Zouma had taken cahills place in our 1st choice back 4 before his injury, if he can reach preinjury levels, i think he will take his place in the back 3 aswell. 

Until then, cahill is doing fine and starting to get his confidence back which is important as he is captain, and he needs to keep leading by example. 

Really pleased for zouma though. Seems a nice guy and is the sort of player all fans love, and i think he could be a future captain. 

1 hour ago, Remodez said:

He might be faster but Cahill's positioning is much better and he is also better on the ball, which is more important.

I wouldn't change the back three at all, they are all perfect and provide the exact qualities you would want in this system. Zouma will have to do something extraordinary to get back in the team imo or Moses would have to pick up an injury. 

Agree about Cahill being better on the ball, though this quality is not IMO essential for a stopper (which Cahill basically is ATM). Not sure he's that much better positionally, though. Even if he is, Zouma is clearly quicker so that would compensate somewhat. 

However, I also agree that I wouldn't change the back 3 ATM. 

On 10/25/2016 at 09:21, Sindre said:

For now we surely have to keep playing Azpi - Luiz - Cahill as they've been great together and has racked up three CS in a row. But it's interesting that Zouma was playing in Azpilicuetas position yesterday. I really like Azpi in the position he's been playing in lately and he have done enough to keep that spot for me. As a wingback i think Moses is a much better fit then Azpi.

Why am I the only one who thinks it will be Alonso who gets dropped for Zouma with Azpi moving to LWB.

DOn't think he'll do that, having an actual left footed player at left wing back is proving more effective (shock horror)

He's too good to keep out of the team for long, assuming he hasn't lost any of his physicality while injured.

Doesn't look like it

31 minutes ago, Zeta Orionis said:

DOn't think he'll do that, having an actual left footed player at left wing back is proving more effective (shock horror)

Hmm I think I disagree, Azpi is a good footballer and a great defender at feet on either side. He can also get forward but with the only protection on the left last season being an uninterested Hazard he wasn't able to. With Cahill/Kante/Matic covering then he has the freedom to get forward without worrying about the counter attack. 

I think Azpi is a bad choice in the centre and would definitely drop him for Zouma (if he is at the same ability as last season). He is a brilliant footballer but too diminutive to defend crossed balls - the evidence was clear in that United game.  

5 hours ago, benjsross said:

Hmm I think I disagree, Azpi is a good footballer and a great defender at feet on either side. He can also get forward but with the only protection on the left last season being an uninterested Hazard he wasn't able to. With Cahill/Kante/Matic covering then he has the freedom to get forward without worrying about the counter attack. 

I think Azpi is a bad choice in the centre and would definitely drop him for Zouma (if he is at the same ability as last season). He is a brilliant footballer but too diminutive to defend crossed balls - the evidence was clear in that United game.  

Playing Dave as a left wing back defeats the purpose of the formation. 

And apart from Ibra beating him in the air, which he's done to defenders far taller than Dave so it's no shame and not to mention Dave was still positioned correctly anyway in that he put himself in the best spot possible to make it very hard for Ibra, I don't recall him struggling at all or since playing centre back with aerial duels. 

5 hours ago, benjsross said:

Hmm I think I disagree, Azpi is a good footballer and a great defender at feet on either side. He can also get forward but with the only protection on the left last season being an uninterested Hazard he wasn't able to. With Cahill/Kante/Matic covering then he has the freedom to get forward without worrying about the counter attack. 

I think Azpi is a bad choice in the centre and would definitely drop him for Zouma (if he is at the same ability as last season). He is a brilliant footballer but too diminutive to defend crossed balls - the evidence was clear in that United game.  

No the thing about Alonso is he provides width letting haz go through the middle more azpi has to cut in do he can't run the touch line as well because when he gets there he has no left foot to whip one in, that's a major tactical problem, he won't go back to the left I'm almost certain 

At the moment I would see Zouma as an understudy for the Luiz position - athleticism, speed etc. Can and should become a first team regular as he gets back to the level required.

If Zouma comes back as strong, fast and athletic as he was before the injury I can see either of Cahill and Azpi being dropped. There is no way that Moses will lose his position and Azpi is going to play wing back, he is terrible going forward as we saw yesterday against west ham.

In my opinion Azpi is the most solid defender we have, he's very tenacious and almost impossible to beat 1v1. IF Zouma can find a way back into the team any time soon I hope it will be for Cahill. I like the guy, and I'm happy he's found a bit of form back, but I do think he's our weakest link in defence.

 

first time seeing him arrive bringing his gear so think he's officially available for team selection

surely he can at least make the bench this wednesday? especially with luiz clearly not 100% with the way he played yesterday and with all those bandages on his thigh

Where can we see Kurt slotting into this back 3? Presumably RCB? But what does that mean for Dave? Would he go to LCB?

Will there be a need to rotate any of the 3 CB's next season for freshness as well? I seem to remember prime Terry playing pretty much every game in all competitions except for injury. 

5 minutes ago, rtwelch said:

Where can we see Kurt slotting into this back 3? Presumably RCB? But what does that mean for Dave? Would he go to LCB?

Will there be a need to rotate any of the 3 CB's next season for freshness as well? I seem to remember prime Terry playing pretty much every game in all competitions except for injury. 

Is Kurt not suited for LCB? 

I wouldn't want to move Dave around now that he is having such an amazing season.

Just now, PythonLu said:

Is Kurt not suited for LCB? 

I wouldn't want to move Dave around now that he is having such an amazing season.

Remains to be seen I guess. How is his left foot? 

Just with Dave having the experience of playing on the left side already and Zouma playing right back a few times before?

He could fill in for any of the outside two and that will probably be his role until he surpasses either Cahill or Dave. When we need some strength and height he fills in for Dave. Speed and quickness he fills in for Cahill. 

Honestly he's a beast when fully fit, I can't imagine he won't be starting next season as long as he's 100% physically. Whether its in place of Dave or Cahill is anyones guess

It's incredible that in the space of 12 months we've gone from 'omg just buy Stones, we're crap at CB' to wondering how Zouma will even get into the team. 

Cahill, Christensen, Dave, Luiz, Zouma looks magic on paper for next season

His positioning looks even worse than usual based on the two U21 games I've seen. Will probably get in the team if there's an injury but other than than he'll be on the bench for quite some time. 

he'll play next week vs peterborough for sure

 

 

We love you Kurt.

Thought he was way off the pace yesterday, unfortunately.

 

Wont be in the team for foreseeable

Edited January 9, 20179 yr by jamie#8

Just now, jamie#8 said:

Thought he was way off the pace yesterday, unfortunately.

 

Wont be in the team for foreseeable

Given he hasn't played for the best part of a year are you surprised?

It will take games to get him match sharp again

1 minute ago, Chelsbear said:

Given he hasn't played for the best part of a year are you surprised?

It will take games to get him match sharp again

But he has been back in training and playing reserve games for a while now.

I dont think he is suited to the wide Cb spot either. Hasnt got the mobility when dragged into wide areas and not good enough on the ball. The central spot would suit far more but we have Luiz there.

4 minutes ago, jamie#8 said:

But he has been back in training and playing reserve games for a while now.

I dont think he is suited to the wide Cb spot either. Hasnt got the mobility when dragged into wide areas and not good enough on the ball. The central spot would suit far more but we have Luiz there.

That's not top level matches though, you need to play at that level to get back to that level.

Ask any pro footballer out there

Still lacking match fitness, hopefully Conte gives him an FA cup run with the odd league appearance & get him up to speed