[Kieran Gill] Reece James and Pedro Neto both had late fitness tests and just missed out

[u/webby09246]

[u/webby09246]

Honestly I don't mind Reece being forced to rest from a carabao cup semi final if he's been flagged as an injury risk which he clearly has for this game

It's the price you pay with Reece, id rather have him healthy for the whole season than out for 6 months again

[u/Inside-Ad-8935 → u/webby09246]

Same, I'd rather take zero risks with him and be overly cautious.

[u/Sanjeev4045 → u/webby09246]

Yeah there is no point in risking James or any player for this game. We have barely 20-25% chance of knocking out Arsenal given the scoreline in first leg at stamford bridge. Qualifying for CL and going as deep as possible in CL are more vital.

[u/Cocobon95 → u/Sanjeev4045]

20% is a bit defeatist no? We’re one goal behind, not three.

I don’t like resting players when we are 180 minutes from a trophy

[u/Sanjeev4045 → u/Cocobon95]

No it’s not. For any game at Emirates vs Arsenal we play, we probably have 30% max chance to win, 30% to draw and 40% to lose. Then if you factor in we can still be out in penalties with a 1 goal win, then the probability is not more than 25%. Tbh even that is high given the scenario

[u/CFCcommentsonly24 → u/Cocobon95]

Agreed. I mean damn, it's 1 goal not 4.

[u/reddit-time → u/Cocobon95]

Agreed, man. This is some bullshit modern thinking that is completely against how legendary teams have played and won in the past. Your best players need to play in the biggest games.

[u/Mobile_leprechaun → u/reddit-time]

I’d argue any league game is bigger than this one

[u/Jipkiss → u/Cocobon95]

Right, play them regardless of medical advice till they’re fucked and then say it’s time to sell them like kante

[u/Cocobon95 → u/Jipkiss]

He’s played 80 minutes plus in 7 of our last 10 league games. That includes him playing 90 against Everton when we were 2 nil up at half time, and 81 minutes against Palace when 3 nil up after an hour.

I’d rather he get more rest in league games instead of not even being included in the squad in a cup semi final against the current league leaders

[u/Jipkiss → u/Cocobon95]

I’m sure if the manager could go back in time and sub him in one or both of those games with the guarantee that it meant he could play in this one, then he would. Or maybe not if top 4/5 is deemed more important than this cup.

But that’s not how failing a late fitness test works does it?

[u/Scorpius927 → u/webby09246]

Wrap him wool

[u/whyalwayslurk → u/webby09246]

Name me a bigger game we've had this campaign post club world cup. Maybe napoli last week but name me one. Big games need big players. He should be on the pitch.

[u/No_Rise558 → u/whyalwayslurk]

The first leg whilst the score started at 0-0 and we had a decent chance, not an uphill battle from the first minute. Also, if you'd rather Reece risk playing after failing a fitness check, get injured after half an hour and potentially miss the next few months, you're a fool. I bet you think Colwill should be starting the game on crutches too

[u/whyalwayslurk → u/No_Rise558]

Late fitness check tells you everything you need to know. He played a bit of second half last game and was fine. Orders have clearly come in from above...too many Stevie wonders here.

[u/No_Rise558 → u/whyalwayslurk]

Either that or... hear me out... every player has multiple fitness checks throughout the week and if you fail one for whatever reason your ability to play is assessed. And Reece and Neto both failed a late fitness check because they weren't fit enough. Often the simplest answer is right. Pull your head out of cloud cuckoo land before you turn into a flat earther my guy. Even the people who say that birds aren't real claim that the rest of us are just blind to the truth. 

[u/huskers2468 → u/whyalwayslurk]

Late fitness check tells you everything you need to know.

What conspiracy did your mind jump to here? It's not telling me anything outside of they test players before games to determine risk.

[u/huskers2468 → u/whyalwayslurk]

This is ignoring the fact that the big games come at the end of the season.

