On 11/10/2024 at 15:15, axman2526 said:

Stories about he could have been back already but both the medical team and Marescas side have been "super cautious" with him. They want to reduce the risk of him breaking down on his return as much as possible, so help him back this entire last period after the first international break for more reconditioning, physio and light work.

He is however expected back in full training early next week. 

Does that mean an anfield start? I highly doubt it, but perhaps a spot on the bench.

I don’t want to see him until November 

Chelsea and England right-back Reece James, 24, is exploring through his representatives the possibility of joining Barcelona or Benfica. (Football Transfers)

 

It's just a rumour and probably rubbish. But maybe he's realised his legs aren't up for the PL anymore. A slower, less demanding league might do him good. 

3 hours ago, Simplymo said:

Chelsea and England right-back Reece James, 24, is exploring through his representatives the possibility of joining Barcelona or Benfica. (Football Transfers)

 

It's just a rumour and probably rubbish. But maybe he's realised his legs aren't up for the PL anymore. A slower, less demanding league might do him good. 

Good idea... maybe the warmer weather would help him too.

I don't know if he spends too much time in the gym or he's just built like it... or he's just unlucky or what but he's tried and tried... great player, big pitty but maybe it's time for him to try something different.

Can't believe i'm reading people being okay with him leaving. Reece leaving at 24 years of age would be a travesty. 

The only player we have, other than Cole Palmer, that is genuinely world class. Top 2 in his position in the world. Even if it took another 6 months to rehab him properly we should be doing it without a second thought. 

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Top 2 in his position in the world.

Curious to know who the other player of this pair is.

 

2 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Can't believe i'm reading people being okay with him leaving. Reece leaving at 24 years of age would be a travesty. 

The only player we have, other than Cole Palmer, that is genuinely world class. Top 2 in his position in the world. Even if it took another 6 months to rehab him properly we should be doing it without a second thought. 

When he only plays like, 2x half an hour, each season, I don't see the big issue with him leaving. I do agree, that IF (and that's a pretty big if) he could return to the player before all the injuries, we would have a great player on our hand. But he has simply been too much injured for the last many years for me to ever believe in that.

1 hour ago, abister1 said:

Curious to know who the other player of this pair is.

 

I would say Kyle Walker but he's more comfortable in a three-way. 

2 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Can't believe i'm reading people being okay with him leaving. Reece leaving at 24 years of age would be a travesty. 

The only player we have, other than Cole Palmer, that is genuinely world class. Top 2 in his position in the world. Even if it took another 6 months to rehab him properly we should be doing it without a second thought. 

I am not strongly against his sale per say these days, my issue is I just know as soon as we do sell him he will go on to become injury free so I want us to keep hold of him in fear of that happening. 

Think we also need to acknowledge that even when he does play it's not like he is putting in world class performances, at least this was not the case last season. If we were getting 10/10 performances then I would say it's 100% worth it to have him play like 15 games a season.

Its just an easy rumour to write about really isnt it. Reality is that if he finds fitness this season, he goes nowhere near the door. If he doesn't find fitness, we probably look for another RB option to give Gusto some cover anyway. 

If Reece doesn't get himself fit, the only thing we are holding onto is the Romance of a Cobham star and the FOMO of him sorting it out somewhere else. But really, next summer has to be where we draw the line and if he does rediscover health away from us, I really only wish him the best. 

1 hour ago, abister1 said:

Curious to know who the other player of this pair is.

 

You obviously haven't seen @Ukraine Bolt, socks down, sliding in to make a goal-saving tackle.

2 hours ago, abister1 said:

Curious to know who the other player of this pair is.

 

Trent. Then a massive drop off to anyone else. 

1 hour ago, KennethT said:

When he only plays like, 2x half an hour, each season, I don't see the big issue with him leaving. I do agree, that IF (and that's a pretty big if) he could return to the player before all the injuries, we would have a great player on our hand. But he has simply been too much injured for the last many years for me to ever believe in that.

he's 24 years old. Every time he's come back from injury he's been just as good as before. 

1 hour ago, Remodez said:

I am not strongly against his sale per say these days, my issue is I just know as soon as we do sell him he will go on to become injury free so I want us to keep hold of him in fear of that happening. 

