"A sprinkling of quality"

[Glastonbury Cobbler]

Very few centre halfs have much pace.

Rubbish, there are not Tha many with pace in league 2 granted, but that's the reason why they are playing in league 2 in most cases. As you go further up the leagues you find teams move the ball more quickly and pacier forwards, therefore as a centre half pace is essential. Hence why Cresswell is and always will be a league 2 quailty player

[crazycobbler]

Rubbish, there are not Tha many with pace in league 2 granted, but that's the reason why they are playing in league 2 in most cases. As you go further up the leagues you find teams move the ball more quickly and pacier forwards, therefore as a centre half pace is essential. Hence why Cresswell is and always will be a league 2 quailty player

Nonsense. This generalisation is completely flawed. There are many premier league centre halves past and present who have been very slow and still had successful careers in the game. You're statement suggests that pace is the only reason why Cresswell isn't a player above League 2 quality which is ridiculous.

[DrillingCobbler]

Nonsense. This generalisation is completely flawed. There are many premier league centre halves past and present who have been very slow and still had successful careers in the game. You're statement suggests that pace is the only reason why Cresswell isn't a player above League 2 quality which is ridiculous.

Just to add to this. The physical make up of a centre half is normally strong, well built, tall etc. The God of football doesn't tend to award pace to such individuals as well. They are bulkier, therefore slower. Goes without saying. Bit like wingers tend me to light, nimble footed and quick. Because they don't have to win crunching 50/50's, head the ball etc.

As you allude to, its all relative to all levels of football!

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

Here's the perfect version.. End of the argument!!

[Sid]

I'd say having pace as a CB isn't a must per se - if you can read the game well and learn to drop off or attack play when required, you can compensate for a yard less pace. Sean Dyche did this in his last season for us. Had absolutely no legs at all, but his reading of situations was still good enough.

Often we tend to play a high line when it seems like a knife edge situation, I'd like to see us drop off a little earlier and read the through ball, so we deal with it rather than the linesman's (lack of) flag.

As you go up the leagues, CB's tend to be better at their interpretation, but take for example Concrete Rod. His fitness, sharpness and pace has improved over the season, which in turn has helped the reading of the game, thus making him a better defender.

If a CB offers natural pace, it is always welcome, having said all of that!! 

[Bingers]

Here's the perfect version.. End of the argument!!

Ah, I understand, you're saying that all Centre Backs have to be arrogant twats.  There's the perfect version.  End of argument!

[Shoemaker]

Lee Novak.

[crazycobbler]

Would love to see us get Lyle Taylor might be difficult though, even more so if Wimbledon get promoted.

[JollyCobbler]

Ah, I understand, you're saying that all Centre Backs have to be arrogant racist twats.  There's the perfect version.  End of argument!

I corrected it for you, Bingers

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

Ah, I understand, you're saying that all Centre Backs have to be arrogant twats.  There's the perfect version.  End of argument!

Keep ya Kagool on. I'm just showing you the best there is.

[Razor]

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

I corrected it for you, Bingers

Alright with Adam Smith though? 

[Bingers]

Ah, perfection!

[Gen.Disorda]

"What colour backdrop do you want mate ?"

"Do you do concrete ?"

"say no more"

[Glastonbury Cobbler]

Here's the perfect version.. End of the argument!!

And where did Chelsea finish this year, in fact where were they when Jose was sacked when JT was playing evey week??? What's the first thing hiddink did when he came in? Bring in zouma as he and everyone else identified that terry was becoming a liability against anyone with any pace.

Its not all about having pace as a centre half, just one of the qualities you need and if you played either 3 across the back or someone of quality sitting I front of a back two the you could get away with it, however also as Toure was exposed for Liverpool in the Europa league final, if you are part of a back pairing the higher you go the more pace and speed of movement you are exposed too.

[defender]

Very few centre halfs have much pace.

 I rest my case on this post I think.   

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

And where did Chelsea finish this year, in fact where were they when Jose was sacked when JT was playing evey week??? What's the first thing hiddink did when he came in? Bring in zouma as he and everyone else identified that terry was becoming a liability against anyone with any pace.

Any premiership, in fact, any team in the world would have given anything to have a genuine master at the art of defence, such as Terry.

No doubt he is not as good as he was. But then again. Nobody was as good as he was.

I am well aware that I was just illustrating the best British defender ever. I never realised it would make such stir 

But by all means, read below and stand back in awe at his domination and prowess... And think yourselves lucky we never got onto midfielders, or as they are known..... Super Franks lessers 


1 - Champions league title

3 - League Cup successes.

4 - Premier League titles.

5 - FA Cup wins.

27 - Headed goals in the premiership (10th best of all time)

40 - Total goals in the premiership (A record for a defender)

48 - Chelsea's top flight win percentage without Terry in the team

63 - Chelsea's top flight win percentage with Terry in the team.

68 - Yellow cards in the Premier League.

78 - Appearances for England.

109 - Appearances in the Champions League. 15th in the all-time list.

477 - Appearances in the Premier League. 14th in the all-time list and more than any other Chelsea player.

3420 - Minutes played in Chelsea's title-winning season in 2014-15. Every single one.

[JollyCobbler]

Alright with Adam Smith though? 

We weren't discussing Adam Smith

[everbrite]

Nonsense. This generalisation is completely flawed. There are many premier league centre halves past and present who have been very slow and still had successful careers in the game. You're statement suggests that pace is the only reason why Cresswell isn't a player above League 2 quality which is ridiculous.

Just to add my support for Cresswell (our own JT) who I feel is adequate for L1 - also perhaps a little short changed when it came to selection. Unless of course he upset CW!

[everbrite]

Any premiership, in fact, any team in the world would have given anything to have a genuine master at the art of defence, such as Terry.

No doubt he is not as good as he was. But then again. Nobody was as good as he was.



3420 - Minutes played in Chelsea's title-winning season in 2014-15. Every single one.

Correct me if I am wrong but aren't you a Chelsea supporter?