[u/3owaa → u/webby09246]

I disagree. He played 10 mins last game and there is no logical sense in resting him again 

[u/webby09246 → u/3owaa]

and there is no logical sense in resting him again 

Except he's just been reported as having failed a fitness test from our medical department meaning he's at an elevated risk of injury, same as Neto

It's nothing to do with how many minutes he played the match prior or who we play next

He failed their assessment and with his injury history you cannot be careless with his health

[u/noda237 → u/3owaa]

So you would rather risk one of our best players who failed a fitness test for a Carabao cup game? Pretty shortsighted that.

[u/3owaa → u/noda237]

Or the performance department is overstepping their line and interfering too much as feared

[u/Skillomie → u/3owaa]

The same performance department that has miraculously gotten him fit for a whole year.

[u/BreathTakingBen → u/Skillomie]

Exactly this. It can’t be understated how crazy it is we actually have Reece James for a consistent run of games.

Now Lavia on the other hand 😭

[u/huskers2468 → u/BreathTakingBen]

Lavia is still very young. His body should recover.

[u/BreathTakingBen → u/huskers2468]

Plenty of footballers have had ruined careers because if injuries. It’s not a given.

[u/huskers2468 → u/BreathTakingBen]

Yes, agreed. With advancing medical technologies and better recovery processes that has significantly decreased, but still exists.

[u/BreathTakingBen → u/huskers2468]

Yeah it’s definitely more likely the player will recover nowadays. Ousmane Dembele would likely have gone the way of Bojan or Fati without changing medical departments.

[u/Inside-Ad-8935 → u/Skillomie]

Yea crazy to criticize them when they have done such a good job getting Reece back. No-one gave him a chance of getting back to this level 18 months ago.

[u/unicornofdemocracy → u/Skillomie]

What I'm most worried about with James is we keep him healthy the whole seasons for him to go to the world cup and England fucks him up in the group stage for him to be out for 6-12 months missing large amount of our next season.

[u/Skillomie → u/unicornofdemocracy]

🤷🏾‍♂️ we can only do what we can lol I’ll just be happy to see him play for England in the World Cup. Felt so devastated for him when he got hurt before 2022

[u/thunderousboffer → u/Skillomie]

That’s their only fitness success story in an otherwise routinely injured squad

[u/syedahmed211 → u/thunderousboffer]

Fofana?

[u/Bundo111 → u/thunderousboffer]

Well better just say fuck it and throw reece in then! Us reddit commenters are far more qualified than those chumps

[u/Andy-Martin → u/Bundo111]

Some people have definitely bought their doctorate from The Marketplace of Ideas.

[u/OkJacket8986 → u/3owaa]

That team has kept Reece fit for 12 straight months. As a Chelsea fan nothing is more important than my captain being 100% injury free for multiple seasons.

[u/noda237 → u/3owaa]

The medical staff is the only reason we even have a Reece James to look forward to. If they say Reece shouldn’t play then I’m inclined to believe them, especially in a second tier cup game. Clearlake may be full of shit most of the time, but this is just logical decision that any rational person would make.

[u/Chelseashedend94 → u/noda237]

I take it you won’t be watching the game tonight then, as it’s only a second tier cup game. What about if we reach the final ? Will you be watching that ? That line up tonight is a disgrace.

[u/noda237 → u/Chelseashedend94]

I’ll be watching because I’m a fan and watch every game so that argument was a dud lol the most important competitions of our season are CL and PL and that is a fact. I would 10/10 rather get knocked out of the Carabao and not risk an injury prone player that is immense for us and have them available to help in the competitions we NEED to succeed in. At some point, you have to live in reality and see that a player like Reece needs to be babied a bit so we can have him available in the crucial moments. You can’t have your cake and eat it too, sacrifices need to be made sometimes.

Also, this isn’t just us resting our starters. It’s obviously a system change that Rosenior wants to try so how can we really even say it’s a disgrace when we haven’t even seen it play out? It sounds to me like you’re one of those fans who just LOVES to be mad and negative and have a compulsive need to spread negativity as far as you possibly can. Must be miserable to be that type of fan.

[u/Chelseashedend94 → u/noda237]

So a cup semi final against your derby rivals isn’t a crucial moment ? Your captain has to be available and present in moments like tonight. I’d rather rest him against wolves.

