Sport
CHELSEA’S MOVE FOR STONES SIGNALS THE END FOR TERRY
The King is dead, long live the King!
Well, we haven’t quite reached that point yet, but for Chelsea’s John Terry the end is nigh.
Chelsea’s greatest ever player, despite what opinion polls might tell you, is in the autumn of his career and there’s every chance that Jose Mourinho sees the coming campaign as his captain’s swan song.
Alongside Gary Cahill, even at 34 years of age, Terry remains one of the very best exponents of the defensive art.
Brains as well as brawn author his natural game and rarely have England had a central defender with such longevity at the very top end of the game.
The reasons for his international withdrawal do not need to be discussed again here, but it’s a travesty that the best centre-back of his generation felt unable to continue to represent his country.
At least his club career has continued on an upward trajectory but all good things do have to come to an end of course. To that end the Special One has one eye on the future with a confirmed bid of £20 million for Everton’s John Stones, albeit turned down by the Toffee’s.
Clearly Everton are going to fight tooth and nail to hang on to their star man, but if the Blues return with a world record bid for a defender in the region of £33 million +, Bill Kenwright would be hard pressed to turn it down, even though he rates Stones as the “best centre back in England right now.”
Rumours abound that Stones himself has stopped short of handing in a transfer request but has made it known privately that he favours a move to the Premier League champions.
Still just 21 years of age, Stones is composed in possession of the football and has an acute awareness of those around him as well as a razor sharp reading of the game.
Already a leader on the pitch, he anticipates well and is positionally sound – something that perhaps wouldn’t be expected from a player of his ilk until well into his twenties.
Roberto Martinez’s utilisation of the player tells us much as to how highly he is regarded on the blue half of Merseyside. When the Spaniard has reverted to a three-man defence Stones has excelled in a right-sided role too.
Mourinho, should he be successful in his pursuit of the player, is unlikely to adopt the same tack, but Stones’ versatility in that respect could give the manager some food for thought.
The transition from Terry to Stones therefore shouldn’t worry Chelsea’s fans to any great degree. There is as much to admire in the apprentice’s game as the master’s and Chelsea’s desire to land the player is perfectly understandable.
In going out at the top, Terry’s legacy is further assured. Nothing worse than outstaying your welcome so expect the baton to be passed on to Stones by the end of the campaign.
Having what will shortly become England’s first choice central defensive partnership in Stones and Cahill can only be of benefit to a team that walked to the Premier League title last season.
And will do so again…
