OT'S MVP PICK

The Colombian, after a long and disappointing 2019-2020 season at Real Madrid, has made his presence known at pastures new. We start off this series from Gameweek 3. However, since the new season kicked off, the town's talk has been the new boy at Goodison - James Rodriguez.

While James would suggest it's best not to dwell too much on the past, it is important to point out the doubts and jibes that arose once his move to Everton was announced to the world. The reason behind this move's uncertainty has to do with his time spent on the Madrid bench, disappointing couple seasons at Bayern, and of course, the elitist view that a player needs to prove himself in the English top division to be dubbed a success when they retire. It is safe to say, James has his doubters rattled.

Everton gaffer, Ancelotti, and James Rodriguez, his golden boy, have been reunited for the second time in both their careers. The first being at Bayern Munich, and there's hardly any doubt that the Italian manager wouldn't have heard a refusal when he dialled James's number this time around.

James, who only had five starts last season in La Liga under his belt at Real Madrid, looks revitalized under Ancelotti. The 29-year-old, with the help of new midfield signings Allan and Abdoulaye Doucouré, has already established his place in the starting lineup. While Rodriguez has been vocal about his love for the attacking midfielder position (just behind the striker), he is a right-winger for the team on paper but on the field he's so much more. He fits nowhere in the Toffees' three-man midfield that has not changed yet (in the Prem), consisting of Doucouré, Allan, and Andre Gomes.

Ancelotti's Everton put into motion the popular tactic which overloads to isolate. Popularly seen in other possession-based teams like Guardiola's City and ten Hag's Ajax, Everton on the attack overloads the possession on the field's right side. Considering the attacking threat, both James and Seamus Coleman possess - the opposition naturally fixates and gets drawn out to close in on the threat. When this happens, James and his magic wand of a left foot maneuver the play to the other side of the field, leaving much room for midfielders and fullbacks to run into. Take a look into the Tottenham game, and you will see the almost telepathic runs Lucas Digne makes on the left side of the field to be often found by James. Not only this, James tracks back to support the deep lying Doucouré and switches wings often to confuse his opponent. His attacking threat has been evident since his antics for Colombia in the 2014 World Cup that bedazzled Real to sign him up and further saw the light when he slotted one in the bottom right corner from just outside the area against West Brom in Gameweek 2. To round off his already stacked skill-set, the James Bond of Banfield takes great set-pieces (see: his corner against recently played Crystal Palace that was almost kicked in by Calvert-Lewin).

Keep an eye out for Rodriguez. Everton is already 3 for 3 in the Premier League this season. He might just lead the side to a Champion's League spot.