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. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Walker-peters playing well

  2. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Poch in.

    1. ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Berbs, you think Robertson will start? Looks a snip at 5.0

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Not sure. Depends what happens in Germany next week

        1. ★Kuntheman★
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          I'm leaving him in my team for now, we'll see what Milner news implies. Good plan?

          1. goriuanx
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Decent enough. I'd prefer VVD

            1. ★Kuntheman★
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Righhhhttt

              😉

  3. ★Kuntheman★
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Dier goal!

    2-1 Spurs

    1. ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Trapp assist

  4. Norman Conquest
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    dodgy keeper alert

  5. davies
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    A) Aguero & Ritchie
    B) Jesus & Ramsey

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

    2 weeks and it is the first match-week

  7. b✪mber
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Clinical finish from Dier!

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

    Dierwagon?

  9. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Eric Dier will now cost 65m

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

    Dier goal WORLD CLASS

    Utd need to offer £80m now

  11. PvA
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Never rated Trapp

    Shocking really from a professional at the top level

  12. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Man Utd will now have to pay 50m for dier after that goal

  13. FPL Kangaroo
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Boing...Boing....

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

      Hello koala. How're you?

      1. FPL Kangaroo
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Boo Koala's....im good dreams.You?

        1. FPL Kangaroo
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          My previous reply got Marked for review due to the fact I said (F-E-C-K-I-N) ...like wtf?

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            English only.

            1. FPL Kangaroo
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Serious tho? Getting modded for that is just taking the piss.

              1. FPL Kangaroo
                • 6 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Its discrimination against Irish people TM.

          2. Dreams
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            It happens. You got hit by jonty's filter I think. It's very efficient.

            1. FPL Kangaroo
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Very strict more like it.No fun at all on here.

              1. Desertbug
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Their house, their rules.

                1. FPL Kangaroo
                  • 6 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Mehhh.

                  1. Fantasy Gold
                    • 9 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    That is one cool kangaroo. Beer in hand

                    1. FPL Kangaroo
                      • 6 Years
                      6 years, 8 months ago

                      Yeah im a badass Kangaroo.

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

                        Like a badass kangaroo or a bad ass kangaroo?

                      2. FPL Kangaroo
                        • 6 Years
                        6 years, 8 months ago

                        Both.

                  2. Desertbug
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 12 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    Yeah, but facts are...

              2. Dreams
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                They've mentioned everything in the T&Cs kanga. We have to follow it.

            2. George Sillett
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              No comment.

              1. Desertbug
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Slouchy, I commend you for such admirable restraint....
                🙂

                1. George Sillett
                  • 8 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  That's me all over . ☺

                  1. Desertbug
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 12 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    Pillar of society

                    1. George Sillett
                      • 8 Years
                      6 years, 8 months ago

                      I am very highly respected on my own in my own front room.

                      1. Fantasy Gold
                        • 9 Years
                        6 years, 8 months ago

                        😆

              2. FPL Kangaroo
                • 6 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                haha let it all out Slouch...its bad to keep these feeling inside.

  14. Dreams
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Dier(c) locked in for gameweek 1.

    1. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Congratulations on 4 points

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

        Thanks for that. How do you do it?

        1. Random Name
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          if i told you i might not win fantasy football so easily this year

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

            Get a grav mate. Start preaching FPL advices later.

            1. FPL Kangaroo
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              This.

      2. ★Kuntheman★
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        6 minimum

    2. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      just swapped de bruyne for him tc first gw

  15. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this lot?

    Foster (Elliot)
    Lindelof, Trippier, Cedric, Ake, (Rangel)
    Coutinho, Zaha, Tadic, (RLC, Carroll)
    Kane, Lukaku, Lacazette

    1. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Midfield is a leading cause of cancer

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

        Lool

      2. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        That's because i've spent the money elsewhere. Kinda how it works, no?

    2. Kane Toads
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      drop Lacca to 6.5m and upgrade mids of RLC and Tadic. Perhaps get Willian and Sane. Other than that all good.

  16. willl
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    When is Son expected to be fit?

    1. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Not in time for us to worry about him for gwk 1

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

        Yeah just wondering when he will be an option.

        1. Random Name
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          not sure, hopefully soon but i just feel he tends to be inconsistent tbh

  17. HALFSPACE
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    GW1 captains? Kane for me

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

      Eric dier.

    2. ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Basically every pricey striker

    3. CloudSky
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Lukaku for now.

    4. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Lacazette

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

        vice captain atm

        1. Random Name
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Not good enough

  18. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Not watching the game but i'm gonna guess this is true again...

    Last season I suddenly realised that Eriksen had begun to play almost like a photo copy of David Silva...just the way he moves and the way he's constantly adjusting himself to be in space when he receives the ball...not lung busting runs but just clever little side steps when not in possession and ready to receive the ball and always looking to be in the right place.

    He's becoming a really top player...

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

      Tbh he's always been very comfortable receiving the ball in tight spaces

    2. ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      This. Shoots more than Silva too. Absolute joy to watch.

    3. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Alli better

      1. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        He's not...he's just different.

        The best compliment I could give David Silva is that he is one of very few...and I mean very few...players who could have played in that Barca team of Messi, Xavi, Inniesta without noticing the join...and Eriksen is taking on that same style of play.

        Not many of them about...

    4. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Truly world class.

      Because of Kane and the fact he's English, Eriksrn doesn't get the credit he deserves.

      1. Random Name
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        I'm not ready to call him world class yet, top top player but there's quite a few better midfielders in europe tbh

        People forget he's only 25 tho, he looks like such an experienced player out there

    5. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Really good player. Good productivity too.

