[Andycoleno9]

His decision making is criminal. He isn't and never will be goal scoring winger so if he can't make simple assists, what is his use?
Yes, he runs like crazy, passion and desire are there but he doesn't have final product.

 

[Mailo]

He was great today

Relax ffs.

I don't like people abusing him but let's be real here, he is probably our worst player since Bebe. We paid £15m for him? That's about £12m too much. He is just very bad at playing football.

He was in between. Not bad, not great. Could've been great, but his final ball was terrible. Bruno was robbed of at least 2 goals tonight, not counting the penalty that wasn't given. One from Martial and one from James.

 

[#07]

James' pace is such a great weapon to have when we're countering. I was frustrated by some of his decision making. At the same time though, I was thinking in games where Ighalo starts he will eat up some of those high balls.

With experience I expect James to do better at releasing the ball when its needed.

 

[DWelbz19]

It’s hard to get really angry with him because I just don’t think his game will ever elevate to much more than what it is. He’s fast and tireless without the mental game to go with it.

 

[Amar__]

You’re talking shite I’m afraid. There’s a reason he was left on and it was because he stretched their defence and gave us a way out from defending.

He was left because we don't have anyone better and he was looking still fresh which is good to see, but he cost us at least two or three great chances and many counter attacks because he was selfish and doesn't raise his head when running with the ball.

Giving us a way out from defending is good, except when he loses the ball because he refuses to pass it to his teammate and they counter attack from that.

 

[Kerry Donaghy]

If we hadn't of won today I would have directly blamed him for failing to cut that ball back to Bruno for a tap in (around the 75-80 min mark I think).

Gary Neville said afterwards he's on a learning curve, I agree with that in general, but this was very basic stuff.
All it would have taken was a simple one second glance across the box but he never did that once, woeful.

 

[Mailo]

I believe he'll have a very good next season. Acclimatized and adapted and ready to contribute over the course of the season.

 

[cyril C]

James was crucial to the win. Gave them problems all day long and gave us an outlet when we were struggling to get out.

How good will he be, if City equalised? Attacking players are expected to work as a team , 2 wonderful chances wasted in particular the 2nd break. Every decision he made was wrong today, in all previous games that he played, I could hardly recall any right decision call from him.

 

[bosnian_red]

Thought he was excellent and such a key part in the win. Yeah, he could've picked out Bruno that one time but you can forgive that. A constant threat and drove the ball down the pitch brilliantly. His big game performances this season have been brilliant you have to say. Such a great signing.

 

[Relevated]

Should have been an assist but he will know for next time.

 

[Amar__]

Should have stick with Valencia if running with the ball and being outlet on the counter attack is counted as a great game.

Luckily he's had many good games in first half of the season, but this was by no means good game.

 

[KennyBurner]

He was great today with his energy. Thats all there is to say to be honest. I dont want to criticize too much because with all that running today im sure he was mentally fatigued. Still there were three occasions were he could simply just look up and pass. Im giving him an extra season to improve his technique on the ball because some of his decision making in the final third was unforgivable.

 

[horsechoker]

His pace helped us win the game but his decision making was abysmal. He really needs to improve in this regard to be a proper player.

 

[r3idy]

You’re talking shite I’m afraid. There’s a reason he was left on and it was because he stretched their defence and gave us a way out from defending.

This 100%. One bang average slow Centre Back being backed up by a 34-year-old midfielder playing as a Centre Back. The threat of James pace made them two sit a little deeper than they would have liked.

 

[Sayros]

It was a tough pass but looked possible.

I don't know, I'd have to see the replay, but it would be a big cutback as Fernandes was really behind James, and Otamendi was recovering and running in the potential path of the pass. It would have been worth a try maybe, but I don't think it's this sinful error some made it out to be, very likely wasn't going to result in a chance for Fernandes.

 

[DVG7]

Clearly has a very nice goal bonus in his contract

 

[spiriticon]

His pace is a lethal weapon but we just need a bit more vision.

 

[Reditus]

Saw him getting a lot of stick in the match thread. And yes his final ball is often not good enough, I actually really enjoyed watching him today. Some of his runs were brilliant. And a couple of times he did deliver a decent ball but nobody got on the end if it. But I do agree his final ball and decision making was at times poor.

 

[berbatrick]

Bad decision making but he made the game what it was. Constant chaos on their left side, purely because of his speed. He needs to develop but is still a good option to have. Also pressed well.

 

[Tiber]

Final polish isn't there yet but we knew that when he signed, he probably never imagined he would start games like this.

Having said that, I thought he was great today

 

[madzo2007]

Yeah he could've made better decisions but he absolutely gave everything for the cause today. Ran himself into the ground and caused them no end of problems with his pace.

 

[Rossa]

If we hadn't of won today I would have directly blamed him for failing to cut that ball back to Bruno for a tap in (around the 75-80 min mark I think).

