24. Reece James

[King Kante 1,476]

12 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

Isn’t built to be a RB but should he used as a DM or CM? I don’t get it, playing him as a DM or CM is even more ridiculous as central midfield is probably still and always will be the most physically demanding positions in football.

Central midfielders have done and still do on average tend to cover the most distance, participate in the most physical duels, usually make the most recoveries, the most interceptions etc - all things that heavily rely on the physical aspects of the players. 

Also bone structure? This is certainly one of the most interesting takes on his fitness…. what has this got to do with reoccurring hamstring injuries? And even then, I genuinely get he may be top heavy but even then if he is, how would anybody know about his bone structure.

For me - and I get this isn’t the direction you wanted to go with it making the comment- is definitely one of the most controversial and also ridiculous comments I’ve seen regarding any Chelsea player and injuries. Like ever. Majority of his issues have been muscular too. 

Modern day FB/WB's have to do more running these days, and definitely have to accelerate more often than defensive midfielders on average - sure there are games or circumstances where a DM needs to do this but it isn't as often as the wide areas get streched a lot more. 

As for bone structure, I am not too sure why you find this so ridiculous. In almost every sport it is an aspect that determines what a person can do. If you've got a dense bone structure for instance, you're always going to be in a weight class or two above another fighter in boxing, even if your muscle mass/fat mass is the same as an average bone density fighter. 

In American Football if you have low bone density you get placed into roles where you're going to avoid contact. Whereas, if you are heavy set, you get placed in the roles with more contact as typically they do not have as many fast twich fibers. 

As for an example at Chelsea. I will give you one. Cech got his head injury- according to reports at the time partly due to being a triplet which meant his skull had a lower bone density than most others. 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/Chelsea/3566586/Chelsea-goalkeeper-Petr-Cech-admits-life-threatening-head-injury-changed-his-outlook-on-life-Football.html?WT.mc_id=605456&source=MiddleColumnPuff

This is one article that references this, I also read a medical article on the injury at the time, which went into more detail, but ai cannot find it. It was also a reason why he ended up in his hat full time, rather than until the skull fully healed. 

So, yeah, bone density plays a feature in sport.

Edited December 22, 2023 by King Kante

[Fulham Broadway 16,845]

9 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

Wish players would stay off social media, or at least ignored it.

Apparently James is upset with all the hate coming from his latest sidelining injury.

But that's what you have with flippant internet fans who find fault with every little thing.

Should just ignore mouth pieces that slag off a player who can't do much about his condition.

Exactly. Probably red team fans anyway. The whole injury thing seems to have been exacerbated since Clearlake in their stupidity decided to outsource all our physiotherapy.

Injury recovery time seems to have doubled since it was moved from in house

[OneMoSalah 8,777]

21 hours ago, King Kante said:

Modern day FB/WB's have to do more running these days, and definitely have to accelerate more often than defensive midfielders on average - sure there are games or circumstances where a DM needs to do this but it isn't as often as the wide areas get streched a lot more. 

As for bone structure, I am not too sure why you find this so ridiculous. In almost every sport it is an aspect that determines what a person can do. If you've got a dense bone structure for instance, you're always going to be in a weight class or two above another fighter in boxing, even if your muscle mass/fat mass is the same as an average bone density fighter. 

In American Football if you have low bone density you get placed into roles where you're going to avoid contact. Whereas, if you are heavy set, you get placed in the roles with more contact as typically they do not have as many fast twich fibers. 

As for an example at Chelsea. I will give you one. Cech got his head injury- according to reports at the time partly due to being a triplet which meant his skull had a lower bone density than most others. 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/Chelsea/3566586/Chelsea-goalkeeper-Petr-Cech-admits-life-threatening-head-injury-changed-his-outlook-on-life-Football.html?WT.mc_id=605456&source=MiddleColumnPuff

This is one article that references this, I also read a medical article on the injury at the time, which went into more detail, but ai cannot find it. It was also a reason why he ended up in his hat full time, rather than until the skull fully healed. 

So, yeah, bone density plays a feature in sport.

But statistically if you look at the top 10 players who have covered the most distance this season in the PL they are mainly DMs/CMs….

Ok this article from the PL website is dated in late November but it gives the list of top 10 players and there is only one full back on it. Majority are central midfielders. Then in the next 10 below again, only 3 are full backs. The list they put out in September I think was primarily central midfielders again.

https://www.premierleague.com/news/3787191

Re bone density, in all honesty what do you know about Reece’s specifically to say that 😂? That is why it is a ridiculous claim. That was more the point. Particularly when he has been suffering repeated muscle injuries over the past few seasons. Not broken bones or related so to say this is a big reason, yes ridiculous.  

