John Terry: Should he be given a new deal?

There is plenty that will be talked about when this season finishes, as we look back at a season that promised so much but delivered so little. From the change of manager to results, performances and the positives we can take from it. One other thing has been constant and hasn’t done us any favours, and that’s the uncertainty that has surrounded the club.

Whether it’s the new manager, Frank Lampard‘s contract situation as he continues to try and beat Bobby Tambling’s record, or the situation with John Terry, it’s been a season like no other.

Last term for example, we knew Didier Drogba’s contract was coming to an end, but because he was playing in virtually every game and spoke of waiting until the end of the season, it never really became an issue. Didier delivered as he has done over the years and played a key role in the success we had last term. For the likes of John Terry and Frank Lampard, it seems like we are now in a situation this season when we cannot say or feel the same.

Key players, leaders and part of the backbone of the most successful era in our club’s history, both of them had to sit on the bench at Wembley and miss their first semifinal out of 34 in their time at Chelsea, and it must have hit them hard.

There is an argument that Rafa Benitez has picked up from where AVB had started when it comes to these two, and has steam-rolled the transition of the football team without the two mainstays of our club and our core. It’s a concerning time.

At 32, with a season left on his current deal, Terry has to start thinking of the future, whether he wants to or not.

Terry said this week:

“I’ve got a year left at Chelsea after this. People have spoken about no new contract and this kind of thing but it’s not even on the agenda at the moment.

“They may sit down with me once the season has finished and we’ll start talking then. Whether it’s a yes or a no I’ll continue to give my very best until my contract finishes.”

A lot depends on the new manager that is appointed in the summer. I personally still believe that he is the best defensive centre-back we have at the club, and still holds the biggest influence around the club and on the football pitch. Countless times this season have we missed the voice at the back to give people a kick up the backside, and we have suffered from it.

From the first name on the team sheet to someone who under Benitez, finds himself supporting the team from the bench, John Terry has to be concerned about his position. He isn’t as quick as he used to be, and has had more injuries in recent seasons that ever before.

In saying that, to this day, I would pick John Terry in my starting eleven week in, week out.

At 32, John Terry has a year left on his current contract, so will be 33 when the deal expires at the end of next season. He has won it all as our captain, and could add to that with the Europa League this term.

So, I am going to ask you and would like to hear from as many of you as possible:

Would you give John Terry a new deal this summer for two years, taking him to 2015, or would you decide against it?