The Kolarov Myth

[Neville Kneville]

Just wondering can anyone name me a time when Kolarov became a bad defender. Speaking to a few lads after the game and I put it forward that we should of had an extra man in midfield with the one striker and played Kolarov to give us some quality down the left. My mates said that we can't play Kolarov in games like this because he can't defend. Well I've seen Clichy cock up a few times this season so what is the reason for this myth? Kolarov isn't the quickest I know but is Zabs quick who is just his opposite number? Sagna is surely faster yet he can't get a game at the moment? I've never understood why Kolarov isn't our preferred full back, his delivery is a thousand times better, he is someone who can actually take a proper free kick in the direction of the goal and I can't find a single example of his so called poor defensive side.

Well I'll give you an example to be going on with.

City v Stoke.

In case you can't remember it, Kolarov let's some no mark Utd reject run 60 yards & is so shit that he can't even foul him, let alone take the ball off him, & so we are two points further behind Chelsea, against whom, he swanned out of position whilst we were down to ten men & just reorganising, got skinned in the centre of the pitch, & the ball ends up in the back of the net where ? Why, in the very position you would expect Kolarov to be steadfastly defending, seeing as we have just gone down to ten men.

So there's two home games for a start.

And I agree he is sometimes a much better option than Clichy due to his attacking game, but his defensive game is often shit & we have seen it over & over, including in the Champions League where he has been taken to the cleaners on numerous occasions.

 

[@BluePhil8]

He’s not a bad defender at all. I would rate him higher than any left back in England except Baines.

This myth has persevered amongst City fans since the Mancini era when Clichy looked good defensively and Kolarov looked average.

That was 3 seasons ago though, since then Clichy has regressed, getting torn apart by the likes of Torres, still offers nothing going forward, slows the play down with his one twos with Nasri, goes hiding against physical teams, no leadership quality.

Say what you want about Koalrov but he’s a leader, vocal, you want him in your team when things get feisty, he’s a scary guy, provides our best outlet on the wing, set pieces are excellent, not as bad defensively as some City fans think, better header of the ball than Clichy, stronger.

City fans say “Clichy should play in the hard games because he’s the better defender”. Well in those games he is always our weak link being attacked time and time again. I genuinely believe the only reason he played last night was because he had the pace to keep with Maicon. That’s it. He uses his pace to make up for his lack of positional sense. He got pushed over by Totti ffs.

Sick to death of Kolarov being left out and classed as a "shit" by some of our fans. He's miles better than Luke Shaw and 90% of left backs. And he is good defensively, or better than Clichy easily.

 

[@BluePhil8]

he constantly gets caught out at the back post ball watching

he is slow and is definitely vulnerable when caught upfield

wasnt it him that gets initially brushed off the ball for the stoke breakaway goal before ferd gets done and hart messes up.

he isnt a good defender and i would also challenge the point that he is a great crosser of the ball......he is inconsistant....set plenty up lat year but he had more than plenty opportunities and wastes as many as he creates

clichy is the better defender and kolorov is better going forward......imho therefore i would always choose clichy over kolorov for the games where we know we are going to be under pressure

You wont be able to name me many full backs with better delivery than Kolarov though mate... his low crosses are generally bang on the money, hes got a vicious left foot and takes up nice attacking positions. Even Navas (who I think has great delivery too) wastes a few, I think that happens with a lot of players who can cross the ball well, due to the sheer volume of attempts.

And you can hardly say that Clichy is much better defensively, Gervinho got in behind him so easily tonight, as did Rosenior for the Mangala own goal on saturday... and Wilshire waltzed past him for his goal away at Arsenal.

He's been shite for about a year now.

that's the truth.

 

[inbetween]

Just wondering can anyone name me a time when Kolarov became a bad defender. Speaking to a few lads after the game and I put it forward that we should of had an extra man in midfield with the one striker and played Kolarov to give us some quality down the left. My mates said that we can't play Kolarov in games like this because he can't defend. Well I've seen Clichy cock up a few times this season so what is the reason for this myth? Kolarov isn't the quickest I know but is Zabs quick who is just his opposite number? Sagna is surely faster yet he can't get a game at the moment? I've never understood why Kolarov isn't our preferred full back, his delivery is a thousand times better, he is someone who can actually take a proper free kick in the direction of the goal and I can't find a single example of his so called poor defensive side.

Well I'll give you an example to be going on with.

City v Stoke.

