Scout Reports

Moving Target – Kurt Zouma

With Crystal Palace appearing to have stolen a march on Stoke City in the race to sign Bruno Martins Indi, the Potters have bolstered their centre-back options by signing Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma on a season-long loan.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes revealed the Potters fought off interest from a number of clubs from across Europe to secure the services of Zouma, who is looking for regular first-team football following a serious knee injury:

“We have prioritised adding further strength in depth to defensive positions this summer, and we have certainly done that by fending off any number of clubs who were all interested in taking Kurt on loan… On his day he is one of the most impressive defenders in the league, and while injury unfortunately hampered his progress at Chelsea last season, we are certain that we can give him the platform to recapture the form he showed prior to his setback.”

The History

Zouma linked up with Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne at the age of 15  and made his professional debut in a cup match against Bordeaux in August 2011, aged 16.

He made 22 league appearances during the 2011/12 season, scoring twice, and was part of the side that lifted the Coupe de la Ligue in 2012/13.

In total, Zouma played 74 times for Saint-Etienne in all competitions, producing four goals and two assists.

In January 2014, Zouma joined Chelsea in a deal believed to be worth around £12 million, though he only linked up with the Blues ahead of the 2014/15 campaign.

He made 15 league appearances during his first season at Stamford Bridge and was part of the squad that won the Premier League title.

It was during the following season that Zouma really established himself in the Chelsea side, starting 21 of the first 25 matches before rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.

That injury, along with the form of the Chelsea defence last season, meant Zouma has made just nine league appearances since.

Zouma represented France at all levels from U16s to U21s, before making his senior debut against Denmark in March 2015 – one of just two appearances he has made for the national team.

The Prospects

Zouma is priced at 5.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), so it’s unlikely the Frenchman will feature prominently in our seasons.

The 22-year-old does offer a set-piece threat – during the 2015/16 season he averaged a shot every 112.8 minutes.

But his goalscoring record, just seven goals in his career so far, doesn’t appear to justify the outlay, particularly bearing mind the Potters only kept 11 clean sheets last term.

Value can certainly be found elsewhere in the Stoke defence, though.

Glen Johnson, Phil Bardsley and Geoff Cameron are available at 4.5, while Jack Butland, Erik Pieters and Ryan Shawcross come in at 5.0.

Much will depend on what formation Hughes opts for.

The Potters’ boss generally favoured a four-man backline last term, but he did at times experiment with a three-man defence.

In a back four, Zouma and Shawcross look the favourites to start in central defence if Martins Indi doesn’t end up at the bet365 Stadium, with Cameron and perhaps Marc Muniesa options in a three-man backline.

Cameron is certainly an interesting prospect as he is also in the running to start in a defensive midfield role, although new signing Darren Fletcher is expected to be a starter in the middle of the park.

In terms of Zouma’s defensive numbers, he impressively won all eight of his tackles last season, and 81% during the 2015/16 campaign.

By comparison, Shawcross only won 75% of his tackles last time out.

Looking at Zouma’s bonus point potential, he averaged a clearance, block or interception (CBI) every 11.42 minutes in 2015/16, which was inferior to Shawcross (9.91) last term.

However, Zouma earned Baseline Bonus System Points (BPS) – that is BPS without goals, assists and clean sheets – at a rate of a point every 3.7 minutes. An outstanding return which easily bettered Shawcross (7.6 minutes).

Looking back a season, Zouma – who made 23 appearances for Chelsea – earned Baseline BPS every 6.5 minutes compared with Shawcross’ 7.2.

That would indicate that the new loanee will have a say when it comes to BPS and bonus points in a Stoke clean sheet scenario.

However, even that data does little to justify the extra spend on Zouma, with Butland and Shawcross, providing he shakes off a back problem, likely to offer stronger value.

Fantasy managers will hope pre-season provides some clues as to who will be the first-choice right-back between Johnson and Bardsley, although Mame Biram Diouf’s ability to operate at right wing-back is a worry should Hughes adopt a three-man defence.

There could also be some uncertainty on the opposite flank, with summer signing Josh Tymon set to put pressure on Pieters for the left-back berth.

In any case, Stoke’s opening fixtures (eve, ARS, wba, MUN, new, CHE) mean Potters assets are unlikely to be in demand.

Those early matches should provide us with the chance to assess how Stoke will line up this season, with investment likelier when Hughes’ men embark on a more favourable run from Gameweek 9 onwards.

As for Chelsea, new signing Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen look to be the rotation options in central defence for Antonio Conte, with John Terry and Nathan Ake having departed this summer.

It has also been mooted that Conte could be open to changing to a four-man defence on occasion this season, something that will certainly need to be monitored.

But in terms of Stoke, the power and athleticism of Zouma should certainly complement the experience of Shawcross. And once the Chelsea loanee gets a run of matches under his belt, his presence could boost the appeal of the entire backline.