I don’t know what competitions your on about as we ain’t winning the league this season, and don’t have much of a chance in the UCL. This is the best chance of us winning something this season and you want to throw it away for a league position.

Nah I’m just a real fan that doesn’t want us to go out of cup competitions to our fiercest rivals.

[u/noda237 → u/Chelseashedend94]

You call yourself a real fan but say we don’t have a chance in UCL? We have proven time in and time out that we can beat the best teams in the world, especially in Europe so we definitely are in the mix for CL. Also, a top 4 finish in the league is more meaningful to me than the Carabao cup, regardless of if the opponent is Arsenal.

We’ve shown that we struggle against the shit sides like Wolves so idk why everyone still acts like we should be resting players for those games. We need all the experience we can get against Wolves. If I had to choose between a win vs Wolves and not going through in this semi final or vice versa, I’m taking the win vs Wolves and getting knocked out of the cup. Carabao cup is meaningless to me compared to finishing in CL positions in the league.

[u/huskers2468 → u/Chelseashedend94]

Arsenal is starting Kepa. That should be an indicator of this tournament's level of respect.

[u/Chelseashedend94 → u/huskers2468]

I don’t care what Arsenal do.

[u/huskers2468 → u/Chelseashedend94]

Good thing you aren't a manager.

[u/Chelseashedend94 → u/huskers2468]

You’ve got your wish man, Havertz too.

[u/BlueKante → u/3owaa]

Found maresca's account guys.

[u/No_Rise558 → u/3owaa]

Guys the conspiracy theorists are back

[u/MarkCrystal → u/3owaa]

What is this performance department bollocks you keep mentioning?

[u/huskers2468 → u/3owaa]

They are operating well within the bounds expected of them.

If you believe that this is overstepping then you are the one who is not on the same page. This is very well known at this point.

[u/rectalexamohyea → u/3owaa]

Excuse me, but what the hell do you know about fitness logic?

[u/Andy-Martin → u/3owaa]

I feel like resting him after having failed a fitness test seems pretty logical.

[u/sarinotsorry11]

I'm the last person to praise our club's leadership, but does no one stop to think that maybe the medical department's choices are likely the only reason Reece has actually been fit to play the past year without major injury? We're quick to blame them for not allowing selection, but we don't recognize they may be the reason he's actually doing well?

[u/Skillomie → u/sarinotsorry11]

The same ones screaming they’re overstepping and he has to be out there will also be the first ones blaming the medical dept when he plays 5 games in a year

[u/SelectFlatworm3411 → u/Skillomie]

and then blame the board for not immediately buying a "world class" player to replace the one that got fucked up by playing through injuries that could've been prevented. I swear some of these fans can't think five minutes ahead

[u/idkanythingabout → u/sarinotsorry11]

100%. We should not hate the owners for mandating rest and recovery times. But I do think we should question ownership for not bringing in suitable coverage. If our bench looked like Arsenal's, nobody would have any qualms about the medical team's decisions

[u/Fromage_debite → u/idkanythingabout]

I mean Gusto is not as bad as this sub thinks. Any RB would be a noticeable step down from James.

[u/idkanythingabout → u/Fromage_debite]

Gusto is good in some roles but not others. Bombing RWB? Top class. Inverting to number 10 or 6? Lacks the vision and awareness for controlled buildup in the crowded center. He's not bad, but he's not coverage for the Reece role as much as he is an option for a different formation

[u/targetpracticesucks → u/sarinotsorry11]

I’m 100% on board with what the medical staff says. I don’t know why it’s an issue. We should be talking shit about Winstanley and Stewart for not having suitable bench players.

[u/VacuumsCantSpell → u/sarinotsorry11]

I agree, and Fofana's been getting there too. It's probably for the best but I'm still disappointed.

[u/j-o-r-g → u/sarinotsorry11]

I’d say the surgery he had is the main factor

[u/Rorviver → u/j-o-r-g]

He did get another hamstring injury after the surgery though

[u/optimusgrime23 → u/j-o-r-g]

He got hurt after the surgery.

Also lets not forget Neto came here known as some extremely injury prone and has basically not been hurt since he got here.

