Zabaleta linked with summer move?

Great to see Zabba ripping up that right flank on Saturday. Even when our football was building on the left side, everytime you checked the right flank, there was Zabba getting the most out of having it to himself.

We have two well-rounded right backs. We have one with top-class positional strength, and one with top-class offensive movement. We are blessed and it's such a shame that both of these guys are over their peak years, but hopefully we will get at least another season out them. I'm of the belief that Zabaleta in particular will thrive next season.
 
OB1 said:
It's a tough one but sentiment cannot get in the way of the best decision for the squad. Sagna has been one of our best performers this season; remains to be seen what sort of form Zab can find. I think we will need a new RB in the summer and I am glad that I am not the one that has to decide who should leave if we do sign someone.
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New managers find it easier to make the big calls. And Pep has a history of binning fans favorites.
 
Zabba at full fitness and it's not even a close call between Sagna and him. Zabba offers so much more to the way we play than just defending, which is much more important to the team. Sagna has done well since getting a run of games but given the choice its a no brainer for me.
If Zabba decides it's time for him to move on then fair enough but there's no way he should be pushed out of the club at this time - he's good for another 2 seasons at least at the very top level.
 
I like Sagna and Zab but Zab can stand in at left fullback with ease...and that's an handy trait cause nobody said the injuries are finished just yet..mango might well buck-up with zab barking on his side of the pitch...just a thought.
 
BillyShears said:
I would disagree mate. I think Sagna is the big game go to guy because he's a better defender than Zab. Zab is excellent going forward as you say and he has a certain warrior mentality which is great for supporters to see, but fundamentally there's a reason why in the big European games or when a specialist winger needs to be dealt with, Pellegrini has always plumped for Sagna.

If it was a choice between the two and we can only keep one this summer, and I say this with a heavy heart, I'd have to pick Sagna to keep.
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I agree that Sagna is better defensively but something else I would factor in is that Zab seems more of a talker, more able to cajole the other defenders and in a defence that (without Vinny) has lacked the leaders to get a grip of things this season, I think his return could be essential for us. Barely worth speculating about next season, we don't know whether Vinny will be back and fit and if Pep is here then anything could happen, who knows who will stay and who will go, especially in terms of the back four?
 
Lancet Fluke said:
I agree that Sagna is better defensively but something else I would factor in is that Zab seems more of a talker, more able to cajole the other defenders and in a defence that (without Vinny) has lacked the leaders to get a grip of things this season, I think his return could be essential for us. Barely worth speculating about next season, we don't know whether Vinny will be back and fit and if Pep is here then anything could happen, who knows who will stay and who will go, especially in terms of the back four?
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Yeah that's a very fair point and absolutely he still has a huge part to play this season. We've missed him and actually not being able to rest Sagna has effected his performances.

In terms of the future beyond this season we are going to have to accept there'll be tons of speculation around our players as Pep will definitely want the squad refreshing and the average age brought down.

I love Zab and wrote recently I hope he retires at the club but those comments suggest he's got one eye on leaving.
 
domalino said:
No he doesn't, he got rid of fan favourites once, and it was because they were lazy and bad professionals.
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Eto'o Toure Schweinsteiger were neither lazy nor bad professionals. Deco and Ronaldinho probably were.

I also think you can't underestimate the age of our fullbacks. It's unlikely all four will stay.
 
Zaba looked a lot fitter v Palace, than he has for about 18 months imo. He was absolutely shocking last season & nowhere near good enough for City, imo due to fatigue. I thought he might be finished, but Saturday was very encouraging, he looked like he might be getting it back.

Sagna has been miles better this season than Zaba was last season, but not better than Zaba at his best imo. Zaba at his best, was the best rb in the country. I can't see any chance Pep will keep both purely as right back options though. I don't think Pep would want Sagna as a fullback due to his lack of attacking skills but he might possibly want him as cover for rb & cb if he dumps Mangala & Demi.

It might be that Zaba has to prove he can get up & down the pitch without falling to bits, for the remainder of the season. If he can, he might get a short term new deal from Pep/Txiki.
 
BillyShears said:
Eto'o Toure Schweinsteiger were neither lazy nor bad professionals. Deco and Ronaldinho probably were.

