He's been confirmed as England's vice-captain. Good stuff, Gazza.

He's been confirmed as England's vice-captain. Good stuff, Gazza.

Well deserved! Think he has proven to be an excellent signing for Chelsea and could very well captain the club as well. Congrats Gary Cahill!

Looking at the first few pages on this thread is really interesting. Gary Cahill really has come on, candidate for most improved player in the last couple of years.

Apparently he has his own thread on redcafe my mate was saying and there r quite a few united fans that thinks he is one of the best cb in the country if not Europe...quite an achivement getting praise off United fans...

Has our vice captain role officially be announced yet? I guess its a toss by between Pete & Drogba but if neither get much playing time... This is the guy.

Apparently he has his own thread on redcafe my mate was saying and there r quite a few united fans that thinks he is one of the best cb in the country if not Europe...quite an achivement getting praise off United fans...

 

I think you'll find that they are a bit more humble these days. 

Has our vice captain role officially be announced yet? I guess its a toss by between Pete & Drogba but if neither get much playing time... This is the guy.

I heard a story that jose has offered it to Petr to try to convince him to stay at the club, but i havent seen anything official. i dont think we have a named vice-captain, so i guess if JT doesnt play it will just be handed to the next most experienced player in the team

I thought it already was Cech. Wikipedia says Cech too, dunno how accurate that is though.

All Mourinho has said is that he is basing it on seniority, but that may just have been part of his Cech-luring tactics.

I rate him very highly, yes he has come in late but it doesn't change anything. He was our best defender in the world cup and was basically carrying our defence.

I rate him very highly, yes he has come in late but it doesn't change anything. He was our best defender in the world cup and was basically carrying our defence.

 

Cahill was back to his best today, him, Terry and Azpilicueta didn't deserve to have 2 points taken away from them today.

Cahill was back to his best today, him, Terry and Azpilicueta didn't deserve to have 2 points taken away from them today.

So should it be Brana that gets dropped for Luis to come in then?

So should it be Brana that gets dropped for Luis to come in then?

 

I love the guy but yes i think it's time to give Luis a go. Too many goals are conceded down Ivanovic's side to let it continue like this. It seems like he has worked so much on the attacking side of his game but forgotten how to defend.

Cahill plays well under chelsea system, but by no means is he a top cb.  

Gosh he gave me goosebumps. He was pretty solid last season but this season he looks like shadow of himself....

 

I wonder what will happen to our defence when Terry leaves. This guy without Terry looks shaky and exposed, let alone him leading the line of our defence next season.. And up to that we are linked with Gerard Pique lol. If we go with Pique and Cahill pairing next summer.... then I can only pray for our defence. It will be no better than of Liverpool or United (central pairing).

 

He's looked shaky in most of the games he has played this season.. he looks heavily exposed when we play high line football even against low table sides.

This is really worrying.

 

I hope he improves and I think Mourinho can do it. Let's hope he'll be better!

Gosh he gave me goosebumps. He was pretty solid last season but this season he looks like shadow of himself....

 

I wonder what will happen to our defence when Terry leaves. This guy without Terry looks shaky and exposed, let alone him leading the line of our defence next season.. And up to that we are linked with Gerard Pique lol. If we go with Pique and Cahill pairing next summer.... then I can only pray for our defence. It will be no better than of Liverpool or United (central pairing).

 

He's looked shaky in most of the games he has played this season.. he looks heavily exposed when we play high line football even against low table sides.

This is really worrying.

 

I hope he improves and I think Mourinho can do it. Let's hope he'll be better!

 

He's always looked vulnerable when we've played with a higher line TBH. Last season he was excellent (albeit not world-class) because we were playing deeper and our overall defensive shape was quite solid. This played to his strengths because he is a very good covering/last-ditch defender. The thing is, a high line usually necessitates an offside trap and his positioning sometimes lets him down. 

Gosh he gave me goosebumps. He was pretty solid last season but this season he looks like shadow of himself....

 

I wonder what will happen to our defence when Terry leaves. This guy without Terry looks shaky and exposed, let alone him leading the line of our defence next season.. And up to that we are linked with Gerard Pique lol. If we go with Pique and Cahill pairing next summer.... then I can only pray for our defence. It will be no better than of Liverpool or United (central pairing).

 

He's looked shaky in most of the games he has played this season.. he looks heavily exposed when we play high line football even against low table sides.

This is really worrying.

 

I hope he improves and I think Mourinho can do it. Let's hope he'll be better!

 

It's not just Cahill though, it's the whole defense. Ivanovic, Cahill, Luis, Azpilcueta, Zouma, they have all had their dodgy moments. For me, it's Terry who seems like the only one playing well. It's not an individual problem, it's a team problem in my opinion.

Agree. But Cahill makes too many individual mistakes. I would use Zouma in some Premier league match. For example - against West Brom.  

Edited November 1, 201411 yr by Pendergast

I think it's hard for any team to maintain a solid defence every season. Last season we played a totally different style because we had no striker or playmaker, therefore we had to focus more on defending than attack, but this season we are more attacking minded (not a lot, but more than last season) and that leaves us more open defensively. Cahill is not as consistent as terry, but he is brilliant when on form. If you look at performances for England and specific performances for us, he is without doubt a great centre back, but he just lacks consistency week in, week out.

Agree. But Cahill makes too many individual mistakes. I would use Zouma in some Premier league match. For example - against West Brom.

There a team that normally gives us problems home and away. I really don't think throwing Zouma in a match like that would be a great idea at all. Also don't forget how poor Zouma was in the air against Shrewsbury.

Maybe Jose should try Ivan alongside JT.

I don't think there is a better defensive pairing anywhere in the premiership than JT and Cahill, but I'll willingly listen to suggestions.

Think ivanovic will move to centre back when jt retires, even if it's only for a season or 2 until hopefully zouma, or Christiansen are ready to step up.

I actually think those 2 could form a quality partnership. They both fill in each others weaknesses, although if christiansen improves physically, and Zouma improves mentally, they would both be great all rounders.

He's a solid defender but playing along JT makes him look better than he is.

Apart from Company who would you replace Cahill with from the Premiership?

http://chelseaindex.com/2014/12/18/gary-cahill-weak-link-chelsea-defence/

Interesting read.

Although cahill hasn't been as good this season as he was last, I think it's hard to label him a weak link. I think he has struggled with us being a little more open this season, but he is young enough to adjust.