1 hour ago, OriginalS said:

For me age has a lot to say yes. Kante was past his prime, James have likely not entered his yet.

Bar the Champions League run I never thought Kante had that much impact on our last three-four seasons going back to Sarri. Some fantastic performances yes but always injury ridden and us depending on him and therefore never addressing the midfield which hurt us. Tuchel trusted him to stay fit last season for example after a specialized program for him the entire summer and it was a major backfire.

If any player is unable to play regularly it will be hard to make an impact on the ENTIRE season. That's just common sense. Be it Kante at 30 or James at 23.

What doesn't change, if they are one of your most gifted players, (in Kante's case a bonafide world class player), is the impact they will make when they can play. And Kante proved that time and time and time again. It has nothing at all to do with age.

This may sound harsh, but the reality is that he needs to lose between 1 and 2 stone or he is going to continue with injuries. Otherwise we need to consider our options. A good quality right back that is available all the time is better than a world class one available only half the time. 

2 hours ago, ducavis said:

Is this based on 2 seasons ago? The fullback role is getting phased out of modern football, so I am not sure that counts for much. Hypothetically if he was up for the sale today, the only offers on the table might be from Utd & maybe Bayern. Everyone else has moved on from that role.

He can very much play the 'inverted' role, he was doing just that under Tuchel in the Autumn of 21 before it became a (massive) thing and even under Lampard he often drifted into the centre areas at times (case in point his Brighton goal or assist to Tammy vs Villa).

Forget 'can' play it, if it weren't for the injuries he'd probably be known as the player who started it.

6 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Out for a month. 

- West Ham

- Luton

- Wimbledon (League Cup)

- Forest

- Bournemouth

- Villa

- League Cup R3

Actually you are wrong. There is an international break from September 2nd to the 15th . So if its a month he should be back for Bournemouth 

7 hours ago, The Don Antonio said:

Actually you are wrong. There is an international break from September 2nd to the 15th . So if its a month he should be back for Bournemouth 

And out again for Villa.

9 hours ago, SimonH said:

This may sound harsh, but the reality is that he needs to lose between 1 and 2 stone or he is going to continue with injuries. 

Not going to be easy to shift 1-2 stone when you already look like this :

 

 

 

 

32 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Not going to be easy to shift 1-2 stone when you already look like this :

 

 

 

 

Somewhere in NYC Calvin Klein sighs deeply.

Maybe he could adapt his game to his body.

Obviously the modern full-back requirement is to make constant runs forward as much as the match allows but I wouldn't have any problems if he were to play more defensively and to focus less on sprinting forward, Ivanovic was a monster defensively and nobody cared how he crossed the ball.

17 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I don't think it's that, there have been plenty of big players that never had these issues. Adama Traore is huge but he doesn't get that many injuries. You also have smaller players that pick up injuries too, like Kante. Wilshere's career was ruined because of injuries and he wasn't a big player. 

I don't think James can easily lose that muscle either, most of it is just his natural build. Look at his sister, she is exactly the same.

Does his sister get the same amount of injuries? Just curious lol. 

Am sure he could lose 5-10kg and work on his hip mobility and hamstrings etc? 

Is it his diet thats the problem? 

Too many uncertainties but the good news is gusto is a solid RB and is getting his experience. Disasi can also play RB. 

Also, I feel we should start subbing on reece james instead of starting that might make a difference in his performance and injuries

1 hour ago, Sexyfootball said:

Not going to be easy to shift 1-2 stone when you already look like this :

I don't think it has anything at all to do with his weight. 

Gazza never looked slim and svelte at any point in his playing career. Same for modern day players like Michail Antonio and Adama Traore. 

This is definitely something we need to have a very serious conversation about. 

I'm very very far from an expert but what's the remedy here? I've heard that he's been due for surgery for a long time, would it be worth just keeping him out for 6+ months so he can come back in better shape? Maybe that's a very cartoon version of looking at it but as I said I don't have a f**king monkeys about it. 

I can't see us selling James, because if it ever gets to that point no top club would want to touch him anyway just due to his injury record, so he's going to remain our player regardless. But I can't even remember the last time this kid did 90 minutes. Something else just struck me also, he's been injured for all the major England tournaments, it's just normal. As people are saying, we could be looking at a Jack Wilshere situation here. 

