He belongs in midfield. Just as Bayern did with Lahm then Kimmich, or Inter did with Zanetti.

Whether he belongs in the midfield or at full back, where you’ll usually find him is on the treatment table.

Think we’re all still w**king over that 2021 Reece James with him and Chilwell causing absolute havoc as wing backs.

This season had me questioning and the World Cup has just backed it up unfortunately, his body cannot do it anymore.

He’s lost a yard of pace, his confidence appears shot and he’s just not the same player. The Reece James of old would’ve been bombing up and down that touchline, this one seems to look sideways/backwards for the easy pass as his first option.

As has been said before, he’s probably the best Cobham has ever produced, he’s just absolutely riddled and can’t play a full intensity season anymore.

Maybe a move into midfield is the answer? But even then he just appears so much slower than a Caicedo.

We’ll see, give him this season under a proper manager but if it’s a game every other week and slow in possession again then a move to a warmer climate and less demanding league might be on the table.

It’s such a shame he doesn’t seem able to play full back anymore not week in week out for a full season but he can still play there, in midfield or the right hand side of a back 3 like Dave did when he couldn’t go up and down anymore.

With the contract he just signed I don’t see him going anywhere and with the fans feeling distant enough from many of these players those the fans have a connection too especially the Cobham boys are still important.

Hopefully Levi gets back to his best and Josh gets more games too

Almost as if playing him for that many games n such a short time was a daft idea, especially after taking another injury prone right back as "cover".

28 minutes ago, dkw said:

Almost as if playing him for that many games n such a short time was a daft idea, especially after taking another injury prone right back as "cover".

Something I didn't know. Until Alf Ramsey came along, an FA Selection Committee picked the team. The manager had zero input. Maybe time to wind back the clock.

7 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

He belongs in midfield. Just as Bayern did with Lahm then Kimmich, or Inter did with Zanetti.

The problem is that James isn't a very good midfielder. He has his moments, but no more than that.

9 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

He belongs in midfield. Just as Bayern did with Lahm then Kimmich, or Inter did with Zanetti.

He doesn’t have Kimmich’s ability though, he is just another body in midfield. Should never have had his contract extended.

I think he will still be played at RB this season, but perhaps given no European games his time can be managed better.

30 minutes ago, forbzy said:

I think he will still be played at RB this season, but perhaps given no European games his time can be managed better.

I'm tired of us managing James minutes though. If the squad is to move forward with James as a key player, then we need him all of the time without fear of breaking down. We can't keep going into games with him being an injury risk. Every game we have one eye on taking James off at a certain point, it's like our subs are built around reserving a spot for him.

The even more concerning part about James of late though is how shot he looks mobility wise. He turns like a tank, barely runs, and has slow reactions to players pressing him. Every time he gets injured now, he returns a worse player, something that never used to be the case before.

He cannot cross with pace, he floats the ball.

I'll be surprised if he lasts more than another season.

He was a world beater at wing back or full back. I dont fancy him in centre midfield at all. Maybe a right sided centre back under Alonso?

3 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I'm tired of us managing James minutes though. If the squad is to move forward with James as a key player, then we need him all of the time without fear of breaking down. We can't keep going into games with him being an injury risk. Every game we have one eye on taking James off at a certain point, it's like our subs are built around reserving a spot for him.

The even more concerning part about James of late though is how shot he looks mobility wise. He turns like a tank, barely runs, and has slow reactions to players pressing him. Every time he gets injured now, he returns a worse player, something that never used to be the case before.

Fair point. I think if he fails to make it through this season with less fixtures then we should be looking to move him on. We need a captain that is on the field.

6 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I'm tired of us managing James minutes though. If the squad is to move forward with James as a key player, then we need him all of the time without fear of breaking down. We can't keep going into games with him being an injury risk. Every game we have one eye on taking James off at a certain point, it's like our subs are built around reserving a spot for him.

The even more concerning part about James of late though is how shot he looks mobility wise. He turns like a tank, barely runs, and has slow reactions to players pressing him. Every time he gets injured now, he returns a worse player, something that never used to be the case before.

I agree. But then watch him go to Bayern and never get injured. This league as a whole (pace, training, rest time etc.) is too demanding for some players.

Olise used to be a sick note at Palace. Not anymore since joining Bayern.

What i would normally say is that we stick with him but pass the captaincy on to someone else who is more likely to feature regularly. Unfortunately we have bugger all leadership quality in our squad meaning there is no clear alternative.

The fact that Enzo was our vice captain last season just shows he his good at rock, paper, scissors. He is an embarrassment as a club captain.

On 01/12/2025 at 08:03, dansubrosa said:

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

On 20/12/2025 at 16:00, Scott Harris said:

Amazing footballer.

On 20/12/2025 at 16:09, dkw said:

And people wanted to sell him 😅

I went back in this thread as you can tell by the quotes. We all seem to let our expectations for James fluctuate with his injury status. From cheering about his contract extension and some good matches it's now back to the "he's finished, can't count on him for the entire season, we shouldn't have extended, needs to go" phase again after playing an underwhelming WC for England. England! Since when has that been a yardstick!

Viewing our present squad and its lack of leaders, he's probably still one of the best even if it is for half a season. The captaincy should go to someone like Colwill, but that won't make Reece less of an elder statesman so to speak behind the scenes.

4 minutes ago, Valerie said:

I went back in this thread as you can tell by the quotes. We all seem to let our expectations for James fluctuate with his injury status. From cheering about his contract extension and some good matches it's now back to the "he's finished, can't count on him for the entire season, we shouldn't have extended, needs to go" phase again after playing an underwhelming WC for England. England! Since when has that been a yardstick!

Viewing our present squad and its lack of leaders, he's probably still one of the best even if it is for half a season. The captaincy should go to someone like Colwill, but that won't make Reece less of an elder statesman so to speak behind the scenes.

After all this time you're bemused by this place's propensity for hysterical knee-jerk reactions?

He will be playing RCB, and that is probably where he'd be best at this point in his career. I don't see too much fuss if he's in and out, given it would allow Acheampong more football and adequate time to develop naturally.

That of course, will all be moot if Mr. I don't care about anything continues to start and doesn't get sold.

1 hour ago, dermott said:

After all this time you're bemused by this place's propensity for hysterical knee-jerk reactions?

I'm bemused by life itself and everything and everybody in it @dermott

2 hours ago, Valerie said:

I went back in this thread as you can tell by the quotes. We all seem to let our expectations for James fluctuate with his injury status. From cheering about his contract extension and some good matches it's now back to the "he's finished, can't count on him for the entire season, we shouldn't have extended, needs to go" phase again after playing an underwhelming WC for England. England! Since when has that been a yardstick!

Viewing our present squad and its lack of leaders, he's probably still one of the best even if it is for half a season. The captaincy should go to someone like Colwill, but that won't make Reece less of an elder statesman so to speak behind the scenes.

My thoughts on him have never changed, we would be nuts to sell him, hes one of the few world class players we now have. Many top clubs have managed there best players through injuries, I dont see why we should be any different.