Having digested the incredible displays of Luiz, Cahill and Cole at the weekend, knowing that Ivanovic and JT were absent through suspension and that none of them are natural Right Backs, how do we sort them into our best back 4. I think , whenever he's done the job, Ivo has been goodish at RB, so I would go Ivo,Cahill ,Terry, Cole, ---but where to put Luiz? We cant leave him out! What to do-what to do?
I think we need a new RB, or even two tbh. I would go with Ivo, Cahill, Terry, Cole for next season with Luiz covering at CB for any injuries or suspensions (of which there will be plenty). Luiz is good but Cahill and JT are defo the best pairing we have if we are sticking Ivo at RB. I think the season after that we should go New Guy, Ivo, Cahill, Cole We need a new Right back, Ivo can be quality in the centre and I think he and Cahill could work
A fine pairing, but with Lamps close to hanging up his boots, JT's captains role is vital to us! Plus he's a class central defender(and goalscorer)
I know he's a left back but can Bertrand play at right back? Would he realistically be any good there? Young,Fast, can Cross and is a good player from what i've seen
Luiz and Cahill are the future. Cahill will take over the captains armband from JT. Ivanovic is more of a right back than centre back he didn't play well at CB in the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool. Ryan Bertrand is Ashley Cole's understudy and will play a lot more regularly at left back.
Bill--I'd overlooked Bertrand(silly me). With Sam Hutchinson as well..what a luxury we have in the back 4 department! Perhaps, as Drogs has said rotation has to be the answer, or designate certain ones for cups and others for the PL. Nice problem to have for Robbie (who I understand may well be given a one year rolling contract by RA)
If I were to rate our defenders that are in our squad in terms of ability and experience included I reckon the pecking order should look like: Cole Ivanovic Luiz Cahill Terry Bertrand Hutchinson Kane Chalobah Not sure how far Terry can justify his position anymore , though he will definitley play for one more season starting.
David Luiz is the most talented of all our defenders. In terms of his positional play ,his vision, his passing and his attack he is in front of all the others in my book. He is still learning as a CD, and has improved enormously. He and Cahill were immense in the CL, even after weeks out with injury. Ashley Cole has proved me very wrong, his form and attitude are now 1st class. Ivan is our best right back full stop. Bertrand showed what a tremendous talent he is in an unfamiliar role, and he is gold. Hutchinson, Kane and Chalobah, like several of our kids, will also step up as Bertrand has done when the club trusts them, i.e. next season. Which leaves JT .For me, he is the one destined for the part time role. As good as he is, which is very good, I would use him for all the games which need blood and thunder to win. JT is our past, Luiz and Cahill our future.
People seem to have forgotten Bruma & Van Annholt. Whether they're good enough remain to be seen but as of today, they're still Chelsea layers.
How right you are, and that had certainly slipped my mind. They are both extremely good players. Seems to me we are overflowing with talent for our back 4, and I for one would be happy to stick with who we currently have. Can you remind us who else is on loan ??? A very good goalkeeper I know, plus that young french kid who is apparently killing them at Dijon is it ?? After the success of Bertrand, seems to me it is time to put some trust in our other kids, Josh, Piazon etc. Save our big spending for a major striker and a couple of "wide" boys. The future is bright, the future is blue.
Do you mean Kakuta? Played a few times for us and went out on loan to Fulham & Bolton where he struggled before he went to Dijon! There's also Josh McEachran and we actually had FOUR goalkeepers out on loan - Courtois, Walker, Taylor & Delac.
Thanks TEL Kakuta is the one, hear he's doing very well indeed at Dijon, and it's Courtois I was meaning. Delac of course is also apparently pretty handy, don't know the other two blokes. We look pretty damned well off at the back don't you think ?? Especially if Hutchinson comes on a little more. Also think Boswinga did himself proud in the final. Ribery and Robben did make a few clean breaks, but they do that against the best defenders going around.
Totally agree. Not sure about Hutchinson due to his knee problem but I've watched him twice this season and he looked fine. He's really a centre back but can play right back too. I do so hope his knee stands up cos he's a decent player. Bosingwa did OK I thought but he's definitely a weak link. Thought he was a good player before his lay off but sadly not the player he was now.
Regadring Bos, sadly that's what age does to us all. Still glad he didn't have a stinker, and he deserves his medal.
Ivanovic - Cahill - Luiz - Cole Thats what I would play with the very improving John Obi Mikel in front protecting them Only signing I would brin in is probably an out and out RWB because if Bossy goes as expected we wont have one Terry has been waning and was woeful against Liverpool, if he really loved the club he would do a Giggs and accept he isnt going to play every single game. He should be a unit that binds all the squad together, in the dressing room and around the club Mata in one of the playmaker roles, hopefully Hazard can take up the wing role and we should go with either Torres or Falcao (if Torres leaves) up top Then the only problem for me would be where to put Ramires - CM or RW and then sign our fourth or fifth player of the summer in the position he isnt being used in - Modric, Hulk have been mentioned among others Out Bosingwa to be replaced by Van Der Weil Malouda to be replaced by Hazard Kalou to be replaced by Marin Turnbull to be replaced by Courtois Essien to be replaced by either a CM or RW with Ramires taking up the other position And possibly Torres to be replaced by Falcao
Still a lot of "what Ifs" and" how abouts" regarding the set up of our team, but I completely agree with your back 4, AND also pleased to see it's not just me who thinks Mikel has really matured into a very fine defensive mid. Thought he was immense in the CL final, calm, cool and collected, so efficient he was under the radar. For those doubters, replay the match and have a look. Exciting times if we get half the players you mention, and we still have some excellent kids to tap into as well.
I've heard talk that Kalou & bosingwa are going to be released but Malouda will be offered a new deal. Mikel does seem to be improving at last but he needs to learn how to release the ball quicker, he still needs too many touches.
Mikel was our only player not to loose possession against Bayern. Makelele only peaked around 25-26 let's hope that's what we see in Mikel. On the subject of Bruma and Van Aanholt, neither (in my opinion), will be able to compete with our English back four of youngsters (Bertrand, Hutch, Chalobah and Kane). Also with light to Kakuta and McEachran, though Kakuta is very good player, I can't see him making it sadly especially with De Bruyne and Marin. McEachran however we should cherish. Someone that sublime on the ball at his age is talent. Need to nurture him properly.
