Wasn't very good. His positioning was pretty poor, got bailed out by others (Ramires did a good job covering) now and then. His pace makes it for it at times like yesterday where he made a good last ditch tackle but against better wingers/teams he would get exposed quite easily. 

 

Still better than Ivan but I would rather play Baba at left back than Zouma at right back.

We are supposedly one of the top teams in europe, and one the wealthest, and we play a young centre back at full back, but I suppose he's only covering for  our regular right back, who you guessed it, is natuarally a centre back, but no problem we can cope, we got the german leagues best left back signed for 20 million!!, but guess what he's being kept out the team by a spanish international right back, you couldn't make it up!!!!,

We are supposedly one of the top teams in europe, and one the wealthest, and we play a young centre back at full back, but I suppose he's only covering for  our regular right back, who you guessed it, is natuarally a centre back, but no problem we can cope, we got the german leagues best left back signed for 20 million!!, but guess what he's being kept out the team by a spanish international right back, you couldn't make it up!!!!,

Hahaha! Chi blue, what a post!

We are supposedly one of the top teams in europe, and one the wealthest, and we play a young centre back at full back, but I suppose he's only covering for  our regular right back, who you guessed it, is natuarally a centre back,* is being played out of position at Left Back

but no problem we can cope, we got the german leagues best left back signed for 20 million!!, but guess what he's being kept out the team by a spanish international right back, you couldn't make it up!!!!,

There you go much nearer the problem.

As a right footed left back, I prefer playing on the left hand side. Has Azpilicueta actually stated a preference for which side he would rather play, or is everyone assuming he prefers right back as he is left footed? I actually think that having a right footed left back is better against the new breed of wingers who prefer to cut inside than go down the line, thus coming onto our left backs stronger foot.

In the past having a right footed left back may have been an issue with wingers driving down the line, but now i think it's a benefit. and im fairly sure a lot of the goals that ivanovic has been blamed for have come from wingers driving inside rather than just bombing down to the by-line ad crossing it in.

^ Issue is Azpi contributes very little going forward as a LB, what we are getting is a steady performance. I also believe having him on the left hampers Hazard to an extent as there is a tendency most of his runs will be inwards.

As a right footed left back, I prefer playing on the left hand side. Has Azpilicueta actually stated a preference for which side he would rather play, or is everyone assuming he prefers right back as he is left footed? I actually think that having a right footed left back is better against the new breed of wingers who prefer to cut inside than go down the line, thus coming onto our left backs stronger foot.

In the past having a right footed left back may have been an issue with wingers driving down the line, but now i think it's a benefit. and im fairly sure a lot of the goals that ivanovic has been blamed for have come from wingers driving inside rather than just bombing down to the by-line ad crossing it in.

 

As a left back you prefer to play on the left? Who would have thought? ;)

Azpi is a right back though, and he's right footed as right backs usually are.

It's very rare for a 20 year old to have already won Mourinhos trust...He's already been used as a DM and now a RB, I think that says a lot about not only his ability but also his character 

 

Under Mourinhos leadership I can Zouma becoming one of the best CBs in the world, 12 million is looking like an absolute bargain!

 

All we need now is Stones, Marquinhos, Varane or Laporte and we have a CB pairing for the next 10 years that could potentially rival Terry and Carvahlo and Rio and Vidic

It's very rare for a 20 year old to have already won Mourinhos trust...He's already been used as a DM and now a RB, I think that says a lot about not only his ability but also his character 

 

Under Mourinhos leadership I can Zouma becoming one of the best CBs in the world, 12 million is looking like an absolute bargain!

 

All we need now is Stones, Marquinhos, Varane or Laporte and we have a CB pairing for the next 10 years that could potentially rival Terry and Carvahlo and Rio and Vidic

I wouldn't forget about Christensen as getting CL experience at the age of 19 has got to be a good sign of things to come. Tat might mean we won't need to splash out big on one of the above but in any case he would definitely be a good 3rd choice to any of the above pairings.

 

I'm not a fan of playing players out of position.

Use him at CB where he is naturally suited.

If Jose doesn't trust Baba then it's a farce we spent £20 odd million on him, heads should roll if this is the case.

 

I think leaving Baba out proves JM does not trust him or thinks he is crap. About time someone let on who made the mistake. For that money he should be decent and PLAYING!

 

How about playing Ola Aina?

If we turn Zouma into our very own Phil Jones I'm going to be pissed off. He's a CB with the potential to be one of the best around, keep him there!

