What Does the Future Hold for Chelsea's John Terry?
Count John Terry out at your peril.
Every time the Chelsea captain's career is apparently winding down, he somehow resurrects, finding another season of fantastic central defending.
Since 2000/01, Terry has been a linchpin in the Blues' first team. Playing under countless managers, with untold centre-back partners, the former England captain has withstood all manner of assaults on his position, and invariably, he rises to the occasion when needs must.
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Thought to be finished as an every-game starter in 2011/12 under Andre Villas-Boas—and the following season under Roberto Di Matteo and Rafa Benitez—few thought Terry could prove his worth under new management.
The moment Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge, though, his old general was ready to march.
Playing in 76 of Chelsea's 82 Premier League matches since the Portuguese's return in 2013/14, the 34-year-old has been defying logic for seasons. Footballers his age are not meant to be playing at world-class levels on a weekly basis, but Terry was arguably England's best centre-back in 2014/15.
In a season when the Blues won the league comfortably, their captain played every minute of all 38 matches. He spent over 56 hours pervading over Premier League football, ensuring Mourinho's Chelsea ship ran smoothly, without hiccups, until lifting England's chief domestic honour.
A member of 2014/15's PFA Team of the Year (of which he was a member in 2003/04), along with five team-mates, Terry's fourth Premier League crown was his best individually. Whether motivated by doubters, his own mortality or spurred by competition, 2014/15 was the zenith of Terry's Chelsea career.
This season, however, the Blues' legend has not continued his form. Expecting another bulwark campaign in rapid succession, though, would be criminal.
2014/15 was—in many respects—the perfect scenario for a 34-year-old defender. Chelsea either maintained possession and made sure the midfield was filled with blue shirts or defended with similar constructs. The centre-backs always had protection: This has not been the case in 2015/16.
Never blessed with pace, but always positionally aware and able yo read the game, Terry has far too many variables to consider (as the west Londoners are presently constructed).
Last year, the opposition's primary avenue for success was from wide areas. The Chelsea captain could focus mainly on defending crosses and positioning himself accordingly.
Currently, there are holes everywhere.
In both wide and central areas, Chelsea's back four are frequently being pulled out of position, which creates space for runners and unmarked attackers, dividing Terry's attention—whereas last season he only had one area to focus upon.
A player like Kurt Zouma (who thrives on athleticism) can defend for one scenario, but if he is wrong, he has the speed to recover in a timely fashion.
Terry cannot do that. He never could—and was never really asked to.
Unless Mourinho resorts to double-decker tactics or reins in the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic from marauding forward, benching the pace and power of Zouma is nearly impossible—especially considering the Frenchman turns 21 in October and has boundless potential once his footballing IQ matches his athleticism.
It does seem like we are reading the last pages, in the last chapter, of Terry's illustrious Chelsea book.
This is not to suggest the 34-year-old is finished, but the frequency with which he has been playing over the past two seasons is unsustainable. Moreover, with the Blues not exactly clicking on all cylinders, you cannot thrust a player with athletic limitations into Premier League competition, and expect to keep clean sheets, without the proper safeguards.
Projecting past 2015/16, the one-year contract policy Chelsea have with players over 30 may come into effect. Terry and Ivanovic are playing for their futures and—based on recent evidence—neither are doing themselves any favours, though Terry is a special case.
He is the only holdover from before Roman Abramovich arrived. He is the solitary mainstay from the 2004/05 and 2005/06 squads that dominated England. His career has spanned a revolutionary time at Stamford Bridge, and him leaving would signal the true end on an era.
That said, the old adage does remind us, "form is temporary, class is permanent."
Terry cannot last forever, but he has been golden for Chelsea during his tenure. Keeping that in mind, we should wait a bit longer before declaring him finished.
He tends to disappoint in that regard.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.
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