If he was that highly rated in France why didn't any French clubs stump up the whopping £2.7m transfer fee?

 

Djilobodji was on his last contract year and was trying to force a transfer, so his transfer fee was cut-price (Transfermarkt had him rated at 6,5 mln EUR). That plus he largely went under the radar playing at a lesser club in an less exposed position and being African (African defenders are often much lower priced) he was vastly underrated.

 

BTW He's 26, not 27.

Djilobodji was on his last contract year and was trying to force a transfer, so his transfer fee was cut-price (Transfermarkt had him rated at 6,5 mln EUR). That plus he largely went under the radar playing at a lesser club in an less exposed position and being African (African defenders are often much lower priced) he was vastly underrated.

BTW He's 26, not 27.

He's 27 in two weeks, that's why I keep saying 27.

So according to you he's that good that no one noticed him because he's African?

Think you in the minority of one with that opinion.

Sorry but I'm unwilling to believe he's some great player just becaus some pundits in France say so.

 

Some highlights of Papy's Chelsea career.

 

Enters pitch. Makes a touch. Exits pitch

 

Earns a five-figure salary every week.

 

What a wonderful world.

Facts are a 'great' player would have had some suitors especially when his price tag was so low and his contract running down>

PSG, Monaco, Lyon and the likes certainly didn't think he would offer anything to their sides....they saw him on a regular basis.

There is a reason he isn't getting games and that reason is he's simply not better then Cahill, Terry or Zouma.

I can't really see how folk are struggling to see this tbh

Other discussions aside Djilobodji had 2 seasons at ligue 1 level. After his first season he was in mentioned in the context of league defender of the year and averaged some 15 defensive actions per game with the no1 in the league in terms of clearances. I've actually seen him play before Chelsea bought him and thought it was a real steal basically buying Nantes best player for peanuts.

 

I'm sure this was posted but:

http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2015/a-gffn100-profile-papy-djilobodji/

 

As a result of Djilobodji’s fine defensive displays, underlined most suitably by Nantes’ extensive overachievements this season, which sees them sit joint third in the least goals conceded table as we head into to the Ligue 1 winter break. He has been the subject of intense, almost harassing levels of interest from Marseille who remain a big admirer of the Senegalese international’s talents.

 

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/five-ligue-1-players-who-would-be-perfect-fit-premier-league#:S3mXIcwovPDrHA

 

Papy Djilobodji (Nantes)

Unable to sign any players last summer due to a transfer embargo, FC Nantes were predicted to struggle this season. However, a strong defence, led by Djilobodji, has seen Les Canaris concede an average of just one goal per game this campaign.

With the 25-year-old Senegalese centre-back currently at the Africa Cup of Nations, Nantes have lost their last two league games, showing the importance of Djilobodji’s physical presence.

He is quick along the ground, dominant in the air and usually positions himself well. Nantes’ full-backs have sometimes left him exposed, but put him in a stronger team and the physical nature of the Premier League could see him improve even further.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2255156-top-30-most-underrated-footballers-playing-in-europe/page/14

Allan Jiang writes: "Nantes' Senegalese centre-back Papy Djilobodji, 25, is an impressive defender. He is a safe tackler (0.8 fouls per game) and reads play excellently to intercept 2.9 passes per game."

 

All in all Papy deserves none of the ridicule or downsizing Chelsea fans have been giving him. He may not be given a chance, but honestly I would prefer him to Cahill, Zouma, Ivanovic and (ageing) Terry. A truely great purchase that was wasted.

 

Means nothing.

PSG, Monaco, Lyon and the likes certainly didn't think he would offer anything to their sides....they saw him on a regular basis.

 

Another in a long running series of non-factual statements. After him playing 1 season of top league football and being 27.

 

Marseille wanted him very badly. Monaco also had him on their transfer list as did Lyon. Apparently Marseille and Monaco both submitted offers for him. The only team of those mentioned who didn't apply for him was PSG.

 

The fact was that Djilobodji publicly stated he wants a move to England or no move at all. He rejected suitors from Marseille, Monaco and possibly Lyon by giving a strong indication he wants to play EPL football. 

 

Chances are that Marseille will exchange N'koulou for Djilobodji, as they had him as a priority buy not longer than 6 months ago. So lets at least get the facts straight...