 

 

Difference is, Phil Jones is your typical English jack of all trades, master of none, decent in a variety of positions and versatile but nothing special whilst Zouma is a very talented CB

 

Zoumas future is at CB but Mourinho trusts him enough to fill in other positions and like I said it's very rare for Jose to have that trust in such a young player. Also means Zouma gets more game time and experience

As a right footed left back, I prefer playing on the left hand side. Has Azpilicueta actually stated a preference for which side he would rather play, or is everyone assuming he prefers right back as he is left footed? I actually think that having a right footed left back is better against the new breed of wingers who prefer to cut inside than go down the line, thus coming onto our left backs stronger foot.

In the past having a right footed left back may have been an issue with wingers driving down the line, but now i think it's a benefit. and im fairly sure a lot of the goals that ivanovic has been blamed for have come from wingers driving inside rather than just bombing down to the by-line ad crossing it in.

Why would he need to say? He's played right back for the vast majority of his career.

 

Difference is, Phil Jones is your typical English jack of all trades, master of none, decent in a variety of positions and versatile but nothing special whilst Zouma is a very talented CB

 

Zoumas future is at CB but Mourinho trusts him enough to fill in other positions and like I said it's very rare for Jose to have that trust in such a young player. Also means Zouma gets more game time and experience

Jones was a talented CB before he got moved around, now he's stalled/

He is not a right back. He was out of position frequently, hardly stopped any crosses getting in, and didn't know what he was supposed to be doing going up the other end. How have we as a club with so many resources, allowed ourselves to get into a position where we are forced to play people out of position every week?

Hung out to dry by being played in an alien position

Poor guy

I feel sorry for him, he's obviously a centre back with a huge future. A right back he most definitely isn't, uncomfortable on the ball and hesitant to attack.

 

I don't understand the fear of having too many small players in our team. We have all these giants and we've let in the most headed goals out of anyone in the whole bloody league. Stop worrying about other teams, pick a left back and right back who might actually overlap with Hazard and it may actually open up all sorts of spaces for our attack.

About as bad as Ivanovic as a right-back unfortunatly. That is not his fault though as he ovbiously isn't one. Would have liked to see Ola Aina be given a chance or Azpi again with Rahman on the left but not going to happen anytime soon again is it..

He looked very uncomfortable for most parts of the game but that's understandable as he isn't a natural RB.

 

I kinda feel sad for him to be played out of position in the last two games, it'd have helped his development if he continues to play as a CB.

 

Well, I'm hoping he'll be back to his natural position soon, which also means that Ivanovic will be back as RB by that time. *gulps*

I won't say anything negative, RB is not his position, that's all. I know there are CB's like Ramos which can play on RB but Zouma is a classic CB and he's best at this position. Jose should stop putting him there, it destroys Zouma.

Not good for his confidence, playing him out of position.  Also not good for Baba's confidence seeing Kurt play out of position ahead of you, to then come on in the final few minutes of a dead game

Not a RB ... Obvious for all to see, except Jose ...

Tony Gayle is a moron but he raised a good point yesterday, he said part of a full backs role is having a good range of passing because they're going to see a lot of the ball.

Zouma isn't a particularly good paaser of the ball so with him playing out of position at right back and Dave on his weaker foot on the other side we've seriously blunted ourselves attacking wise as soon as we win back possession in defence.

This would be understandable if we were going through an injury crisis but we're not.

You've got a right back and left back available but neither are being utilised in their role.

Why are creating our own problems?

Tony Gayle is a moron but he raised a good point yesterday, he said part of a full backs role is having a good range of passing because they're going to see a lot of the ball.

Zouma isn't a particularly good paaser of the ball so with him playing out of position at right back and Dave on his weaker foot on the other side we've seriously blunted ourselves attacking wise as soon as we win back possession in defence.

This would be understandable if we were going through an injury crisis but we're not.

You've got a right back and left back available but neither are being utilised in their role.

Why are creating our own problems?

 

Nail. Head. 

 

Hell at least Ivan gets forward sometimes and sticks a cross in (which even get past the first man sometimes). Zouma can't cross the halfway line

It was like playing with no one as RB - with ten men till 44.min and with nine men for rest of the game. Also feel sorry for him. And yes.. training game for Payet. AWFUL!

Annoys me Ola Aina would have done a better job but lets play someone out of position instead.

Good on Zouma. He's good friends with Hazard and this photo shows his maturity.

 

His hand looks scarily big though!