Branislav Ivanovic

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

Branislav Ivanovic expected to miss three weeks for Chelsea as hamstring tear hands £21m Baba Rahman a chance at left back

Baba?!

Zouma!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11929464/Chelsea-consider-replacing-Branislav-Ivanovic-with-Kurt-Zouma-for-crunch-game-with-Aston-Villa.html

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/13/jose-mourinho-zouma-ivanovic-chelsea-right-back

[manpe 10,861]

Baba?!

Zouma!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11929464/Chelsea-consider-replacing-Branislav-Ivanovic-with-Kurt-Zouma-for-crunch-game-with-Aston-Villa.html

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/13/jose-mourinho-zouma-ivanovic-chelsea-right-back

Tbh I am quite certain those are articles just to troll Jose. They are basing all this Zouma thing on those same quotes about height they have been recycling for quite a while now and have thrown in Zouma's after he played LB in pre-season. This story seems like a fake, trolled up by some random Chelsea/Jose hating journos and snowballed by others.

However, if it turns out to be true... Naah, impossible

[the wes 7,212]

I agree with Mou. The best way to adapt into a new league is by sipping British tap water on the bench for 10 months

but some players do need time to adapt tho it took evra six months to adapt at utd after that he turn into a smasher

[the wes 7,212]

We don't want baba end up like cuadrado ffs i think he needs to time to adapt put zouma into right back till baba ready because baba didn't get much of a pre-season with chelsea

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Just one question: On what basis does everyone assume that Baba would have a better game at LB than Zouma at RB?

That said, I really do hope that Baba starts as we'll be needing Zouma at CB.

[MefiX19 1,092]

Just one question: On what basis does everyone assume that Baba would have a better game at LB than Zouma at RB?

That said, I really do hope that Baba starts as we'll be needing Zouma at CB.

Just one question: On what basis does everyone assume that Baba would have a better game at LB than Zouma at RB?

That said, I really do hope that Baba starts as we'll be needing Zouma at CB.

Because he is natural attacking fullback, and if he starts that means that Azpi will start at RB wich means we will finally have 2 fullbacks playing on their positions, not a RB at LB and CB at RB.

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

We need zouma as cb...

[manpe 10,861]

Just one question: On what basis does everyone assume that Baba would have a better game at LB than Zouma at RB?

Baba: Greater attacking impetus, more pace, more quality crosses, ability to play fullbacks in natural positions.

Zouma: .... height, strength.

I'm not a fan of the height argument, I'd much rather Baba played so we would start resembling an actual football team instead of trying to look like some Rugby thugs.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Because he is natural attacking fullback, and if he starts that means that Azpi will start at RB wich means we will finally have 2 fullbacks playing on their positions, not a RB at LB and CB at RB.

Yes, obviously Baba offers more in attack (except obviously in set-pieces because Zouma is a beast in the air), but also very obviously Zouma offers more in defense where we've also been struggling a lot. From what I've seen from Baba he has far from inspired confidence on defense so far.

I realize that there is obviously a valid argument for Baba over Zouma but I'm just saying it's no where near as obvious and unanimous as it is being made out.

Baba: Greater attacking impetus, more pace, more quality crosses, ability to play fullbacks in natural positions.

Zouma: .... height, strength.

I'm not a fan of the height argument, I'd much rather Baba played so we would start resembling an actual football team instead of trying to look like some Rugby thugs.

It's not about strength for strength's sake. We don't have the technical skills to dominate midfield with our passing and dribbling. In fact we've NEVER had that since even before Roman came. Instead we look to physically outperform our opponents. As for in defense, no matter how you put it there are very obvious advantages for height and strength.

[manpe 10,861]

It's not about strength for strength's sake. We don't have the technical skills to dominate midfield with our passing and dribbling.

We better against Villa. If we are going for the win Baba plays. If Zouma plays then we are treating Villa like Barcelona... and we will never achieve what Mourinho first promised with his big mouth when he first came.

[MefiX19 1,092]

Yes, obviously Baba offers more in attack (except obviously in set-pieces because Zouma is a beast in the air), but also very obviously Zouma offers more in defense where we've also been struggling a lot. From what I've seen from Baba he has far from inspired confidence on defense so far.

I realize that there is obviously a valid argument for Baba over Zouma but I'm just saying it's no where near as obvious and unanimous as it is being made out.

Baba-Zouma-Garry-Azpi is solution.

[El P. 1,354]

This injury might be good for Chelsea, but for Ivanović himself too. Because he is mostly embarrassing himself at the pitch this days, and it's sad to see such a great player fall like that and not being benched.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

We better against Villa. If we are going for the win Baba plays. If Zouma plays then we are treating Villa like Barcelona... and we will never achieve what Mourinho first promised with his big mouth when he first came.

That's a rather simplistic view of it. We're in a crisis right now we can't afford to be picky about it. Ideally in a situation like this you would go for defensive stability first and foremost and try to build on that rather than looking for extravagant football.

Baba-Zouma-Garry-Azpi is solution.

Tbh, that's not the solution. No one in their right mind would choose that partnership for any top team. However that does seem to be our best bet at the moment given the lack of options.

[didierforever 7,349]

cant believe that there is even a question of who to start as a LB.

baba a LB as a LB, azpi a RB as a RB.

or zouma a CB as a RB, azpi a RB as a LB.

[LAM09 7,043]

cant believe that there is even a question of who to start as a LB.

baba a LB as a LB, azpi a RB as a RB.

or zouma a CB as a RB, azpi a RB as a LB.

Me neither. I can't believe Mou is making the same excuses about Baba. We bought him from the Bundesliga and not League 2. I think he's more than capable of doing a job in his position.