7 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Needs a commanding/quick CB next to him. No surprise Alonso looked best when Tomori was behind covering him. Same needed for Reece. 

Playing a wingback system with Alonso and Reece would benefit our defense greatly as it would allow us to include our best defenders alongside make the most of Reece and Alonso's attacking prowess.

Alonso                                            Reece

              Zouma-Christensen-Azpi

Edited July 8, 20206 yr by Imran_CFC

He still has a lot of work to do defensively 

His marking in defense isn't that good but he's very capable of winning aerial duels and making tackles and so on, IMO he's more than anything suffering for going too much forward at times and that habit he might have only because of the coaching or just watching Emerson and Alonso.

He's a really good talent there is no doubts about it. He picked up Willian for the first goal and he was the only one putting in crosses and cutting the balls in the box regularly, he's not that far off from Azpilicueta, he's already capable of doing most things at a high level. He's not like Moses he's simply better and he has all predispositions to become world class.

20 minutes ago, Imran_CFC said:

Playing a wingback system with Alonso and Reece would benefit our defense greatly as it would allow us to include our best defenders alongside make the most of Reece and Alonso's attacking prowess.

Alonso                                            Reece

              Zouma-Christensen-Azpi

I think that's only been tried in one game ... Lille away.

We've played 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 in a few other games, but always with Azpi as the right wing back.

 

4 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

His marking in defense isn't that good but he's very capable of winning aerial duels and making tackles and so on, IMO he's more than anything suffering for going too much forward at times and that habit he might have only because of the coaching or just watching Emerson and Alonso.

He's a really good talent there is no doubts about it. He picked up Willian for the first goal and he was the only one putting in crosses and cutting the balls in the box regularly, he's not that far off from Azpilicueta, he's already capable of doing most things at a high level. He's not like Moses he's simply better and he has all predispositions to become world class.

I agree James has a number of good points yet is also a little naive defensively.

You would expect us to strengthen the LB position this summer so James has more time before being a regular.

Good baptism of fire though. 

 

44 minutes ago, Imran_CFC said:

Playing a wingback system with Alonso and Reece would benefit our defense greatly as it would allow us to include our best defenders alongside make the most of Reece and Alonso's attacking prowess.

Alonso                                            Reece

              Zouma-Christensen-Azpi

I find against certain physical teams that then play two large mobile attackers we get caught out with 3 CBs

On 08/07/2020 at 12:01, Sexyfootball said:

I think that's only been tried in one game ... Lille away.

We've played 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 in a few other games, but always with Azpi as the right wing back.

 

The spurs home game James played right wing back. I dont think he looks too comfortable there personally.

He is young, and his positional awareness isnt quite there yet. He is an intelligent boy, he will get better with experience. 

He came back rusty, but he is looking better every game. Next season will be big for him i think, although Azpilicueta isnt giving up that spot without a fight. 

4 hours ago, big blue said:

He came back rusty, but he is looking better every game. Next season will be big for him i think, although Azpilicueta isnt giving up that spot without a fight. 

Luckily for Reece Dave is currently preoccupied showing our two natural, experienced left backs who to play in their position. 

James is our first choice RB next season and you probably didn't hear it right here first.

If he's our first choice RB expect teams to target his side still defensively naive going forward hes good but Alonso is better.

If a back four he  will get it exploited in a back three just like Alonso he will work better 

4 hours ago, Brutos said:

If he's our first choice RB expect teams to target his side still defensively naive going forward hes good but Alonso is better.

If a back four he  will get it exploited in a back three just like Alonso he will work better 

The more they target him the better he'll get. He'll be better than Dave next season.

For starters, his lack of pace in FB posistion will always be a real problem for him.  I get the impression he doesn't really care for the hard work side of defending and just wants to do the pretty stuff in the opponants half. Very much like a right sided version of Alonso but without the goal threat. Young enough to improve but a heck of a lot of improvement is going to be needed if he's going to make it at this level.

Edited July 12, 20206 yr by Dixon

I think Reece really needs to move the ball faster. He takes too many touches and it's been getting us in trouble with him getting caught on the ball a few times. Keep it simple and do the other stuff in the other half, not ours!

22 hours ago, Brutos said:

If he's our first choice RB expect teams to target his side still defensively naive going forward hes good but Alonso is better.

