Despite signing for Everton just a week before their season opener, James Rodriguez has started in both of Everton’s Premier League games so far.
The late arrival does not seem to be affecting him, with James Rodriguez putting in two great performances to start his Premier League career.
Rodriguez was always expected to be at the heart of Everton’s gameplay. He was brought to Everton by Carlo Ancelotti, who brought him to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, previously.
In Rodriquez’s only full season under Ancelotti, he tallied 13 goals and 13 assists in 29 games.
His adaptability to the role should be no surprise to anyone. So far with Everton, he has had a free-roaming position on the right-wing similar to his role at Real Madrid in 2014/15 when Gareth Bale would miss games.
He played there 16 times that season, getting nine of his 13 goals and eight of his 13 assists. It’s also a similar position to what he plays with the Columbian national team.
It’s important to not overreact so early but the signs have been positive in his first pair of fixtures. He had no preseason with the club and is still adapting to a new league and team, and is still playing in great form.
Debut vs. Tottenham
Rodriguez made his debut in The Toffees’ 1-0 win at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
His creativity was on full display. He created five chances, the most of any player on the field.
He was also dropping deep, helping his side build from the back and kick-starting counter-attacks.
His involvement all around the field was shown as he was the only Everton player to receive a pass from every one of his teammates in just the first half.
His on-ball ability was there for everyone to see. He completed 11 long balls in 12 attempts, which contributed to his 47 completed passes.
Rodriguez also completed two of his two take-ons and was dispossessed just once. He did a little bit of everything and was behind majority of his side’s attacking play.
The Columbian international would make his home debut against West Bromwich Albion. He built on everything he did against Spurs, again showing up all over the field to connect play. This game, however, he added his first goal involvements for the club.
He would score his first goal with a well-placed shot on the stroke of halftime. Richarlison found him on the edge of the box, and Rodriguez elected to take the shot instead of playing the one-two, finding the bottom right corner from outside of the area. It put Everton up 2-1 going into the break.
Rodriguez would set up Everton’s fourth and fifth goals. For the fourth, he found Richarlison with a perfectly placed, weighted pass over the top of the defense. The Brazilian would square it to Dominic Calvert-Lewin who just had to tap it into the open goal.
More from Everton
- Everton: Sean Dyche still keen on 19-year-old he failed to sign in summer
- Everton’s prospective owners could bring a whole heap of new trouble
- Everton forward will disrespect Sean Dyche by signing for Liverpool legend
- Everton forward hits out at Sean Dyche – He wants Saudi Arabia move!
- Everton survive Carabao Cup scare thanks to new signings
Calvert-Lewin would be on the end of his first assist for Everton as well. Rodriguez’s out-swinging corner found the English forward on the edge of the six-yard box, and he would head home the cross for his hat-trick.
Despite the production, Rodriguez may feel he should have had another assist and pre-assist. He found Calvert-Lewin in the first half off of a corner, but it was headed wide on this occasion. Not to say it was a bad miss, but it was a chance there for the taking.
In the second half, he found Lucas Digne with another perfect through ball, this one on the ground through three West Brom players. Digne’s first touch let him down on this occasion, and West Brom recovered.
With his performances improving with each passing game, Everton could have easily pulled off one of the best summer signings in James Rodriguez.