It’s been quite a week for Reece James, the teenage right-back who has made Frank Lampard Chelsea side even younger. On Tuesday, a substitute, the 19-year-old became the club’s youngest Champions League scorer; on Saturday he made his first Premier League start. In between, he was likened to David Beckham, by none other than Joe Cole.
James, whose term on loan was last seen with an armful of end-of-season awards, was tasked with nullifying the threat of Wilfried Zaha, and did not do that, performing with a degree of effectiveness; we were told that we would have to assume the Palace to be the rookie. Football fanatics from all over the world can buy Premier League Tickets online to enjoy its stunning performances.
Cole’s comments specifically to James’ ability to send inaccurate crosses, which he demonstrated just before half-time with a devastating low delivery, but Gary Cahill, on his Stamford Bridge
But it was his defensive qualities that shone the brightest. James showed himself to be quick, strong and supremely comfortable on the ball under pressure. He was also quick to sense danger in the first place.
His first tussle with Zaha saw him emerge victoriously and another soon afterward Willian to nick the ball offs the Palace talisman, which was booked for an attempt to retrieve possession that was fuelled by pure frustration.
True, the newcomer did not have it all – Zaha robbed him in the Chelsea box when he tried to play his way out – but the Ivory Coast winger could make nothing of those rare moments of superiority. The day belonged to James and his team, Chelsea’s youngest ever Premier League XI with an average age of 24 years and 88 days.
“I have known him from the academy,” said midfielder Mason Mount. “He’s a very quiet boy; he has tremendous qualities and will be a great player now and in the future.
“I call him ‘The Beast’ because he is so strong, quick and powerful, you do not want to get too close to him because he will get you off the ball.”
Mount has already become a senior England staple on the back of being championed by Lampard, and the same applies to striker Tammy Abraham and center-back Fikayo Tomori. Gareth Southgate already has plenty of quality right back-to-front but looks like having another soon.
“He’s got the ability to go very far,” Lampard said of James. “I saw it last year and I know it when I see it. He’s going to be a big, big player for this club. “
Marcos Alonso was the man who made way for James in the previous game, the 4-4 draw with nine-man Ajax that saw Chelsea come back from 4-1 down. Cesar Azpilicueta turned to left-back on the occasion of the palace game watching from the bench, with Willian wearing the armband.
“He thought it would be a perfectly professional,” said Lampard of the Spaniard. “We have had massive games coming up after the break.”
It took Chelsea 52 minutes to score the goal for the sixth straight league victory. Willian’s cushioned ball round the corner from Matteo Kovacic’s pass gave Abraham the simple task of slotting past goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.
That was pretty much Abraham’s only contribution but a significant one nonetheless. It meant the 22-year-old has 10 goals in 14 Premier League games, making him Chelsea’s second-youngest player to reach double figures in the competition, after Arjen Robben. Only Diego Costa, who needed nine games, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who required 11, did so in other games.
Christian Pulisic, the 21-year-old who doubles as USA’s youngest captain, headed home in the 79th minute after a shot from Michy Batshuayi, Abraham’s replacement, reared up a defender.
Hodgson’s 300th Premier League match as a manager Clear chances were few and 1-0 by center-back James Tomkins, who had a little time to react in a crowded box.
The former England manager, who lost his own right back, Joel Ward, to a groin injury before the break, James’ taming of Zaha. “I thought it was a good battle,
” he said. “He made life very difficult for Wilf so congratulations to him.”
“We held our own well, he added. “When they scored the first goal you have to react and I thought we did. The second goal was the unfortunate one. The block could have gone away, even out of the penalty area, but it was looped up nicely for Pulisic.”
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