🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Gary Cahill

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I feel the opposite. I feel Terry made Cahill look good, JT was the key in our defense and it actually propped Cahill to improve his game.

And he's flustered and insecure with the ball. He always gets rid of it as fast as he can as if he doesn't have the confidence to walk/run with it for 2 meters. If our coverage isn't as close and populated as it was last year, this may cause him a problem, sometimes there won't be someone near him for him to pass and he'll either roof or shoot it to the sidelines, giving possession away right away... if someone gets the throw in quickly, we're once again in danger. He needs to work his confidence to do at least the basic with possession, he seems a tad too scared and sometimes the way he gets rid of the ball or his lack of technicality is nearly embarrassing for someone that was just a contender for being the captain of his NT and who's part of the #1 CB partnership in a club like Chelsea. He needs to look more composed...

100%

[Barbara 15,149]

Agree with the larger point of us needing a genuine top class defender to take over from JT as the undisputed first choice, but if anything, the other day it was the captain looking out of sorts and not Cahill.

exactly why having this guy is important... the moment JT doesn't have a good season - and let's remember he is simply carrying on his end of season, where he also looked out of sorts and made mistakes in important matches for us, then we have to trust Cahill to lead the defense? I trust Iva more as the focal point and that's coming from someone that actually prefers Iva as a FB... anyway, I've always felt that Cahill played so well because he felt confident with Terry by his side and learned from him. It's one thing to have Terry make a mistake, it's another thing to have someone else playing by his side. I'm slightly worried, but nothing that I think is compromising.

Couldn't disagree with that more. Cahill is underrated on the ball (much as JT was for a lot of his career) and he did so much running, marking and heading for JT. Go look at the stats or watch some of the matches.

Not gonna discuss this any further because I see no value to it.

I'm not talking in that way. I'm talking about confidence... a guy confident on his partner can be more confident on himself. We saw Cahill take his game to a new level. He wasn't the same playing in the WC, for example, although he wasn't as bad as I saw many making him out to be.

And do you really think he looks comfortable on the ball with the slightest pressure? If he's all by himself, he looks okay, an opponent closing in and he seems to almost panic and has to get rid of the ball the quickest and easiest way he can think about.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I'm not talking in that way. I'm talking about confidence... a guy confident on his partner can be more confident on himself. We saw Cahill take his game to a new level. He wasn't the same playing in the WC, for example, although he wasn't as bad as I saw many making him out to be.

And do you really think he looks comfortable on the ball with the slightest pressure? If he's all by himself, he looks okay, an opponent closing in and he seems to almost panic and has to get rid of the ball the quickest and easiest way he can think about.

He's a safety first defender. I'd rather have that than someone who tries to be clever with it. On the ball he's actually quite a smart operator.

[Barbara 15,149]

He's a safety first defender. I'd rather have that than someone who tries to be clever with it. On the ball he's actually quite a smart operator.

I don't want someone clever with it, just more comfortable on the ball. For a defender of his caliber he can definitely look better without looking 'clever'. Also I don't know if he won't miss having Terry as the reference and the rock as you guys called by his side. Do you think if JT has a bad season (as I said he's carrying on his form for the end of the last season, a few mistakes are starting to show) or has an injury and is actually dropped from the first team, a partnership between Iva and Cahill, Cahill can be the rock himself? That's my main concern. Is he the guy that compliments the rock well or can he be the rock?

[DYC. 7,542]

Agree with the larger point of us needing a genuine top class defender to take over from JT as the undisputed first choice, but if anything, the other day it was the captain looking out of sorts and not Cahill.

This has maybe been my biggest worry. Terry is old and could decline (rapidly) at any point. I personally don't think Cahill has the capabilities to lead the defence, to be that top defender. That's why I would support the club buying Benatia.

The CBs have one great advantage though. Ivan, Azpi and Luis are all strong defenders which is of great help to the CBs.

[The Skipper 20,609]

He's been written off again and again and again... Write off JT at your own peril guys.

