Tomáš Kalas

[yuvala 2,167]

He looks like a cool guy

[bleed_blue 136]

Will be featuring in one half of the game tomorrow. Lets see if he can make the step up from the dutch to epl teams.q

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Good interview with official site:

'I think I have more quality on the ball now,' he tells the official Chelsea website as he considers his development since.

'The Eredivisie (the Dutch top flight) is known for football quality and there I learnt a lot, especially in the second year when I was playing right-back because in that position you need more technical skills, but both years were quite successful, I was playing all the games and as player of my age that was the most important thing.'

Kalas

Prior to last season Kalas had always been a central defender and the very first time he tried his hand at right-back was in the early weeks of 2012/13, against Feyenoord at home.

'I didn't expect it but the coach came to me and said you have some skills to play on the right of defence,' he recalls. 'It was more difficult because we were playing against a really good team but we won 1-0 so nobody could say anything.'

There he remained for the rest of the season as Vitesse finished fourth.

In September Kalas made his debut for the senior Czech international side, coming on for the closing minutes of a friendly, again at right-back. In February he won his nation's award for the best young player of the year, sharing a stage with Petr Cech who was fulfilling his annual booking to collect the Czech Footballer of the Year honour.

'That is quite a good story,' smiles Kalas. 'I have a father not in age but a father in experience, and I am sure Petr is going to help in my development.

'Being part of the squad at Chelsea is what I was hoping for when I signed for the club. I didn't know that it would come so early, and that is why I went on loan to Vitesse to improve myself.

'I didn't expect that after two years I would be part of the first team squad but especially now it is exciting because how many players from my country at 20 years old can say they have played 63 games in the Eredivisie, and they can be part of the main squad at Chelsea?'

Marco van Ginkel is another who is joining up with Mourinho and our players for the first time having honed his talents in Holland at Vitesse, and Kalas is well-placed to brief about the summer purchase who is just a few months older.

Kalas and Van Ginkel

'Marco is one of the biggest talents of Holland and one the best central midfielders of his age in Europe, and I think he deserved his move the Chelsea.

'The last two years he was playing so well and without him and without Wilfried Bony we couldn't have reached the Europa League both seasons. So Marco was one of most important players in our squad so for me it is not a surprise he is here.

'His distribution is good but he is also unbelievably strong for his age and he can make runs as a No. 10 or as a No. 6 behind the strikers. He scored 11 goals last season and for a No. 6 that is really good, so he can play offensively as well.'

It was by his defensive play that Kalas was judged on Wednesday against the Singha All-Stars, and alongside John Terry in central defence he equipped himself well. Training is equally important at this stage of pre-season and the young defender is pleased with both this week's game and the sessions either side of it.

'In Bangkok the other team were playing counter-attack football and we didn't lose much of the ball in the first 45 minutes so they didn't make many chances to score, so for us as centre-backs I think more difficult games will come.

'Every day training with Jose Mourinho is like a high school for me,' he adds enthusiastically. 'I am enjoying learning in every training session and trying to develop myself, and if we train hard and it is difficult then in the games it can be easier.'

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3322451

I love that last part

[Mufassir08 2,400]

According to jose luiz,terry,kalas and cahill will be our 4 CB's.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

According to jose luiz,terry,kalas and cahill will be our 4 CB's.

If I were Mou i would have Iva CB and Kalas RB. Kalas is faster and better technically than iva, also a far better crosser, whilst iva is stronger, taller and more solid defensively

[yuvala 2,167]

According to jose luiz,terry,kalas and cahill will be our 4 CB's.

"

'I didn't expect it but the coach came to me and said you have some skills to play on the right of defence,' he recalls"

Doesn't it mean Kalas should be RB?

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

"

'I didn't expect it but the coach came to me and said you have some skills to play on the right of defence,' he recalls"

Doesn't it mean Kalas should be RB?

He's talking about the Vitesse coach asking him to switch to RB last season, not Mourinho.

[yuvala 2,167]

He's talking about the Vitesse coach asking him to switch to RB last season, not Mourinho.

Oh now I see.. thanks.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

NEEDS to work out those communication issues with Cech before the season starts!

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Not a good Asia tour for him. Maybe we should reconsider his as the 4th choice CB. I believe Omeruo is better. Kalas should get a PL loan I feel.

[themightyblue 443]

Not a good Asia tour for him. Maybe we should reconsider his as the 4th choice CB. I believe Omeruo is better. Kalas should get a PL loan I feel.

Bar the own goal (which is something that happens to all players) what else did he do wrong? We weren't tested enough defensively to say he didn't have a good tour. Give the lad some time, he really is great at CB, and obviously Mou has seen that

[Azpinator 2,325]

I think he's ready.. reminds me of Ivanovic when he first started playing for us, just the experience missing.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Bar the own goal (which is something that happens to all players) what else did he do wrong? We weren't tested enough defensively to say he didn't have a good tour. Give the lad some time, he really is great at CB, and obviously Mou has seen that

Nothing wrong with the own goal, but he got raped by the striker before the own goal. His back passes and utter lack of communication with Cech in the first game. Poor positioning for the headed goal conceded last game as well. He's been the poorest defender in Asia. Yes, we weren't tested enough, but whatever test he was faced with he made more than his fair share of mistakes. And, I'm in no way saying he isn't good enough or never will be. I just think he had a poor Asia tour.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Bar the own goal (which is something that happens to all players) what else did he do wrong? We weren't tested enough defensively to say he didn't have a good tour. Give the lad some time, he really is great at CB, and obviously Mou has seen that

Nothing wrong with the own goal, but he got raped by the striker before the own goal. His back passes and utter lack of communication with Cech in the first game. Poor positioning for the headed goal conceded last game as well. He's been the poorest defender in Asia. Yes, we weren't tested enough, but whatever test he was faced with he made more than his fair share of mistakes. And, I'm in no way saying he isn't good enough or never will be. I just think he had a poor Asia tour.

This

I think he's ready.. reminds me of Ivanovic when he first started playing for us, just the experience missing.

Actually as defenders they are the complete opposite of each other

I think Kalas simply should play RB, as i understand Wallace is loaned out anyway. I want to see him against bigger and better oppositions first to judge him as a defender. Most people would not give a shit what an attacker does when you are 8 goals up. Communication and experience will come, but his size worries me. He is sooo small, he will not stand a chance against most EPL strikers physically.

[themightyblue 443]

Nothing wrong with the own goal, but he got raped by the striker before the own goal. His back passes and utter lack of communication with Cech in the first game. Poor positioning for the headed goal conceded last game as well. He's been the poorest defender in Asia. Yes, we weren't tested enough, but whatever test he was faced with he made more than his fair share of mistakes. And, I'm in no way saying he isn't good enough or never will be. I just think he had a poor Asia tour.

Cahill also got raped a couple times by that striker in the last game and I think he can't be blamed for that headed goal. Had he attempted to get a touch on that, I reckon it could have resulted in an own goal. Also shouldn't forget the good bits he's shown this tour such as proving to be decent aerially with his fantastic leap as well as making his fair share of good tackles . The aim of these games first and foremost was fitness, to make a call saying saying we should reconsider him being 4th CB isn't advisable and unfair. On that basis players like Schurrle, Ba, Moses, Ramires should also have there roles reconsidered