Scouting Report: Will Everton Manager Roberto Martinez Sign Cristian Rodriguez?
Could Atletico Madrid's Uruguayan international Cristian Rodriguez, a 28-year-old, 5'10", 178-pound left winger, be a summer transfer window target for Everton manager Roberto Martinez?
To cover that scenario, this article grades Rodriguez's display against Costa Rica at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and provides a scouting report on his season for Atleti.
Rodriguezย vs. Costa Ricaย Grade: C+
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In aย Luis Suarez-lessย Uruguay team,ย Rodriguez was expected toย shoulder extra responsibilities, but he failed toย make inroads intoย Costa Rica's defence.ย
Uruguay suffered a 3-1 defeat toย Costa Rica, which provided schadenfreude for Brazilians who witnessed theย Maracanazo.ย
Rodriguez repeatedly ran atย Costa Rica right wing-backย Cristian Gamboa, but the results were 50/50.ย
| ย | Rodriguez vs.ย Gamboa |
| ย | ย |
| Successful Dribbles | 2 |
| Dribble Attempts | 4 |
| Source: Squawka.com.ย | ย |
| ย | ย |
Rodriguez provided drive and effort on the left wing, but he lacked efficiency.ย
While he created a shot for Uruguay centre-forwardsย Diego Forlan andย Edinson Cavani,ย Rodriguez gave away the ball 34 percent of the time he attempted a pass.ย ย
Atletico Madrid Positives
Rodriguez is stocky and technically proficient, has aย sharp turn of pace, relishes taking on opposing players and wins easy free-kicks for his team.ย
An in-formย Rodriguez shows no sign of stopping when he starts his dribble.ย
He accelerated pastย Sevilla substituteย Israel, feigned to shoot, dribbled past aย stagnantย Sevilla centre-backย Federico Fazio, and slotted the ball pastย Sevilla goalkeeper Beto.ย
Rodriguez stared downย Real Sociedad right-backย Carlos Martinez, dropped his shoulder,ย and delivered a precise low-cross to then-Atleti (now Fenerbahce) central attacking midfielderย Diego Ribas.
When given space,ย Rodriguez willย capitalise, like sending in a cross to createย Atleti central attacking midfielderย Raul Garcia's goal againstย Athletic Bilbao.
Atletico Madrid Negatives
Likeย Adrian Lopez andย Jose Sosa, Rodriguez was predominantly an impact sub/bench-warmer.ย
| League Only (Cristian Rodriguez) | ย |
| ย | ย |
| Starting % Games Involved | 10 |
| Subbed On | 18 |
| Unused Sub | 9 |
| Minutes Per Game | 16.6 |
| ย | ย |
Martinez would be signingย Rodriguez on talent, asย opposedย to form.ย
Rodriguezย spent the past season being a bit-part player, so is he fit enough to start 38 Premier League games? ย
Bottom Line
Rodriguez had the chance to take apartย Costa Rica, yet he did not grab his opportunity.ย
That said, he has international pedigree, is well-travelled and has the X-factor.ย
Rodriguez would be a calculated gamble forย Martinez, who can add spark toย Everton's left wing.ย
Statistics viaย WhoScored.com