He's not the calibre of player that we should have gone for and it's as simple as that. We would have been better off promoting a youth prospect than wasting money on him.

Edited November 19, 201510 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

There is a reason he isn't getting games and that reason is he's simply not better then Cahill, Terry or Zouma.

 

I find it pretty funny that Mouringo is being lambasted all season for playing Fabregas and Ivanovic, while not playing, for example, Kenedy or RLC, but somehow in the case of Djilobodji he's suddenly a great expert in quality...

He's not the calibre of player that we should have gone for and it's as simple as that. We would have been better off promoting a youth prospect than wasting money on him.

 

I won't debate this but Djilobodji could be an excellent bargaining chip for N'koulou, as Marseille rate him very highly and they could be all for an exchange. Of course I have no idea is N'koulou is the 'calibre of player' you expect, but he's rated very highly in Ligue 1.

I find it pretty funny that Mouringo is being lambasted all season for playing Fabregas and Ivanovic, while not playing, for example, Kenedy or RLC, but somehow in the case of Djilobodji he's suddenly a great expert in quality...

Fabregas a world cup and Europea champion

Ivanovic CL winner, EPL champion

JT and Cahill same as Ivan

Papy.....done f**k all at 27

Imagine a player who has done nothing in the game not being picked over players who have won tons of trophies..and ones who won it at a canter last season

Are you for real?

Edited November 19, 201510 yr by Chelsbear

I find it pretty funny that Mouringo is being lambasted all season for playing Fabregas and Ivanovic, while not playing, for example, Kenedy or RLC, but somehow in the case of Djilobodji he's suddenly a great expert in quality...

 

I won't debate this but Djilobodji could be an excellent bargaining chip for N'koulou, as Marseille rate him very highly and they could be all for an exchange. Of course I have no idea is N'koulou is the 'calibre of player' you expect, but he's rated very highly in Ligue 1.

 

I'm beginning to think that you're actually Papy Djilobodji.

 

Coming on TSE to post because you're bored of training all the time.

Mouringo typos can really crack me up

Mouringo typos can really crack me up

 

Gringo Mouringo, excellent!

Fabregas a world cup and Europea champion

Ivanovic CL winner, EPL champion

JT and Cahill same as Ivan

Papy.....done f**k all at 27

Imagine a player who has done nothing in the game not being picked over players who have won tons of trophies..and ones who won it at a canter last season

Are you for real?

 

Dwelling on the past I see. No real logic. 

John Terry was superb and obviously at his prime amongst the best defenders of the generation. But he's past it.

And bringing in team awards from when given players were in their prime is disingenous. At current form most people would prefer to play RLC over Fabregas, even though the first player has done f*** all in his career.

 

And claiming Papy has done f*** all is disrespectful and a pointless arguement, given we're talking about the here and the now. Fact is that Ivanovic has been crap, Terry and Cahill subpar, while Zouma is work in progress. Djilobodji is coming off another very good season with his club, is much more experienced than Zouma, level-headed and very intelligent plus has stats that actually suggest Djilobodji was the best of the lot in season 2014/2015:

 

Djilobodji - 12 defensive actions per game, 75% of headers won, 1,6 tackles per game, 1 defensive error, total chances created 6

Cahill - 8 defensive actions per game, 73% of headers won, 0,9 tackles per game, 4 defensive errors, total chances created 4

Zouma - 4 defensive actions per game, 67% of headers won, 1,5 tackles per game, 0 defensive errors, total chances created 1

Terry - 7 defensive actions per game, 72% of headers won, 0,4 tackles per game, 3 defensive errors, total chances created 7

 

Unless proven wrong on the field you guys have no basis whatsoever to suggest he's not good enough, when all the facts suggest that he just might be...

 

Those stats are pretty meaningless. Completely different teams in completely different leagues.

I don't whether papy is a good enough or not, I've never seen him play.

Mourinho doesn't look like he fancies him, and if JM is here long term, it was probably a mistake to sign papy in the first place, and he should be moved on ASAP.

Dwelling on the past I see. No real logic.

John Terry was superb and obviously at his prime amongst the best defenders of the generation. But he's past it.

And bringing in team awards from when given players were in their prime is disingenous. At current form most people would prefer to play RLC over Fabregas, even though the first player has done f*** all in his career.

