3 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

Silva, Zouma and Mendy oh and Kante all communicating in French. Vive le defence!!

 

2 hours ago, bisright1 said:

I assume Azpi knows his french as well. 

 Chilwell best get a tutor then!

10 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

 

 Chilwell best get a tutor then!

It's OK, the club have sorted one for him. 

 

Piss it wide, stop sh*tting all the time...

26 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

 

 Chilwell best get a tutor then!

Emerson on Monday: Bonjour mi amigos!

I like centre-backs that stay at centre-back. I like centre-backs that have the concentration to actually mark an opponent when the move 10 yards away from them. I like centre-backs that are brave and quite prepared to throw themselves in front of a bus for the "cause". I like centre-backs who are good in the air and don't put their hands behind their backs when closing down an attacker in our own box. I like centre-backs who don't mind tackling the snot out of an opponent and after they have left them in a crumbled heap, don't offer to help them up off the floor.

I like Kurt Zouma.

PS: Also great to have  centre-back from Brazil who actually looks like he knows how to defend. The first one we have had since Alex.

11 minutes ago, just said:

I like centre-backs that stay at centre-back. I like centre-backs that have the concentration to actually mark an opponent when the move 10 yards away from them. I like centre-backs that are brave and quite prepared to throw themselves in front of a bus for the "cause". I like centre-backs who are good in the air and don't put their hands behind their backs when closing down an attacker in our own box. I like centre-backs who don't mind tackling the snot out of an opponent and after they have left them in a crumbled heap, don't offer to help them up off the floor.

I like Kurt Zouma.

PS: Also great to have  centre-back from Brazil who actually looks like he knows how to defend. The first one we have had since Alex.

Amen. 

After the Sheffield Utd game at the start of last season I thought his time at Chelsea was limited due to low concentration and technical ability.  Was I ever wrong.

As noted above, and time and time again, the guy is a pure defender.  Sure there are a few mistakes and passing limitations, but he always gives 110% and is a dominant physical presence.  I am always happy to see him on the team sheet as he does what he is supposed to do - defend.  Now he is chipping in with goals also - its been years since we had CBs that actually contributed meaningful goals during the season.  The pace today to catch Zaha and them just dismiss him to the floor with his shoulder was tremendous defending, and got a round of applause from Silva.  Nice goal too!  What I didn't realize is he is only 25 (soon to be 26) and has his prime years ahead.  We need to keep developing his game.

Mendy - Dave - Zouma - Silva - Chilwell.  Not getting carried away over one game, but want this defensive unit to be given time to grow together.  It's full of potential and has all the attributes across all of them.  Let it be, Frank!

Good performance! 

I'm still not going to convince myself he's a great CB, rather just the best out of a bad bunch. Good defender, but still makes a lot of mistakes and falls asleep, also he's woeful on the ball. 

Silva on the other hand looks absolutely immense, it's a shame we couldn't have grabbed him in his prime. 

42 minutes ago, Slojo said:

I'm still not going to convince myself he's a great CB, rather just the best out of a bad bunch. Good defender, but still makes a lot of mistakes and falls asleep, also he's woeful on the ball. 

Silva on the other hand looks absolutely immense, it's a shame we couldn't have grabbed him in his prime. 

Why do you think he is woeful on the ball .. I don’t remember a single game of him passing straight to an opponent leading to a big chance \ goal .. 

2 hours ago, Jangz said:

Why do you think he is woeful on the ball .. I don’t remember a single game of him passing straight to an opponent leading to a big chance \ goal .. 

Said it many times, the problem is he "looks" awkward on the ball, this doesnt mean he actually is but it gives that impression, and he rarely goes for a hollywood pass... all of this means that people get the incorrect perception that he is a bad baller 

5 minutes ago, Bonzodog29 said:

Said it many times, the problem is he "looks" awkward on the ball, this doesnt mean he actually is but it gives that impression, and he rarely goes for a hollywood pass... all of this means that people get the incorrect perception that he is a bad baller 

104 passes against palace, 94% pass completion, 8 accurate long balls (out of 10 attempted). This stats aren't out of the norm for him. 

But again we continue to hear this lazy criticism that he's awful on the ball. 

1 minute ago, bisright1 said:

104 passes against palace, 94% pass completion, 8 accurate long balls (out of 10 attempted). This stats aren't out of the norm for him. 

But again we continue to hear this lazy criticism that he's awful on the ball. 