      I'd like to see him control and dictate big games more. May just fail the test but I don't really recall him outplaying City Chelsea Pool etc.

      1. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Like Silva he plays in a full on physical league so in some ways he's a fish out of water..although still really good. See my post above re Barca.

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Maybe Barcelona should go for him and leave Coutinho alone. 😉

          1. Dr Dream
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Maybe they should....

  19. Emre Can Pie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    FFS community beware.
    If you enter into a public draft league, and someone quits prior to the draft commencing, leaving you with less than 8 entrants, a replacement is not automatically found, and the draft will be set back 48hrs.

  20. LONG LIVE ZOLA
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts?

    GK - Foster, (Myhill)
    DEF - Azpi, Lindelöf, Trippier, Cedric, (Dunk)
    MID - Alli, Eriksen, Coutinho, Salah, Willian
    FWD - Lukaku, (Fletcher), (Quaner)

    1. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      double spurs and double liverpool midfield lolololol

      1. LONG LIVE ZOLA
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        problem?

    2. nonprophet
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Don't worry about random. Bit of a gamble if pool or spurs struggle early. Liverpool have champions league between 2nd and 3rd game weeks

  21. DeathoftheParty
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Tottenham cloned Kyle Walker before they sold him then. Solid work for £50m

  22. barracuda
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Foster Elliot
    Trippier Daniels Cedric Rosenior Rangel
    Zaha KDB Couts Willian Ruben
    Kane Lukaku Austin

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Nicely balanced team mate. I see you got your third striker 🙂

      Here's me atm:

      Fabianski Elliot
      Trippier Cedric Hegazi Mee Rangel
      Sane Coutinho Phillips JWP RLC
      Kane Lukaku Lacazette

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

        Hello mate, I have no Arsenal- you Chelsea. I think Laca is still a bit raw in this division. Sane could be rotated, not sure about JWR. I believe in Austin, not just because of today plus lovely fixtures.

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          I'm going to tinker a billion times more. I like the idea of having 12.5 11.5 10.5 so I can get any striker in any gameweek. Example would be Morata GW1 then switch to Jesus GW2 etc

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

            Nice logic, still====don't overcook your top 3 🙂

        2. nonprophet
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          What did Austin do today?

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

            A brace

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

      Very nice team, but I think you are taking a big risk with that defense. I'd downgrade Zaha or Daniels to get two 4.5s.

    3. Kane Toads
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Rose and Rangel at 4m. Whats the starting chances? or are they Fodder? Could do with and 4m for my team.

  23. Bambi
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    I wonder what price Kyle walker pieters will be when added to the game? If he is 4.0 and playing three at the back with Trippier he could be selected to ensure that you always have the spurs right back playing. Is this a decent strategy?

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

      Will be 4.5

    2. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      hoping that he'll be 4.0 is beyond optimistic

    3. Bambi
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Thinking about this again, it would take up a valuable spurs slot so doesn't seem great

  24. Zoostation
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    How is this looking, please and thank you.

    I feel that it is quite template and I'm worried about lack of Liverpool:

    Foster Myhill

    Trippier Cedric Yedlin Tomkins Hunemeier

    KDB Alli Ramsey Tadic RLC

    Lukaku Kane Gayle/Austin

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

      Check mine above

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

        Awesome!

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

          Cheers mate.

    2. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      i'd be worried if i had ramsey too

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

        No question.

    3. Kane Toads
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      ramsey > Willian. KBD > Sane and upgrade Tadic and Tomkins.

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

        Are we not worried about playing time for Sane?

  25. Jay Jay Okocha
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Can't watch this Spurs game any longer...

    Mock draft in 20 minutes. 50769-15377

    1. Emre Can Pie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      I'm in!

      Thanks for doing this, was about to start a public draft, but only 7 entrants, so put back 48hrs. 🙁

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

      Will you cancel the league afterwards? If so I'd like to have a practise too.

    3. Emre Can Pie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Thanks for that - it was fun. First time I've done a draft. Wouldn't mind keeping it!

  26. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Pastore goal 2-2

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Pastore. One of my favourite players.

  27. Desertbug
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Atrocious defending

    1. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Saw a lot of that from everton last year

      1. Desertbug
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        relevant to this game how?
        can't deny it, btw, it was bad at times, good at others.

        different discussion for different day

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

      Vertonghen + Davies = Solid side of the pitch
      Carter-vickers and walker-peters = weak side of the pitch

      xD

  28. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Can't fit Lukaku in my team. End of the world?

    1. FPL Kangaroo
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah.armageddon.

    2. Dreams
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Apocalypse now.

    3. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      yup. Congratulations Differentiator.

      You've single handedly ended the human race. Good job, humans are plague on earth anyway

  29. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Dier hits post

    1. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Stop.

      1. FPL Kangaroo
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Get a grav

  30. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    I can't help think that most folk are missing a trick for GW1...

    A resurgent Rooney at home for his PL debut for Everton against a rapidly falling apart Stoke is surely something at least some of us should be considering...

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      And if he blanks, he has a host of awful fixtures and a price drop would follow.

      If I were to buy anybody for GW1, it'd be Klassen.

      1. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Poor today. Rooney got all the plaudits by far...

    2. Desertbug
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Can't convince me to roll those dice, and I'm hoping for the best. I'm not getting to excited about a goal against whoever that first team they played was, or against Genk. He'll score some, but opening fixtures are brutal.

      1. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Aye they are.