4 hours ago, RMH said:

Ampadu did play for us in a few games last season and he did well. I am amazed that most were asking to play CHO over William/Pedro but are now reluctant to play Ampadu over Zouma.

Different characteristics. CHO is a similar skillset to the other two. For me Ampadu and Zouma are different, Zouma being more well suited to CB. I for one think a CB in the PL who isnt 6'1 min (preferably taller) is potentially an issue in certain games. It also removes a set piece threat. The small things at the margin matter. 

Watching him for Wales recently though I am entirely comfortable with him playing a big role in defensive midfield. Very happy for him to play over Bakayoko, Drinkwater etc.

hmm

15 hours ago, RMH said:

Ampadu did play for us in a few games last season and he did well. I am amazed that most were asking to play CHO over William/Pedro but are now reluctant to play Ampadu over Zouma.

Based on what? He barely has played CB for us or Wales. Still has developing to do physically and I don't think he would be an automatic starter for any PL team in CB this upcoming season. His best chances of regular football this season is at DM.

I just found this tidbit very interesting

 

 

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/first-team/kurt-zouma?pageTab=biography

Looks like Zouma has taken the 6 shirt from Drinkwater, though they both have it according the the club website

1 hour ago, mwblue10 said:

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/first-team/kurt-zouma?pageTab=biography

Looks like Zouma has taken the 6 shirt from Drinkwater, though they both have it according the the club website

Wasn't 6 his squad number before he went on loan?

3 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Wasn't 6 his squad number before he went on loan?

It was 5 back then, the season he was injured at least

10 hours ago, mwblue10 said:

It was 5 back then, the season he was injured at least

Well, I was close 

12 hours ago, mwblue10 said:

It was 5 back then, the season he was injured at least

He was doing so well and everyone was behind him before his injury I wonder why everyone is very indifferent about him now, he had a good season and Everton and is one of the best aerial defenders about. 

I'd put him straight in the starting 11, always highly rated him, this guy is so strong and commands the air, for me he's our best CB.

3 hours ago, WalterWhiteCFC said:

He was doing so well and everyone was behind him before his injury I wonder why everyone is very indifferent about him now, he had a good season and Everton and is one of the best aerial defenders about. 

Can't speak for everyone else but I was always relitevely indifferent from a footballing perspective (like his personality and attitude though).

Yes his last ditch challenges are great but ultimately there's a reason he ends up in those positions so many times and that's because his initial position isn't brilliant.

Also football is an economic world aswell these days, keeping a player who could command £40m as 4th choice CB just makes no sense.

Zouma was all I needed to get my Daughter on the Chelsea bandwagon... 

 

53 minutes ago, tmarmsi said:

I'd put him straight in the starting 11, always highly rated him, this guy is so strong and commands the air, for me he's our best CB.

I don't think he commands the air at all. He is often caught out when the ball is in the air, it's actually been a weakness of his since we first signed him, which is one of the reasons why Everton were one of the worst ( possibly the worst ) when conceding goals from set pieces last season.

It's also like I have said in the past, if we are one of these teams that are going to focus on playing out from the back comfortably, then Zouma doesn't fit that role. He's never been comfortable passing the ball out from the back.

The main reason why I would keep him right now is because Rudiger is still injured.

1 hour ago, Argo said:

Can't speak for everyone else but I was always relitevely indifferent from a footballing perspective (like his personality and attitude though).

Yes his last ditch challenges are great but ultimately there's a reason he ends up in those positions so many times and that's because his initial position isn't brilliant.

Also football is an economic world aswell these days, keeping a player who could command £40m as 4th choice CB just makes no sense.

I think he’s improved a good amount since he last played for us, and with Rüdiger coming of injury, I’d prefer we keep him.  However, I quite agree that £40m would be a good bargain - though I don’t think he’d be 4th choice.

7 hours ago, Valerie said:

Well, I was close 

Close enough, I think we’ll give it to ya ?

4 minutes ago, mwblue10 said:

Close enough, I think we’ll give it to ya ?

Awww, that means a lot to me 

1 hour ago, Scott Harris said:

I don't think he commands the air at all. He is often caught out when the ball is in the air, it's actually been a weakness of his since we first signed him, which is one of the reasons why Everton were one of the worst ( possibly the worst ) when conceding goals from set pieces last season.

It's also like I have said in the past, if we are one of these teams that are going to focus on playing out from the back comfortably, then Zouma doesn't fit that role. He's never been comfortable passing the ball out from the back.

The main reason why I would keep him right now is because Rudiger is still injured.

He is definitely better in the air than our other 3 centre backs in my opinion. He isnt as dominant as Van Dijk, but i think he could reach close to those levels. Everton conceded a lot from set plays last season, although how much of that is down to Marco Silva's zonal marking? Ive seen us struggle with zonal marking dedpite having JT playing. 

Zouma is very awkward looking on the ball, however i think he gets labelled a bit of a donkey, when he is actually okay technically. 

Im sure we will see a mixture of playing out from the back, and going long if we have to under Frank. Richard Keogh managed okay last season, so im sure Zouma will do fine, Its not as if Everton played route 1 last year, and he had a good season. 

Personally i dont think theres much between all 4 centre backs, and i think its quite a nice blend of characteristics.

 I wouldnt be in rush to sell Zouma, at the very least he has proven to be a good premier league defender for a top 7/8 side. David Luiz is 32, and probably has a year or two left in him. JCS, Tomori, and Ampadu, are at least 12 months off the first team, and the latter 2, may not even be big enough to play centre back in the long term.  He also has a few years left on his contract, so the money will still be there for him in 12 months time, after we have had chance to assess him and our other options. 

3 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I don't think he commands the air at all. He is often caught out when the ball is in the air, it's actually been a weakness of his since we first signed him, which is one of the reasons why Everton were one of the worst ( possibly the worst ) when conceding goals from set pieces last season.

It's also like I have said in the past, if we are one of these teams that are going to focus on playing out from the back comfortably, then Zouma doesn't fit that role. He's never been comfortable passing the ball out from the back.

The main reason why I would keep him right now is because Rudiger is still injured.

I was watching something on one of these Chelsea YouTube fan channels he seems to have improved his passing game dramatically there was numerous highlights of him picking out David luiz type passes from the back also  his power in the air I think is what’s being referred to like when he had fellani in his pocket against Utd, his problem is positioning but that is probably the one thing you can work on as a defender 

19 hours ago, big blue said:

He isnt as dominant as Van Dijk, but i think he could reach close to those levels.

If he can reach close to Van Dijk levels then not only should he be out first choice CB he should be our captain.

Just now, Michael said:

If he can reach close to Van Dijk levels then not only should he be out first choice CB he should be our captain.

i was just referring to his aerial ability. I dont think he even close to van dijk in terms of positioning, leadership, passing, concerntration. 

Nice to see Kurt wearing the armband vs Bohemians

What shirt number did he have on tonight ?

11 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

What shirt number did he have on tonight ?

15

I didn't even remember Zouma's weird body position when he passes. It looks like someone just taught him how to pass and he exaggerates it with that weird posture. However it was nice to see him play. His aerial presence is huge. 

I wouldn't be surprised if he's sold to Everton before the window shuts. I don't think he's going to want to stay here as third/fourth choice and Everton are pretty desperate to get him as far as i know.

He's just a bit too clumsy with the ball at his feet to start most games for us.