Match fitness after being out that long takes a lot more than a few under 21 games.

Felt for him yesterday, he was such a tower of strength and power before his injury, really looked out of sorts yesterday; poor passing, and looked completely lost on a the first chance Posh nearly scored and was shocking when they did...can't blame him though, it's going to be a while before we see his name penned in for the first X1...

I'm just happy to see him jumping and moving as well as he used to. Doesn't look phased by the injury. I think the guy who rugby tackled him did him a favor. He'll have no doubt about being able to withstand a hit from now on

My heart was in my mouth when he was pole-axed yesterday.  He didn't move at all for what seemed forever.  Was worried he was unconscious and was so glad when he got up again.  He wasn't at the level he was before his injury when he was absolutely immense but hopefully he'll get back there soon.

Glad we got Brentford. Small step up for Zouma... going to take games and time. Wouldn't mind him coming on in Prem if we're up 2 or 3 with ten mins to go. Needs testing bit by bit. 

1 hour ago, VG said:

Glad we got Brentford. Small step up for Zouma... going to take games and time. Wouldn't mind him coming on in Prem if we're up 2 or 3 with ten mins to go. Needs testing bit by bit. 

As of right now, Id much prefer Aké getting those minutes as he actually looks ready to contribute this year. 

Why not loan him out to a Hull or a Bournemouth for the rest of the season so he can get games in a calmer environment like Wilshere?

7 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Why not loan him out to a Hull or a Bournemouth for the rest of the season so he can get games in a calmer environment like Wilshere?

because we need the squad depth.

16 hours ago, dkw said:

Match fitness after being out that long takes a lot more than a few under 21 games.

Exactly.

Folk treat this like FIFA when in actual fact recovering from an injury like Zouma's takes time. He isn't going to be the player he was with a few sporadic top flight and U21 games.

He needs minutes and his talent as such deserves that.

 

Let him go to Bournemouth since we took Ake back.

1 hour ago, Zeta said:

Let him go to Bournemouth since we took Ake back.

Thats a very good idea for us and Zouma, but I dont think it would suit Bournemouth to get a player returning to fitness so I cant see them agreeing to it.

Personally I think we should atleast offer it.

Zouma needs game time, 

Bournemouth are in desperate need of a CB so he will hopefully get gametime,

Bournemouth play a passing game and Zoumas technique is the weakest part of his game so hopefully the exposure to Howe and his tactical mentality will bring about an improvement to this side of his game

6 hours ago, Xfaxtor said:

As of right now, Id much prefer Aké getting those minutes as he actually looks ready to contribute this year. 

I hope it's not one or the other -  but it does seem a bit much to have both of them in the CB line, either side of JT.  Was hoping to see Aké at LWB, although it sounds like that is further off for him.  It's just three days before the Liverpool game so I assume both wingbacks would be rested.  

Well after 11 months he was due to have a "shaky" game which in understandable. I felt he did ok and with more game time he will return his confidence and will be the same player he was before the injury. I doubt Conte will use him much in the league if everyone is fit but the cups will probably be his 90 minutes this season.

Any sportsman recovering from an ACL injury isn't going look sharp instantaneously. The fact that he got through the match relatively unscathed is a positive sign in itself.

I think it might take him until the rest of the season to get up to scratch, so I think Zouma's best football will be ahead of him from next season onwards.

2 hours ago, Jezz said:

Any sportsman recovering from an ACL injury isn't going look sharp instantaneously. The fact that he got through the match relatively unscathed is a positive sign in itself.

I think it might take him until the rest of the season to get up to scratch, so I think Zouma's best football will be ahead of him from next season onwards.

Unless your name is Diego Costa

6 hours ago, PedroMendez said:

Personally I think we should atleast offer it.

Zouma needs game time, 

Bournemouth are in desperate need of a CB so he will hopefully get gametime,

Bournemouth play a passing game and Zoumas technique is the weakest part of his game so hopefully the exposure to Howe and his tactical mentality will bring about an improvement to this side of his game

Without a doubt we should offer it, i just can't see Bournemouth agreeing to it.

I love this conversation between Zouma and Conte. This gives Zouma more confidence, what he needs right now more than anything else.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/01/09/kurt-zouma-reveals-chelsea-boss-antonio-conte-prepared-mentally/

1 hour ago, pacquiao said:

Unless your name is Diego Costa

Costa is a mutant!

I prefer him to stay. Recent games showed we probably need a strong defender in the middle and send Azpi to the full back position. He should get some cameo in the league soon, provided Conte doesn't pick Ivanovic to replace Moses when trying to see out games.

14 hours ago, icecoolguy22 said:

I prefer him to stay. Recent games showed we probably need a strong defender in the middle and send Azpi to the full back position. He should get some cameo in the league soon, provided Conte doesn't pick Ivanovic to replace Moses when trying to see out games.

What is this obsession with sending Azpi to wingback? Firstly him at RCB is working well due to him being a fullback, meaning he can join the attacking play when need be without being to relied on (Costa's winner at Palace for example), and secondly there has been doubts cast on whether his attacking play is even good enough in the fullback position's and we want him to head to wingback?

His performance against Brentford was good, he had confidence with the ball, was good in the air back again. He's starting to back to himself. Hopefully we will have him back next season as starter.

him, ake, christensen, luiz, cahill, azpi, ola, be interesting to see how we fit them all in. luiz and azpi are arguably irreplaceable in our defence, cahill less so, but the others are young and will want game time, especially ake and christensen. 

that moment when Kurt made Monreal look very silly