Chelsea: Did everyone get carried away with Reece James at centerback?

Chelsea fans were a little perplexed when Thomas Tuchel first flipped Cesar Azpilicueta and Reece James around. Even though the matches this switch occurred in didn’t go particularly well overall (one win, two losses), James was a highlight.

Fast forward a few weeks and Chelsea is trying their best to sign Achraf Hakimi. The thought was seemingly that Hakimi would be the right wingback, Azpilicueta the right centerback, and James would split time between the two roles (or simply start over Azpilicueta) whenever anyone needed a break. But the Hakimi deal collapsed because he simply preferred Paris and the price was getting somewhat inflated. Now, Chelsea and its fans are wondering what next.

Perhaps Chelsea and its fans got a bit carried away with the idea of Reece James at centerback. Achraf Hakimi was an opportunity, but a sign. If he did become a Chelsea player, it is likely James shifted towards centerback more often than not. But that doesn’t mean the plan now has to be to get a right wingback to do the same. It doesn’t mean that James is a centerback.

During James’ first season as a professional, he played predominantly at right back. At the very end of that season, he started playing in midfield to cover for injuries and form issues. He did well regardless of where he lined up. Upon returning to Chelsea, Frank Lampard exclusively played him at right back or right wingback during his 18 month tenure. Thomas Tuchel followed suit for the most part.

That is, of course, until a run of three games at the end of the season where he flipped James and Azpilicueta. The initial thought was that James was in the back to better counter fast strikers like Jamie Vardy. With the Hakimi rumors, the thought was that this would become a permanent decision.

The main issue here is sample size. James has played the majority of his career at right back or right wingback. A string of games in midfield and in defense doesn’t mean he’s a midfielder or a centerback now. It means he can do a job there but ultimately the sample size is simply too small to say James is a centerback now. Furthermore, in the Champions League final, James was again a right wingback with Azpilicueta as a centerback.

The Hakimi deal caused many to latch on to the idea that Thomas Tuchel sees James as a centerback. While that could be true yet, there simply isn’t that much to go on to suggest that. Hakimi was a good opportunity to go for but not a necessary transfer. It’s hard to see the club jumping at the chance to sign Adama Traore.

Maybe there was some thought about life after Azpilicueta, but the Spaniard showed that he has plenty left to give. Even when playing for Spain in a back four, his role was largely the same as it is for Chelsea in a back three.

There are certain limitations to James at wingback or fullback, as show cased when he played against Scotland. Often times, he is just a bit too passive offensively. One of his best traits is crossing but it’s rare that he receives the ball, takes a player on, and then makes a cross.

But overall, there just isn’t enough to say he’s anything but a wingback/fullback that can play elsewhere if needed. Chelsea doesn’t need to rush out and buy a wingback based on the evidence of three matches at the end of the season. And regardless, James will continue to line up for the Blues.