1 hour ago, Sindre said:

 

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

 

I think the problem with that though is he looks worse than he actually is... he is just one of those guys who always looks like they havent got the ball under control when in reality they have. 

32 minutes ago, Bonzodog29 said:

I think the problem with that though is he looks worse than he actually is... he is just one of those guys who always looks like they havent got the ball under control when in reality they have. 

He looks like hes always trying to rush hings, I think that also gives an impression he has poor control as he never seems to look calm.

Frank says he wants Zouma to stay with us this season. 

So centre backs of Luiz, Rudiger, Christensen and Zouma for the season? 

Going to be difficult to keep all of those happy this season surely? 

5 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Frank says he wants Zouma to stay with us this season. 

So centre backs of Luiz, Rudiger, Christensen and Zouma for the season? 

Going to be difficult to keep all of those happy this season surely? 

I don't see any of them causing problems anyways, perhaps Christensen, but don't think it will be much of an issue with the amount of games we will have.

51 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Frank says he wants Zouma to stay with us this season. 

So centre backs of Luiz, Rudiger, Christensen and Zouma for the season? 

Going to be difficult to keep all of those happy this season surely? 

 

 

I'd much rather a place in the squad went to Ampadu. Though he's not yet ready for a regular starting place, he's got a lot more potential than Zouma, who really is not and never will be good enough for a top four team! 

 

1 minute ago, Dixons said:

I'd much rather a place in the squad went to Ampadu. Though he's not yet ready for a regular starting place, he's got a lot more potential than Zouma, who really is not and never will be good enough for a top four team! 

 

The problem is that Ampadu needs games to improve as a player, he isn't going to get that with us as 4th choice. Zouma may not be the future for us, but as a fourth choice, I would be happy with that until Ampadu gains experience on loan. I'm sure Zouma won't like that, but he will just have to take the chances he get's and prove himself.

26 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

The problem is that Ampadu needs games to improve as a player, he isn't going to get that with us as 4th choice. Zouma may not be the future for us, but as a fourth choice, I would be happy with that until Ampadu gains experience on loan. I'm sure Zouma won't like that, but he will just have to take the chances he get's and prove himself.

I agree he needs games, so play him in the Cups. Also have him on the bench against the weaker Premiership teams. He'd also learn a lot training every day with the first team squad.    While Kurt isn't top four level, at his age he's too good to be wasting time as a 4th choice. A club at Everton's level is perfect for him.

Edited July 19, 20197 yr by Dixons

The obsession with Zouma on social media is crazy! I thought he had massive potential before that knee injury he had a few years back but he doesn’t seem to have matured much since then. There was a few times even today where he was charging out of position for the ball to bypass him easily. Partner that with Luiz tendency to go walk about and it’s a disaster waiting to happen IMO. I’m not going to hold one pre season game against him but I’d still feel much more comfortable seeing Christensen in a line up than Zouma come the start of the season, personally. 

1 hour ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Frank says he wants Zouma to stay with us this season. 

 

That means Tomori is out on loan.

43 minutes ago, EdinburghBlue said:

The obsession with Zouma on social media is crazy! I thought he had massive potential before that knee injury he had a few years back but he doesn’t seem to have matured much since then. There was a few times even today where he was charging out of position for the ball to bypass him easily. Partner that with Luiz tendency to go walk about and it’s a disaster waiting to happen IMO. I’m not going to hold one pre season game against him but I’d still feel much more comfortable seeing Christensen in a line up than Zouma come the start of the season, personally. 

It is still preseason though, and Luiz wasn’t much better. In fact the latter was caught flat footed several times in the 1st half.

Makes zero sense selling him when you consider the prices players are going for within the league, unless Everton come with a £50m+ deal keep him and rotate all 4.  I wouldn’t trust Luiz at 32 to play 2 games weekly as he struggles with concentration, which is an issue in a fast paced league. Rudiger also has to be managed with his injuries. As long as he rotates all 4 like City do, we can keep them all happy.

2 hours ago, Dixons said:

I agree he needs games, so play him in the Cups. Also have him on the bench against the weaker Premiership teams. He'd also learn a lot training every day with the first team squad.    While Kurt isn't top four level, at his age he's too good to be wasting time as a 4th choice. A club at Everton's level is perfect for him.

That is the thing with cups though, it could be one round and we're out, that would limit the amount of games he is going to get. Ampadu isn't going to learn much playing a few cup games.

Rudi is out for a while after the season starts so there is a need for numbers at CB right now. Can't go into the season with 2 fit CBs and another who hasn't played a minute of PL. I feel much more comfort knowing Zouma is going to be playing instead of Tomori when midweek matches start to kick in. 

14 hours ago, ducavis said:

It is still preseason though, and Luiz wasn’t much better. In fact the latter was caught flat footed several times in the 1st half.