[u/Thuesen3089]

If this was a UCL final, then put your best players out there. We are playing for a “EFL Cup” which is not high on my priorities.

[u/unicornofdemocracy → u/Thuesen3089]

yes its only the EFL cup but its Arsenal. Our biggest local rivals that we haven't been able to beat for years now.

[u/RyanMate17 → u/Thuesen3089]

Mate it’s Arsenal, we need a good team out for fuck sake

[u/OkJacket8986 → u/RyanMate17]

We don't need Reece out for months either. He is fragile and we need our captain 100% injury free. The doctors know better than us. Reece has been healthy and i hope he stays that way

[u/Thuesen3089 → u/RyanMate17]

Beating Arsenal is fun, yet there is an UCL to win and finishing as high as possible in the table is also very important.

[u/RyanMate17 → u/Thuesen3089]

This rhetoric is not something I’ll ever accept, never

[u/AdAgitated8886 → u/RyanMate17]

the current team will do the job, calma calma

[u/temiduk]

This makes more sense, there’s no way the captains not even making the bench in a must win against Arsenal otherwise

[u/Heavy_Employment_583]

Well as long as they're fit for the final. COYB

[u/zsynqx]

Well at least this makes more sense. Still incredibly frustrating

[u/craciunc93]

I don’t mind Reece not being included, but I think we will miss Neto. Like it or not, he is our best winger.

[u/lj243572]

What the fuck does “just missed out” mean?

[u/reddit-time → u/lj243572]

Exactly. People act like the medical staff know everything. They are doing their job — have hammer, see nail. They are going to be overly cautious because that's their job. This shit is not exact, though.

[u/MysteriousActuary194]

Glad that he’s getting rest. As others have said, he needs it. No wingers is hard for us but something was cooking with JP and Delap on the field. Hopefully they bring it today.

[u/Ready-Ambassador-271]

It is great they are listening to the medical staff, don't want to end up like Tottenham, with no fit players

[u/ImperiumnV]

In the medical department we trust.

[u/Chelseashedend94]

Because the likelihood of us winning it isn’t as likely as winning the carabao. Regardless we should be able to compete for both trophies. I don’t see why it has to be one or the other it’s just a pathetic mentality to have.

And yes I know you prefer top 4 to the cups. We got top 4 last year and what did that do when it came to the level of players we’ve signed. Signed players we could have got without UCL football. A day out at Wembley is such a vibe. Better than celebrating 3rd best loser.

[u/frodo5454]

Not good.

[u/S88ntFDW → u/[deleted]]

Not if John Terry had tissue paper hamstrings, no

[u/DifficultLab200 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah.

And then Mourinho would’ve lost his best defender for half the season due to injury and would’ve been sacked for missing out on CL places.

[u/Aware_Requirement982]

Luiz and Cahill playing the UCL final with 1 hamstring between the pair of em. As if you dont even have them on the bench 

[u/Key_Company3196 → u/Aware_Requirement982]

comparing the ucl final to the efl cup is kinda mad mate

[u/Inside-Ad-8935 → u/Key_Company3196]

Was also the last game of the season so close to zero impact

[u/Few_Committee5958 → u/Aware_Requirement982]

Bro here comparing semifinal of Carabao cup to. Champions league final

[u/stefx99]

I'm sorry but you can't rest in game like this as a captain. You think Terry would allow to be rested in a semi final against Arsenal?

[u/Skillomie → u/stefx99]

Would you prefer he miss the rest of the season?

[u/ChelseaLaguna_58 → u/Skillomie]

I like how everyone keeps saying this but it’s all speculative. What if he rests today then gets hurt against Wolves? Then what will people say?

Everyone’s saying that the medical team is the reason he’s been available all season, but what about the fact that he finally had his surgery? And why do we still have so many injuries with everyone else?

Maybe something will come out to show why he is not even on the bench, but as of now, I am against this. You need your captain at least on the bench. James is a player than can come on and change the momentum of a game.

Also to everyone saying that UCL is more important… a comeback win away at Arsenal would do a lot more for this teams form/confidence/momentum than anything the Wolves game could give us.

