Easily one of the best players in the world. He was sensational.

So so good. He played like a true captain too.

I can't remember who but I recall criticism for him being too quiet as skipper and this was absolutely not the case last night. He dominated on the pitch and really took the game by the scruff of the neck.

To have him as an option in Midfield as well as right back is such a bonus for us.

17 minutes ago, Shweaves said:

So so good. He played like a true captain too.

I can't remember who but I recall criticism for him being too quiet as skipper and this was absolutely not the case last night. He dominated on the pitch and really took the game by the scruff of the neck.

To have him as an option in Midfield as well as right back is such a bonus for us.

Think it was Maresca who questioned whether Reece was demonstrative enough. You don't need to be a shouter and pointer to lead.

Reece James has massive pockets, Arsenal were tucked away in his back pocket yesterday.

6 hours ago, dermott said:

Think it was Maresca who questioned whether Reece was demonstrative enough. You don't need to be a shouter and pointer to lead.

Maresca probably feels RJ doesn't get sent off enough. Lack of committment.

Captain's performance

Tuchel, Lampard, Potter, and Poch all have blood on their hands. If they weren't so insisted on rushing him back, we'd be talking about an all timer.

3 seasons wasted. Hopefully all those injuries are left behind him knock on wood.

15 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Tuchel, Lampard, Potter, and Poch all have blood on their hands. If they weren't so insisted on rushing him back, we'd be talking about an all timer.

3 seasons wasted. Hopefully all those injuries are left behind him knock on wood.

Bit hyperbolic Sconnie

I'm quite sure those 4 managers took the advice of the medical team, the same as Maresca has done.

We could also now just be seeing Reece "growing into his body" as the differentiator, in the same way that many other sportsmen become more resilient physically as they mature into their mid 20s.

2 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Bit hyperbolic Sconnie

I'm quite sure those 4 managers took the advice of the medical team, the same as Maresca has done.

We could also now just be seeing Reece "growing into his body" as the differentiator, in the same way that many other sportsmen become more resilient physically as they mature into their mid 20s.

And managers going against the medical team isn't some new phenomenon.

Tuchel ran Kante, Kovacic, and James into the ground, which heavily contributed to their injuries becoming chronic given how quickly they were rushed back into the team.

10 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

And managers going against the medical team isn't some new phenomenon.

Tuchel ran Kante, Kovacic, and James into the ground, which heavily contributed to their injuries becoming chronic given how quickly they were rushed back into the team.

Kante/Kovacic were crocked well before Lampard let alone Tuchel, both have had recurrent hamstring/ankle injuries respectively since Sarri. 90% of the time it is the player and/or their entourage pushing for a return to play against the advice of medical staff. Unlike the NBA minutes-management is really frowned upon in football.

12 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Tuchel, Lampard, Potter, and Poch all have blood on their hands. If they weren't so insisted on rushing him back, we'd be talking about an all timer.

3 seasons wasted. Hopefully all those injuries are left behind him knock on wood.

Lampard, poch, potter? 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

12 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Bit hyperbolic Sconnie

I'm quite sure those 4 managers took the advice of the medical team, the same as Maresca has done.

We could also now just be seeing Reece "growing into his body" as the differentiator, in the same way that many other sportsmen become more resilient physically as they mature into their mid 20s.

Nah his problem has nothing to do with rushing back. I don't remember what happens in Potter seaosn but in poch season.

Reece basically didn't want to do surgery. Then he got injured, decided to go for surgery and that is about it.

13 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Bit hyperbolic Sconnie

I'm quite sure those 4 managers took the advice of the medical team, the same as Maresca has done.

We could also now just be seeing Reece "growing into his body" as the differentiator, in the same way that many other sportsmen become more resilient physically as they mature into their mid 20s.

Well said. I also think because Maresca isn’t using him as an “up and down” fullback unlike Tuchel. The amount of short sprints he and Chiwell were required to do in that system was brutal and unsustainable.

9 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Lampard, poch, potter? 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

Yes. They've certainly had their part in rushing James back, or are we just pretending it didn't happen?

9 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Nah his problem has nothing to do with rushing back. I don't remember what happens in Potter seaosn but in poch season.

Reece basically didn't want to do surgery. Then he got injured, decided to go for surgery and that is about it.

So James tell you that personally?

From October 2022-March 2023, James suffered 4 knee and hamstring injuries consecutively and was rushed back each time. This was well after Tuchel turned his hamstrings into paper mache.

2 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Yes. They've certainly had their part in rushing James back, or are we just pretending it didn't happen?

So James tell you that personally?

From October 2022-March 2023, James suffered 4 knee and hamstring injuries consecutively and was rushed back each time. This was well after Tuchel turned his hamstrings into paper mache.

I don't think you can say "Did James tell you that personally?" while confidently stating that the managers rushed him back without having any knowledge of the advice the medical staff or even what James had said to said managers.

On 01/12/2025 at 17:44, just said:

Maresca probably feels RJ doesn't get sent off enough. Lack of committment.

He's had a couple of reds I can think of: Newcastle away and Brighton away.

a proper captain, hope he gets in the england team

Reece stopped just short of saying 'if that red card (for the alleged pull on Barnes) gets given, the game's gone'. Did say that it was "too soft for me" ("you know"). Good lad.

Amazing footballer.

Again. Blood on Tuchel’s hands.

Edited December 20, 2025Dec 20 by Sconnie Blue

And people wanted to sell him 😅

6 hours ago, dkw said:

And people wanted to sell him 😅

Guilty. I thought he'd never be fit, again. So happy to be so wrong.

World class, first name on the team sheet.

If Tuchel had the balls he’d be rightly captain of England as well.

3 hours ago, ross91690 said:

Guilty. I thought he'd never be fit, again. So happy to be so wrong.

I was the same, the guy looked done. He was getting to the point where he could barely run and keep up with Premier League players. The surgery worked out in the end, but he should have got it years ago. He lost two and half seasons of his career.

Won us the point yesterday.

Tackle in defence and pulls us back into the game with a goal.

there is not another right back on the planet capable of doing what Reece does.

If he stays fit into the summer, we win the world cup.