If Montero is just too good then why doesn't he do this week in week out? I get your point that he looked a world-beater but most often or not, full backs in this league deal him pretty comfortably as they're usually also quick.

He spent a lot of last season injured but looked great whenever he played after settling in, and on your point about pace Bellerin one of the fastest players in the league struggled against him so he isn't just a speed merchant and best not mention him versus Callum Chambers as he probably still has nightmares about Montero and hasn't really played since.

Admittedly my girlfriend is a Swans season ticket holder so I end up watching most of their games and might now have a little Swansea bias, although yesterday wasn't fun by any means, but he was and obviously still is after one game one of my tips to be a contender for player of the season this year if he stays injury free, so I don't think it is fair writing Ivan off after 1 poor game at the start of the season, against a very good winger on his day. 

What I say is he going straight in the side ahead of cahill? Or jt? Or is he going to the bench? What does this mean for zouma? Is he now more back up for matic? If so why have we not sold Mikel?

If we see stones as our new Ricky carvalho then fine, pay the 34mill put him in the team. Question for me is where does Jose see him fitting in.

Fine with me, pay it. At 21-years-old, we could arguably have John Stones at the club for around 15 years. Not bad for a £34m investment.

I really hope he's worth it. Everyone raves about him but I haven't seen anything so fantastic that it's stayed in my memory. If we're gonna pay that sort of money I'd say go for Varane is is young and more importantly proven.

I really hope he's worth it. Everyone raves about him but I haven't seen anything so fantastic that it's stayed in my memory. If we're gonna pay that sort of money I'd say go for Varane is is young and more importantly proven.

It's more the homegrown reason more than anyone I'd say.

Varane is one of the quickest centre backs I've ever seen. He rarely has to sprint though; he's absolutely outstanding.

I say pay it as well. Honestly I think Stones will displace Cahill very quickly if we buy him. Poor Gary, between Zouma and Stones, he'll be out of the job soon.

Yeah shame for him but then again hes won every trophy at club level in roughly 3 and a half years, has anyone ever done that in the premier league? good player but he has his limitations.

They did an analysis of Stones on MOTD . They seemed quite happy with his performance with Shearer recommending Chelsea for him

I don't think I have ever heard shearer say a bad word about us. He has a soft spot for us. I like him

Wouldn't say Ivanovic's legs have gone, Montero was just terrific against him that's all.

That's swansea, Imagine against sterling or silva, better yet against naymar if we want to challenge in Europe, Azpi can handle whoever comes down our left (although he had a poor game) we need that cover on both flanks, almost all top teams have quick wide men, imagine against bayern or worse real madrid 

I don't think Cahill is slow and I'm not really sure why it seems to be a common view. Zouma is faster but Cahill is no slouch either. 

Not just talking slow as far as pace at a gallop which he is sluggish especially when you consider he is paired with JT, his movement is also slow, he is terrible at 1 on 1 defending if someone runs at him, he just cant react, his blocking is good, his cover is good, his areal threat and clearance is good, his positioning usually good, but with JT you need a fast CB and without JT's guidance Cahill is very average so in both scenarios he isn't quite good enough 

I also wanted Zouma to learn from a season of playing with JT.

Leave it any longer it'll be too late. A young player with Zouma's potential with a season playing now beside one of the greatest defenders of all time has unbelievable reward for Zouma's career. Jose cannot prolong this much further in my opinion.

Edited August 9, 201510 yr by MayosNoun

I also wanted Zouma to learn from a season of playing with JT.

Leave it any longer it'll be too late. A young player with Zouma's potential with a season playing now beside one of the greatest defenders of all time has unbelievable reward for Zouma's career. Jose cannot prolong this much further in my opinion.

