Partnerships aren't just for the forward lines of a 4-4-2 system. Any good defence thrives on continuity. It can make the difference between a perfectly executed offside trap and the leakiest of defences. If you have defenders who know each others games, you are more likely to have better organisation at the key moments, such as when Uruguay's Luis Suarez is attempting to run onto a killer through ball. Gary Cahill and John Terry have built up a fantastic partnership at Chelsea, and while Cahill could be partnered with Phil Jones or Phil Jagielka, the connection would not be as instantaneous, and would require time to get used to for both players. Admittedly, that is what the friendly games are for, but with Terry as Cahill's partner the England manager would have more time to focus on the other combinations in his squad, such as the midfield, where he is becoming increasingly spoilt for choice. Cahill would never admit it in public, but one would suspect his favoured partner to be Terry, and with the season they are having at club level, who could blame him? It remains to be seen whether Cahill will be as authoritative without Terry in the centre, but the Chelsea captain's return should not be ruled out.
I am from Bangor, aged 24, and possess an MA in Journalism from The University Of Ulster. I have had work published in the Belfast Telegraph and interviewed several local footballers and Olympic athletes. I also run my own sports blog, 'Sporting Thought' in addition to contributing to What Culture.
