Why James Rodriguez Was Real Madrid's Most Surprising Player in 2015/16 Season
Real Madrid finished the 2015-16 campaign in the best possible manner, winning the UEFA Champions League to claim an 11th European Cup in their history and cap a fantastic half-season in charge for new boss Zinedine Zidane.
The last third of the season saw Zidane guide his team to consistent victories in La Liga as well as a winning run in Europe, with the Frenchman sticking, by and large, to a regular pool of 11 or 12 players and only rotating when necessary.
One of those who was left out and suffered an extremely disappointing year overall was James Rodriguez, a poster boy for the club last season, but one of the most surprising players in Europe this year from the point of view of failing to impact on the level that his talent suggests he should.
Perception vs. Reality?
James' bad year got off to a difficult start with Rafa Benitez as manager, but the stupidity of the situation is that it was a case of media perception in Spain seeming to affect the player's belief of his own involvement rather than the manager himself, who clearly viewed the Colombian as important.
Benitez went through pre-season and the early weeks of the new campaign using a 4-2-3-1 system, playing Gareth Bale as a driving force through attacking midfield, with Cristiano Ronaldo left and leaving one space out on the right which was intended to be filled by James.
With Real's No. 10 returning from international duty last summer short of fitness, Isco started the first game of the season in that position—and immediately talk began that the Colombian was not wanted or trusted by Benitez.
That continued throughout Benitez's time at the helm—despite the reality of the situation that James played as a first choice whenever he was fit.
Mutinous talk from inside the club or a vendetta against the manager? Whatever the truth was to instigate the chatter, Benitez actually put James into the team for the next game—where he scored twice and assisted once against Real Betis. That showed the ability and importance of him in the setup, but another injury on international duty curtailed his involvement.
It's overlooked, but after James returned from injury, Benitez started him in six out of the next seven Liga games he was fit for, only dropping him to the bench for his last match in charge, away to Valencia.
Injuries and Inconsistencies
Why didn't James manage to positively affect the team more often if he was regularly playing? His lack of fitness severely hampered his ability to get a run in the team at peak level and, frustratingly for Real Madrid, each injury came while on international duty.
The same happened to Bale earlier in the season, yet James escaped the derision and fury that the Welshman's injuries produced from fans and local media alike.
All told, James managed only three full 90-minute performances under Benitez in La Liga, and he missed half of the Champions League group campaign through his injury.
Under Zidane, his participation didn't get much better in Europe—he started both legs against AS Roma, then played only 28 minutes in total from the five games against Wolfsburg, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid.
Form plays a big part in any player working their way back into the team, but James either didn't show enough in training or simply believed what was written about him not being favoured by the managers.
Despite a handful of appearances, where he looked head and shoulders above the likes of Lucas Vazquez and Isco, he didn't string a run of five league starts together once Benitez left the Santiago Bernabeu.
Zidane
When it came to the biggest games, Zidane settled on a regular XI, and that didn't include James.
Casemiro coming into the midfield line meant someone had to give way, and while Toni Kroos was largely disappointing in 2015-16, he was trusted to work hard and maintain control centrally more than James or Isco were.
James saw a little more game time toward the end of the league season as Zidane saved his stars for Europe and the chase of silverware, and it's noticeable that whenever he played a full 90 minutes—Eibar, Getafe, Valencia—he made an impact by either scoring or assisting.
In general he did show good form in this period, but not in his 10- or 20-minute cameo appearances which came in between.
Support for James has come from Colombian legend Carlos Valderrama, who opined Zidane didn't like his playmaker, while James' mother also caused controversy on social media with some comments about the Real boss not prioritising her son.
For his part, Zidane has consistently said James is an important part of the squad, but rumours over a possible exit have continued after the 24-year-old didn't even get off the bench in the Champions League final—the third Colombian to suffer that "curse," according to Marca, after Edwin Congo and Ivan Cordoba.
Summer and Start Again
Rumours, unhappiness and financial reward all play a part in unexpected transfer dealings over the summer, but so too does affordability—and there are few who can match the required pay scale to snare James's signature.
Barcelona could, but naturally won't, while Bayern Munich and Arsenal have the cash—but neither seem probable destinations. That leaves the Manchester clubs, Paris Saint-Germain or a move to a minor, but cash-rich, league such as the Chinese Super League or Major League Soccer, both surely out of the question for James.
The player himself has suggested that he wants to remain at Real Madrid. Marca reported the club declaring James "non-transferable," and he has other issues to watch for this summer: a Copa America tournament starting on June 3, where he will play a pivotal role for Colombia.
A break afterward and a return to a squad which may include several changes might see James' fortunes differ at Real Madrid in 2016-17, and there should be no question that he is one player, without dipping into the transfer market, who could push them that much closer to ending Barcelona's recent domination of La Liga.
He should have made a difference this time and played more games. He should also have reacted better to being left out, shown more consistency, not risked fitness with Colombia and then moaned about not being played by Benitez.
James is one of the best all-round attacking midfielders in Europe, and he should be showcasing that on a regular basis.
That ability was rarely on display in 2015-16, though, and it makes James comfortably Real's most disappointing—and thus surprising—player of the season.
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