2018/19 Kurt Zouma

[Connor]

he may be first choice ,we don't know yet

Mick Kegs and the Yerald >

 

[Stephenlloyd]

Looking at the Lampard articles, they all talk about him wanting to develop the younger players and bring them through and he spoke specifically about Mount and Tomori.

For Tomori to have any chance he needs to be 3rd/4th choice, not 5th or 6th. Will he get chances, even in the Carabao cup when the 2 rotation players are Christensen and Zouma (after Rudiger and Luiz) at the moment?

For him to even believe he will get chances he needs to be in a few matchday squads or on the bench and again, are Chelsea going to do that for him if it means leaving Zouma/Christensen at home.

The best solution would be to have 3 quality established CB's and make Tomori the 4th, plus Ampadu who is rated very highly.

I am really starting to believe that we will be signing him.

I suppose the interesting think is do we think lampard was consulted, regarding them offering Luiz a new contract. Because if lampard doesn’t fancy Luiz then that’s going to change things. Though I think he probably did know and will want his most experienced defender in the team.

So like you said, that makes one of Christensen & Zouma 4th choice which neither will be happy with, so I can see definitely one of them leaving, with a couple of youngsters as back up and Azpilicueta capable of playing centrally.

 

[4737carlin]

If he comes back playing for Chelsea ill clap him if he scores Naismith style

 

[boris]

he may be first choice ,we don't know yet

He was first choice last year and he wasn’t even ours.

There’s no doubt whatsoever he will be first choice when the season starts.

 

[KaiserEFC]

Personally I don’t think it matters when we sign him. Knows how we play and who he’s going to be playing next to. If he’s unfit Mina gets his chance in the team until he’s up to speed, win win.

 

[Death]

If he comes back playing for Chelsea ill clap him if he scores Naismith style

He's still in his everton jersey on his Wikipedia. Just had a gander at it.

 

[Tin-Tin]

Still can't see it.

This whole "Lamps will give youth a chance" is gonna be emperors new clothes. I can't see them selling 1st team players or squad players to throw in kids.

There will be up roar by the chelski faithful when they're 8th and struggling to compete because they're relying on Ampadu etc

They wont be relying on Ampadu and Tomori though as Rudiger, Luiz and Christensen are all PL quality established players, with Azpilicueta also able to play there (which he did a lot under Conte's 3 at the back system). The 2 younger players will be used sparingly or in cup competitions but it will be experience. If Zouma stays then they both may as well go out on loan as they will see practically zero minutes.

 

[Flynnthistle]

Zouma was utterly superb for us at times last season, a bit of a shaky start but settled into his partnership with Keane, predominantly, extremely well.

I think some people underestimate the importance of a centre half in football, they are every bit as important as those who provide the goals, if not more so. He has the power, the positional sense, the apparent leadership qualities and indeed the recovery pace that is so needed in the EPL these days given the semi-high press that we employ.

Zouma for 30m or less would be a superb bit of business given the age, his established credentials at the club and indeed growth in value potential given that as a result of his performances for us he got a game for France at the end of the season.

It would be an investment that would yield rewards both in playing performance and potential resale.

 

[terraloon]

Thought its 2 window's if they didnt appeal [this and Jan],meaning they were ok next summer,i may be wrong though

As things stand it’s a two window ban.

There was talk that if they applied for a stay of the ban that the ban could potentially be increased by FIFA to three windows that would be unlikely if not impossible as CAS now have jurisdiction not FIFA.

The latest I read is that Chelsea's appeal to CAS is not about the conviction but the ban and fine. Put another way they want it reduced to one window and that FIFA may well accept their application without challenging.

 

[terraloon]

What a thrilling and flattering prospect for the lad.

Some weeks ago I posted that I had a conversation in Tenerife with a chap that claimed to be a Villa scout.

This chap said that they had been told that Chelsea were putting a temporary hold on their policy of allowing players to leave if the player asked to leave.The only exceptions were if there was an obligation or it suited both the club and the player. At that point in time he hadn’t heard that the players they were interested in or indeed Zouma had been angling for a move.

Footballers generally don’t see themselves as third or whatever number supporters think they are in the pecking order they will accept that if their chance comes they have to grasp it with both hands.

As a total aside I would not at all be surprised to see Chelsea revert initially to a 3-5-2 for three reasons.

First Lampard was bought up on a far more solid base than Sari dabbled with last season and a number of the players they already have were bought for that system or in the case of Luiz have more freedom and cover.

Second it would enable him to accommodate both Kante and Jorginho in more favourable midfield positions.

Thirdly the pace of their wide players on the counter could be devastating. Pulisic is no slouch and Hudson-Odoi is pretty close to returning to full training .

If I am right then they would have Azipuleta, Rudiger ( when fit) Luiz, Christensen, Ampadu and Zouma batting it out for three defensive positions.

 

[BernieH]

Big fan of Zouma and would love to see him back, hoping Digne, Gana and Snides are on at him.

 

[Groucho]

Gomes’ smile in his press conference when asked about Zouma makes me wonder if there’s something going on we can’t see.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Gomes’ smile in his press conference when asked about Zouma makes me wonder if there’s something going on we can’t see.

*Hums just the two of us*

 

[MikeH72]

Gomes’ smile in his press conference when asked about Zouma makes me wonder if there’s something going on we can’t see.

Probably, there usually is.

 

[Blue Juice]

I feel like if we've got the financial bullying power we've claimed to have since Farhad came on board literally the only thing that should stop this deal is if Chelsea flat out refuse sale