But until the schedule eases, and we see how the Potters line up, Fantasy managers are likely to take a watching brief before pinpointing the optimum route into the Stoke rearguard.

Further Reference

Kurt Zouma Wikipedia

Kurt Zouma Transfer Markt Page

Kurt Zouma You Tube Highlights

2,595 Comments Post a Comment
  1. statenisland
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    1st game week captain?

    Kane (NEW)
    Aguero (BHA)
    Lukaku (WHU)
    Lacazette (LEI)
    Morata (BUR)
    Sanchez (LEI)

    ???

    I'm even tempted to TC Aguero...

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      You bad man.

    2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Don't do that.

    3. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Heck of a lot of easy fixtures there. I'm going with Lukaku who does like to score against the Hammers.

    4. bojack
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      I'd save your TC.

    5. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Lukaku

  2. The Man Pastore
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Pls RMT:

    Foster Fabianski
    Trippier Daniels Cedric Dunk Rangel
    Eriksen Sane Willian Zaha TCarroll
    Kane Lukaku Austin

    1. balint84
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      looks sharp

    2. Postbox12
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      I'd have a look at Austin as I think he's a big rotation risk

  3. Chip Butty
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Few changes...

    Forster/Foster

    Lindelof/Trippier/Cedric/Rangel/Mee

    Alli/Sane/Mkhi/Willian/Mesa

    Luka/Jesus/Gayle

    Too heavy midfield? Do I downgrade Mkhi to get some funds for defence upgrade?

    1. Postbox12
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Mkhi to Redmond and sprinkle the funds around

      1. Chip Butty
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Would then have 3 SOU players. Ditch Forster?

        1. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          My suggestion = 2 Saints.
          Least dramatic would be changing 2 Swans for 2 other Swans, Carroll and Naughton.

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      No such thing as too heavy in midfield! Don't know if Mesa's nailed on, Rangel won't play. I'd ditch Foster for a 4m and convert Rangel to a 4.5 starter - Naughton if you love Swansea.

      1. Chip Butty
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Don't love Swansea at all ha

    3. Postbox12
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      With Southampton's fixtures I don't see that being a problem

    4. bojack
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      With Forster's fixtures I would bother with Foster too. If you want a 5.0/4.5 combo go for Heaton/Foster imo.

      1. Chip Butty
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Heaton/Foster do seem to rotate better

  4. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Who is a better option?

    A- Zaha
    B- Ramsey

    1. Chip Butty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      any decisions on Arsenal depends if Sanchez leaves, but for now would say Zaha as looks like he will be main man

    2. Postbox12
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Probably Zaha until we see how Arsenal are going to line up

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Yeh, I switched Ramsey for Zaha yesterday.

    3. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      A

    4. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah I think Zaha is the popular choice right now
      Thanks All

    5. sugarmonster
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      A is safer, but I would also consider Lanzini.

    6. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Personally not a fan of A. Guessing you have Willian? I'd drop down to 6.5 or 6 if so, don't like either pick. If pushed I'd probably go B

    7. Bafana
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      You should have watched the Chelsea game last night. Ramsey was always there in the box with Lacazette. I think Lacazette brings something new to the Arsenal game that might very well benefit Ramsey's quality

  5. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Are Barcelona interested in Coutinho?

    If they are would Coutinho want to move?

    How much would Liverpool accept?

    1. Chip Butty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      If Neymar goes they will get Coutinho

      1. kj3llern
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Agreed.

      2. Waxys
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Neymar not going anywhere

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Ballpark 80m, I'd say. But it's not that likely at the moment.

  6. Waxys
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Danilo won more tackles (2.18) and made more interceptions (2.24) per 90 in LaLiga last season than any other Real Madrid defender.

    1. Waxys
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Welcome to City

    2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Nice.

  7. WE ARE RANGERS
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Danilo to Cith deal done, am I right in saying he played left back for Madrid?
    They want Mendy for that position too
    Looks like Bertrand will be staying at Sou

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Danilo can play LB or RB. So will rotate with Walker and Mendy.

  8. kj3llern
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    A: Ward-Prowse and Lacazette
    B: Coutinho and Rashford

    My team now:

    Foster (Elliot)
    Ake - Cedric - Milner ( Dunk - Lejuene )
    Mkhitarian - KDB - Eriksen - Ward-Prowse (RLC)
    Austin - Lukaku - Lacazette

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Probs A without knowing if Rashford will always start

      1. Chip Butty
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        and you already have Luka

        1. kj3llern
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Yeah... And it doesnt add up in funds either I realized now, 0,5 short. Bad post.

  9. WE ARE RANGERS
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone know how Palace are likely to line up GW1, will they play with wing backs, any guesses who will play at the back and who 1st choice goalkeeper will be?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      No idea - de Boer's still experimenting and they have new defenders to bring in. Still thinking about Cilleson and good ol' Speroni was a star yesterday! But a wing-backed 343 does look a goer.