6 minutes ago, Victor90 said:

This is definitely something we need to have a very serious conversation about. 

I'm very very far from an expert but what's the remedy here? I've heard that he's been due for surgery for a long time, would it be worth just keeping him out for 6+ months so he can come back in better shape? Maybe that's a very cartoon version of looking at it but as I said I don't have a f**king monkeys about it. 

I can't see us selling James, because if it ever gets to that point no top club would want to touch him anyway just due to his injury record, so he's going to remain our player regardless. But I can't even remember the last time this kid did 90 minutes. Something else just struck me also, he's been injured for all the major England tournaments, it's just normal. As people are saying, we could be looking at a Jack Wilshere situation here. 

He has been examined by specialists several times. They haven't deemed surgery necessary. Or, perhaps, they've said surgery won't fix the problem, whatever it is. 

I also think our medical department are culpable in this situation.  This isn't the first time a player has been cleared by them and then gets injured on his return. We all know he was removed against Liverpool due to fatigue but may be he should have been given extra rest.

The same thing happened to kante last season and then he had to have surgery. It also happened to chalobah who injured his hamstring in pre season,  was supposedly cleared to resume training and then broke down the same day as James.

58 minutes ago, dermott said:

He has been examined by specialists several times. They haven't deemed surgery necessary. Or, perhaps, they've said surgery won't fix the problem, whatever it is. 

The knee problem, the ankle problem or the hamstring problem?

2 hours ago, just said:

I don't think it has anything at all to do with his weight. 

Gazza never looked slim and svelte at any point in his playing career. Same for modern day players like Michail Antonio and Adama Traore. 

Hopefully it's not his weight. The way he looks the only way to shed some weight is by amputating a limb. That may cause new problems.

Edited August 19, 20232 yr by Valerie

37 minutes ago, just said:

The knee problem, the ankle problem or the hamstring problem?

Knee and hammy.

1 hour ago, dermott said:

He has been examined by specialists several times. They haven't deemed surgery necessary. Or, perhaps, they've said surgery won't fix the problem, whatever it is. 

If that's the truth then things really are very bleak. We have to just pray and hope things will fix themselves and I can't see it.

Arjen Robben was a player who had a lot of injuries in his career but still managed to have a good career, even in his 30's he was quick and at the top of his game. Reece on the other hand, I just don't know... It's can't be healthy missing half of the season from injuries at his age and every game I watch him play I always get that anxiety that he's going to ask to come off. Such a bloody shame...

What's sad is just how many of our academy players have been hindered with horrible injuries, CHO looked ace until he was out for 6 months, never the same player again. RLC again, looked brilliant until that stupid friendly game that took him out for months, he was never the same again. It's due to this reason I'm not that confident on Broja after he comes back. 

He definately looks a bit slimmer than he did, but i suspect he's too muscle bound. He has too little flexibilty, turning etc his upper body doesn't move properly to balance and counteract his below waist movements, putting extra stress on them. Only my theory but it makes sense to me.

3 hours ago, Ajbod said:

He definately looks a bit slimmer than he did, but i suspect he's too muscle bound. He has too little flexibilty, turning etc his upper body doesn't move properly to balance and counteract his below waist movements, putting extra stress on them. Only my theory but it makes sense to me.

His ROM and mobility is poor. 

13 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

His ROM and mobility is poor. 

His what?

3 minutes ago, Valerie said:

His what?

Range of motion 

I learn something new every day. From Physio-pedia:

Range of motion (ROM) means the extent or limit to which a part of the body can be moved around a joint or a fixed point; the totality of movement a joint is capable of doing. 

2 minutes ago, dermott said:

I learn something new every day. From Physio-pedia:

Range of motion (ROM) means the extent or limit to which a part of the body can be moved around a joint or a fixed point; the totality of movement a joint is capable of doing. 

I'm shocked you had to look it up.

23 minutes ago, Valerie said:

I'm shocked you had to look it up.

I'm an egoless soul happy to admit ignorance of the dark arts of physiotherapy.

5 hours ago, Ajbod said:

He definately looks a bit slimmer than he did, but i suspect he's too muscle bound.

Well that's definitely not a criticism that's ever been levelled at me!!