Matty James

[VLC86]

23 hours ago, AmarteyAndChill said:

I've heard people saying he's one of best players they've ever seen for Barnsleywell done Matty 

They know a hunk when they see one up there.

[isaidno]

18 hours ago, Aus Fox said:

Anyone remember the last time he scored a goal?

Always though this was his biggest weakness even in the Championship.

would love him to come in next season although he is certainly behind Drinky and Ndidi

Watford at home 2014 ?

[The Doctor]

18 hours ago, Aus Fox said:

Anyone remember the last time he scored a goal?

Always though this was his biggest weakness even in the Championship.

would love him to come in next season although he is certainly behind Drinky and Ndidi

Watford at home - came back from 2-0 to draw with a last minute Drinkwater volley. James got the first, set up the second. Still, he's not played for a goal threat, he's a tidy player to keep things ticking over and move us about. 

 

1 hour ago, funkyrobot said:

For a start he'd be straight in ahead of Kingy so that's a place on the bench. Then he's in as soon as either Drinky or Ndidi get an injury. It's great he's getting game time at Barnsley but he could've got more here if Claudio had given him a chance.

He was injured for 16 of the 18 months Claudio was in charge...

[Kitchandro]

If Drinky and N'Didi can find their form long term, which they're both capable of, our central midfield would look far more promising with a fit James & Lawrence behind them in the pecking order.

 

I don't want to see Amartey play in that position ever again.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Love Matty and never wrote him off. Think he's probably even better than Drinky when in top form and great to see they're loving him at Barnsley. Hope he'll come back to us end of season and be the match day squad next year under Shakey

[TJB-fox]

59 minutes ago, Arriba Los Zorros said:

Love Matty and never wrote him off. Think he's probably even better than Drinky when in top form and great to see they're loving him at Barnsley. Hope he'll come back to us end of season and be the match day squad next year under Shakey

No way is he better than Drinkwater. Agree with the rest

[Facecloth]

2 hours ago, The Doctor said:

Watford at home - came back from 2-0 to draw with a last minute Drinkwater volley. James got the first, set up the second. Still, he's not played for a goal threat, he's a tidy player to keep things ticking over and move us about. 

 

He was injured for 16 of the 18 months Claudio was in charge...

You're right he's not played as a goal threat, but it is a big weakness in his game that his finishing is terrible. It'd just be an added bonus to his game, and to us, knowing that when he plays should the ball fall to him in a scoring position he's not going to slice it wide from two yards out or softly roll it to the keeper when one on one. He might not score every time, not even the best strikers do that, but he'd give himself a better chance if he had some conviction in front of goal. I'm not overstating it when I say he's one of the worst finishers of any professional footballer I've seen reach this level.

[Stadt]

You don't really want a central midfielder playing in a two to get into goalscoring positions that often 

[st albans fox]

25 minutes ago, TJB-fox said:

No way is he better than Drinkwater. Agree with the rest

Different players. James is better at what he does than drinks and vica versa. overall, we didn't get to see DD to his stuff first PL season so tough to make a clean comparison. 

[Tuna]

Would rather James on the bench than Mendy TBF.

[funkyrobot]

On 05/03/2017 at 21:26, The Doctor said:

Watford at home - came back from 2-0 to draw with a last minute Drinkwater volley. James got the first, set up the second. Still, he's not played for a goal threat, he's a tidy player to keep things ticking over and move us about. 

 

He was injured for 16 of the 18 months Claudio was in charge...

He was playing under 23's during the early part of the season and was finally brought back into the first team squad by November, making the bench in that month so your timings are somewhat out bud. The Barnsley boss didn't even have the benefit of the few months that Claudio had to work with James and yet gave him a chance (which is now reaping dividends.) Simple fact is he's better than Kingy and Mendy.

Edited 6 March 2017 by funkyrobot

[The Doctor]

Just now, funkyrobot said:

He was playing under 23's during the early part of the season and was finally brought back into the first team squad by November, making the bench in that month so your timings are somewhat out bud. The Barnsley boss didn't even have the benefit of the few months that Claudio had of a fit James and yet gave him a chance (which is now reaping dividends.)

Every time James got close to a return he suffered a minor setback. He was playing u23 games last January, then suffered a knock which kept him out for a few months. He made the bench vs Middlesbrough on the final weekend of November: so, 15 and a half months of the 18 then - such a massive difference. The point (that Claudio couldn't really give him a chance because he was out injured for most of it) is still absolutely right. Hell, this loan spell is going to be about regaining match fitness as well. 

