
The 3-in-1 James: The Real Madrid nº10's
adaptation to his new team in his first season
couldn't have been better.

The Real Madrid nº10s adaptation to his new team in
his first season couldnt have been better.
View on web
It's easy to see why, too. Aside from the output, there's both
an industry and efficiency to Rodriguez's game that lends him
perfectly to a football world that's becoming more analytical
and data-driven by the week. Such qualities will also make
him a hit at the hypercritical Bernabeu.
Whereas Gareth Bale has become a polarising figure in
Chamartin because of a questionable defensive contribution,
Rodriguez's willingness to put in a shift, as the saying goes,
has endeared him to a fanbase very much accustomed to
over-indulged footballing icons.
Prepared to track back, tackle, harass and scrap, Rodriguez's
two-way commitment is indicative of that which is becoming
increasing necessary for the game's leading players at a time
when performances can be stripped to their bare bones by
almost anyone owning a computer and a web browser.
Take this for example: According to WhoScored.com , Bale
was significantly out-tackled by Rodriguez (26 to 40) in less
minutes in La Liga last season, and needed almost double the
shots (103 to 53) to score exactly the same number of goals
(13).

That bodes well for Rodriguez as a new-age star, his
efficiency already having a profound effect on the Real Madrid
outfit he's still only new to.
Yet, what's most tantalising about Rodriguez's potential is the
possibilities, the options, he will give to a team, a manager
and a club in the coming years.
When he arrived in Madrid, he was exclusively a No. 10, a
gifted technician who liked to sit behind the striker and
manipulate a game with his dazzling left boot. Twelve months
down the line, he's still that but also so much more. In
2014-15 he played on the left and the right; in central midfield
and attacking midfield and as a wide forward. He was a
roaring success in all of them; all that's left to show is an
ability to play as a false nine and he's mastered the set. Thus,
what Real Madrid are getting bundled with Rodriguez's
precocious individual flair is systematic versatility as the
Colombian gradually shifts toward the team's most prominent
role.
That shift may be 12 months from completion. It could be 24.
It could be more. What's clear is that it will need Ronaldo to
step aside to allow it do so, and Ronaldo still has so much to
offer Real Madrid.
But when the Portuguese is ready to hand over the keys to
the kingdom, Rodriguez looks every bit his natural successor,
the player ready to carry forward the Real Madrid star cocktail
and give it a modern twist.