What Chelsea fans are saying about Reece James starts on the left after Newcastle clash
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In a surprising move, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca opted to start Reece James as a left-back in the recent match against Newcastle. James, usually a right-back, found himself operating in a flexible role: part of a defensive trio when Chelsea played out from the back and moving centrally as the Blues advanced forward.
Fans had mixed reactions to this tactical shift:
- Alex Goldberg: “I assume part of why Reece is at LB is so Levi Colwill in possession is a CCB… I don’t hate that tbh.”
- Felix: “Oh, I like Reece at left back. Makes the setup work with Fofana RCB & Levi CCB.”
- Uhhh-Okay5927: “I love it tbh, but he was just caught in transition to defense, which is slightly worrying.”
- CFCDaily: “James inverting. Sigh. You could already see him miles behind that Newcastle attack.”
- ScottV4192: “Reece James LB feels like brushing your teeth with the opposite hand.”
- MarinaGranovskaia: “James is playing everything so telegraphed because he can’t go left, I hate this.”
Some fans appreciated James’ versatility, with one user noting he’s capable of performing well anywhere on the field. However, others criticized the choice, expressing concern about playing him out of position given his recent injury struggles, especially when other fully-fit options like Cucurella and Veiga were available.
Ultimately, it seems Maresca was experimenting, potentially seeking a solution to prevent James from injuries by keeping him in a different role. One fan defended the move, suggesting James handled the position without any major errors.
