rudiger is your best centre back by a mile.

Rudiger is quality I think. Why is he going?

That's terrible, why would we want to get rid of Rudiger.

He probably was before his injury, since then he's been terrible.

Plus Rudiger will want game time as he wants to remain in the Germany set up.

Not guaranteed that with us as he's currently down in the pecking order.

So who is your first choice CB partnership?
36 year old Thiago Silva and who?

Rudiger is decent but nothing special. Best hope you find a decent, consistent partner alongside Silva and a goalkeeper that knows how to play.

Thiago Silva is still in good shape for a 36 year old, his experience and leadership skills are what we need at the back. So yes he'd be the 1st choice CB alongside Zouma currently based on form.

With a competent keeper, which hopefully Mendy can provide there should be more stability in the back 4.

Chilwell will take the LB spot soon too as Alonso isn't good enough there.

Yeah Rudi hasn’t looked good since his injury. Slightly loathe to let him leave as out of all our CBs (other than Thiago) he has shown the highest peak for form n last few years, but we currently have 5 CBs so one has to leave.

I am still concerned for Tomori’s gametime being fourth choice and wonder whether we should have carried on with the plan to loan him and convince Rudiger to stay. Or maybe even do both and have three CBs+Azpi+Mbuyamba.

Not sure I'm entirely convinced about Zouma myself. Seems out of his depth at Chelsea.

Sarr is also still lurking about somewhere - yet to go on loan

Zouma has probably been our best defender over last 12 month. Which granted, may not say a lot

Zouma not the best with the ball at his feet but he's been decent defensively.

Hoping a more commanding keeper will bring more confidence to the defence and take the pressure off in certain areas such as set pieces...

Forgot about Sarr, thought he'd go to Bayer when we got Havertz

Zouma is like bambi on ice with the ball. Rudiger is a much better defender.
He was awful at Everton and made mistakes. Zouma is not the answer If you want to play on the front foot

With Kepa flapping at the high balls, Zouma has been very necessary for his ability in the air

I hope we (Leicester) are looking at Rudiger if you're looking to offload. Has looked quality whenever I've seen him (although granted not since this injury return you mention).

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Bit harsh selling Rudiger this window. Put the word in with Werner & Havertz, then politely f*** off

I would sell him eventually, so overrated, but come on man.

One signing away from securing all his targets.
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If that target is Rice, then I’d very disappointed. Not sure he’s the quality material for a team vying for trophies.

Rudiger of last season was probably on par with Boulahrouz.

We’d forever be wondering what happened to the Rüdiger of the seasons before last ? Guess will soon find out !!!!

comment by Devil D.A. (U6522)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
Bit harsh selling Rudiger this window. Put the word in with Werner & Havertz, then politely f*** off

I would sell him eventually, so overrated, but come on man.
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I agree Devil. We owe Rudi after using him to attract Werner and Havertz. But Lampard picks his team on merit - and right now it looks like it’s this order:
1) Silva (yes, we know he’s 36, but he’s clearly better than everyone else we have
2) Zouma (Bambi on ice with the ball at his feet, but he is fast, strong, puts his body on the line, and is immense in the air)
3) Christensen (best on the ball technically, but can be bullied. I’m also unconvinced by his mental fortitude).
4) Tomori (has the best potential of all our central defenders, and will probably learn a lot from Silva. But still has too many mistakes in him to be constant first choice)
5) Rudiger (was our clear best defender when he arrived, but since his injury he has done more Bambi impressions than Zouma. It’s a weird one. But I understand him wanting a loan move to get more game time prior to the Euros).

I actually think Sarr will be better than our other players, but apparently Marina said right from the start that he would be going out on loan. Not sure of the rationale behind that.

Either way, with Silva in there plus our new defensive coach, we must surely be better in defence than last season.

I've never been sold on Rudiger personally. Both Conte & Sarri had a more compact structure without the ball that protected our CB's to a degree, Frank's been the opposite but you could argue what that's done is expose guys like Rudiger.

He can't read the danger to save his life, too often ends up on top of him before he reacts. And as you say (bambi impressions lol) he's just an awkward player. Zouma's awkwardness is more forgivable because as hilariously bad as he is on the ball he's got the nuts & bolts of defending down & pace to bail him out, Rudiger not so much.

All I know of Sarr is he's been a fantastic libero to grab on FM for approx 4 years ... so I'm guessing he's fantastic on the ball

Don’t understand rudiger, was clearly our best cb and probably 3rd best cb in the league in 18/19. Last year was so bad though it was like watching a different player. Very very strange. Still seems to have pace and strength so not sure what has happened to him