30 May 2025 06:23:43
A fit James is a top player and EM has managed his game time well since Christmas.
I hope his gradual return to match fitness can be built upon for years to come at Chelsea.
30 May 2025 09:56:00
Completely agree Tom and a very positive feature of this season and Maresca's role in it - if especially perhaps in last couple of months not Dec to March - has been this (EM and medical staff) careful handling of RJ and Lavia.
I criticised Maresca at one stage in our slump period for not using whole squad properly cos of potential injury/ burn outs plus second half drop offs. and particularly for too few or too late substitutions. But imho he has much improved here and listened carefully to medical advice. Indeed from very bright first halfs with disappoiunting second ones as players tired we changed to going out more slowkly first half and boosting second half energy and perfiormances partly cos of this and also because of use of far mnore substitutions. Meant to have commented on this earlier.
The one player who I have thought at event recent times needed to be rested a bit more was Cole Palmer. Seemed the tright thing to do when he was going through a below his stellar standard best in a patch of games where he was a bit anonymous. Didn't want him burnt out. But perhaps Maresca right to go on playing him and giving him that experience of not having to star in every match and CPO came up trumps aginst Betis with those two fine crosses.
30 May 2025 10:11:17
Just hope he doesn't get injured on england duty that has cost us so much in the past.
30 May 2025 11:06:15
Agree Tom for me on his day there isn’t a better RB in the world.
Agree Tom he is also a leader which is so important particularly in this young team.
30 May 2025 11:30:23
Agree Tom he is a huge player for us and my worry is when he is injured we look weak in that area as Gusto struggles to play the inverted role and while Moises can do it we lose his mighty presence in midfield. Maybe Josh could do it?
30 May 2025 11:47:10
I think I would prefer Josh in the inverted re rather than Gusto.
I rate Gusto very highly but maybe with us playing wide players he will struggle to get game time because I see him as a wing back.
30 May 2025 13:07:24
I think a loan for Josh this year and then he'll take his place, full time, in the first team squad.
30 May 2025 16:02:45
I’m not a fan of inverted full backs; it’s just a fad; players should be played in their best positions.
30 May 2025 19:12:02
Totally agree Jimbo, I do mot like the inverted FB system one bit.