If a back four he  will get it exploited in a back three just like Alonso he will work better 

The essentially target whatever side Dave isn’t playing, we only have one full back at the minute. 

8 hours ago, Munkworth said:

The essentially target whatever side Dave isn’t playing, we only have one full back at the minute. 

They target the far post that Dave can't mark all the time...

On 12/07/2020 at 17:42, Dixon said:

For starters, his lack of pace in FB posistion will always be a real problem for him.  I get the impression he doesn't really care for the hard work side of defending and just wants to do the pretty stuff in the opponants half. Very much like a right sided version of Alonso but without the goal threat. Young enough to improve but a heck of a lot of improvement is going to be needed if he's going to make it at this level.

I don't agree with that, at the youth team and at Wigan (and even times here) he's been outstanding defensively, at youth level he played RCB in a back three.

He'll get there no doubt about that.  

21 minutes ago, Argo said:

I don't agree with that, at the youth team and at Wigan (and even times here) he's been outstanding defensively, at youth level he played RCB in a back three.

He'll get there no doubt about that.  

I hope you're proven right and he does go on to make it at Chelsea. So too with Tammy, CHO and Mount.  I just haven't seen much from James, other than having a natural ability to whip a cross in.

1 hour ago, Dixon said:

I hope you're proven right and he does go on to make it at Chelsea. So too with Tammy, CHO and Mount.  I just haven't seen much from James, other than having a natural ability to whip a cross in.

with james i think there are clear positives - wicked cross, physicality, ball control and technique.. what i am worried about is he doesnt seem to be very pacy and also his positioning is very suspect right now

On 08/07/2020 at 12:54, Gol15 said:

His marking in defense isn't that good but he's very capable of winning aerial duels and making tackles and so on, IMO he's more than anything suffering for going too much forward at times and that habit he might have only because of the coaching or just watching Emerson and Alonso.

He's a really good talent there is no doubts about it. He picked up Willian for the first goal and he was the only one putting in crosses and cutting the balls in the box regularly, he's not that far off from Azpilicueta, he's already capable of doing most things at a high level. He's not like Moses he's simply better and he has all predispositions to become world class.

He’s a million miles off Azpilicueta and if you can’t see that then I despair. James is a terrific talent but Azpilicueta is a million times better than him as a defender & for all the criticism he gets for his end product. I’m pretty sure he’s actually our most creative player this season.

The guy has been here 7 years and is still criminally underrated by most while the James love-in seems never ending no matter how many sh*te performances he puts in.

James is great talent, but he’s got a long way to go before he displaced Azpilicueta as first choice. There’s a reason teams don’t target the side Azpi plays on & go at the other one. James takes the entire first half to grow in to games and that’s not OK at this level. It will improve over times as he develops but to say he’s not that far of Azpilicueta is wrong.

19 minutes ago, EdinburghBlue said:

He’s a million miles off Azpilicueta and if you can’t see that then I despair. James is a terrific talent but Azpilicueta is a million times better than him as a defender & for all the criticism he gets for his end product. I’m pretty sure he’s actually our most creative player this season.

The guy has been here 7 years and is still criminally underrated by most while the James love-in seems never ending no matter how many sh*te performances he puts in.

James is great talent, but he’s got a long way to go before he displaced Azpilicueta as first choice. There’s a reason teams don’t target the side Azpi plays on & go at the other one. James takes the entire first half to grow in to games and that’s not OK at this level. It will improve over times as he develops but to say he’s not that far of Azpilicueta is wrong.

Much as I like the lad, apparently he never was a full back, he was put there at Wigan and did well at that level. Has no pace and little sense of urgency or danger. Apparently doesn't like doing the hard graft of defending and therefore cannot really do the job he is in there for. Going forward he is good and delivers some lovely balls into the box, almost like a midfielder rather than a full back.

1 hour ago, EdinburghBlue said:

He’s a million miles off Azpilicueta and if you can’t see that then I despair. James is a terrific talent but Azpilicueta is a million times better than him as a defender & for all the criticism he gets for his end product. I’m pretty sure he’s actually our most creative player this season.

The guy has been here 7 years and is still criminally underrated by most while the James love-in seems never ending no matter how many sh*te performances he puts in.