Gary Neville said afterwards he's on a learning curve, I agree with that in general, but this was very basic stuff.
All it would have taken was a simple one second glance across the box but he never did that once, woeful.

Martial did the exact same, and that was an even greater goal scoring chance. Criminal decision making from James no doubt, but he was not the only one.

 

[Volumiza]

Yeah he could've made better decisions but he absolutely gave everything for the cause today. Ran himself into the ground and caused them no end of problems with his pace.

This. He caused a lot of problems with his pace.

 

[Rossa]

Yeah he could've made better decisions but he absolutely gave everything for the cause today. Ran himself into the ground and caused them no end of problems with his pace.

Who was it that said his pace was overrated? Made me chuckle that one.

 

[GDaly95]

I thought he was decent. I know people love going to extremes these days but he wasn't amazing and he definitely wasn't terrible.

You can tell he'd had a rest. Full of energy, not quite full of ideas. If we reinforce this team then he'll be the valuable squad player we wanted him to be in the first place.

 

[TsuWave]

We wouldn’t have won today’s game without that “selfish little prick”.

Jesus.

Yes the feck we would. He did nothing today but being a cardio specialist with horrible decision making

 

[Gandalf]

Decision making needs to improve but come on, it's only his second professional season and first in the PL, I am sure that is a part of his game he will improve with experience and the input of his teammates. He definitely worried City today and forced their defense to sit deep, and his defensive work seems to get constantly ignored on here, ran tirelessly and put in several excellent challenges, he certainly is not afraid to put his body on the line. His ceiling is probably as a squad player but we need those as well as the superstars.

 

[acnumber9]

How good will he be, if City equalised? Attacking players are expected to work as a team , 2 wonderful chances wasted in particular the 2nd break. Every decision he made was wrong today, in all previous games that he played, I could hardly recall any right decision call from him.

But they didn’t. What if he’d pulled it back and Bruno missed? What if because he wasn’t terrifying their defence they were able to get forward more? Better to concentrate on what actually happened I find.

 

[Majima]

He should be on the sprinting track. The technique & decision-making just isn't there. A 12th man for City on the ball; every promising attack broke down at his feet. Thankfully we weren't punished. Nowhere near good enough.

 

[Toddler]

He exactly what i thought he would be. Incredible running power, good tenacity but lacks the intelligence and final touch with the ball. Today, multiple times he should have played the ball to the middle and he did not. I hope Ole gives him a spanking and rewinds a video in front of him a couple of times. Still I would give him a 7 today.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

People were moaning when he was in the lineup, but I felt he justified his selection. Yes, as I said before, he does need to improve, but his sheer energy and tenacity unsettled City's backline and his ability to carry the ball up the pitch alleviated a lot of pressure.

Going forward, his decision making will have to improve, but if we start Greenwood or Ighalo today, we don't get that performance from them.

 

[Based Adnan]

His ability to carry the ball helped relieve some pressure but his decision making let him down. It's his first season at this level and he was okay today. Clearly has to be a bench option moving forward but some of the criticism here is harsh imo.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

He should be on the sprinting track. The technique & decision-making just isn't there. A 12th man for City on the ball; every promising attack broke down at his feet. Thankfully we weren't punished. Nowhere near good enough.

thankfully no one takes any notice of your posts.

good, young player - doesn’t need this sort of abuse when we’ve just beaten city.

 

[El Jefe]

He's a bit shite but his pace and hard work makes him so valuable against opponents like City. It's why after the game some will say he's terrible and others will say he had a very good game.

Truth is he's a world class grafter with blistering pace but has the attacking quality of a bottom half PL winger.

 

[SAFMUTD]

He’s lacking that final decision that ends up wasting all the good things he does, today he should have had two assists.

He made some nice plays as the game went by but its imperative he improves his decision making.

 

[Irwin99]

He messed up a few attacks but he caused them big problems with his movement and workrate. Give credit where its due.

 

[Majima]

thankfully no one takes any notice of your posts.

good, young player - doesn’t need this sort of abuse when we’ve just beaten city.

It's the truth. Or do you think running & work-rate overrules everything?

 

[VeevaVee]

He clearly saw the headlines flashing before his eyes, the greedy little shit. Won’t stay mad at him but damn it was annoying, and could have been very costly.

His pace was a great asset. It’s not that often he’s able to use it.

 

[El Jefe]

I don't know, I'd have to see the replay, but it would be a big cutback as Fernandes was really behind James, and Otamendi was recovering and running in the potential path of the pass. It would have been worth a try maybe, but I don't think it's this sinful error some made it out to be, very likely wasn't going to result in a chance for Fernandes.

Did you see Ole go apeshit after? That was egregious from James not to cut that back.

 

[FootyGirl88]

When Johan Cruyff said "You play football with your head, and your legs are there to help you" he really wasn't lying.