Think we also need to acknowledge that even when he does play it's not like he is putting in world class performances, at least this was not the case last season. If we were getting 10/10 performances then I would say it's 100% worth it to have him play like 15 games a season.

Too easy to forget how good he is. He's come back just as strong from every injury. Best in the world. 

41 minutes ago, dermott said:

You obviously haven't seen @Ukraine Bolt, socks down, sliding in to make a goal-saving tackle.

I played on the left, safe to say no LB in world football would have got close to my level though in my prime. The definition of wasted talent. 

1 hour ago, KennethT said:

When he only plays like, 2x half an hour, each season, I don't see the big issue with him leaving. I do agree, that IF (and that's a pretty big if) he could return to the player before all the injuries, we would have a great player on our hand. But he has simply been too much injured for the last many years for me to ever believe in that.

Even 10 games of him could be the difference between top 4/trophies and not.

If Spurs had this same mindset during Ledley Kings troubles it would have probably cost them their place in the top flight.

42 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Too easy to forget how good he is. He's come back just as strong from every injury. Best in the world

I'm not sure why you feel this way. I would say he's among the best 10 but calling him the best RB in the world I think is quite the stretch.

31 minutes ago, abister1 said:

I'm not sure why you feel this way. I would say he's among the best 10 but calling him the best RB in the world I think is quite the stretch.

I don't think there's any controversy in saying that when fit, James is the most complete RB on the planet. This is the same bloke that pocketed Vinicius Jr while also creating goal scoring chances in the same game. 

You look at a lot of full backs in today's game and the majority of them specialize in an area but are let down in another. TAA, Cancelo, Hakimi, Porro, etc are great technically but can't match that same level of influence in the defensive end. Dumfries, Calabria, De Lorenzo are great defenders but aren't the best on a technical level or contribute much in the attacking end. 

For me, Carvajal has been the best RB on the planet for quite some time. 

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Too easy to forget how good he is. He's come back just as strong from every injury. Best in the world. 

I'm not forgetting at all, just talking about his performances last season. I think it was Pool or City that was the only game he played at the level we all know he can, he ranged from decent to okay in the others. 

Edited October 14, 20241 yr by Remodez

Toward the end of last season I genuinely believed Gusto wasn’t that much of a drop off from a fit James. However with the performances he’s been putting in so far we need Reece back fit and firing ASAP. 

53 minutes ago, Remodez said:

I'm not forgetting at all, just talking about his performances last season. I think it was Pool or City that was the only game he played at the level we all know he can, he ranged from decent to okay in the others. 

He had a hamstring injury in December and on his return against Forest in May, changed the game in the 10 or so minutes he was on the field. If he was not on the field that game, we would not have won that game. That ball he done for Jakson was pure class.

 

This will be the first time we see Reece post op that has attempted to fix the issue. I hope it has not taken anything from his game.

2 hours ago, axman2526 said:

This will be the first time we see Reece post op that has attempted to fix the issue. I hope it has not taken anything from his game.

Nope, he played in pre-season. Got injured again when the season started. So unless he has been really unlucky, it doesn't look like the op worked.

Seen Reece in a competitive game I meant.

His injury record has already impacted his value and standings according to transfermarket site

https://www.transfermarkt.us/reece-james/marktwertverlauf/spieler/472423

Transfermarkt is sh*t when trying to determine true market value. I can promise you that if the club decided to put James up for sale, £30m wouldn't even be the lowest bidder's amount. It would be almost 2x. 

Edited October 14, 20241 yr by Sconnie Blue

13 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Transfermarkt is sh*t when trying to determine true market value. I can promise you that if the club decided to put James up for sale, £30m wouldn't even be the lowest bidder's amount. It would be almost 2x. 

Agreed. Imo United and City would both believe their medical departments can sort him out and would risk 50mill on one of the world's potentially best full backs.

8 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

For me, Carvajal has been the best RB on the planet for quite some time. 

Coincidentally, another one who is "always" injured. Madrid wouldn't even think of letting him go.

Edited October 14, 20241 yr by SydneyChelsea