With the return of JT we now, finally, have three centre halves each more than capable of holding down a first team spot. Alex's form has exceeded expectations to the extent that questions have been asked as to whether JT should come straight back into the team.

My personal belief is that JT should come back in and stay in assuming his form remains at a high level as with JT it is not just the defender you get but also the captain abd he is a much better captain then any other option we have.

However equally I don't want to see Alex banished to the bench for extended periods as we will need him again and quite probably on a number of occasions and match sharpness/fitness are crucial.

So do people think Avram should start considering something of a rotation policy between the three of them? I have always been opposed to rotating defenders as I think a settled back four is fundamental for a succesful side and as a result I am torn about what is best to do.

When I ay rotating I don't mean a different player sits out every week, however I think it has to be more than Alex getting a game every 5 or 6 weeks. Of course our injury luck means this may all be immaterial.

Dare I suggest the unthinkable - why not leave Carvalho on the bench ? Well, why not ? Alex is just as composed, steady and with the return of JT we have a leader in defence again. Besides, Alex had the added advantage of enormous aerial supremacy in both penalty areas and a cracker of a shot that can add to our goal tally sometimes.

Contraversial - yes, unthinkable -

I wouldn't leave Carvalho on the bench for the very simple reason he has been our best centre half for the past 18 months. If we were picking purely on form and nothing else then it would be between JT and Alex who gets benched and neither of them have been exactly below par.

I wouldn't leave Carvalho on the bench for the very simple reason he has been our best centre half for the past 18 months. If we were picking purely on form and nothing else then it would be between JT and Alex who gets benched and neither of them have been exactly below par.

Fair enough, Loz. I guess Alex is really in a great form, but you are right - consistency is what we need from defence and the Brazilian has yet to prove that (although he is off at a great start)

With all being great defenders It's hard to choose between them but I believe a partnership should be chosen not individuals and as far as partnerships go, Terry and Carvalho are IMO the best defensive partnership in the Premiership, if not the world. Alex has been brilliant but if you pick the team with purely football in mind with no emotion It's Jt and Carvlaho everytime. I also agree with Loz, Carvalho has been our best defender for a year and a half so he would be the last person I would drop.

How about playing all three?

Genius!

When everyone's form was up and down last season, when we had injuries everywhere and when we had problems everywhere else, Ricky was the man who stood up to be counted. Him and JT should be our number one partnetship, they compliment each other brilliantly. Alex has done well, but JT leadership skills and showing others how it's done is irreplaceable. If he was on the pitch against Everton and Villa at the Bridge, we wouldn't have let in those 2 stupid last minute goals and we'd be 4 points better off now.

Alex can feel hard done by, but the team comes first.

dropping ricky is crazy purely from a tactical point of view, JT and Alex are last man, big guy in the way type of defenders, while ricky is our only runner type of defender whos job it is to stop the striker from getting the ball into a scoring position in the first place or to beat him to the ball outright.

two "rocks" dont mix. you need one of each. we had desailly and leboeuf in the previous generation, and that combination was perfect just like JT and ricky.

not only that but without ricky's stepping up to the task while JT was out and alex new, we would be in a dire position right now, and he has not dropped his form yet. hes an undroppable. i do agree Alex looks to be a very solid option and if we didnt have JT woud be the next best thing, however Alex does not come with the same leadership as our captain JT whos spirit alone grants the team extra strength.

that is why Alex has to step down for JT if JT is fit and ready to go.

I agree that the first choice pairing should be JT and Ricky, I am just thinking whether we need to rotate a bit (again assuming both actually avoid injuries!) so as to make sure Alex gets enough playing time.

Brings us back to the JT, Ricky, Gallas situation all over again. Except this time, there's no easy answer because none of the three can play left or right back.

JT's the captain, so you'd expect him to start in the CC final. But if his form is as patchy as it has been this season, then I hope Grant's got the b*lls to drop him and bring in Alex.

