24. Reece James

[King Kante 1,643]

1 hour ago, Fernando said:

Only Enzo saw that. 

This is why I like Enzo. Yes we drop a bit but he has a lot that we can build for next season. 

I sure do hope we finish top 4 so he can have more freedom this summer with shaping the squad. 

Did he see it or did he see him get out spirited by Fabian Schar and thought, got to put him somewhere else, then figure it out? 

Edited March 7 by King Kante

[King Kante 1,643]

Somehow England think he is ready for international duty...

[Special Juan 28,087]

He will come back injured.

Biggest joke ever selecting Reece, has done nothing to warrant it, and he shouldn't even be there.

[Milan 17,955]

Tuchel loves him.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

Looks ordinary in midfield.

Nullifying any of his offensive qualities playing there.

And his positioning is not great either.

If we can't count on James to play in RB/RCB/RWB, might as well not play him at all.

[TheHulk 2,400]

Keep him fit and sell him in the summer.

[milka 3,390]

Sell the last ones experience piece with Chelsea dna and go and get another mid player  why not.

[King Kante 1,643]

7 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

Looks ordinary in midfield.

Nullifying any of his offensive qualities playing there.

And his positioning is not great either.

If we can't count on James to play in RB/RCB/RWB, might as well not play him at all.

He was the only player that played balls that was dangerous yesterday. He is still getting fit but at least he is capable of playing in the wingers/fb's over the top. The others just play backwards/sidewards tippy tappy balls with zero zip. 

Edited March 17 by King Kante

[Blue Armour 4,436]

17 hours ago, King Kante said:

He was the only player that played balls that was dangerous yesterday. He is still getting fit but at least he is capable of playing in the wingers/fb's over the top. The others just play backwards/sidewards tippy tappy balls with zero zip. 

I don't deny James can be useful. Just not in midfield.

At least, he wasn't convincing against Arsenal.

Hopefully Lavia returning will allow James to back to RB.

And with Jackson returning after the break, the team can go back to playing how it used to last year.

[Fulham Broadway 17,299]

4 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

I don't deny James can be useful. Just not in midfield.

At least, he wasn't convincing against Arsenal.

Hopefully Lavia returning will allow James to back to RB.

And with Jackson returning after the break, the team can go back to playing how it used to last year.

Gusto brought a bit of a spark - but very difficult to see where the goals are coming from

[Blue Armour 4,436]

Big shout out to Reece James for finishing the season strongly. He's had his injury troubles over the 3 years, but have to say that both Maresca and him have carefully managed his comeback, and hopefully this has given him a stable foundation for next season.

I know he has got a lot of flak for his captaining (or lack of), and he isn't as vocal like a JT or even an Enzo. But he leads in the best way possible, through example. By being on the pitch and displaying what it means to be a top player.

You can see it in the reactions of the other lads too. Palmer in his goal celebrations with James. Caicedo also voting only James from the current generation into his all time Chelsea 11.

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

Would be better if he was playing out wide as opposed to tucked infield all the time. Just limits his (& Gusto’s) game a bit I feel. Gusto has struggled immensely with Enzo’s tactic's - not surprised one bit. 

Big season next year, Reece has to stay fit and justify his big wages. Starting every 2/3rd game when fit isn’t really enough for a player of that calibre unfortunately but good to see he’s got some more regular minutes since coming back. Just hope he can sustain his fitness, thats the main issue. 

16 minutes ago, Blue Armour said:

Big shout out to Reece James for finishing the season strongly. He's had his injury troubles over the 3 years, but have to say that both Maresca and him have carefully managed his comeback, and hopefully this has given him a stable foundation for next season.

I know he has got a lot of flak for his captaining (or lack of), and he isn't as vocal like a JT or even an Enzo. But he leads in the best way possible, through example. By being on the pitch and displaying what it means to be a top player.

You can see it in the reactions of the other lads too. Palmer in his goal celebrations with James. Caicedo also voting only James from the current generation into his all time Chelsea 11.

