Kurt Zouma

[nyikolajevics 2,690]

Not taking a jab at this guy based on is pre-season form, but I still think keeping Kalas as our 4th choice this year and sending Zouma out would've been the better option. Sending Kalas out on loan undermined all the hard work and effort he had put in during the last season and he would've easily integrated into our backline in the coming season. Now he has to come back after his season long loan spell and repeat the entire process again.

How crazy is this gonna sound if we send out Zouma on loan next season after him having a decent enough time this season?

You are right but playing 90 minutes in the Bundesliga week-by-week is more benefitial for him than being our 4th choice CB.

Not to mention that the frenchman is Mourinho's signing, they talked on the phone and he convinced Zouma to join us. Kalas was already our player. It's possible that José doesn't want him and we only loaned him out to make his price higher.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Just give Zouma time... People who have never seen him before (not you per se) are judging him off two pre season games which is ridiculous.

There's a reason he was given the number 5 shirt IMO, if the club and Jose thought that he needed to go out on loan they wouldn't give him a number like.

At least give the lad some time to settle in instead of making conclusions that he needs to go out on loan after two pre season games. Don't understand why people put so much stock into these dead end friendlies. If that were the case last season then Moses and Marin should've started over Hazard.

Maybe I shoul've posted in the Kalas thread.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

You are right but playing 90 minutes in the Bundesliga week-by-week is more benefitial for him than being our 4th choice CB.

Not to mention that the frenchman is Mourinho's signing, they talked on the phone and he convinced Zouma to join us. Kalas was already our player. It's possible that José doesn't want him and we only loaned him out to make his price higher.

Kalas is a better defender than Zouma IMO( and that is not based on these pre-season games) Atleast Kalas is sort of a more technical ball-playing CB while Zouma is more of a physical threat.

With Terry and Cahill, we have a good mix. As far as our 3rd and 4t options go, both Branna and Zouma are physical defenders. Kalas would be the ideal pair to Ivanovic for our 2nd choice CB pairing. I really hope Jose is not intending to sell him.

[dee25 1,044]

Just give Zouma time... People who have never seen him before (not you per se) are judging him off two pre season games which is ridiculous.

There's a reason he was given the number 5 shirt IMO, if the club and Jose thought that he needed to go out on loan they wouldn't give him a number like.

At least give the lad some time to settle in instead of making conclusions that he needs to go out on loan after two pre season games. Don't understand why people put so much stock into these dead end friendlies. If that were the case last season then Moses and Marin should've started over Hazard.

If you look through the last 10 pages of this thread, there's a wealth of discussion about whether he's ready to play a role in the first team, and if you go even further to his transfer page, many were questioning his readiness then so clearly the reluctancy that some have extends further than two preseason friendlies.

I don't think it's a coincidence that he had a better season in 12/13 (when he was playing more regularly) than he did last season when he missed a lot of matches and was basically 3rd choice centre back behind Sall and Perrin. From what I've seen of him, he's the sort of player that needs to get into a momentum and I don't see how that's going to be possible with him being that far down in the pecking order. Clearly you disagree, and that's fine but from what I've seen of Zouma, he needs to be playing consistently. He's far too raw to be 4th choice, and I don't think he'll be able to perform adequately if he's not playing regularly. But let's see....

[Muzchap 8,966]

If you look through the last 10 pages of this thread, there's a wealth of discussion about whether he's ready to play a role in the first team, and if you go even further to his transfer page, many were questioning his readiness then so clearly the reluctancy that some have extends further than two preseason friendlies.

I don't think it's a coincidence that he had a better season in 12/13 (when he was playing more regularly) than he did last season when he missed a lot of matches and was basically 3rd choice centre back behind Sall and Perrin. From what I've seen of him, he's the sort of player that needs to get into a momentum and I don't see how that's going to be possible with him being that far down in the pecking order. Clearly you disagree, and that's fine but from what I've seen of Zouma, he needs to be playing consistently. He's far too raw to be 4th choice, and I don't think he'll be able to perform adequately if he's not playing regularly. But let's see....

Ok - but at the end of the day it's Jose's decision

If it goes wrong - then sure blame him, but I have a feeling he knows what he's doing with the youngsters - contrary to popular belief

[termninja 5,290]

I really really like this lad. Works really hard, very positive attitude and incredible physique. Was really good today and I'm really happy he got the full 90. It seems Jose has really big plans for him. Keep it up Kourt!

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

I'm going to emphasize this again, this guy's leaping ability is second to none, almost like cheating. I bet he is able to compete for Olympics after some proper training.....

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

The two a days may have had an affect on him. He looked much better today

[zolayes 14,489]

The two a days may have had an affect on him. He looked much better today

we should either keep him ..or send him out on loan till he gets a bit bigger

[BenIsLegend 475]

Who wants money on Zouma saying "I am very happy" in his next interview?


But in all seriousness this guy is great, young and a little raw but his enthusiasm to play well and improve is brilliant. Under the guidance of JT he could become a real star.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

we should either keep him ..or send him out on loan till he gets a bit bigger

I think he's making a bid to stay. Who do you mark if your Arsenal in a set piece situation?

JT, Brana, Cahill, Costa, Drogba, Matic, Zouma with Cesc on the delivery? my word.

This is gonna be a fun year and the club will be wise to allow him to stay and learn from JT. Positioning seems to be his weakness right now.

[Styles 9,790]

Because I'm happy...

[Barbara 15,149]

This guy is a tank... except he can leap like a flea. How is that physically possible lol?

Anyway, I think he showed much more composure today. Maybe last match was just a stinker, everyone has those, especially when you're new in a team and even more so during pre-season.

I think we're done with the CB now. With him and Iva we have enough coverage for Cahill's and Terry's eventual absences. Actually I think his partnership with Terry today in the second was second to nothing to the Cahill/Terry partnership in general. It's good to have this feeling, that if an injury comes or a suspension for cumulative yellows, we not only have Iva (who I don't like much as a CB, unpopular opinion, but for me is a FB).

Actually with Aké, Iva and Zouma we've got the defense depth covered imo. We don't need any better than this. Also with some of those guys age (Aké, Zouma and even Azplici), if development continues as expected and injuries don't cause a serious problem, we're done with defenders for a few years, even when Terry retires and Cahill and Luís start the descending years of their careers. Terry could play one or two more years, the other two, who knows, maybe three or even four. We're settled for a few years and that's without counting Kalas who I also see some good potential on.

[The Chels 2,502]

I think it really helped Zouma having Fabregas play in front of him. It meant Zouma's building from the back and passing responsibilities (which seem a weakness of his) were minimised.

[StrategiC 73]

Love that he went directly to JT after scoring. Everybody loves our captain.