And claiming Papy has done f*** all is disrespectful and a pointless arguement, given we're talking about the here and the now. Fact is that Ivanovic has been crap, Terry and Cahill subpar, while Zouma is work in progress. Djilobodji is coming off another very good season with his club, is much more experienced than Zouma, level-headed and very intelligent plus has stats that actually suggest Djilobodji was the best of the lot in season 2014/2015:

Djilobodji - 12 defensive actions per game, 75% of headers won, 1,6 tackles per game, 1 defensive error, total chances created 6

Cahill - 8 defensive actions per game, 73% of headers won, 0,9 tackles per game, 4 defensive errors, total chances created 4

Zouma - 4 defensive actions per game, 67% of headers won, 1,5 tackles per game, 0 defensive errors, total chances created 1

Terry - 7 defensive actions per game, 72% of headers won, 0,4 tackles per game, 3 defensive errors, total chances created 7

Unless proven wrong on the field you guys have no basis whatsoever to suggest he's not good enough, when all the facts suggest that he just might be...

You can't use stats in a far weaker league and try to compare them to the Premiership where the standard is a few notches up.

That's a ridiculous thing to do but then again I expected that kind of response from yourself.

The clubs coaching staff and management see him train every day, they don't play him.

He's not good enough, deal with it.

Because we didn't spend a 100 million+ is why watford, leicester, westham, stoke etc are above us? All of a sudden these teams have a better squad than ours?. We have the 3RD MOST EXPENSIVE SQUAD IN EUROPE Ffs!. Can we take off the Jose tinted glasses off for once!

Could you not see this coming from the end of last season? Ivan was arse most of last season along with Ramires and Mikel, JT was looking his age and Cesc and Oscar were blowing hot and cold too. Regardless of how much the squad costs even a fool could see reinforcements were required desperately.

Could you not see this coming from the end of last season? Ivan was arse most of last season along with Ramires and Mikel, JT was looking his age and Cesc and Oscar were blowing hot and cold too. Regardless of how much the squad costs even a fool could see reinforcements were required desperately.

Yeah, I still remember trying to argue that point over the summer. This opinion most certainly wasnt in majority

You can't use stats in a far weaker league and try to compare them to the Premiership where the standard is a few notches up.

That's a ridiculous thing to do but then again I expected that kind of response from yourself.

The clubs coaching staff and management see him train every day, they don't play him.

He's not good enough, deal with it.

Spit on

Tbh I find it laughable he pulled out the stats card, I could go back a few seasons and show you that Michael Chopra's goal stats in the Championship were impressive, didn't mean he was a good enough Premier League player.

Yeah, I still remember trying to argue that point over the summer. This opinion most certainly wasnt in majority

I thought we'd fix those problems in the Summer, then when we barely moved for anyone in the Summer I had the same feeling I had at the start of the 10-11 season. I didn't quite expect it to be this bad mind.

Bobby you made a 'Spit on' typo. Karma?

Spit on

Tbh I find it laughable he pulled out the stats card, I could go back a few seasons and show you that Michael Chopra's goal stats in the Championship were impressive, didn't mean he was a good enough Premier League player.

The French league isn't a far weaker league as believed. Remember we and arsenal were knocked out by french teams in last year's champions league. And the french league like is serie A is known for its defensive football and ability to produce defenders.

Could you not see this coming from the end of last season? Ivan was arse most of last season along with Ramires and Mikel, JT was looking his age and Cesc and Oscar were blowing hot and cold too. Regardless of how much the squad costs even a fool could see reinforcements were required desperately.

See what I'm coming? I'm neither a seer nor a prophet. Ivan was arsed yet made the EPL team of the year. Ramires and Mikel are back-up players unless they are sold they can't be replaced with another set of back-up players. JT looked his age last season? Are you serious?. Cesc was a Jose signing, Oscar was his preferred no10 as a better player was sold in his stead, Jose wanted it that way, surely you don't expect it to change less than a year after. Yes only a fool who believes the cheque book is the solution to everything could see that a team of champions (comfortably won the league) was badly in need of players.

To write off statistics from Ligue 1 is plain foolish! And then to compare it as taking stats from a player in the championship is even more foolish. You only have to look at Utds signing of Martial to see that there is talent in the French league.

As ive said previously, its not lack of reinforcements that is the problem, its our style of play which the manager is accountable for.