17 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I think his injuries may have done him in. .

I don't know he still looks like an incredible athlete. It's just the zero awareness from him which can be forgiven considering he's learning a new system and he's been absent for a year. 

18 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I don't know he still looks like an incredible athlete. It's just the zero awareness from him which can be forgiven considering he's learning a new system and he's been absent for a year. 

does he? Looked like he's running through treacle every time i've seen him so far this pre-season. 

7 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

does he? Looked like he's running through treacle every time i've seen him so far this pre-season. 

Still fast, very nimble, strong. 

1 minute ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Still fast, very nimble, strong. 

I think we watched 2 very different games.

I watched a slow and lethargic player with little to no awareness trying to dive and get freekicks when the ball is going out of play rather than trying to play football. 

8 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

I think we watched 2 very different games.

I watched a slow and lethargic player with little to no awareness trying to dive and get freekicks when the ball is going out of play rather than trying to play football. 

He was a donkey but he was an athletic donkey. 

2 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Still fast, very nimble, strong. 

Fast? He had no pace at all. He was getting beaten for pace almost every time.

6 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Fast? He had no pace at all. He was getting beaten for pace almost every time.

Disagree. He was ball watching and caught out time and time again but at no point was he beaten for pace. 

Yeah - I think different between pace, as opposed to anticipation, positioning and speed of thought.

Pace didnt look an issue for me. The other 3 areas all combined to make him look slow though!

1 minute ago, nonotnowjim said:

Yeah - I think different between pace, as opposed to anticipation, positioning and speed of thought.

Pace didnt look an issue for me. The other 3 areas all combined to make him look slow though!

I mean there's a reason why he was hooked at half time. Just watch the first half again or highlights and only pay attention to Fofana. Dude was in his own world. 

To be fair to the guy these have been his first 2 matches since April 2023. At the minute I'm more concerned about what I saw as a defensive unit than the individuals, it was like watching someone trying to herd cats.

I used to watch him as much as I could at Leicester. Before the broken leg, Fofana was a fantastic player for someone so young. Better than JT at that age. Fofana had the lot. Pace, brilliant positional awareness, a fabulous athlete, a leader, versatile as he could play either as a full-back or centre-half, brilliant and brave in the air.

Like Broja, like Jack Wilshere, like Casiraghi the injuries might mean he will never be the same player again. That would be tragic but I won't give up on him just yet. If he can get over the injuries, and realises the potential he had, he could be our Captain for years to come.

If he stays healthy he's first choice in the backline for me. 

James Fofana Tosin Colwill

He needs to learn how to play football first.

55 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

If he stays healthy he's first choice in the backline for me. 

James Fofana Tosin Colwill

Tosin looks pretty bad. Can't see him getting much game time.

8 hours ago, just said:

I used to watch him as much as I could at Leicester. Before the broken leg, Fofana was a fantastic player for someone so young. Better than JT at that age. Fofana had the lot. Pace, brilliant positional awareness, a fabulous athlete, a leader, versatile as he could play either as a full-back or centre-half, brilliant and brave in the air.

Like Broja, like Jack Wilshere, like Casiraghi the injuries might mean he will never be the same player again. That would be tragic but I won't give up on him just yet. If he can get over the injuries, and realises the potential he had, he could be our Captain for years to come.

Almost every other player goes through a major injury in their career . A leg break or a cruciate.. playing at CB means he has a better chance of turning it around. 
let’s see I hope so.. he has bulked up and looks a unit these days .. but I think it takes a full season for the confidence to come back. I think he will be rotational option this year.. I expect a back line of Reece Tosin Colwill Cc to start the season

10 hours ago, just said:

I used to watch him as much as I could at Leicester. Before the broken leg, Fofana was a fantastic player for someone so young. Better than JT at that age. Fofana had the lot. Pace, brilliant positional awareness, a fabulous athlete, a leader, versatile as he could play either as a full-back or centre-half, brilliant and brave in the air.

Like Broja, like Jack Wilshere, like Casiraghi the injuries might mean he will never be the same player again. That would be tragic but I won't give up on him just yet. If he can get over the injuries, and realises the potential he had, he could be our Captain for years to come.

He had it all as a young player at Leicester. I really hope he can stay healthy as he's a pleasure to watch when on his game.

Im hoping he's not our version of Leadly King. 

Really hoping he stays injury free this year and we get to see him play consistently... but at a much higher level than against Celtic. The guy has to shake away the cobwebs on his career. 

Him & Colwill for me are the starting pair.

Having said that, Id have Colwill and Chalobah as my ideal starting pair but the club are trying to move Cahlobah on and I'd rotate Fofana into form and fitness cause I reckon he'll break down again at some point. 

https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/news/looking-sharp-kiernan-dewsbury-hall-says-hes-really-impressed-by-chelsea-teammate-in-pre-season/

 

Understandably looks way way off it. Probably needs a loan considering the last 3 seasons he has had. I'd be shocked if he ever looks worth the £72m we paid, which will be a shame as he was great in that 1st season for Leicester.

On 05/08/2024 at 23:34, big blue said:

Understandably looks way way off it. Probably needs a loan considering the last 3 seasons he has had. I'd be shocked if he ever looks worth the £72m we paid, which will be a shame as he was great in that 1st season for Leicester.

People have come back from ACL injuries before and done well. 

22 hours ago, Llangennech said:

People have come back from ACL injuries before and done well. 

Not just an ACL for Fofana though, also missed most of the previous season with a broken leg. So while players do come back from these injuries, I think it is definitely questionable whether Fofana can recover from the serious injuries, and also reach his potential having missed so much football at a key developmental age.

Looked a bit better against Inter, really hoping for positive outcome for him.

24 minutes ago, big blue said:

Not just an ACL for Fofana though, also missed most of the previous season with a broken leg. So while players do come back from these injuries, I think it is definitely questionable whether Fofana can recover from the serious injuries, and also reach his potential having missed so much football at a key developmental age.

Looked a bit better against Inter, really hoping for positive outcome for him.

He's only 23. If the top 3 inches are okay then I'm confident he'll make it. I don't have evidence for this, my guess is that the people who have retired early from serious injuries weren't going to make it in any case, mainly due to their personalities/mental strength. 

On 13/08/2024 at 21:46, Llangennech said:

He's only 23. If the top 3 inches are okay then I'm confident he'll make it. I don't have evidence for this, my guess is that the people who have retired early from serious injuries weren't going to make it in any case, mainly due to their personalities/mental strength. 

I really don't think we can doubt the mental strength of top level athletes, if they're retiring early its because a doctor will have told them they'll likely never walk again if they try to keep playing. 

TheAthletic reporting that Fofana and Colwill are the first choice CB pairing. 

Whilst I do believe that is the long term, I am not sure just how ready Fofana is yet. 

I think he’ll be first choice before long. Give the guy a break. It might take him a few months to get up to speed but class is permanent.