That's literally standard for defenders. He isn't good with the ball to his feet or playing it out from the back in general. 

Just now, Slojo said:

That's literally standard for defenders. He isn't good with the ball to his feet or playing it out from the back in general. 

No it's not. Zouma regularly has higher long ball completed passes than any other chelsea player. 

I struggle to think of any time zouma has made a mistake with the ball. It's just an incredibly lazy opinion from people who think because he looks awkward he must be awkward. 

Just now, bisright1 said:

No it's not. Zouma regularly has higher long ball completed passes than any other chelsea player. 

I struggle to think of any time zouma has made a mistake with the ball. It's just an incredibly lazy opinion from people who think because he looks awkward he must be awkward. 

I literally haven't said a word about him looking awkward on the ball, that's your strawman, and I gave you examples about this last time but you immediately dismissed them. 

Even people on this forum who rate Zouma know he has limitations, and those limitations are playing it out from the back. I mean did you even watch him play last season? He was almost as bad as Rudiger on the ball, but obviously better at defending. 

4 minutes ago, Slojo said:

I literally haven't said a word about him looking awkward on the ball, that's your strawman, and I gave you examples about this last time but you immediately dismissed them. 

Even people on this forum who rate Zouma know he has limitations, and those limitations are playing it out from the back. I mean did you even watch him play last season? He was almost as bad as Rudiger on the ball, but obviously better at defending. 

I'm not saying he's world class, but hes our best defender. I'd rate his ability on the ball as good - very good. You rate him as woeful. Say he's average and I'd ignore it, but woeful is a ridiculous term to use. 

I don't remember seeing your specific examples. 

He is not that bad on the ball, I know stats can be misleading but that lad has a passing accuracy of 88% plays more passes forward and has more Touches than Luiz in fewer games (2343 Minutes against Luiz's 2,811).

 

Zouma seemed like a different player the weekend. The best game i can remember him having. 

On 05/10/2020 at 08:55, Slojo said:

That's literally standard for defenders. He isn't good with the ball to his feet or playing it out from the back in general. 

You said woeful not that he just isn’t Ronaldinho and he isn’t under any stretch of the imagination woeful on the ball so why keep pursuing that. 
 

He was a heart under Jose got a bad injury. Did very well at Everton cane back and is our best CB by a mile. 
 

Very dominant in the air, last ditch tackle like no one on earth, all he needs is someone shouting at him as his reading isn’t the best in the world and now he has that so happy days. 

On 05/10/2020 at 11:54, coco said:

Zouma seemed like a different player the weekend. The best game i can remember him having. 

Remember with JT I’ve said it before he just needs to be next to a leader, physically he is immense 

On 05/10/2020 at 07:05, Slojo said:

I'm still not going to convince myself he's a great CB, rather just the best out of a bad bunch. Good defender, but still makes a lot of mistakes and falls asleep, also he's woeful on the ball. 

Silva on the other hand looks absolutely immense, it's a shame we couldn't have grabbed him in his prime. 

I admire you for saying that at this moment. I agree 100%. At least now around Silva he will have chance to turn into great defender. 

Edited October 6, 20205 yr by Droopy

31 minutes ago, Droopy said:

I admire you for saying that at this moment. I agree 100%. At least now around Silva he will have chance to turn into great defender. 

The reason why I'm saying it, is not because I want to sh*t on Zouma. It's because I think in the future we should be looking for improvements. Silva-Zouma/Tomori is just temporary for now, and hopefully good enough for the time being. But I can't see that being a good enough partnership when it comes to winning league titles. 

 

10 minutes ago, Slojo said:

The reason why I'm saying it, is not because I want to sh*t on Zouma. It's because I think in the future we should be looking for improvements. Silva-Zouma/Tomori is just temporary for now, and hopefully good enough for the time being. But I can't see that being a good enough partnership when it comes to winning league titles. 

 

I get you but there's no one in world football that I can see us going for that would immediately replace Zouma.

So uhm @bisright1

Yeah... 

I understand why he is being picked but we would be better off in the long term paring Tomori or Christensen with Silva over Zouma. 

30 minutes ago, Slojo said:

So uhm @bisright1

Yeah... 

?

One slightly under hit pass made worse by a retard in goal but otherwise what are you complaining about?

Some serious knee jerking on here. He's been our best defender since March. 

Edited October 17, 20205 yr by bisright1