He needs to improve on this, but he also has been thrust into that role far too early IMO. Sometimes watching him when he first broke through, he looked like he was going through the motions and didn’t push himself. He seems to have that bit between the teeth now but he also has to become a lot more vocal and demand that from others at times. It is clear people respect him in the squad but with that he has to own it and demand more. He still strikes me as too nice.  

Will be honest Enzo Fernandez as captain is a joke for me, isn’t worthy of the armband at all. Looks like he half arses most games. And when games are tough he is the first to vanish, first half tonight was even more proof of this. If Madrid offer anywhere near the money we paid, take it and run. Good quality on the ball but he is never going to not be a liability without the ball.

[bluesman2610 1,415]

50 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

Would be better if he was playing out wide as opposed to tucked infield all the time. Just limits his (& Gusto’s) game a bit I feel. Gusto has struggled immensely with Enzo’s tactic's - not surprised one bit. 

Big season next year, Reece has to stay fit and justify his big wages. Starting every 2/3rd game when fit isn’t really enough for a player of that calibre unfortunately but good to see he’s got some more regular minutes since coming back. Just hope he can sustain his fitness, thats the main issue. 

He needs to improve on this, but he also has been thrust into that role far too early IMO. Sometimes watching him when he first broke through, he looked like he was going through the motions and didn’t push himself. He seems to have that bit between the teeth now but he also has to become a lot more vocal and demand that from others at times. It is clear people respect him in the squad but with that he has to own it and demand more. He still strikes me as too nice.  

Will be honest Enzo Fernandez as captain is a joke for me, isn’t worthy of the armband at all. Looks like he half arses most games. And when games are tough he is the first to vanish, first half tonight was even more proof of this. If Madrid offer anywhere near the money we paid, take it and run. Good quality on the ball but he is never going to not be a liability without the ball.

Reece playing tucked into midfield helps preserve him from all the wing back sprints but also allows him to play passes like he did tonight into dangerous areas. I think for Reece Maresca's tactic is perfect it definitely doesn't work for Gusto at all he doesn't have the tactical ability for it.

[DDA 9,924]

On 17/03/2025 at 05:23, TheHulk said:

Keep him fit and sell him in the summer.

Don’t think that would be a good idea. He has shown some serious leadership qualities in times of recent. Think we need to keep him around.

[Special Juan 28,087]

I could have come on and made a difference for Gusto, but that doesn't take anything away from Reece, he should have been on from the start.

We won last night but Maresca needs to be wiser and a lot more savvy next season

[Fernando 6,585]

4 hours ago, Special Juan said:

I could have come on and made a difference for Gusto, but that doesn't take anything away from Reece, he should have been on from the start.

We won last night but Maresca needs to be wiser and a lot more savvy next season

Actually sad about Gusto because last season I thought he was a baller. 

He has gone down big time, I rather sell him this summer if an offer came in. 

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

15 hours ago, Fernando said:

Actually sad about Gusto because last season I thought he was a baller. 

He has gone down big time, I rather sell him this summer if an offer came in. 

He looked very very capable playing as an out and out fullback under Poch though, like he was easily one of the much much better performers we had all season round. Don’t think anyone here would disagree. I don’t think that player isn’t still there, I really just think it’s a tactical thing with this manager which he either the player adapts to or the manager is more flexible when he plays (Cole Palmer also made comments about backwards/sideways which I think can definitely be interpreted about the tactics and philosophy more than an off day). 

Also whilst he was poor in the final, I think Betis had highlighted that right side and targeted it as whenever Gusto appeared inside when we had the ball, Ez Abde was cheating essentially, not following in & waiting for a turnover to exploit that space. And that pass into him or following pass by him was intercepted a lot in the first half.

A lot of opportunities for moments like that came from Gusto, Caicedo & Chalobah giving the ball away when building out.

[Blue Armour 4,436]