[DYC. 7,542]

Couldn't disagree with that more. Cahill is underrated on the ball (much as JT was for a lot of his career) and he did so much running, marking and heading for JT. Go look at the stats or watch some of the matches.

Not gonna discuss this any further because I see no value to it.

Cahill doesn't compare to JT on the ball. Terry's not a reference point for ball-playing CBs but he's pretty strong in that department. Cahill really is poor on the ball. The slightest bit of pressure and I can feel his nerves.

Matic would often drop very deep to pick up the ball against Burnley and I wouldn't be surprised if that's one of his main jobs this season.

[Barbara 15,149]

He's been written off again and again and again... Write off JT at your own peril guys.

I'm not writing him off, I'm saying if things go south, is Cahill the man to lead our defense? It's a possibility. as I said a few times a slight concern I have, but nothing I think will compromise exactly because I don't see JT missing a great deal of the season whether for injury or technically...

Still only @DYC., @Madmax shared their opinions if needed for a long stretch, Cahill can lead our defense line. They're as doubtful as I am.

edit: also I just pointed out that he's carrying on the same mistakes he's made at the end of the season. I think in both occasions they happened due to physical conditions. Then because he was already really tired, having played nearly all games for us that season. Now because it was still pre-season and too early for him to already be on top. But at his age, the thing is we'll never know when a physical problem will present itself and just because he's been reborn technically many times it doesn't mean the final time he won't recover won't happen. JT won't go the rest of his life playing at high level. At some point he'll start declining, it happens to all players. He may choose to stop before that happens, or to continue and try to reborn again, we don't know, but at some point it'll be too much for him.

[Madmax 9,219]

JT's on-the-ball play is pretty fucking fantastic; his background as a midfielder in his youth really shows through.

[The Skipper 20,609]

I'm not writing him off, I'm saying if things go south, is Cahill the man to lead our defense? It's a possibility. as I said a few times a slight concern I have, but nothing I think will compromise exactly because I don't see JT missing a great deal of the season whether for injury or technically...

Still only @DYC., @Madmax shared their opinions if needed for a long stretch, Cahill can lead our defense line. They're as doubtful as I am.

Yeah it wasn't a comment aimed at you, just seems the general notion around the forum that a new CB is suddenly a must because we didn't look solidly defensively on Monday, with a few saying JT must be replaced which I find ridiculous, hence my comment.

JT - Cahill, JT - Iva or Cahill - Iva as our 3 main CB partnerships this season is fine IMO. We can start pursuing a new CB next year where we can adjust the squad from the start of the season, it's too late to start shuffling around the squad now to bring in a non HG player.

[Barbara 15,149]

Yeah it wasn't a comment aimed at you, just seems the general notion around the forum that a new CB is suddenly a must because we didn't look solidly defensively on Monday, with a few saying JT must be replaced which I find ridiculous, hence my comment.

JT - Cahill, JT - Iva or Cahill - Iva as our 3 main CB partnerships this season is fine IMO. We can start pursuing a new CB next year where we can adjust the squad from the start of the season, it's too late to start shuffling around the squad now to bring in a non HG player.

and who's the reference, the rock as people called, in a partnership between Iva and Cahill?

JT's on-the-ball play is pretty fucking fantastic; his background as a midfielder in his youth really shows through.

and that's without being clever as TOPTB calls it. It's no nonsense but with a lot of quality. You don't see him doing clever, flashy things. He's always no nonsense, but also pretty fantastic as well. Top quality on the ball.

[The Skipper 20,609]

and who's the reference, the rock as people called, in a partnership between Iva and Cahill?

Ivanovic can lead from the back, more so than Cahill. Remember Liverpool away last season, when Ivanovic had Kalas next to him?

[Barbara 15,149]

Ivanovic can lead from the back, more so than Cahill. Remember Liverpool away last season, when Ivanovic had Kalas next to him?

so we're back to my first point, Cahill isn't the man to lead our defense. I guess I said in one of my posts last page I trust Iva to lead us more than Cahill...

