4 Areas for Real Madrid's James Rodriguez to Improve on in 2015/16 Season
James Rodriguez had an excellent debut season with Real Madrid, arriving from Monaco and adapting to life in La Liga quicker than anyone might have imagined.
With 13 goals and 13 assists in 29 league games, per WhoScored.com, the Colombian midfielder continued his fine 2014 World Cup form in Spain.
He's a top-level player and if the 24-year-old keeps progressing at the same rate, he will be among the very best in the world.
Here are four areas for the player to focus on for the season ahead, to keep on track.
Improve His Right Foot
1 of 4
James Rodriguez is not a one-footed player, but he relies on his left considerably more than his right.
It's a common theme for many players, but one as technically impressive as James should be able to up his level when using his other foot.
Given the regularity with which he starts in wide positions, being able to use his right foot to cross or shoot will make him more unpredictable when on the flanks.
He already is a tricky customer for opposition defenders and adding the ability to play with both feet will make him a nightmare to handle.
Increase Defensive Work-Rate
2 of 4
When you play for Real Madrid and you are not Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale or Karim Benzema, you must put in a defensive shift.
Those three players had a lot of freedom under Carlo Ancelotti and it seems like that will continue under Rafa Benitez, at least for Ronaldo and Benzema.
It puts a lot of pressure on the back half of the team, with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos feeling the stress in their defensive-midfield positions.
James tries at times to assist with this work, but his tackling is poor, and he doesn't always run his heart out to get back.
Benitez, a more defensive coach than Ancelotti, will likely try and get the Colombian to help the team out a bit more when they don't have the ball.
That's not an attractive skill but would be an important improvement to a talented midfielder.
Keep Working on Versatility and Positioning
3 of 4
James can be deployed on the left and right flank as well as his favoured position as a No.10.
However, when he's not playing in attacking midfield, he has a tendency to float in, off the wing, and operate in that position anyway.
Nobody is suggesting he should stay tight to the line like a traditional winger, but sometimes it means Real Madrid's attack can be too narrow.
That's especially the case when Cristiano Ronaldo is on the left, with the Portuguese star often found lurking in the penalty box.
James could learn to mix his game up more when starting out wide.
Also, it's far from essential, but he could observe Luka Modric in action and take some notes.
Perhaps, many years in the future, he might be asked to step back into a similar, deep-lying playmaker role.
That won't happen any time soon, but there's no reason not to take advantage of playing with such a cultured midfielder as the Croatian.
Dominate in Crucial Games
4 of 4
Real Madrid didn't win any of the three big trophies they were going for last season.
They lost in the Copa del Rey to Atletico Madrid, the Champions League to Juventus, and in the second Clasico of the season they were defeated, essentially giving the league to Barcelona, despite having the better of the game.
James, as a star of the team, needs to help Madrid step up their level in big games.
He netted against Atletico in the Spanish Super Cup first leg last season, but after that he didn't find the net against Madrid's city rivals in six more games against them.
James also didn't score in either match against Barcelona, the two games against Juventus or against Liverpool in the Champions League.
However, his overall total of 17 goals in 47 games for Real Madrid was good.
And it's not to say he didn't play well in any of those games, either, because he did. James had a fine season.
The new challenge—and one which will take him to the next level—is to be the man who makes the difference for Real Madrid in the toughest clashes.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
