The spine the brain, the heart and a soul.

[just]

Cech - Lamps - Terry - Drogba.

Four players that would have strolled into any starting XI in the world.

So much more than the spine of our team more like the brain, heart and soul.

It will take awhile to replace these giants.

Have faith, be patient, give your full support to the best manager we have ever had. He made these players realise their full potential. He can do it again with others. He needs us now. Don't let him down.

 

[axman2526]

Good post, and raises the question of who the next corner stones will be for our team?

Tibo? Zouma? RLC? Hazard? Solanke? A certain Everton defender?

 

[Droogba]

Just a mention of someone who, apparently, wants a bit of Chelsea. Charlie Austin has scored six (I think) goals so far.

 

[Jezz]

It's a case of really not knowing what you have until it's gone! JT is the last man standing but clearly the club is preparing for life after he finishes up (whether that's leaving to play for someone else or to retire).

Those four players are irreplaceable but Jose is the man to take the next generation forward! Patience and stability is what is needed now.

 

[barak81]

Each of those players have a claim to being either the best of top 5 in the world at one time or another. Add macalele in to the mix and essien at any given time and that team would wipe the floor with the class of 2015. Hazard at his best may have a claim at top 5 in his position but that's a discussion.

 

[Zinc]

Good post, and raises the question of who the next corner stones will be for our team?

Tibo? Zouma? RLC? Hazard? Solanke? A certain Everton defender?

I think Zouma has the most potential among the current players to be like one of them and in some ways, Dave too. Well, it will be even better if our very own youth products like RLC (if given more games to play) can develop into leaders in the near future.

 

[axman2526]

Just a mention of someone who, apparently, wants a bit of Chelsea. Charlie Austin has scored six (I think) goals so far.

I would be happy if we signed him as the main alternative to Costa. As January signings go I doubt we could do better.

 

[axman2526]

I think Zouma has the most potential among the current players to be like one of them and in some ways, Dave too. Well, it will be even better if our very own youth products like RLC (if given more games to play) can develop into leaders in the near future.

Great shout on Dave. Really ash should be in that list. Dave is our new him.

If you were to list our actual world class players now only he and hazard would make that list imo.

 

[JM7]

It concerns me the lack of so called "leaders" in our team. Apart from JT, none of the squad come across as being able to lead a team.

 

[TonyT1988]

I think the first goal for Newcastle at the weekend showed the leadership we miss in JT. Whether Zouma had a shout from Ivan or not is another matter, but a ball in like that would've been dealt with one way or another. 

I think the argument to leave JT out and give Zouma more time does have some substantiation, however without JT, we don't have that leadership we need. Vice Captain Ivanovic likes to shout about for his own cause, but captain material i think not. 

Tibo - Zouma - RLC - Costa. We have a good spine there. Costa is no older than Drogba when we first signed him, in fact i think Costa may have signed at a younger age, so there is no reason why that spine couldn't last 10 years if they get their game time together, and if Zouma and RLC develop into the players we all know they have the potential to be then this could be a very attractive spine.

I like the point about world class players in our ranks. Compare our team on paper to that of current European champions Barcelona - do we have a world class team?

A better goalkeeper? Arguably

A better centre back? no

A better cm? i'd say no

A better forward? Definitely not

i know a team's performance isn't made on paper, but given some of the squads we've had over the last 12 years since the Roman takeover - i dont think this one would be near the top.