You could probably say now that he is our first choice centre back. Its amazing how quickly things change in football.

Excellently taken goal

£12m?

Bargain.

Another good signing from Emenalo.

Another good signing from Emenalo.

 

Zouma was a Mourinho signing*

 

 

* A player in a good run of form is known as a Mourinho signing. When a player is later out of form, or fails to show ability, it is known as an Emenalo or board signing.

Edited September 20, 201510 yr by SydneyChelsea

Just goes to show this nonsense with Mourinho not playing the youth players.

 

If you're good enough, you're in. He shown that with Varane at Real, now he's showing it with Zouma. Kurt's gonna be a top, top player.

Edited September 20, 201510 yr by Huttsey

Zouma was a Mourinho signing*

 

 

* A player in a good run of form is known as a Mourinho signing. When a player is later out of form, or fails to show ability, it is known as an Emenalo or board signing.

 

Lmao so true

Just goes to show this nonsense with Mourinho not playing the youth players.

 

If you're good enough, you're in. He shown that with Varane at Real, now he's showing it with Zouma. Kurt's gonna be a top, top player.

 

Maybe so, but both Zouma and Varane had massive reputations, cost considerable sums of money for their age (thus having a certain pressure to play/develop them) and were playing first-team football before Mourinho had them.

 

Mourinho's history with actual academy players is very, very different.

Zouma, Varane and Laporte.

Got to wonder who will drop out. Laporte is left footed and some managers prefer a lefty and a righty.

What a selection of defenders they have.

Edited September 20, 201510 yr by MayosNoun

Maybe so, but both Zouma and Varane had massive reputations, cost considerable sums of money for their age (thus having a certain pressure to play/develop them) and were playing first-team football before Mourinho had them.

 

Mourinho's history with actual academy players is very, very different.

As has been pointed out many, many times, which of our academy have been good enough? Matic, who Jose bought back. RLC possibly, and he is now being integrated in to the 1st team. Any others? Bertrand possibly, but not really when he was here.

Zouma, Varane and Laporte.

Got to wonder who will drop out. Laporte is left footed and some managers prefer a lefty and a righty.

What a selection of defenders they have.

 

Mangala and Umtiti aswell.

Another thing I will say for him in his favour is that he seems to have a very good mentality off the field as well. Far too many young players (ours included) if you look on their Instagram you can see them with their flash cars, haircuts, clubbing etc and trying to look hard/gangsta/whatever but Kurt's gives the impression of a man who grateful for what he's earned and is humble with it. Definite future captaincy material and I'll predict he'll captain France to a World Cup at sometime in the future.

Can't resist any longer:

Man mountain. What a great young defender. Only 20?

Frightening how good he can be in the years to come.

(Him and Stones would be perfect for the future)

Man mountain. What a great young defender. Only 20?

Frightening how good he can be in the years to come.

(Him and Stones would be perfect for the future)

Dear John,

You could be playing with this beast for the next 10 years.

A succesor to Marcel Desailly as the papers claim?  He's still a long way off from Desailly's leadership and classiness on the pitch though.  However, Zouma's quick pace, anticipation and determination will put him in good stead for the rest of the season.  Feel sorry for John Terry if he gets dropped for Zouma as I think Terry & Zouma will be an excellent central defensive pairing.

One of the rare successful under 21 player under Jose, and it's not like he cost 55M.  He just performed every time he got picked

What a player, love watching him.

One thing I think he might be able to improve on is his spacial awareness, but I'm sure that will come in time. Especially with JT showing him the ropes.

Hard to believe he's only 20.

That tackle he did when Walcott was through was incredible. Great to see JT cheering him on.

Remember, he was a Michael Elemano signing.

I'm not as tactically aware as others on this board but I love watching Zouma and he always looks like he's giving his all. That's good enough for me.

As has been pointed out many, many times, which of our academy have been good enough? Matic, who Jose bought back. RLC possibly, and he is now being integrated in to the 1st team. Any others? Bertrand possibly, but not really when he was here.

 

psst Matic was bought and put straight in the first team under Carlo. Never was in our academy.

I dont know if anyone posted this but i think its a good interview, Zouma is more open than many other players. My fav is "Everyone knows diego, he likes to cheat" haha

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=109&v=GyJT7MCXS_Q</embed>

 

 

Just said on Twitter:

 

'Sorry for any confusion, English is not my first language & I did not mean to accuse anyone of cheating. Simply to say Diego is a player who puts pressure on his opponents & who I have huge respect for.'

 

​Should clear that up.

​Should clear that up.

 

Should. 

 

But won't. 

 

The headlines have already been written.