24. Reece James

[MoroccanBlue 5,211]

43 minutes ago, Blue Armour said:

Not a medical expert., but isn't a surgery required only if the hamstring won't heal on its own?

Not sure if there's a surgery to 'fix' his hamstrings., for good.

I.e. lengthening it so that the injury has less chance of reoccurring.

In James' case it sounds like a build up of scar issue that's only gotten worse due to previous injuries and other imbalances. I'd imagine they'd have to go in and scrape off the scar tissue and repair the tendons so that they heal properly vs relying on the body to heal it on its own. 

 

[chelsea_4_eva 1,144]

Is it the players or is it the medical staff? It was not always like this...

[Vesper 27,386]

Reece James injury and more Chelsea updates

https://thedailybriefing.io/i/139743448/reece-james-injury-and-more-Chelsea-updates

I want to send a message to Reece James that we wish him all the best after his latest injury setback - he’s a great player, a great leader in the Chelsea dressing room, and a great lad, and he’s been really unlucky again as he now looks to be out until February/March.

Chelsea will now discuss internally with specialists what is the best way to deal with this injury, perhaps with surgery, which might mean waiting a little longer but with the aim of finally getting James back at his best level and able to perform consistently. He can’t be always injured - Chelsea want to protect James and so they want to discuss the best solution to have him at the best conditions as soon as possible.

Let’s see what Chelsea will decide, but again we really wish him all the best. We won’t see him on the pitch again in 2023, but hopefully it won’t be too long after that.

To once again answer questions on Mauricio Pochettino, my understanding remains the same - he is safe in his job for now. The situation is under control, even if the club clearly can’t be happy with how things are going on the pitch.

Still, it takes time, Chelsea changed a lot of players. If you look at their team one year ago and their team now, it’s completely different.

There are many, many points and many factors making the difference at Chelsea in this moment, including the age of the players, including crucial players like Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku - it’s €110million invested on these two players and they didn’t have the chance to play one single minute, while many other players are also injured.

So it’s been an unlucky beginning of the season, of course there are many problems, but they’re still backing Pochettino, they’re still trusting Pochettino, of course waiting for different results, but at the moment I have no message on any imminent change at Chelsea.

Noni Madueke’s future has also still not been decided - a loan could be a smart solution, but we’ll see, it will be something they need to discuss internally soon. Obviously there would be a lot of interest in Madueke because he’s a talented young player, but Chelsea trust him, so let’s see what happens.

[manpe 10,857]

Very sad. Career ruined by injuries just like CHO and RLC. I don't have any hopes for him to fulfill his potential anymore, it simply is not possible if your body is breaking down already so young. We seriously need to start looking at RBs in the market.

[Vesper 27,386]

Chelsea are really worried about Reece James

https://thedailybriefing.io/i/139855164/Chelsea-are-really-worried-about-reece-james

Reece James suffered another injury during last weekend’s 2-0 defeat against Everton. It’s his hamstring, again, and surgery is looking likely.

A final decision on whether or not the full-back will undergo surgery will be made within the next few days — that’s the plan internally.

Make no mistake though, for sure Chelsea are worried. They want James to be in the best possible condition to perform at the highest levels — the player wants the same, but this is not the case at the moment.

Chelsea are in talks with medical specialists about how to help and prevent this issue from becoming an even bigger problem. Everybody hopes James can come back even stronger.

 

[DH1988 1,201]

I know it's not the same level but sprinting and running.. Kante hasn't struggled since leaving and we couldn't buy a game for him. Our medical department went from being one of the best to the worst, now whether that's lifestyle mixed with recovery and all the other areas of medicine, I don't know, not my field and it's an armchair post.

[Blue Armour 4,173]

43 minutes ago, Vesper said:

Chelsea are really worried about Reece James

https://thedailybriefing.io/i/139855164/Chelsea-are-really-worried-about-reece-james

Reece James suffered another injury during last weekend’s 2-0 defeat against Everton. It’s his hamstring, again, and surgery is looking likely.

