So how good is Kurt Zouma?

Apparently we've just signed him(to be loaned back for the remainder of the season) and a lot of top clubs seemed to have been after him. I haven't got the slightest clue about him but surely there's something they've seen in him?

Wanted to get your takes on him as a player as I've never actually seen him play and I know youtube can be quite deceiving.

A strong physical defender who's far from slow. Only 19 ( on his way to 20 i think ). A really good buy imo as he'd if given time turns into a great defender. If I had to choose between a 19old Sakho or Kurt zouma i'd have chosen Kurt.
If he gets a chance to learn from an experienced partner , by 24 he'd be at Laurent Koscielny's level imo. But all that's hypothetical.

Bénin wrote:A strong physical defender who's far from slow. Only 19 ( on his way to 20 i think ). A really good buy imo as he'd if given time turns into a great defender. If I had to choose between a 19old Sakho or Kurt zouma i'd have chosen Kurt.
If he gets a chance to learn from an experienced partner , by 24 he'd be at Laurent Koscielny's level imo. But all that's hypothetical.

That would be JT who would take him under his wing, like Desailly did with Terry.

Kick wrote:

Bénin wrote:A strong physical defender who's far from slow. Only 19 ( on his way to 20 i think ). A really good buy imo as he'd if given time turns into a great defender. If I had to choose between a 19old Sakho or Kurt zouma i'd have chosen Kurt.
If he gets a chance to learn from an experienced partner , by 24 he'd be at Laurent Koscielny's level imo. But all that's hypothetical.

That would be JT who would take him under his wing, like Desailly did with Terry.

By the time Kurt start playing Terry would be 34. Is he going to play regularly ?

Bénin wrote:

Kick wrote:

Bénin wrote:A strong physical defender who's far from slow. Only 19 ( on his way to 20 i think ). A really good buy imo as he'd if given time turns into a great defender. If I had to choose between a 19old Sakho or Kurt zouma i'd have chosen Kurt.
If he gets a chance to learn from an experienced partner , by 24 he'd be at Laurent Koscielny's level imo. But all that's hypothetical.

That would be JT who would take him under his wing, like Desailly did with Terry.

By the time Kurt start playing Terry would be 34. Is he going to play regularly ?

He's playing regularly right now and has been arguably the best defender in the league this season. I think he'd have at least one more top class season left in him.

Well , he's not going to partner Kurt Zouma then.

It doesn't have to be a partnership in every game. If JT teaches him, it can be from off the field, too.

France spoiled for choice in the future. Making some great defenders again, assuming they all reach their potential of course.

Sakho, Varane, Mangala, Zouma, Koscielny... probably a lot more I'm missing too. Crazy.

Corchia, Umtiti, Laporte, Digne also.

Half of those guys are overrated as shit

Why don't you name me every scrub that plays in France while you're at it.

Varane and Sakho both have the potential to be arguably the best two CBs in the world - their potential is HUGE.

Koscielny is currently the best CB in the PL after Kompany...

Zouma and Mangala can be very good too.

sorry to break it to you but Sakho is only has that potential in FM. in reality, he is far from it.

Sakho looks very good if he's partnered with a tactical CB next to him... which is why he's looked so good when paired with Varane.  When he can't be aggressive, he has problems.  I think he's very good.  Will never be great because his technique is just not good enough.

The top CB prospects in France are Varane, Laporte, Mangala and....  Zouma.  These are the 4.  I feel that Umtiti is way overrated and Sakho doesn't have the talent of these 4.

As far as Zouma is concerned, he's extremely talented but raw around the edges.  Extremely physical... i mean even Ibra couldn't impose himself physically against him.  The difference with Sakho is that he's fast and quick too.  On the downside, he tackles very, very, very hard.  He will get carded.  He's been serving a long ban in Ligue 1 for destroying another player's leg on a tackle (although he did go for the ball).  

Needs to be taught.  A ton of talent and already getting a lot of experience.

Red Alert wrote:Varane and Sakho both have the potential to be arguably the best two CBs in the world - their potential is HUGE.

Koscielny is currently the best CB in the PL after Kompany...

Zouma and Mangala can be very good too.

Mertesacker is the best CB in PL. Kos is good but Merte carries that Arsenal defense.

Zouma will be much better than Koscielny if he gets a lot of playing time by 5 years. Really, watching him this season, he can be top 3 CB in the world within a few years. He's easily St.Etinne's best defender.

He could partner up with Terry nice too next year if Mourinho goes in that direction. Youth and experience as a pair. Nobody saw Cahill turning into a beast though so Zouma will more than likely just get time with him when they want to give Terry a rest. Luiz can be the shut up shop sub or whatever. He wont ever take Cahill's spot as long as he plays like this.

Kurt Zouma was one of the reasons Gaultier's ASSE kept a very good defensive record, despite what was a rather pragmatic team. Zouma is in the mould of LFC's Momo Sakho yet possesses more dexterity on his feet. Where he fails are his impulsive decisions and rash tackles to which are mostly a product of his youth. Like young Sakho, he will be world class if developed consistently.

Good to see Nick mention Ayermic Laporte who along with Varane is part of two of France's most talented future CBs.

Laporte is in advantage of being younger than Varane yet Varane has played in higher levels (CL) than of a proven Laporte. Partner of Sakho in France will likely remains Varane given Laporte is in the exact same mould as Varane, technical readers of the game, paired better with dominant CBs.

Mr Nick09 wrote:sorry to break it to you but Sakho is only has that potential in FM. in reality, he is far from it.

He's not even that great on FM.

Have you actually seen him play for Liverpool this season? Honestly.

McAgger wrote:
Mertesacker is the best CB in PL. Kos is good but Merte carries that Arsenal defense.

He's not though. Apart from height, what does Merte have over Kompany?

Kos is just as good albeit two different players. They compliment each other well, and are rightfully the best defensive duo in the league and that's all that matters I guess. But Kos is better if you look compare them individually.

lmao apart from height

Merte's defensive reading of the game is probably the best in the world. He has very very very little pace so he compensates with unbelievable understanding of the game. And he's also unbelievable organizer of his defensive unit.

The only thing Kompany does well apart from being physically imposing, is organize his defensive unit. Kompany is average at reading the game or at one on ones.

Kompany can read the game...

It's not Kompany's fault he's played next to people like Lescott and Demichelis ffs.

Merte's easily the best CB in the world because of the lack of quality defenders today. Thiago Silva would probably be the only "good" defender if we compare to 10 years ago.

Anyway, think we're going off topic. And Kick doesn't like it when people go off topic.   

Yeah I'm happy to end it here. Let's get back to OP: Kurt Zouma is shit

So how good is Kurt Zouma?

Is he better than Laporte ?

Zouma is quality. The player Mangala is trying so hard to become. Seriously hope you guys wont let go Varane to chelsea. Varane-Zouma CB pairing and Chelsea's set for at least a decade.

Laporte, well I hope he is better than Zouma.

Lumiere_Blanche wrote:Zouma is quality. The player Mangala is trying so hard to become. Seriously hope you guys wont let go Varane to chelsea. Varane-Zouma CB pairing and Chelsea's set for at least a decade.

Laporte, well I hope he is better than Zouma.

Never quite works like that though does it.

I remember Chelsea being "Set for the future" when people were going on and on about Mazacar. Barely a year later and where are they?

Hazard shows up when he feels like it. Mata is on his way out the league, and Oscar is bench warming all the big matches.