In case you can't remember it, Kolarov let's some no mark Utd reject run 60 yards & is so shit that he can't even foul him, let alone take the ball off him, & so we are two points further behind Chelsea, against whom, he swanned out of position whilst we were down to ten men & just reorganising, got skinned in the centre of the pitch, & the ball ends up in the back of the net where ? Why, in the very position you would expect Kolarov to be steadfastly defending, seeing as we have just gone down to ten men.

So there's two home games for a start.

And I agree he is sometimes a much better option than Clichy due to his attacking game, but his defensive game is often shit & we have seen it over & over, including in the Champions League where he has been taken to the cleaners on numerous occasions.

Hang on, look at the Stoke goal again and you see a player running right down the middle with 3 city players close to him. The only player back is Fernandinho who also got skinned, the next man is Kolarov. So where was Kompany and Demichelis or our midfield?? Are you telling me that had Clichy played that goal would never of been scored?

The perception that Clichy is a better defender is only because he can run fast and recover his position quicker but that is it. Aside from that his crossing and other aspects are nowhere near Kolarov's level. Last night we didn't draw because of a mistake by Clichy or bad defending on that side nor did we get saved because of good defending on that side. We drew because we couldn't score and that left side became vital for that to happen.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

He can't be that good or else he would be in the side because frankly Clichy is average at best and poor at worst.

 

[lancs blue]

Just wondering can anyone name me a time when Kolarov became a bad defender. Speaking to a few lads after the game and I put it forward that we should of had an extra man in midfield with the one striker and played Kolarov to give us some quality down the left. My mates said that we can't play Kolarov in games like this because he can't defend. Well I've seen Clichy cock up a few times this season so what is the reason for this myth? Kolarov isn't the quickest I know but is Zabs quick who is just his opposite number? Sagna is surely faster yet he can't get a game at the moment? I've never understood why Kolarov isn't our preferred full back, his delivery is a thousand times better, he is someone who can actually take a proper free kick in the direction of the goal and I can't find a single example of his so called poor defensive side.

Well I'll give you an example to be going on with.

City v Stoke.

In case you can't remember it, Kolarov let's some no mark Utd reject run 60 yards & is so shit that he can't even foul him, let alone take the ball off him, & so we are two points further behind Chelsea, against whom, he swanned out of position whilst we were down to ten men & just reorganising, got skinned in the centre of the pitch, & the ball ends up in the back of the net where ? Why, in the very position you would expect Kolarov to be steadfastly defending, seeing as we have just gone down to ten men.

So there's two home games for a start.

And I agree he is sometimes a much better option than Clichy due to his attacking game, but his defensive game is often shit & we have seen it over & over, including in the Champions League where he has been taken to the cleaners on numerous occasions.

Kolarov was up in their area for the corner as he always is, if Pellegrini hadn't wanted him there he should have told him - may as well ask why Sagna was stood in the inside left channel 30 yards from goal at the corner when he should have been on the halfway line covering the break.

 

[shemnel]

There were a few talking points last night but for me Kolarov was the main one.

You start Clichy cos you expect Maicon to bomb on all the time (correct, 1 point Pellers) so you play Silva on the left to exploit a massive gap or a tiring full back (correct, 1 point Pellers) however if your shape is completely useless across the entire midfield or your left back is struggling to hell against Maicon, then it breaks down miserable (Pellers fault? not sure about that)

so you start Kolarov instead, immediately you pin Maicon back, double up on him with Merlin and the entire Roma mindset is to hang back and try to defend this threat on their right hand side. Kolarov also adds a presence in advanced wing back letting Merlin go inside a bit to add numbers there (where we were light).

Milner didnt need to start but his introduction effectively did this but didnt do it as attack-minded as had Kolarov started. Kolarov should have started, i genuinely believe we would have won.

 

[Chippy_boy]

clichy is the better defender and kolorov is better going forward......imho therefore i would always choose clichy over kolorov for the games where we know we are going to be under pressure

Clichy when playing well is probably a batter defender, but he's on a shocking run of form and has been a liability since the start of the season. We've looked a better side every time Kolarov takes to the field.

I used to be one of Kolarov's biggest critics, but he's progressed from being shite, shooting wildly from 35 yards at every opportunity and with the control of an elephant... to being a really decent, skillful player. The number of times he beats his man now is impressive and yes, he does whip wicked crosses in and has a hell of a left foot on him.

For me he is an all round better player than Clichy, and when Clichy is playing shite - which he is - it's a complete no brainer.