 

 

[bald reynard]

22 hours ago, Arriba Los Zorros said:

Love Matty and never wrote him off. Think he's probably even better than Drinky when in top form and great to see they're loving him at Barnsley. Hope he'll come back to us end of season and be the match day squad next year under Shakey

If Shaky gets the job - even if it's only until June / July - there's a good chance that Matty will come back and be offered a contract extension (contract negotiations would take place immediately after the end of the season).  Shaky will know what he's capable of, when fit and if Matty maintains form and stays injury free for Barnsley, he must be in a good position to come back for us.  

[foxinsocks]

James was highly thought of in a utd youth team that included pogba .... I hope he can get fit and strong.  Jane's could be a real asset for us.... we should keep him. 

[Realist Guy In The Room]

Sorry to interrupt the Matty James bumfest but just want to put this out there.

 

Matty James is bang average.

[coolhandfox]

23 hours ago, Arriba Los Zorros said:

Love Matty and never wrote him off. Think he's probably even better than Drinky when in top form and great to see they're loving him at Barnsley. Hope he'll come back to us end of season and be the match day squad next year under Shakey

Players always seem to get better players when they are not playing, I think Drinkwater has kick on in the last 18 months! 

[foxes21]

1 minute ago, Realist Guy In The Room said:

Sorry to interrupt the Matty James bumfest but just want to put this out there.

 

Matty James is bang average.

He is better than King, Amartey & Mendy.

[Realist Guy In The Room]

7 minutes ago, foxes21 said:

He is better than King, Amartey & Mendy.

 Better than Mendy definitely.  Slightly better than King overall but King is still infinitely better in front of goal.  I'd say on a par with Amartey.

 

 

[NotTheMarketLeader]

21 minutes ago, Realist Guy In The Room said:

 Better than Mendy definitely.  Slightly better than King overall but King is still infinitely better in front of goal.  I'd say on a par with Amartey.

 

 

Ffs - now I know you are taking the piss.

[fuchsntf]

46 minutes ago, Realist Guy In The Room said:

Sorry to interrupt the Matty James bumfest but just want to put this out there.

 

Matty James is bang average.

Then you have the incorrect member name...

[Vulpine Victor]

Some people have very short memories. If you compare DD and  MJ you will see that for LCFC DD has scored 3 goals in 93 games whereas MJ has scored 5 in 99 games. During our great escape season MJ's performances kept DD out of the team, so much so that DD was considering moving clubs. Admittedly since then Danny's form has improved greatly, but without being injured you would have expected Matty's to as well.  If Matty can get back to full fitness it would be equivalent to signing a new £15 mill midfield player. (Given what we paid for our recent purchases!)

[Arriba Los Zorros]

I would say about our CMs:

 

Ndidi >> Drinky/James>>>>Amartey>King>>Mendy

[HKFox]

6 minutes ago, Arriba Los Zorros said:

I would say about our CMs:

 

Ndidi >> Drinky/James>>>>Amartey>King>>Mendy

Overall I would definitely agree, however at the moment with Matty James recovering from injury, and doing very well at Barnsley, I think I would go for Drinky as our best cm, then n'didi. then King, then James, Amartey > mendy. 

 

I think King would need a loan move for some fans on here to realise how important he is to us, not just for his goals. Watford play off second leg he was outstanding, Leeds volley at home, chip over coventry away. goal v west ham to start our run to stay up. Goals v west brom and everton last year stand out. He is a decent player! Just not upto Drinkwater level or matty james if he keeps on doing well with his recovery and gets back to full fitness. 

 

 

[Munshi]

People have to remember, Mendy has looked poor so far however he hasn't been the only one this season to have under performed. Maybe we should see how he, Musa and Amartey now perform after Claudio has gone with the high pressing game we now play.

Edited 7 March 2017 by Foxin hell

[Thracian]

On 06/03/2017 at 00:02, Wookie said:

You don't really want a central midfielder playing in a two to get into goalscoring positions that often 

Why not? Systems should never be that rigid and every player in a team should be aware of their responsibilities if any player is temporarily drawn out of position.

.

It's not hard to recognise, say Ndidi, venturing forward for a crack at goal and there's no reason at all someone else shouldn't fill the gap he leaves for a minute or so.

To accept having two central midfielders who don't threaten the goal to to accept a significant weakness. Both need to be a threat. and a team-mates need to fill in for them when they are.