Our glaring weakness at LB, will it be fixed?

Kolarov is the only player who seems to react to abuse from the crowd, and whilst everybody assumes that it’s something to do with his ability, dare I suggest that it might be something slightly more sinister, especially as his reaction at Newcastle was taken to Court, and had nothing to do with whether he tracks back quick enough.

It was the same at White Hart Lane last season, when he was caught on television reacting to a Tottenham fan. It's not as though Spurs prefer Clichy.
 
flapjack said:
oh yeah my bad just watched it, could have sworn it was DB
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DB starred at left back in a home game against Leicester at Maine Road on a Weds evening. I had been at a meeting in the Midlands, delayed all the way up the M6. It pissed down all day and all night and it was touch and go whether the game would be on (bearing in mind I had to drive back to Cornwall after). I just slung my car on the corner of a pavement 5 minutes before KO and went into the only seat I could get - main stand - the Kippax was demolished at the time.

To be treated with the sight of DB lumbering around at left back and Mark Robins of all people running rings round him to score the winner for Leicester. Utter utter shite.

Happy days.
 
Given a run of games as shown towards the end of last season, Kolarov is head and shoulders above Clichy.

Rotation does not work with these two and that's something that needs to stop this season. They get changed pretty much every other game, you can't expect any player to have any form of momentum with such over rotation.
 
Depends how we set up. If we have two proper midfielders in front of the back 4 that can cover for advanced full backs, e.g. Delph & Dinho, then Kolarov is the better option.

If, however, we're using Yaya in one of the deeper midfield roles, then against better sides, I'd play it safe with Clichy.
 
Don't know much about the player honestly but lucas digne apparently wants to leave psg... Turned 22 days ago and is getting attention from atletico pool and Roma, anyone know if he's good enough or have the potential to be?
 
Ballertelli said:
Don't know much about the player honestly but lucas digne apparently wants to leave psg... Turned 22 days ago and is getting attention from atletico pool and Roma, anyone know if he's good enough or have the potential to be?
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Digne is very good in FIFA/Football Manager. Not sure how much of a talent he is in real life. Here is a clip from youtube. Seems pretty decent.

 
Pretty telling that PSG don't want him, despite being very young, homegrown and their first choice LB being almost 34 years old. You have to ask why
 
Kurzawa and Digne got more hype but I think Benjamin Mendy is the better prospect.
Marseille sold half their first team so I doubt they would accept to sell him this year.
 
Any consideration for Ricardo Rodriguez? He's the left back at Wolfsburg. Dependable at both attack and defense with a great work rate. Has a great mind to pick out a pass, pinpoint accuracy on a cross, and great in the air (something Clichy and Kolarov lack). He's also a deadball specialist. He could even play as a left midfielder if required. He's like a better version of Kolarov, and he's only 22! He's coming off an excellent season in the Bundlesliga, recognized as the league's top left back, and was one of the stars of Switzerland's run at the Brazil World Cup.

 
Angelino is amazing on the ball and attacking, pure class. He still worries me defensively though, mostly because he's in every attack and leaves a huge gap behind him.
 
I think we will wait another season. MP seems fairly content with Kolarov and clichy. I think we will judge it next summer, once we have seen Angelino's progression.
 
jakeplattinblue said:
I think we will wait another season. MP seems fairly content with Kolarov and clichy. I think we will judge it next summer, once we have seen Angelino's progression.
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Agree with this; I don't see left back as a glaring issue really. Clichy is a decent defender and we could have a lot worse back up than Kolarov. Yes, neither of them are Philip Lahm, but I can't think of any other Prem clubs with two left backs of their standard. So we may concede the odd goal down the left, just like we do from corners despite having beasts like Komps & Mangala, it happens, we won't keep a clean sheet every game. But with an attack of Kun, Silva, Sterling, KDB, Yaya, Nasri & Bony I don't think letting in the odd goal will matter too much. What we have is good enough.
 
I am not sure Clichy or Kolarov are "good enough" to be honest. They both have decent games from time to time but too often the standard is just not good enough. Clichy offers nothing going forward - we might as well play another centre half at left back. And Kolarov's defending varies between absolutely woeful and "acceptable".

For a top 4 team, they are just about OK, but for a team looking to win it every year and to get deep into the CL, neither of them are of the required standard.
 
Watching kolarov again this morning, friendly or not, it is obvious he is not capable of playing against the best teams in Europe. Clichy is also suspect especially going forward. I think the op may have a point
 
Jack Wills said:
Agree with this; I don't see left back as a glaring issue really. Clichy is a decent defender and we could have a lot worse back up than Kolarov. Yes, neither of them are Philip Lahm, but I can't think of any other Prem clubs with two left backs of their standard. So we may concede the odd goal down the left, just like we do from corners despite having beasts like Komps & Mangala, it happens, we won't keep a clean sheet every game. But with an attack of Kun, Silva, Sterling, KDB, Yaya, Nasri & Bony I don't think letting in the odd goal will matter too much. What we have is good enough.
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Week-in-week-out Clichy and Kolarov are decent enough at both sides of the game, when it gets to the Round of 16 in the CL they are our weakest link and we will lose if teams exploit them because we're not good enough defensively with either player there.

But you can carry players if other teams don't exploit the weakness. Look at Juve getting to the final with Evra at LB. Evra's still a decent player with the ball but he's been suspect defensively his whole career.
 
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