And just because for one sport, ie lets use American football as you said it, - a much more physical game than football - it may play a bigger role in defining someone’s position in that sport but it doesn’t necessarily mean it does for another. I mean do you think it is taken into consideration in rugby for instance, where everyone is of a very muscular build irrespective of where they play? Or defines how someone plays tennis for example, where everyone is usually of a much slimmer leaner build? Football’s no different in being unique, modern day players have to be fit enough and at such a high standard of fitness where bone density isn’t going to affect someone’s playing position or where they should be played. Muscular problems are 90% usually caused by things like player burnout, manoeuvring, sharp twists, landing in awkward positions amongst all the usual stuff.

Yes Petr had a lower bone density due to being a triplet but he also suffered a depressed skull fracture due to a high impact contact injury so I think regardless of his bone density because being normal or not, he would of likely needed to have had something like that to continue playing irrespectively. Look at Raul Jimenez. He is in the same boat.

[Vesper 28,802]

Chelsea’s Reece James returns to light training following hamstring surgery

https://theathletic.com/5278217/2024/02/15/reece-james-Chelsea-injury-training/

Chelsea captain Reece James has returned to light training after undergoing hamstring surgery in December.

The England international is hopeful of being back in full training in less than a month and is targeting being involved in Chelsea’s season run-in, although the club will be wary about rushing him back to action too soon.

James, 24, has been out of action since being withdrawn 27 minutes into Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat at Everton on December 10.

James has suffered from injury problems in recent seasons and the current layoff is the second period of absence for the wing-back this campaign.

The Chelsea youth graduate had previously struggled with a hamstring problem earlier this season. He was substituted off in the second half of the opening-day Premier League draw against Liverpool with an injury and missed nine matches, before returning in October.

James was not involved in the England squad at the 2022 World Cup due to a knee injury and then suffered a recurrence of the problem in his first game back for Chelsea against Bournemouth on December 27 2022.

The wing-back then missed the final month of the 2022-23 campaign due to a hamstring injury, limiting him to just 16 Premier League appearances that term.

Malo Gusto arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer after a transfer agreement was struck with Lyon in January 2023 with the France international featuring 17 times in the right-back role for Chelsea in the Premier League this season.

Chelsea, 10th in the Premier League, return to action against Manchester City on Saturday.

[Strike 7,217]

I'm here to get disappointed all over again

[lucio 5,418]

Malo is clear. Put James in midfield or rcb if we change formation 

[bluesman2610 1,341]

1 hour ago, lucio said:

Malo is clear. Put James in midfield or rcb if we change formation 

I actually like this idea - Reece would make a very good RCB if taught the nuance of the position. He’s strong, good in the air, good with the ball at his feet, would require less sprinting so could preserve his hamstrings. A tactical change could really benefit his career but it takes a manager with foresight and guts to do it.

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

I actually think he would be even better in caicedos place. Playing caicedo is playing with 10 men at best while RJ can always add something to the game even when not 100%. His dribbling, strength and tackling would be great for Dm and he could even overlap a bit on the right channel to bring in his dangerous crosses.  

[lucio 5,418]

17 hours ago, Magic Lamps said:

I actually think he would be even better in caicedos place. Playing caicedo is playing with 10 men at best while RJ can always add something to the game even when not 100%. His dribbling, strength and tackling would be great for Dm and he could even overlap a bit on the right channel to bring in his dangerous crosses.  

he can be our Rice

[Vesper 28,802]

delete

Edited February 17 by Vesper

[Blue Armour 4,278]

On 15/02/2024 at 23:01, Vesper said:

Chelsea’s Reece James returns to light training following hamstring surgery

https://theathletic.com/5278217/2024/02/15/reece-james-Chelsea-injury-training/

Chelsea captain Reece James has returned to light training after undergoing hamstring surgery in December.

The England international is hopeful of being back in full training in less than a month and is targeting being involved in Chelsea’s season run-in, although the club will be wary about rushing him back to action too soon.

James, 24, has been out of action since being withdrawn 27 minutes into Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat at Everton on December 10.

James has suffered from injury problems in recent seasons and the current layoff is the second period of absence for the wing-back this campaign.