More probably is he drops Cav of course. Which is harsh on him. But we do have a couple of quick-ish defenders in Bel and Bridge to help mop up.

But we do have a couple of quick-ish defenders in Bel and Bridge to help mop up.

Wait a second Brian, are you labeling Ben-Haim quick-ish??? Your sense of speed is a bit askew, me thinks.

Was that a joke?

It could be argued that the best, most effective and secure central defensive pairing in the last few years was JT and Gallas. Ignore the acrimonious departure of WG to the Arse and think only of the goals against total in the first championship season.

JT with power and Gallas with speed proved to be THE best partnership. Admittedly Gallas had a nightmare against Man U but that takes nothing away from his consistent standard at Chelsea.

At their best they kept Riccy out of the team; Jose even had to handle a disgruntled Riccy's disbelief at being the 3rd choice centre back.

Gallas has gone! So the nearest we have is Riccy plus one. Riccy has been, without any near comparison, Chelsea's rock this season. How we missed him when suspended.

Avram euligised over JT's return, suggesting a leaning towards his inclusion.

Riccy can be rash in the tackle but the man really is world class ' strong with speed and style.

Only competitive pairing is Ferdinand and Vidic- the class(when Ferdinand has good days ) with the brawn. Interesting that Ferdinand is also inclined to have the odd moment of madness. It must be in the genes

But we do have a couple of quick-ish defenders in Bel and Bridge to help mop up.

Wait a second Brian, are you labeling Ben-Haim quick-ish??? Your sense of speed is a bit askew, me thinks.

Cough.........Bel-letti.....cough....

Were lucky to have Alex, but JT & Ricky should be first choice without a doubt, Alex will have plenty of playing time this season to come.

It could be argued that the best, most effective and secure central defensive pairing in the last few years was JT and Gallas.

At their best they kept Riccy out of the team; Jose even had to handle a disgruntled Riccy's disbelief at being the 3rd choice centre back.

I don't think there is actually any argument about that. The Gallas/JT partnership was outstanding and better than any I have ever seen, be it at Chelsea or anywhere. The nearest I can think of (at least in British football) would be the Miller/McLeish partnership back in their Aberdeen days. Even now that Riccy has got to the standard that he is at, and has consistently been at for a long time, I would say thet JT/Gallas is better than JT/Riccy.

I think it was right that Riccy was kept of the team when Gallas was with us although more often than not he wasn't as Gallas was moved to full back to accommodate him.

However in terms of ability as a centre half I actually rate Riccy higher than JT, but JT also provids the leadership and organisation that Riccy doesn't.

But we do have a couple of quick-ish defenders in Bel and Bridge to help mop up.

Wait a second Brian, are you labeling Ben-Haim quick-ish??? Your sense of speed is a bit askew, me thinks.

Cough.........Bel-letti.....cough....

I thought it was just a delibrate attack on Ben-Haim, there seems to be alot of them nowadays.

But we do have a couple of quick-ish defenders in Bel and Bridge to help mop up.

Wait a second Brian, are you labeling Ben-Haim quick-ish??? Your sense of speed is a bit askew, me thinks.

No, Ben would lose a foot race with Huth! I was talking about Bel and Bridge and also A Cole. All of them are quick-ish (re. Quicker than JT, Alex, Ricky anyway) and can help cover if the centre backs are beaten for speed.

It has to be JT and Ric, i'm afraid. The pairing at CB is not something you tinker with, unless you have to. It's harsh, because Alex has been immense in my opinion, but the team come's first, so he would have to wait for an injury or suspension to one of the others, if it was up to me.

The way that Riccy brings the ball out, and distributes, gives us a brilliant added dimension.

I thought it was just a delibrate attack on Ben-Haim, there seems to be alot of them nowadays.

if youre still after one id be happy to provide it! ben haim costs us points! sell sell sell!!!!

Carvlho and terry are a proven partnership, and should be first choice everytime. Alex has done extremely well since coming in, and is worthy of a first team place. But he is back up for our main partnership