I said last season after Cahill has a horrible run and Zouma came on to replace him that Gaz was done, and he should have been Zouma never put afoot wrong, if you're not going to play him loan him out so he can get gametime, horrible thing to have that much potential and be benched to a guy you're better than, the fact Mou used him against city over Cahill shows that he is better equipped to deal with top players the reason I think Mourinho keeps Cahill is that he believes in stability over talent sometimes, plus if he bencher Cahill and then Zouma gets injured I think the option of Cahill with no gametime and disgruntled is seen by Mou as worse than keeping a stable back 4 and bringing in Zouma against really quick teams 

I think you're bang on OneClub. In fairness to Cahill he's an excellent last ditch defender and his best performances have invariably come in games where we park the bus and thus where he doesn't have to cover much ground. But when we're looking to press high and play a higher line he really worries me because he has no covering pace and just looks so clumsy when strikers run at him. I still think he's a good player to have in the squad for sure but definitely replaceable in our first choice lineup.

 I doubt Stones will replace Cahill directly. JT will retire soon, and Ivanovic is on the last year of his contract. 

 I doubt Stones will replace Cahill directly. JT will retire soon, and Ivanovic is on the last year of his contract. 

 

I'm sure he wouldn't initially but you don't spend £35m on a defender to put him on the bench. History shows that eventually Cahill would make an error which provide the perfect context in which to put Stones into the starting lineup.

As far as I'm aware Everton still have just two senior center backs. Their defense seems to be in a bigger mess than ours and if Stones leaves now, that could well f**k up their season. I would be very surprised to see this happen now. The whole thing has been a bad reminder of the Rooney saga.

Other than the 15mill difference, why is stones at 34mill considered good business where sterling at 49mill was seen as too pricey?

I Mean attacking players are usually valued a bit higher than defenders, so why did price put us off one and supposedly not another?

 I doubt Stones will replace Cahill directly. JT will retire soon, and Ivanovic is on the last year of his contract. 

 

Does that mean we have to be exposed down the right side for another season.....with Ivan being made vice - captain I am sure they will offer him a new deal.  Just ignore the Stones saga and throw Ivan in the centre next to Cahill, move Dave to RB and get another LB....everyone can see that except Jose'...or maybe he can.

As far as I'm aware Everton still have just two senior center backs. Their defense seems to be in a bigger mess than ours and if Stones leaves now, that could well f**k up their season. I would be very surprised to see this happen now. The whole thing has been a bad reminder of the Rooney saga.

Haven't they just lost Baines as well to injury?

Maybe send a player to them on loan to smooth things along. Is Ake still with us?

Does that mean we have to be exposed down the right side for another season.....with Ivan being made vice - captain I am sure they will offer him a new deal.  Just ignore the Stones saga and throw Ivan in the centre next to Cahill, move Dave to RB and get another LB....everyone can see that except Jose'...or maybe he can.

Ivan has rarely played CB for us -- at most 7 times during his time here, which is weird because everyone considers him a CB.

It's more the homegrown reason more than anyone I'd say.

Varane is one of the quickest centre backs I've ever seen. He rarely has to sprint though; he's absolutely outstanding.

I'm sure your right, but it's absolutely ridiculous to pay that for an unproven player based on his nationality. Especially when you the homegrown thing doesn't even matter. Wasn't it voted against?

Ivan has rarely played CB for us -- at most 7 times during his time here, which is weird because everyone considers him a CB.

Rafa's played him there for most of the season

That's swansea, Imagine against sterling or silva, better yet against naymar if we want to challenge in Europe, Azpi can handle whoever comes down our left (although he had a poor game) we need that cover on both flanks, almost all top teams have quick wide men, imagine against bayern or worse real madrid 

 

Ivanovic was voted the best right back in the team of the year for the Premier League and the Champions League last season. 

 

You're not going to get much better than him. 

Ivanovic was voted the best right back in the team of the year for the Premier League and the Champions League last season.

You're not going to get much better than him.

That was last seen though and even last season his defensive frailties were exposed at times. I know players don't always drop off after having a good season but it's happened in the past. I just think there are certain opponents/games he maybe shouldn't play against.

Edited August 10, 201510 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

That was last seen though and even last season his defensive frailties were exposed at times. I know players don't always drop off after having a good season but it's happened in the past. I just think there are certain opponents/games he maybe shouldn't play against.

 

Which is probably why we are trying to sign Stones. 

 

Main point I was making is that some posters seem to be referring to Ivanovic as a defensive liability in our side when he is far from it... He's the best right back in the league.