Kurt Zouma

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

Zouma should be the indisputable no 1 next to Terry next season. The fans love him, he's only getting better, and he's quickly becoming the best young CB behind Varane in Europe.

[Stats 7,142]

Zouma should be the indisputable no 1 next to Terry next season. The fans love him, he's only getting better, and he's quickly becoming the best young CB behind Varane in Europe.

No he should not. He should have to work for his place. Cahill was very strong towards the end of the season. Cahill and Terry is our best CB pairing. Yeah, he can make mistakes but the way people dismiss him as some below-average defender is ridiculous. There is a reason he got in to the team of the year and Terry praises him so highly.

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

No he should not. He should have to work for his place. Cahill was very strong towards the end of the season. Cahill and Terry is our best CB pairing. Yeah, he can make mistakes but the way people dismiss him as some below-average defender is ridiculous. There is a reason he got in to the team of the year and Terry praises him so highly.

I rate Cahill. I just think that ATM, Zouma deserves his place (I could have worded my coment better, actually)

But Zouma improves our defence because of his physical qualities, that's not Cahill's fault at all but the point still stands. Personally both would look much better if Ivanovic decided to be an RB instead of a CF.

[Hybrid Angel 2,130]

No he should not. He should have to work for his place. Cahill was very strong towards the end of the season. Cahill and Terry is our best CB pairing. Yeah, he can make mistakes but the way people dismiss him as some below-average defender is ridiculous. There is a reason he got in to the team of the year and Terry praises him so highly.

Cahill was good towards the end of the season because we played a conservative style of Football, where Cahill was protected by many midfield players. For that style of Football, Cahill is indeed a great defender. But I don't think anyone here wants to continue that approach to our games.

If we are going to actually be useful with our attacking options(Oscar, Willian), we must press high up the pitch and that leaves space between the midfielders and defenders. This is why we are in desperate need of a proactive defender. Zouma is that defender, and certainly miles ahead of Cahill in terms of pro-activeness.

It's a crime how Cahill is still in the starting XI ahead of Zouma. How many more top class performances is it gonna take?

[Stats 7,142]

Cahill was good towards the end of the season because we played a conservative style of Football, where Cahill was protected by many midfield players. For that style of Football, Cahill is indeed a great defender. But I don't think anyone here wants to continue that approach to our games.

If we are going to actually be useful with our attacking options(Oscar, Willian), we must press high up the pitch and that leaves space between the midfielders and defenders. This is why we are in desperate need of a proactive defender. Zouma is that defender, and certainly miles ahead of Cahill in terms of pro-activeness.

It's a crime how Cahill is still in the starting XI ahead of Zouma. How many more top class performances is it gonna take?

No way. Zouma is not pro-active at all. That is his limitations. He is not a technical defender. Cahill is a pro-active defender. Maybe not the best, but certainly better with the ball than Zouma. You must be getting Zouma confused with Ake because as promising as Zouma is his ball qualities are not as good as Terry and Cahill.

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

This bullshit is why I would prefer Zouma in midfield over Mikel any day of the week

[Parky 739]

We need to build this beast up and give him more game time this season. He has the raw potential to be a great CB..

Jose is probably the best coach to build up a young defender to be a great..

[supporter 3,088]

Kurt Zouma vs Barcelona (Pre-Season) 29/07/2015 HD

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

Zouma should have no fear - he is one of Jose's boys now.

[Reddish-Blue 2,495]

No way. Zouma is not pro-active at all. That is his limitations. He is not a technical defender. Cahill is a pro-active defender. Maybe not the best, but certainly better with the ball than Zouma. You must be getting Zouma confused with Ake because as promising as Zouma is his ball qualities are not as good as Terry and Cahill.

Cahill isn't proactive, every time I see him play he's backing off the striker and making last minute blocks.

[Stats 7,142]

Cahill isn't proactive, every time I see him play he's backing off the striker and making last minute blocks.

He does back off a lot but what I mean in terms of pro-active is that he does not just boot the ball out and he is a ball playing defender. He has the confidence to carry the ball out. Zouma for instance does not have the technical qualities to make him a ball playing defender while Cahill does

[The Skipper 20,609]

He does back off a lot but what I mean in terms of pro-active is that he does not just boot the ball out and he is a ball playing defender. He has the confidence to carry the ball out. Zouma for instance does not have the technical qualities to make him a ball playing defender while Cahill does

Sorry, Zouma is technically better than Cahill IMO (this isn't saying much but Zouma has a much better pass and vision than Cahill contrary to the popular belief)

Cahill is not a proactive defender whatsoever. Don't confuse him taking the ball out here or there when there's barely any pressure on him for him being proactive. Any defender can do that.

[King11Didier 916]

What a beast he is! I love watching this guy playing for us. Really comfortable defender with the ball in his legs,something which I liked in Luiz really much.
I just hope he will be stick around for a long time and Mou to give him the playing time which he deserves.

[Stats 7,142]

Sorry, Zouma is technically better than Cahill IMO (this isn't saying much but Zouma has a much better pass and vision than Cahill contrary to the popular belief)

Cahill is not a proactive defender whatsoever. Don't confuse him taking the ball out here or there when there's barely any pressure on him for him being proactive. Any defender can do that.

I probably am getting the two confused as I am saying Cahill is a better ball playing defender. But generally, he is a much better technical player imo and that is how I would describe Cahill. A ball playing central defender. His technical style is evident by the goals he has scored in his career. For instance the goals against Tottenham, Reading (a bit of luck), PSG. Remember his goal for Villa against Birmingham some years ago? What a fucking goal. That being said, I still think personally he is one of the best technically defenders in the league. I don't see how people think Cahill does not have technical ability. Zouma is no way for me better technically than Cahill. I have seen countless times where Cahill does not simply bow down under pressure and kick the ball out but he is assured and uses his feet well to pass the ball to another member. I think he is the best defender in our team with the ball. Terry is the best distributor of the ball but in terms of actually using the ball well, Cahill is the best imo.

[robsblubot 3,595]

I probably am getting the two confused as I am saying Cahill is a better ball playing defender. But generally, he is a much better technical player imo and that is how I would describe Cahill. A ball playing central defender. His technical style is evident by the goals he has scored in his career. For instance the goals against Tottenham, Reading (a bit of luck), PSG. Remember his goal for Villa against Birmingham some years ago? What a fucking goal. That being said, I still think personally he is one of the best technically defenders in the league. I don't see how people think Cahill does not have technical ability. Zouma is no way for me better technically than Cahill. I have seen countless times where Cahill does not simply bow down under pressure and kick the ball out but he is assured and uses his feet well to pass the ball to another member. I think he is the best defender in our team with the ball. Terry is the best distributor of the ball but in terms of actually using the ball well, Cahill is the best imo.

What happens with him for England then?! Isn't it just less protection and a slightly higher defense line?

Disagree.

Cahill scores because of his impeccable positioning, not his technique or lack thereof. You don't need overall technique to score goals - some very successful strikers can attest to that.

Cahill's the opposite of what I would describe as a ball-playing defender. He cannot run with the ball or hit long balls, which imply his tight control is lacking as is his range of passing. Seen him lose possession or show too much of the football when running with it.

Now, contrary to most here, I don't think Zouma has much better technique. They are on par technique wise IMO. Zouma is far more mobile and quick, which allows him to defend up and be a bit more proactive.

The same reasons that made Luiz a good midfielder make Zouma a poor one.