 

[mick10]

I'd have Alex everytime before Gael. Far better player (IMO obviously) and every bit as good a defender, and a mile ahead going forward. As for crossing the ball, much better than Clichy, who's crosses are floated over like a balloon and really are dire. I reckon there's not a 'keeper or defence who don't think 'fuck me this is coming in at 100mph' when Kolarov is about to cross.

 

[CityFan94]

Why didn't Pellegrini bring Kolarov on for Clichy last night?

Roma were pinned back the last 20 minutes and Kolarov's crossing would have created a few chances.

If Kolarov, Lampard and Dzeko were all on the pitch that last 20 minutes, with all 3 so direct, I think we would have nicked a goal.

 

[LJ75]

Clichy is good at sucking c. Defensively he has become shit, and offensively he was always shit.

 

[davymcfc]

I think clichy offers very little going forward in comparison to kolarov but is supposedly stronger defensively. Clichy got rinsed at hull away and wasn't great last night so in reality we may well have been better off with kolarov.

Kolarov is a much improved player over the last 12 months I might add.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Just wondering can anyone name me a time when Kolarov became a bad defender. Speaking to a few lads after the game and I put it forward that we should of had an extra man in midfield with the one striker and played Kolarov to give us some quality down the left. My mates said that we can't play Kolarov in games like this because he can't defend. Well I've seen Clichy cock up a few times this season so what is the reason for this myth? Kolarov isn't the quickest I know but is Zabs quick who is just his opposite number? Sagna is surely faster yet he can't get a game at the moment? I've never understood why Kolarov isn't our preferred full back, his delivery is a thousand times better, he is someone who can actually take a proper free kick in the direction of the goal and I can't find a single example of his so called poor defensive side.

Well I'll give you an example to be going on with.

City v Stoke.

In case you can't remember it, Kolarov let's some no mark Utd reject run 60 yards & is so shit that he can't even foul him, let alone take the ball off him, & so we are two points further behind Chelsea, against whom, he swanned out of position whilst we were down to ten men & just reorganising, got skinned in the centre of the pitch, & the ball ends up in the back of the net where ? Why, in the very position you would expect Kolarov to be steadfastly defending, seeing as we have just gone down to ten men.

So there's two home games for a start.

And I agree he is sometimes a much better option than Clichy due to his attacking game, but his defensive game is often shit & we have seen it over & over, including in the Champions League where he has been taken to the cleaners on numerous occasions.

Hang on, look at the Stoke goal again and you see a player running right down the middle with 3 city players close to him. The only player back is Fernandinho who also got skinned, the next man is Kolarov. So where was Kompany and Demichelis or our midfield?? Are you telling me that had Clichy played that goal would never of been scored?

The perception that Clichy is a better defender is only because he can run fast and recover his position quicker but that is it. Aside from that his crossing and other aspects are nowhere near Kolarov's level. Last night we didn't draw because of a mistake by Clichy or bad defending on that side nor did we get saved because of good defending on that side. We drew because we couldn't score and that left side became vital for that to happen.

They were up for the fucking corner kick!

Kolarov was there pure & simply to stop exactly what happened and was utter shit.

Fernandinho was last man & had been booked but Kolarov could have rugby tackled the bloke 60 yards earlier and only got a yellow. Problem was he tried to foul him & missed, then couldn't get near enough even to kick him.

He was absolutely incompetent, as he was for Chelsea's goal.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Just wondering can anyone name me a time when Kolarov became a bad defender. Speaking to a few lads after the game and I put it forward that we should of had an extra man in midfield with the one striker and played Kolarov to give us some quality down the left. My mates said that we can't play Kolarov in games like this because he can't defend. Well I've seen Clichy cock up a few times this season so what is the reason for this myth? Kolarov isn't the quickest I know but is Zabs quick who is just his opposite number? Sagna is surely faster yet he can't get a game at the moment? I've never understood why Kolarov isn't our preferred full back, his delivery is a thousand times better, he is someone who can actually take a proper free kick in the direction of the goal and I can't find a single example of his so called poor defensive side.

Well I'll give you an example to be going on with.

City v Stoke.

In case you can't remember it, Kolarov let's some no mark Utd reject run 60 yards & is so shit that he can't even foul him, let alone take the ball off him, & so we are two points further behind Chelsea, against whom, he swanned out of position whilst we were down to ten men & just reorganising, got skinned in the centre of the pitch, & the ball ends up in the back of the net where ? Why, in the very position you would expect Kolarov to be steadfastly defending, seeing as we have just gone down to ten men.