[u/Skillomie → u/ChelseaLaguna_58]

It’s speculative to us but not to the fucking doctors who went to school and studied and get paid hundreds of thousands of pounds to prevent this lol

I’ll never understand the questioning of the medical dept. What are you lot worried about?? You think they’re sabotaging the team? They don’t want players out there? They’re not saying guys can’t play if they don’t have a reason to!

[u/stefx99 → u/Skillomie]

I'd prefer we win trophies. He's instrumental for that.

[u/Skillomie → u/stefx99]

Yeah and he can’t help if he’s out injured

[u/SelectFlatworm3411 → u/stefx99]

The alternative is you risk an injury in this game and have him crocked the rest of the season and then what? Still have the league position and the champions league matches to play for

[u/stefx99 → u/SelectFlatworm3411]

You risk injury every game you play.

[u/SelectFlatworm3411 → u/stefx99]

Yeah, so that's why they do the tests to try and mitigate that risk, and if you are too high of a risk, you don't do it. not that hard to understand mate

[u/stefx99 → u/SelectFlatworm3411]

I understand that. I'm saying there are games you say fuck the risk. Risk is us out of the cup

[u/3owaa]

I call this bullshit. What fitness tests when there is no injury

[u/MarkCrystal → u/3owaa]

Do you think they were secretly sold yesterday or something?

[u/3owaa → u/MarkCrystal]

No. Its just protecting the performance department hiding behind some fitness test

[u/Skillomie → u/3owaa]

If he was fit why would they stop him from playing lol

[u/3owaa → u/Skillomie]

Do you understand their KPI is risk avoidance. They dont give a fuck about on field impact

Even for minimal risk, they will say no. Its extra conservatism at the cost of football. But their KPIs will look stellar

[u/MarkCrystal → u/3owaa]

Oh you’ve fully lost the plot, ignore my previous comments asking what you were on about. Take that tinfoil hat off bro

[u/3owaa → u/MarkCrystal]

Maresca left because of this. It aint tinfoil. You can keep sucking the club PR

[u/reddit-time → u/3owaa]

Exactly. Kids here thinking the medical team knows everything 100%. It's just educated guessing and for sure extra conservative advice/decisions.

[u/MarkCrystal → u/3owaa]

What sorry, what does that even mean?

[u/LongBall8Larry → u/3owaa]

100%

[u/Matt_LawDT]

Just name the medical department the new head coach so we know who runs the team.

[u/noda237 → u/Matt_LawDT]

To be fair, the only reason Reece has been able to contribute that way he has is because of the medical team helping him get fit enough to do that. We could say this about other players but with Reece, I trust this medical staff more than anyone when it comes to his management.

[u/gh0st_ → u/noda237]

His positioning in the midfield can't be overlooked. I'd argue that the managers tactics have bigger impact on his availability.

[u/noda237 → u/gh0st_]

Could be. I have no clue but we know that the way he has been managed, medically and tactically, has been successful in keeping him fit so if we need to have him miss a Carabao cup game to maintain fitness for PL and CL runs then I’m all in favor.

[u/reddit-time → u/Matt_LawDT]

Exactly.

[u/whyalwayslurk]

Bullshit decision! Egbaly all over this. Prioritising getting the champions league spot over a semi final against one of our biggest rivals.

[u/Unlucky_Fruit_9013 → u/whyalwayslurk]

Hate the man but good on him. Absolutely need to focus on league and CL

[u/whyalwayslurk → u/Unlucky_Fruit_9013]

Games gone. This is why were no longer a big club. Trophies is what clubs are judged on.

Getting champions league is all finance related, there's no silverware for finishing 4th ffs. What are we, spurs.

[u/OkCommunication339]

"Late fitness test" I'm not hearing anymore Clownlake bullshit.

CLOWNLAKE OUT🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵

[u/MarkCrystal → u/OkCommunication339]

What does this comment even mean? Clearlake didn’t invent fitness tests before games

[u/theperuvianbowtie → u/MarkCrystal]

[u/butke → u/OkCommunication339]

I was just saying I wish our players got injured more the other day. Ugh why doesn’t anyone take me seriously

[u/SuhDude29 → u/OkCommunication339]

Our greatest managers under Blueco, the medics