Makes zero sense selling him when you consider the prices players are going for within the league, unless Everton come with a £50m+ deal keep him and rotate all 4.  I wouldn’t trust Luiz at 32 to play 2 games weekly as he struggles with concentration, which is an issue in a fast paced league. Rudiger also has to be managed with his injuries. As long as he rotates all 4 like City do, we can keep them all happy.

I know it’s still pre season and I’ve said that but the bottom line is that’s Zoumas playstyle every time I’ve seen him. It’s not just during pre season he does it during the season as well. He is clearly a talented defender but I’m still not convinced he’s top 4 level is what I’m saying.

 

if Everton are offering £50m+ we should be selling in my opinion as that’s a lot of money to turn down. We could then use Tomori to cover. Although with an ageing Luiz and a recovering Rudiger I’d be more than happy to keep him, I just don’t think he’s as good as some make out.

 

My starting CB’s when they’re all fit would be Christensen - Rudiger.

17 hours ago, Dixons said:

I agree he needs games, so play him in the Cups. Also have him on the bench against the weaker Premiership teams. He'd also learn a lot training every day with the first team squad.   

He pretty much had this experience last season. Now he needs proper game time.

16 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

That is the thing with cups though, it could be one round and we're out, that would limit the amount of games he is going to get. Ampadu isn't going to learn much playing a few cup games.

Second thoughts on this. I think we're going to struggle very badly for goals this season. It'll go against Franks instincts, but to stop us getting into trouble and eek out enough  points, i think we'll have to  play it ugly and be very defensive in our approach, so i'd like to see us play with Luiz in front of two centre backs. So with that extra protection i'd be happy and confident Ampadu could do a good enough job as third choice behind Christensen and Rudi.  

42 minutes ago, Dixons said:

Second thoughts on this. I think we're going to struggle very badly for goals this season. It'll go against Franks instincts, but to stop us getting into trouble and eek out enough  points, i think we'll have to  play it ugly and be very defensive in our approach, so i'd like to see us play with Luiz in front of two centre backs. So with that extra protection i'd be happy and confident Ampadu could do a good enough job as third choice behind Christensen and Rudi.  

I disagree, playing defensive won't be guaranteed better results (afterall it was a crap league season playing to our supposed strength's that triggered this change of direction) but even if it does it would be another 1 step forward 2 steps back approach which is what ultimately has got us in this sh*t in the first place.

I don't think i can take another season similar to what Conte served up in 17/18, we will be taking a lot of short term punches this year regardless so i'd rather take them building something sustainable as opposed to wasting a year. 

17 minutes ago, Argo said:

I disagree, playing defensive won't be guaranteed better results (afterall it was a crap league season playing to our supposed strength's that triggered this change of direction) but even if it does it would be another 1 step forward 2 steps back approach which is what ultimately has got us in this sh*t in the first place.

I don't think i can take another season similar to what Conte served up in 17/18, we will be taking a lot of short term punches this year regardless so i'd rather take them building something sustainable as opposed to wasting a year. 

This is a very unusal season where we've been unable to stregthen the glaring weaknesses in the team. You tell me where enough goals are coming from this season? In terms of creative flair and goal power we're not far off from bottom half of the table level. It's very different from Conte's 2nd year when he basically threw his toys out the pram and stuck 2 fingers up to the board.

If he stays, he would surely be 4th choice. Can't see him wanting to stay for so little game time. For me it's time Christensen was made 1st choice, then Rudiger or Luiz alongside him.

tbf wasn't Jose the guy that brought Kurt to Chelsea?

12 hours ago, robdog said:

tbf wasn't Jose the guy that brought Kurt to Chelsea?

Yeah during his first season back, think it was the January 2014 window.

He's always liked Zouma. Gave him a lot of game time and trusted him. At the moment Zouma is looking really off the pace. I expect he'll stay and get a good share of minutes. Was a big favourite of mine before the injury. 

(Was surprised Mourinho mentioned Abraham.)

 

14 hours ago, robdog said:

tbf wasn't Jose the guy that brought Kurt to Chelsea?

Yea and he actually played him unlike other young talented players brought in under him. 

Hot take: We would never have bought Rudi if Zouma hadn't been injured. 

1 hour ago, TheChelseaBlues said:

Yea and he actually played him unlike other young talented players brought in under him. 

Hot take: We would never have bought Rudi if Zouma hadn't been injured. 

It might have been David luiz that we didnt buy. Zouma got injured about 5 months before we resigned luiz. Rudiger came 12 months later after we had switched to a back 3, so there was a need for more centre backs anyway. 

3 hours ago, big blue said:

It might have been David luiz that we didnt buy. Zouma got injured about 5 months before we resigned luiz. Rudiger came 12 months later after we had switched to a back 3, so there was a need for more centre backs anyway. 

Luiz would have been signed regardless, Conte wanted a ball playing CB