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EPL: Top 10 center backs for 2016-17

By Carter Mulvihill

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 07: Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal at The Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth 7th February 2016. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 07: Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal at The Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth 7th February 2016. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /
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10. Gary Cahill

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Gary Cahill of Chelsea during the Emirates FA Cup match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on February 21, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Gary Cahill of Chelsea during the Emirates FA Cup match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on February 21, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images) /

In over four seasons helping hold down the Chelsea back line, Gary Cahill has often been overshadowed by Blues captain and English compatriot John Terry. However, Cahill has been almost as integral to Chelsea’s success (and in last season’s case, flop). A defender with prototypical size (6-4), good technical ability for his stature and a forehead that can put the ball squarely into the back of the net, Cahill has been every bit the player Chelsea thought they’d get when they signed him in the middle of the 2011-12 season from Bolton Wanderers.

As part of a reliable core trio along with Terry and Branislav Ivanovic, Cahill synced into the Chelsea back four seamlessly, and was given the recognition as a top-tier defender that you’d expect for an established player coming to Stamford Bridge from Bolton. Coinciding right around that age 30 peak that we so often see from center backs, Cahill’s best seasons came in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Both years under Jose Mourinho, the second of which was a title-winning season, Cahill helped lead the Blues to the best defense in the EPL, and was named to the PFA Team of the Year for both seasons. Can he reach those heights again under Antonio Conte?

Offensive Outlook

Superb. Cahill has all the physical tools you want in a goal-scoring center back. Big body, big head, instinctual on set pieces. Since becoming a Premier League regular in 2008-09, he’s netted a goal in every season, once tallying five as a player for Bolton. Most recently, he headed in the lone goal in Chelsea’s 1-0 friendly win over Liverpool. Surely, a replay of that will come on the first Chelsea corner kick when the teams meet on Sept. 16.

Next: Tottenham's other Belgian CB

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