Matty James - Our future together

[Bazly]

Matty James has rather become our very own Jack Wilshere with more time under the doctor than actually playing the game. Having signed a new  contract last year that runs into 2021 he is unlikely to leave and with his kind of injury record equally unlikely to have anyone seeking to prise him away. We know the owners read this forum regularly so what would we wish done with Matty James seeing he did make the squad list and should be returning to work sometime.

 

[RoboFox]

The unfortunate truth is that he's just not good enough, especially given our ambitions.

Like some other squad players, we're hanging on to them for sentimentality reasons alone (or they're not in good enough shape for any club to take a risk on) and if we're to truly evolve as a club, we need to cut these players loose and move on. 

Last years' contract extension didn't really make a lot of sense, to be honest.

There are for or five players ahead of him in the pecking order now and it looks like he's a fringe player at best, and that's if we can get him close to match fitness.

Good servant, but his time is up. 

[Lovejoy]

Not good enough even when fit. Moving him on is easier said than done though. I cannot believe he was awarded a new four year contract last year, staggeringly bad judgement from the club.

[Collymore]

46 minutes ago, Bazly said:

Matty James has rather become our very own Jack Wilshere with more time under the doctor than actually playing the game. Having signed a new  contract last year that runs into 2021 he is unlikely to leave and with his kind of injury record equally unlikely to have anyone seeking to prise him away. We know the owners read this forum regularly so what would we wish done with Matty James seeing he did make the squad list and should be returning to work sometime.

 

*

[Detroit Blues]

I think when fit, he's clearly good enough to be a premier league squad player. Unfortunately, for us, he can never stay healthy. We also have a logjam in central midfield, so it would be tough for him to break through even if he was fit. 

I would send him on loan back to the championship, where he has thrived, and try and get him back to full fitness. Then when he's fit sell him on for a few million to recoup some of the investment. 

[Koke]

He was given a sympathy contract. The club felt sorry for him that he missed 2 years of football (a title + a CL campaign). 

Send him out on loan so we can find a buyer for him.

[Ric Flair]

When he's fully fit with a pre-season behind him he's not a bad squad player but if we need one of those to rely upon then I prefer Andy King who at least scores the odd goal. He's had horrible luck with injuries but I don't see how he'll cope with the rigours of the PL without being primed to play when he's fit and I'm not sure he'll get that here. I don't think he'd be happy to sit in the stands for another 3 years either so I think he'll move on once he's fit again. Likely to be on loan to the Championship again in January and then permanently in the summer if he has a similar run of form and games as he did at Barnsley.

[RoboFox]

34 minutes ago, Bazly said:

We know the owners read this forum regularly.

 

All we know is that they only post in the Tinder thread and love having a good laugh going back through the old Baby Squad thread.

[urban.spaceman]

Send him to Uncle Nige to give him some game time and offer him the chance to move there permanently. It's a massive shame what happened to him - and especially sad that he had to experience title-winning season while unable to be involved - but I honestly don't think he's good enough even if all of Ndidi, Mendy, Silva, Hamza and Iborra are all injured. 

Thank you for your service Matty but it's time we all move forwards.

[UPinCarolina]

When fit, he's a perfectly acceptable backup midfielder. Claude wanted him to be Mendy last season; unfortunately for James he was yet again injured and Mendy has returned to the club. Might be time for both parties to examine their options moving forward.

[Captain...]

I don’t get these “he’s not good enough” comments he was rightly praised last season for his performances. Especially Chelsea away when he played in a midfield 2 with Wilf. That was also the closest Puel had to his preferred formation 2 CDM and 2 attacking full backs. We saw Mendy play that role against Wolves. If we are to play 2 holding midfielders then we need at least 3 in the squad. I would take a fully fit James over Silva and Iborra to play that role. Silva and Iborra are better players but James is better in that role. The only question mark is fitness.

[lgfualol]

Think he needs to move on. Has he still got 3 years on his contract? I think if our ambitions pan out i.e european football, he isn't good enough anyway. When fit he could be a real asset to a championship club or a newly promoted one.

Right now he will be behind Ndidi, Silva, Iborra and Mendy by the looks of it. Puel will want to develop Choudhury when given the chance so he is probably behind him as well. And then there is King hanging around. 

Just hope he doesn't retire because of the injuries. That would suck.

[Samilktray]

That decision to give him a 4 year deal is absolutely scandalous, how did nobody at the club not stop to think about this

[Fosse93]

Appreciate I'm in the minority here but a fully fit Matty James starts every game for me.

[ozleicester]

Kinnell, we cry out for loyalty from players and then when we display it as owners, people complain.

Loan him out, see if he can get fit and if he can make the grade.

[filbertway]

24 minutes ago, ozleicester said:

Kinnell, we cry out for loyalty from players and then when we display it as owners, people complain.

Loan him out, see if he can get fit and if he can make the grade.

Not all of us, if it makes sense for either party to make a decision then I have no problem.

[Tielemans63]

Give him a new 5 year contract and double his wages.

[Devonfox1884]

Belgium could actually be a good shout for him I reckon. Would help both himself and Leuven massively.

[Clever Fox]

I always rated him just unfortunate with Injuries. We've moved on and upwards, Matty will have slowed down somewhat from his injuries and so it's time for him to move on. Could be a good signing for a progressive Championship Club with ambition.

[themightyfin]

He's not fit yet so none of these choices are an option. Pointless vote.

[Hanan96]

1 hour ago, Captain... said:

I don’t get these “he’s not good enough” comments he was rightly praised last season for his performances. Especially Chelsea away when he played in a midfield 2 with Wilf. That was also the closest Puel had to his preferred formation 2 CDM and 2 attacking full backs. We saw Mendy play that role against Wolves. If we are to play 2 holding midfielders then we need at least 3 in the squad. I would take a fully fit James over Silva and Iborra to play that role. Silva and Iborra are better players but James is better in that role. The only question mark is fitness.

I still didn't understand. What kind of player he is? And how will he be compared with King when fit? 

[weller54]

He makes Iborra look like Usain Bolt!... 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

I like the guy a lot and the report of his return from injury first time around was heartbreaking, but I just can't see him getting back into the side unless something goes horribly wrong. He's not costing us much though as insurance will be paying a lot of his wages so I'm not bothered about booting him out the door.

[Buzzell]

We’ve moved forward as a club now. He needs to get back to full fitness and the club to either find a decent permanent move for him or a loan deal. The guy needs game time when he’s fit again but it won’t be with us.

[Xen]

2 hours ago, Captain... said:

I don’t get these “he’s not good enough” comments he was rightly praised last season for his performances. Especially Chelsea away when he played in a midfield 2 with Wilf. That was also the closest Puel had to his preferred formation 2 CDM and 2 attacking full backs. We saw Mendy play that role against Wolves. If we are to play 2 holding midfielders then we need at least 3 in the squad. I would take a fully fit James over Silva and Iborra to play that role. Silva and Iborra are better players but James is better in that role. The only question mark is fitness.

I'd take Choudhury over James.

 

If we can get him a season-long loan to a good Championship side with promotion hopes then that would be ideal for all parties, I think. And then sell either back to his loan club or to a lower-half prem side like Brighton, Huddersfield or Wolves . He's a good player but circumstances havent quite worked out for him since the great escape season, and he deserves a shot somewhere that can give him the minutes his ability warrants. We've moved on as a club so much since he last played for us consistently and Puel is starting to build his vision, and I'm not sure James fits into that.

Unfortunate, but that's how it works out sometimes.