      1. WE ARE RANGERS
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        So the goalkeeper place is up for grabs at the moment? Or is hennesey #1?

  10. Waxys
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Gravless RMTs are so bad.

    Rvrnin my first FPL season I watched enough games to know who would be a starter or not

    1. Waxys
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      In general*

      1. Licky
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        How does 'in general' become 'rvrnin'?

        1. Tomerick
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Rvrnin it can be quite easy to accidentally type rvrnin if you're not careful.

          1. Tomerick
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            *rvrnin

            1. Tomerick
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              **in general

  11. Football Heaven
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Willian and kaku/Aguero

    Mkhi and Jesus

    Something about me just thinks Jesus will do well and I want a city striker

  12. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Which is the best combo?

    A. Elliot+Trippier+Lindelof+KDB

    B. Hart+Alderweireld+Luiz+Sane

    1. Chip Butty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      A for sure

  13. PRENO
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    RMT please chaps...

    Foster / Begovic

    Trippier / Lindelof / Mee / Fernandez / Simpson

    KDB / Coutinho / Redmond / Townsend / Carroll

    Lukaku / Kane / Gayle

    1. Chip Butty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Think you need to downgrade Lukaku/Kane to upgrade on mid/defence.

  14. Scholes Balls
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Who would you choose from Liverpool's midfield?

    1. Licky
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Salah or Coutinho, until Mané returns to full fitness.

  15. Vlekz
      6 years, 8 months ago

      A) Kane Willian
      B) morata eriksen
      I got alli
      Kane is for captaincy pick. I got lukaku and aguero as other captaincy options.

      1. Chip Butty
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        A but what about rest of your team if you have Luka, Aguero and choosing between Kane/Morata?!

        1. Vlekz
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Foster(myhill)
            Valencia Tripper Cedric ake(rosenior)
            Alli willian loftus(Carroll romeu)
            Aguero Kane lukaku

            1. Chip Butty
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Need to free up some funds from your attack imo. Your mid particularly needs strengthening.

      2. kj3llern
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        A:
        Foster (Elliot)
        Cedric - Ake - Van Anholt (Dunk , Lejuene)
        Fabregas - Eriksen - Mhikitarian - KDB (WardProwse)
        Austin - Firminho - Lukaku

        B:
        Foster (Elliot)
        Cedric - Ake - Milner (Dunk , Lejuene)
        WardProwse - Eriksen - Mhikitarian - KDB (RLC)
        Austin - Lacazette - Lukaku

      3. Gregorini
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Ok RMT /10 and maybe I'll leave it alone.

        Foster
        Cedric/Trippier/Mee
        Alli/Sane/Willian/Tadic
        Benteke/Lukaku/Kane
        (Myhill/Dunk/Rangel/RLC)

      4. Football Heaven
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        A.) Willian and Aguero

        B.) mkhi and jesus

        1. kj3llern
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          B because of United 6 first fixtures.

      5. Football Heaven
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Forget price

        Jesus or Aguero?

        1. Football Heaven
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Sane Aguero and Jesus up top surely

        2. Chenku╰☆╮
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Go sane save the money

        3. The Quad
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          I dont know why people are saying sane over de bruyne, KDB is nailed on and is on corners/free kicks and scored the most points in the entire squad. regardless of whether he plays deeper i still think he will score a lot this season

          1. Gregorini
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            More touches in the box and more than doubled KdB for shots in the box when he played, also is much cheaper

      6. The Head-Ake
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        56394-16807 : Draft code. Upto 10 people. Join up 🙂

        1. The Man Pastore
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          You'll delete it afterwards?

          1. The Head-Ake
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            I guess, I set the limit to 10

      7. DavTrav
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Salah/Coutinho or Sane? No MCI or LIV players otherwise.

        Sane allows me additional 0.5 and choice of Lindelof instead of Daniels - with MU's opennng fixtures.

        Discuss plz!

        1. Gregorini
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Just did Cout to Sane as well. No Liverpool cover isn't ideal but I'm ok with it, I've been stung in the past with their inconsistency so I'll monitor it.

          Also
          -coutinho might leave
          -Salah a punt

        2. Gregorini
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          What are your thoughts on Lindelhof starting, I'm a United fan but have Trippier atm, would prefer Lindelhof but unsure on starting chances

          1. Chip Butty
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            I would say both if Lindelof starter

            1. Gregorini
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Definitely but I can't afford both. Trippier should have more attacking potential

      8. Jsadler95
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        So are people thinking Lacazette or Morata? Tough choice. If they were the same price I'd go Lacazette but Morata to save 0.5 is really tempting. Once Hazard's back I'll go Lacazette and Hazard but for now wondering whether to go Zaha + Morata or Willian + Lacazette.

      9. kj3llern
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Which should I choose?

        A: Milner - RLC - Lacazette
        B: Van Anholt - Fabregas - Firminho and 0,5 in the bank
        C: Lindelof - Phillips - Morata