I think Ivanovic is a good CB, I have bad memories of him and Luiz three seasons ago, and then Cahill and Luiz. I have all kind of bad memories with our defense in the EPL the year we won the Champions League. But then we have the Champions League matches...

[DYC. 7,542]

He's been written off again and again and again... Write off JT at your own peril guys.

It's not about writing players off Skippy. Terry is turning 34 this year. Vidic, Ferdinand and Carvalho have all fallen. He's done very well to keep it up this long, especially considering the things he's put his body through.

His time is coming and Chelsea has to be prepared. You don't want to end up like Utd (talking about their CB issue). Evans looked good alongside Vidic/Ferdinand in 12-13. Doubt he'll look as good now.

[The Skipper 20,609]

so we're back to my first point, Cahill isn't the man to lead our defense. I guess I said in one of my posts last page I trust Iva to lead us more than Cahill...

I think Ivanovic is a good CB, I have bad memories of him and Luiz three seasons ago, and then Cahill and Luiz. I have all kind of bad memories with our defense in the EPL the year we won the Champions League. But then we have the Champions League matches...

That I agree with - always said from day one that Cahill needs a leader beside him and Ivanovic can step up and do so IMO.

I think the latter had more to do with the overall structure of the team. Di Matteo wasn't exactly a top class manager, and we didn't have a complete, balanced team or system back then. We have an infinitely better team and manager now so we'll look to dominate more games both tactically and talent wise.

[DYC. 7,542]

Ivanovic can lead from the back, more so than Cahill. Remember Liverpool away last season, when Ivanovic had Kalas next to him?

I do agree with this. I've always liked Ivanovic as a CB and think he could make a very good CB when given the chance. But Mourinho doesn't seem to see Ivan as a CB at all so I've kind of given up on the idea of him playing in the centre.

[Madmax 9,219]

Yeah it wasn't a comment aimed at you, just seems the general notion around the forum that a new CB is suddenly a must because we didn't look solidly defensively on Monday, with a few saying JT must be replaced which I find ridiculous, hence my comment.

JT - Cahill, JT - Iva or Cahill - Iva as our 3 main CB partnerships this season is fine IMO. We can start pursuing a new CB next year where we can adjust the squad from the start of the season, it's too late to start shuffling around the squad now to bring in a non HG player.

Agree with this. Barring an injury catastrophe (unlikely with our medical team and besides, you can't legislate for injuries too much), we're okay at CB ... next season could be different, though, and I hope we sign a top defender then.

[The only place to be 11,313]

so we're back to my first point, Cahill isn't the man to lead our defense. I guess I said in one of my posts last page I trust Iva to lead us more than Cahill...

I think Ivanovic is a good CB, but I have bad memories of him and Luiz three and two seasons ago, as well as Cahill and Luiz. We were awful in EPL at some moments...

Common denominator being sideshow.

The guy's a freelancer, a mock-defender so unsurprising that we looked shaky with him

Ivanovic could be that main guy but they're few and far between which is why they cost so much. Hummels, Kompany (at his best) and Varane are the three that spring to mind in Europe at the moment (maybe Chiellini too, not Benatia though who again looks like a Carvalho rather than a JT). Vidic used to be one too.

We've just been very spoilt with having JT there for the last few years. He'll be a massive ask to replace.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

He's been written off again and again and again... Write off JT at your own peril guys.

LOL...

[The Skipper 20,609]

It's not about writing players off Skippy. Terry is turning 34 this year. Vidic, Ferdinand and Carvalho have all fallen. He's done very well to keep it up this long, especially considering the things he's put his body through.

His time is coming and Chelsea has to be prepared. You don't want to end up like Utd (talking about their CB issue). Evans looked good alongside Vidic/Ferdinand in 12-13. Doubt he'll look as good now.

I agree with that but I know for sure that JT can still give us one more year at the top. He's had a long rest this summer not being involved in the WC, he's looked good in pre season and looks lean and fit. I think he can give us one more season at the top for sure, hence why I said that we should start looking for a CB reshuffle next year.