James is great talent, but he’s got a long way to go before he displaced Azpilicueta as first choice. There’s a reason teams don’t target the side Azpi plays on & go at the other one. James takes the entire first half to grow in to games and that’s not OK at this level. It will improve over times as he develops but to say he’s not that far of Azpilicueta is wrong.

No way has Azpi been underrated! He's always rated up there with being one of the best or even the best value for money signings of the RA era. It's just a case of more fans thinking he's past his peak and we need a younger player as first choice starter.   But even past his best, at this moment in time he is indeed far better than James. 

Edited July 14, 20206 yr by Dixon

2 hours ago, Dixon said:

No way has Azpi been underrated! He's always rated up there with being one of the best or even the best value for money signings of the RA era. It's just a case of more fans thinking he's past his peak and we need a younger player as first choice starter.   But even past his best, at this moment in time he is indeed far better than James. 

On this forum? I disagree - as soon as he has a below his usual standards game the ‘he’s finished’ or ‘not good enough anymore’ posts start & crying for James to play who comes in and inevitably plays even worse but gets praised.
The guys 30 years old. I’m not sure where this myth of players being finished when they get over 30 comes from. Sure their resale value will start to go down but a lot of people reckon Giroud is our No1 striker and class, he’s 33 going on 34 and I’d argue playing some of his best football for us.

3 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

Much as I like the lad, apparently he never was a full back, he was put there at Wigan and did well at that level. Has no pace and little sense of urgency or danger. Apparently doesn't like doing the hard graft of defending and therefore cannot really do the job he is in there for. Going forward he is good and delivers some lovely balls into the box, almost like a midfielder rather than a full back.

I listened to a podcast with Reece James' father Nigel. He said Reece was mainly playing as a centre midfielder up until u15's. Then he started to put weight on and struggled to get up and down the pitch, so he moved to right back. He then spent time getting fitter, and when he went into the u18 team under morris, he flourished at right back and was made captain. 

So while he wasnt a right back all his life, its the position that has seen him go onto another level, he wasn't put there at wigan, if anything it was the opposite, signed as a right back, but he qas so good and influencial they moved him into centre midfield to get him on the ball more. 

I just think he is a player that will have to manage his body, he is naturally a big lad, and in the offseason, he is susceptible to weight gain more than most, and i think we are seeing that rustiness, and lack of fitness, since the restart. 

Azpilicueta is still number 1 for me, but i think it will be a pretty natural changing of guard over the next couple of seasons, when James starts to get better tactically, and when Azpilicueta starts to struggle physically. 

James is a gem for me, he isnt as polished as Wan Bissaka, or Alexander Arnold, but he has everything including the mental strength to surpass both in the long run. 

4 hours ago, EdinburghBlue said:

He’s a million miles off Azpilicueta and if you can’t see that then I despair. James is a terrific talent but Azpilicueta is a million times better than him as a defender & for all the criticism he gets for his end product. I’m pretty sure he’s actually our most creative player this season.

The guy has been here 7 years and is still criminally underrated by most while the James love-in seems never ending no matter how many sh*te performances he puts in.

James is great talent, but he’s got a long way to go before he displaced Azpilicueta as first choice. There’s a reason teams don’t target the side Azpi plays on & go at the other one. James takes the entire first half to grow in to games and that’s not OK at this level. It will improve over times as he develops but to say he’s not that far of Azpilicueta is wrong.

As much as Azpilicueta has been good on both sides, I saw plenty of games where his side was targeted and when it wasn't he did have problems dealing with crosses that came on his far post.

That doesn't mean that he isn't our best defender, after all he has the most tackles made and has been playing well for most of the season, he is our captain, I don't think that I'm putting him down.

I really believe that James isn't that far behind, he is behind in both defensive tasks and offensive tasks but next season Azpilicueta will be 31 and James has been progressing fast, he will learn to cover better and he will end up having the same amount of assists as Azpilicueta has been having.

James has long way to get to Azpi level especially will consistency, Azpi has been shaky in some games this season but on a whole he's still one of the best defender's in the league. 

James has a very lackadaisical way of playing which sees him get caught out quite a bit. 

All can be improved though as he has time on his side, remember the journalist who said something about Azpi that if she reaches a certain level or win a title he will eat his something or the other and look at him now, so James can absolutely be one of the best in Europe just needs to learn and improve.