So there's two home games for a start.

And I agree he is sometimes a much better option than Clichy due to his attacking game, but his defensive game is often shit & we have seen it over & over, including in the Champions League where he has been taken to the cleaners on numerous occasions.

Kolarov was up in their area for the corner as he always is, if Pellegrini hadn't wanted him there he should have told him - may as well ask why Sagna was stood in the inside left channel 30 yards from goal at the corner when he should have been on the halfway line covering the break.

He was stranded in the centre and Chelsea went through him.

 

[lancs blue]

Well I'll give you an example to be going on with.

City v Stoke.

In case you can't remember it, Kolarov let's some no mark Utd reject run 60 yards & is so shit that he can't even foul him, let alone take the ball off him, & so we are two points further behind Chelsea, against whom, he swanned out of position whilst we were down to ten men & just reorganising, got skinned in the centre of the pitch, & the ball ends up in the back of the net where ? Why, in the very position you would expect Kolarov to be steadfastly defending, seeing as we have just gone down to ten men.

So there's two home games for a start.

And I agree he is sometimes a much better option than Clichy due to his attacking game, but his defensive game is often shit & we have seen it over & over, including in the Champions League where he has been taken to the cleaners on numerous occasions.

Kolarov was up in their area for the corner as he always is, if Pellegrini hadn't wanted him there he should have told him - may as well ask why Sagna was stood in the inside left channel 30 yards from goal at the corner when he should have been on the halfway line covering the break.

He was stranded in the centre and Chelsea went through him.

If you have any footage watch it from our corner. Kolarov is in their area and then tracks back when Chelsea break, he wasn't "stranded" at all, he was in a def. midfield position when he was beaten by a decent piece of skill. he was hardly culpable for the goal.

 

[peter.evans]

Can't believe some fans going on about so called mistakes by kolarov which are highly debatable. Don't hear them mentioning kompanys mistake for the Roma goal last night ! Players do make mistakes now and again. Kolarov is the best left back in the premiership in my opinion. He is light years ahead of clichy who contributes very little going forward.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Kolarov was up in their area for the corner as he always is, if Pellegrini hadn't wanted him there he should have told him - may as well ask why Sagna was stood in the inside left channel 30 yards from goal at the corner when he should have been on the halfway line covering the break.

He was stranded in the centre and Chelsea went through him.

If you have any footage watch it from our corner. Kolarov is in their area and then tracks back when Chelsea break, he wasn't "stranded" at all, he was in a def. midfield position when he was beaten by a decent piece of skill. he was hardly culpable for the goal.

We'd just gone down to ten men, with a new player, not up to speed on the pitch. What would your priority be ?

 

[Lancet Fluke]

I don't think clichy played particularly well last night but at times he was so exposed it's no wonder he was struggling. I'm not sure kolarov would have dealt with some of those defensive situations any better. Would he have been a better choice last night due to his undoubted better quality going forward, who knows but this thread is about whether kolarov is as good or better defensively. Personally I think kolarov is still poor defensively. I thought the whole of our defence was poor last night tbh, I wouldn't particularly single out clichy. We just look disorganised and very easy to get behind.

 

[lancs blue]

He was stranded in the centre and Chelsea went through him.

If you have any footage watch it from our corner. Kolarov is in their area and then tracks back when Chelsea break, he wasn't "stranded" at all, he was in a def. midfield position when he was beaten by a decent piece of skill. he was hardly culpable for the goal.

We'd just gone down to ten men, with a new player, not up to speed on the pitch. What would your priority be ?

Was Kolarov the manager? No. Was Kolarov the captain? No.

I've no idea why you're having a go at Kolarov on this, if Pellegrini wanted him to stay back at the corner he's perfectly capable of telling him, only one man was left on the halfway line, that was obviously Pellegrini's decision. On the field Kompany is the manager's rep, he could have told Kolarov to stay back, he didn't.

 

[EllisMCFC]

Clichy to me is crap hasn't down anything offensively to make an impact and gets toast down the sideline with long balls and through balls has trouble reading nasri, sliva's, or milner's passes and he's just a average player in our team who doesn't really offer anything to the team. Kolarov make be suspect on defense but sure can swing in a good cross or make a good run outside the box. Come on Manuel you said it yourself the problem against Roma wasn't defense it was our offense so why not put roma in.