The Chelsea youth graduate had previously struggled with a hamstring problem earlier this season. He was substituted off in the second half of the opening-day Premier League draw against Liverpool with an injury and missed nine matches, before returning in October.

James was not involved in the England squad at the 2022 World Cup due to a knee injury and then suffered a recurrence of the problem in his first game back for Chelsea against Bournemouth on December 27 2022.

The wing-back then missed the final month of the 2022-23 campaign due to a hamstring injury, limiting him to just 16 Premier League appearances that term.

Malo Gusto arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer after a transfer agreement was struck with Lyon in January 2023 with the France international featuring 17 times in the right-back role for Chelsea in the Premier League this season.

Chelsea, 10th in the Premier League, return to action against Manchester City on Saturday.

Not sure how long Chilwell will remain fit, but if that's any indication..here's hoping James can make a similar comeback after a long gap on the sidelines.

[Ledg 638]

One of the few good news the last couple of days.

Picture from today. Back to individual training. Hopefully he's not rushed back yet again.

[OneMoSalah 8,777]

Be injured again in a months time, wait and see.

No faith in this medical department. Even more so considering Nkunku’s mysterious injury there last week and the fact Reece has been here before time and time again. Not to mention the countless injuries to others.

Edited February 29 by OneMoSalah

[Vesper 28,802]

Chelsea’s Reece James returns to training after five-month injury absence

https://theathletic.com/5484013/2024/05/10/reece-james-injury-return-Chelsea-training/

Chelsea captain Reece James has returned to training after five months out with a hamstring injury.

James, 24, has been out of action since being withdrawn 27 minutes into Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat at Everton on December 10.

The England international underwent surgery on the injury in December having previously missed nine matches earlier in the season after being substituted off in the opening-day Premier League draw against Liverpool.

“We need today to see but maybe tomorrow he can be available in the squad,” Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino said of the possibility of James being part of his squad that plays Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

“The most important thing is that he is going to be there with us. To have your captain is always a massive boost for any team.

“We have an amazing relationship, of course he is an amazing player. I know it is not always easy when you come from a long-term injury. But the most important thing is that he can be available and be part of the squad.

“Then if he can play five or 10 or 15 minutes, half an hour I think it would be amazing. But of course it is unlucky that it (he is back) only for the last week when we have three games (to go).

“But it is important we finish with good feelings and for him it will be amazing to be involved.”

James has suffered multiple injury absences in recent seasons; the wing-back missed the final month of the 2022-23 campaign with a hamstring injury and has made just 24 Premier League appearances across the past two seasons.

James also missed the 2022 World Cup for England due to a knee injury and suffered a recurrence of that problem following the tournament when he returned to club action.

[Blue Armour 4,278]

Put some respect on this man's name.

Still incensed there were people ready to ship him out on account of him being injured, and just because we have Gusto, who is also good btw. But James is James. Hope his worst injury troubles are behind him 🙏

[Reddish-Blue 2,347]

2 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

Put some respect on this man's name.

Still incensed there were people ready to ship him out on account of him being injured, and just because we have Gusto, who is also good btw. But James is James. Hope his worst injury troubles are behind him 🙏

The only question with Reece is going to be how he deals with those niggling injuries as he's built like a tank.   RLC had those ongoing issues as well, mentioning that he couldn't train half the time due to the lower back injuries, thankfully he seems to have found a bit of consistent football in Italy. 

Quality wise, he's on another level.  Him & Tino (who's at Newcastle now) were on another level from the academy days, was hoping at least one of them would go on and play regularly for the first team. 

[King Kante 1,476]

3 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

Put some respect on this man's name.

Still incensed there were people ready to ship him out on account of him being injured, and just because we have Gusto, who is also good btw. But James is James. Hope his worst injury troubles are behind him 🙏

Completely agree. He and Palmer are the only players we have that have shown genuine world class play for a period of time. For sure, some of the other players we have have shown flashes, but that is all. James is rightly the Chelsea captain and hopefully will be able to keep himself fit - or at least fitter - moving forward. 

[Strike 7,217]

4 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

Put some respect on this man's name.

Still incensed there were people ready to ship him out on account of him being injured, and just because we have Gusto, who is also good btw. But James is James. Hope his worst injury troubles are behind him 🙏

Yep. Watching him chest down that long ball and get past a couple of players yesterday 🤌 And the cross for the winner.

I'm glad he's going to get a summer off where he can focus on recovery.