I personally don't see a Cahill - Zouma partnership in the future. In most CB partnerships you have one guy who's the dominant one, and I don't see that. For me, they're both #2 guys in a partnership. Once Terry leaves, a top ten CB to lead the line will be a must.

 

I believe Zouma should continue to play with Terry until he falters. If it's few and far between, then promote him to start full time.

 

Can't remember who but someone involved in the French national team compared him to Desailly who wasn't a half bad captain. Whether that comparison was based only on physical traits or factored in personality I don't know.

Then you haven't seen Gallas.

Pretty much what I thought

Gallas was quick but the speed of recover from Zouma is something else

Gallas was quicker then zouma is now.. Gallas never needed to make a recovery tackle

Gallas at his best was the best center back in Europe.

Gallas was not a leader, that was his biggest weakness

Barak I do think Gallas is underestimated due to the way he left. I wouldn't go as far as to say he was the best Centre half in Europe though. .

He was probably hard done by when Carvalho arrived. Certainly his temperament was questionable though. Zouma is a top young player. I'm not sure when Cahill is in best form whether he is in the team, but he has made a big contribution. All be it with Terry beside him who made even David Luiz look like he could defend sometimes.

Gallas was quicker then zouma is now.. Gallas never needed to make a recovery tackle

Gallas at his best was the best center back in Europe.

Gallas was not a leader, that was his biggest weakness

Of course he did, he was hardly faultless and Zouma is only 20....

Gallas was a fine CB but at no time was he the best in Europe

Barak I do think Gallas is underestimated due to the way he left. I wouldn't go as far as to say he was the best Centre half in Europe though. .

He was probably hard done by when Carvalho arrived. Certainly his temperament was questionable though. Zouma is a top young player. I'm not sure when Cahill is in best form whether he is in the team, but he has made a big contribution. All be it with Terry beside him who made even David Luiz look like he could defend sometimes.

Look at our best defensive displayes in Jose's first stint. They come with Gallas at center back. I don't know how good zouma is going to be at this point but Gallas at his best was immense, very rarely needed to go to ground. Was rapid (people used to say he was right up there with Henry in French training sprints) technically excellent.. And an arrogant obnoxious kind of character which meant he hated getting beaten by any one. Actually hid most important quality

Read a stat on reddit that he has committed 0 fouls this season 

 

 

whoscored.com backs it up

 

http://www.whoscored.com/Players/106086/

Edited February 14, 201511 yr by Stim

That seems impossible! Both our central defenders appear to be the cleanest players in Europe. I really find it hard to believe that he hasn't committed a single foul though.

He took his chance with both hands,bit harsh on Cahill since he really had only a few bad games.We must think what is better for the team and play the players that are currently on form.At that is by far Zouma.

9 appearances and 6 cleen sheets? Time to just pencil him in as a full on starter

If we end up buying a CB in the summer though he may go out on loan. I think it would be easier to loan out Zouma than it is selling Cahill.

If we end up buying a CB in the summer though he may go out on loan. I think it would be easier to loan out Zouma than it is selling Cahill.

Why would we loan out our second best centre back?

Can not see Zouma going out on loan ever again, he has more than proved his credentials.

Gallas at his best was the best center back in Europe.

Gallas at his best was good.

But he was no JT.

Gallas at his best was good.

But he was no JT.

I totally agree with this.

For me, Gallas was underrated, people talk more about Carvalho, but the best partnership I ever saw was Gallas and Terry. They complemented each other perfectly and they never made mistakes.

People said Gallas and Carvalho made Terry look better than he was, but it was the other way around. Gallas hardly pulled up any trees when he left Chelsea did he?

Terry always makes his partners look good, and if anyone deserves to be called the best it is he, and that applies as much today as it did ten years ago.

Over a period of just over 10 years I doubt there had been a centre back as consistent as JT.

His levels have always remained in the top end over a huge period of time. You watch him play today and back in 2004/5 and there's hardly any difference, he's a rare breed and one we probably won't see again at our club for a long time.

He deserves another title, I can't wait to see him lift it in a couple of months!

Gallas was fantastic. Terry and Gallas partnership was the most water-tight Chelsea have had. Shame about his attitude and the way he left, but when he was playing he was one of the best centre-backs in Europe. Super consistent.

Desailly, Gallas, (Makelele) and now Zouma. Terry must be fluent in French!

Gallas was fantastic. Terry and Gallas partnership was the most water-tight Chelsea have had. Shame about his attitude and the way he left, but when he was playing he was one of the best centre-backs in Europe. Super consistent.

Desailly, Gallas, (Makelele) and now Zouma. Terry must be fluent in French!

I've heard jt learnt French watching "Allo Allo".

" I ave pissed you ze ball"

"Gid moaning"

Hahah Allo Allo, what a brilliant show that was.

Why would we loan out our second best centre back?

 

Because if we buy another CB he might be 3/4 choice. Its not like he is completely ahead of Cahill right now in the pecking order and Cahill is also homegrown. I don't want him to get loaned out but i don't think its out of the question next season.

Because if we buy another CB he might be 3/4 choice. Its not like he is completely ahead of Cahill right now in the pecking order and Cahill is also homegrown. I don't want him to get loaned out but i don't think its out of the question next season.

Just can't see it.

He's improving with every game and next season you would expect him to play more for us.

A CB is not a must for us, Cahill, Terry, Zouma and even Ivan can all play there plus one of the younger boys is always an option.

The only CB I have really seen us linked to is Varne and he is clearly rated at Madrid and just signed a new deal so can't see why he'd leave there tbh.

If we do end up buying a CB I definitely would be happy with Stones.

Why think about buying Stones when we already have Zouma?

Why think about buying Stones when we already have Zouma?

JT isn't getting any younger so we need to start looking at some point. I was mightily impressed seeing Stones in the flesh for the first time the other night so he's definitely an option.

Christensen is obviously on the cusp but I've seen him make the same errors is youth games repeatedly. He's obviously young so has time to improve but is it worth passing up on Stones. He of course isn't perfect either though.

Stones would cost upward of £15 million no doubt.

Is that worth it when we have our own promising CB's who have barley got a look in?

Would stones displace Zouma, Terry or Cahill?

If we are to bring one in it would have to be one who is on a par or better than the above, Stones IMO is neither .

Edited February 15, 201511 yr by Chelsbear