A final decision on whether or not the full-back will undergo surgery will be made within the next few days — that’s the plan internally.

Make no mistake though, for sure Chelsea are worried. They want James to be in the best possible condition to perform at the highest levels — the player wants the same, but this is not the case at the moment.

Chelsea are in talks with medical specialists about how to help and prevent this issue from becoming an even bigger problem. Everybody hopes James can come back even stronger.

 

If surgery improves chance of recurring injuries, he should take it. Even if it means sitting out the rest of this season.

This constant start-stop routine is not good for him, either physically or mentally. 

Also, I wonder whether changing his full back role to become more defense focused will help his fitness moving forward. More Ashley Cole, less Trent Alexander Arnold.

I know everyone loves the bombing full back role, but I'd prefer the goals and assists to come from the attacking players, rather than the defenders. 

[bigbluewillie 1,808]

He's done for, as is Fofana and Chilwell.

All, if fit and playing regularly would be three of our first choice back four.

Not any more.

I said after James last injury that i'd give two games before he gets injured again, I take no pleasure in being correct but its a fact.

[Gundalf 728]

Sell for 40m

[Vytis33 1,055]

 

[Mário César 822]

yeah another season wasted 

its becoming a real problem for us and for him, ofc 

[King Kante 1,332]

We need to change his position. I was banging on in the Summer that he simply isn't built to be a WB/RB long-term because of his heavy build and bone structure. If he plays there he is always going to be injured. Should've been moved to DM a while back. Additionally, I do not think he should be sold, he just needs to start being handled properly. 

[Blue Armour 4,173]

6 hours ago, Vytis33 said:

 

A bit unfortunate, but it is what it is.

These short term recoveries and re injuries weren't doing him  any favous.

Hopefully surgery can grant him the full recovery

[TheHulk 1,424]

The right decision, hope he has a good recovery.

[OneMoSalah 8,616]

2 hours ago, King Kante said:

We need to change his position. I was banging on in the Summer that he simply isn't built to be a WB/RB long-term because of his heavy build and bone structure. If he plays there he is always going to be injured. Should've been moved to DM a while back. Additionally, I do not think he should be sold, he just needs to start being handled properly. 

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. 

Edited December 21, 2023 by OneMoSalah

[Blue Armour 4,173]

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.

[Strike 6,982]

Reece James on Instagram

The footballing world knew I got injured but the procedure I would go down this time took slightly longer to figure out the best solution. I had surgery today to try fix my reoccurring hamstring issue, the recovery has started, both physically and mentally. Since this injury I’ve had a good amount of support but significantly more hate and negativity. Believe me I don’t wanna be injured, I’m happiest when I’m playing football. Thanks to the understanding people that support me despite the highs or the lows, it goes a long way. Stay well

 

[OneMoSalah 8,616]

5 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.

I think the fact is people - whether right or wrong - are maybe sick of the frequency he posts apologies and other things ie. “we will do better” after a loss, “I will learn from this” after stupid sending offs and “I will be back” after significant amounts of injuries.

Sometimes the best thing to do is just to let your football do the talking and leave the social media posts out of it. Particularly when your Chelsea captain.

I think he needs to toughen up a bit if he cannot take a little bit of stick for being injured (as long as it’s nothing that is going extremely OTT). I mean Jack Wilshere got hammered by opposing fans for it his whole career as did Ledley King, Owen Hargreaves etc. If this is to keep occurring, eventually pundits, experts and even managers will get on his case more and more as well. So he has to be able to deal with that or break the trend. 

And again, I think that the Chelsea captain should have much more things to be worried about than if some folk on the internet is calling him out for being injured. For example, our league position. 

Irrespective of that, I have been wondering if him being given the captaincy has been overwhelming and too big a responsibility at this stage of his career for him for months now. Even more so with the team struggling. 

Edited December 22, 2023 by OneMoSalah