These are the guys can turn 0 points to 1, 1 point to 3. These are the guys who could have given us the 5 extra points last season and convert 3rd place into a title win. We're not talking about technical ability here, we're talking about the ability to see the game unfold and direct play, to control lines, to pick up a flagging team by the scruff of the neck and drive it towards a result, to lead the dressing room. Drogba - now gone, don't see Diego being in the same class, but time will tell. Lampard & Ballack - now gone, Fabregas/Hazard/Oscar/Schurlle/Ramires/Salah/Mikel are not leaders, jury still out on Matic. JT - nearing gone - Cahill/Azpilicueta are not leaders. Ivanovic maybe, but he's no JT. Cech - nearing gone - Is Courtois capable of leading from the back?
See what you're saying though time will tell I guess. I think Fabregas was certainly a leader at Arsenal and dragged them through games. Ivanovic and Matic I'd say certainly can be and Terry is still in the 1st team for now. That spine of Cech, Terry, Lamps and Drogba almost impossible to recreate though.
Fabregas definitely a leader. Carried Arsenal for the majority of the time he was there. I reckon Cahill might become captain when Terry leaves.
LOL. If he is as good as he thinks he is, he can become a leader of sorts. In a Ronaldo-type way, change the game
Pah, Cahill is just a squaddie, no great leadership qualities. Fabregas, never was a leader, never will be. The way his shoulders dropped when we were beating them.. small wonder why Arse never won anything while he was there. Hazard, leader? dont make me laugh. He has the attitude of an 18yr old - needs to grow up first.
Tend to agree with you. Costa doesn't have the self control to be a leader, Fabregas has tended to drop his bundle too easily, Hazard is miles too immature. Anyone can change of course, but character is not easy to attain. Courtois might have what it takes, but a goalie as leader? Not ideal. Cahill will be lucky to still be in the team in 2 years. Someone will step up or develop, so I wouldnt be too worried. Who saw JT coming ?.
This. Hazard needs to grow up, but many immature players have become leaders... of a certain type... even the vainest such as Diego or Ronaldo. Look at Robben, the most selfish of players at Chelsea, driving Holland on throughout this World Cup. LOL. Cahill is a typical British soldier. Saw Fabregas become a leader for Arsenal in a couple of CL games v Barca and Milan. But agree he did go missing against us a couple of times
Didier was the same until 2008/9 but after his Barca and CL meltdowns, he became a leader from 2009 onwards
Robben is still the most selfish player i have seen, he never passes the ball in the last couple of games RVP or Sneijder was in and he just runs with it instead of passing.
Good point re JT. Perhaps Kalas or Zouma will make the grade eventually, and Christensen in the youth team is one to watch out for.
Agree, but like Ronnie he drives teams forward in big games, and takes risks/responsibilty to deliver
Im sure Stoke City will be keeping an eye on him. Seems to be what happens to most of our youth players English = Loan to a Championship side for a couple years then sold to Stoke Foreign = Loan to Vitesse for a couple years then sold to Stoke
Think these three led from the front when we were losing v Swansea. Costa will be a real leader for us, but like Didier in his early days may be let down by indiscipline. Fab can be a leader for us though, handling the big moments in a composed way.
Sometimes players can lead without being Captain, simply by their determination and drive rubbing off onto others. Fabregas might have lost the plot against us for Arsenal, but I simply don't think that will happen with us, while others are working their hearts out around him. Ivan is inspirational as well. So I'm not worried about the future leaders, they might be there already , but if not, they will appear.
Quite simply, there is no perfect fit to follow Terry. The only ones I can think of are our Serbs Ivan and Matic. Anyone who thinks Cahill would be up to it has me firmly in opposition to that. However, even those two have flaws. Ivanovic you can't trust defensively and Matic isn't vocal enough. Ideally we should go and sign Hummels and just make him captain.
I'm sure the board will have already had this one on the discussion agenda. Whoever it is , we'll know as soon as JT is out injured. I suspect they will be groomed into the role as the season continues. Someone who speaks good English( unlike JT)
Given the ages of our players defence looks the next area that needs some attention. Zouma needs some game time this season to see if he is a long term option and I would make Hummells our no 1 priority next summer.
