Everton: 3 burning questions for Everton ahead of Fulham game

James Rodriguez has been the creative genuis for Everton.

2. Do James Rodriguez’s positives outweigh his negatives?

Everton fans have gushed over James Rodriguez and his ability on the ball. But questions are creeping in about his lack of tracking back and doing the defensive dirty work.

After the 2-2 draw in the Merseyside derby, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told the Daily Express that better teams will take advantage of Rodriguez not tracking back.

"Andy Robertson capitalised. Liverpool were a real threat down that side and of course that’s how they took an early lead with the full-back crossing for Mane."

However, Ancelotti was quick to defend the Colombian magician as he told the Daily Mail, His approach has been to be let Rodriguez concentrate on his own game, like Ancelotti did when he had Ronaldo at AC Milan.

"He’s got more assists and goals than he did sprints. So what are we talking about? Of what we expect a player to do on the pitch?’ Ancelotti claims that Brazilian legend Ronaldo was overweight when he arrived at AC Milan in 2007, but that the player convinced him not to leave him out."

There’s no doubt what Rodriguez can do with the ball, but if he doesn’t get back, it would put further defensive pressure on whoever is playing behind him at right back, which in turn could limit the fullback getting forward. It also means the defensive midfielder will also have to be more alert.

But there is no doubt of Rodriguez’s value to Everton when they are attacking.