Season Preview: Eight into four - A case for the defence.

David Luiz

The reason I have doubts about whether or not there is a place in Jose’s eleven to start with is because of David Luiz. Brilliant one minute, a stupid mistake the next, you really aren’t 100% certain Luiz is a centre back are you!?

However, his performances for Brazil in the Confederations Cup at the back where different class and he really stepped up his game.

If you look at the Chelsea squad, you would have to admit that Luiz is one of the best with the ball at his feet. Whether it’s right or left footed, long or short passes and with the ability to hit the back of the net from distance, he is someone you simply cannot afford to overlook for a start in the side.

We have seen what he could bring to the holding role in midfield but it’s interesting to hear Jose state that he is a centre back. Like I have said of Azpilicueta, Mourinho likes to build from a strong solid base and you would imagine they have already spoken of what is expected of Luiz in that position now for Chelsea.

If Jose Mourinho can calm him down at the back then we could have another Ricardo Carvalho on our hands. We all remember just how good he was at reading the game and knowing when he step forward, win the ball and release it. Whether or not Luiz does is another thing but with reported interest from Barcelona rejected out of hand by Chelsea, you can see Jose giving him a real chance.

He is back apparently! It never really quite clicked between Rafa Benitez and John Terry did it last season! despite stating that he was fit and ready to play, Benitez saw things differently and Terry never really had a settled period of time in the first team and featured in only 27 games last term.

Passed it, too slow and more is all we hear from pundits about our Captain but I still believe he is and remains the heartbeat of our back four.

No one comes close to John Terry as far as his defensive ability and awareness is concerned. Yes he has lost a yard of pace these days but still has a spring in his step and more than makes up for it with ability to read the game. I was talking a moment ago about Luiz and knowing when to step forward to win the ball, compare him to JT and how and when he does it.

Working once more under Mourinho, we could really see JT push himself to the level of consistent performance we used to see when he was playing week in, week out. He will be a starter for Jose if he can remain fit for the season ahead.

Ashley Cole remains the best left back in the country and for England without question. This season, working with the man who did literally everything to bring him to Chelsea in the first place, Cole will establish superiority in that position throughout the season and take his form to Rio next summer ahead of Leighton Baines.

Cole as we know is a nailed on starter and if anything, I would like to see someone else with similar ability come in and give him a real run for his first team place just to push him onto another level.

What more can you say about Ashley Cole?

If there is one position that remains a concern it is left back and it is unfortunately Ryan Bertrand. Nothing personal when I say that but does he pose Ashley Cole a real threat to his position in the starting eleven? I don’t think so.

Bertrand has a huge amount of potential and has been lined up for almost three seasons now as Cole’s replacement. Do we think he has done enough so far? I don’t think he has and I am looking for a marked improvement as far as the defensive part of his game goes.

Again, if anyone can bring that out of him it would be Jose. Whether he works hard enough to do that isn’t in question but you would imagine that out of the whole first team squad, Bertrand would have to work harder than most.

Tomas Kalas has it all to do this season to force his way into Mourinho’s plans but to his credit, has done enough last season to convince Jose that he is good enough to provide competition through the middle.

Premier League football is another level and I would expect his impact to be minimal this term. His season is about bedding in with everyone, training with them every day and learning from everyone else to develop his game.

We may see Kalas if we end up with favourable draws in the FA and League Cups and that’s no disrespect to him at all.

Do I see Kalas forcing his way in front of Cahill, JT and Luiz? No I don’t and I don’t think anyone would do at this stage. As I said, it’s a season of development for Kalas and lets see where we are next term.