I also think you can't underestimate the age of our fullbacks. It's unlikely all four will stay.
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I'd be amazed if we don't lose at least one from either side. Two to stay if given the choice would be Kolorov and Zabba for me but as has been said, it's impossible to second guess what will happen come the Summer.
 
BillyShears said:
Eto'o Toure Schweinsteiger were neither lazy nor bad professionals. Deco and Ronaldinho probably were.

I also think you can't underestimate the age of our fullbacks. It's unlikely all four will stay.
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Schweinsteiger was not Guardiola's idea, that was Bayern allowing him to play in a different league (Something he wanted to do) while he still could.

Eto'o was binned because his response to Guardiola telling him how to play was reminding Guardiola he'd never been a great player and had done nothing as a coach. Awful attitude, poor professional.

Yaya wasn't a fan favourite.

Zabaleta is our best RB, the type of fullback Pep likes, is 2 years younger than Sagna and a great presence in the dressing room and leader on the pitch.

If he leaves it won't be because Pep forced him.
 
domalino said:
Schweinsteiger was not Guardiola's idea, that was Bayern allowing him to play in a different league (Something he wanted to do) while he still could.

Eto'o was binned because his response to Guardiola telling him how to play was reminding Guardiola he'd never been a great player and had done nothing as a coach. Awful attitude, poor professional.

Yaya wasn't a fan favourite.

Zabaleta is our best RB, the type of fullback Pep likes, is 2 years younger than Sagna and a great presence in the dressing room and leader on the pitch.

If he leaves it won't be because Pep forced him.
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The key is going to be who is available to buy and what role Zab wants in the side. Just my opinion but I don't see him being first choice next season. On that basis and his age profile I don't see the club committing to a new long term contract. From there it will depend on what offers he has.

Don't agree he's our best right back currently. Not at all. The cross five minutes into the Palace game which nearly led to a goal would simply not have come in with Sagna at RB. Zab was again stood too far off his man.
 
BillyShears said:
Yeah that's a very fair point and absolutely he still has a huge part to play this season. We've missed him and actually not being able to rest Sagna has effected his performances.

In terms of the future beyond this season we are going to have to accept there'll be tons of speculation around our players as Pep will definitely want the squad refreshing and the average age brought down.

I love Zab and wrote recently I hope he retires at the club but those comments suggest he's got one eye on leaving.
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It would be very sad if he left but he certainly won't want to spend the end of his career sat on the bench, he doesn't seem that type. So it will all depend what Pep's view is when he comes in. If and when he does go, you could easily see him back in some capacity after he's stopped playing though, assuming he's happy to live in Manchester when he could live in any city in the world. I must admit, I wouldn't.
 
Mike D said:
Just like every city love Zabba but don't like reading stories like this http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

He's been injured and Sagna has come in and proved himself man the f*ck up Zabba and win your place back. Stop all this shit about moving on elsewhere we have a great squad despite being a firm fans favourite you have earn your place.
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That's those wankers twisting it to sound like that, not Zaba. He doesn't know if City will want him. Neither do we.
 
BillyShears said:
The key is going to be who is available to buy and what role Zab wants in the side. Just my opinion but I don't see him being first choice next season. On that basis and his age profile I don't see the club committing to a new long term contract. From there it will depend on what offers he has.

Don't agree he's our best right back currently. Not at all. The cross five minutes into the Palace game which nearly led to a goal would simply not have come in with Sagna at RB. Zab was again stood too far off his man.
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It'll take him a couple more games to get up to speed but currently Sagna edges it.
It's a different story four or five games down the line (assuming he remains injury free)

The two CBs stood watching the Palace player get a free header under no pressure was an example of players stood too far off their man.
 
Mike D said:
Just like every city love Zabba but don't like reading stories like this http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

He's been injured and Sagna has come in and proved himself man the f*ck up Zabba and win your place back. Stop all this shit about moving on elsewhere we have a great squad despite being a firm fans favourite you have earn your place.
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So you'd rather trust the Daily Mails translation than Zabbaleta who has given everything for this club since he's been here?
Every player will be looking over their shoulder with the changes taking place in the summer - I'd imagine the vast majority want to be involved but it's beyond their control - bar putting in exceptional performances on the pitch for the next 5 months.
 
Lancet Fluke said:
It would be very sad if he left but he certainly won't want to spend the end of his career sat on the bench, he doesn't seem that type. So it will all depend what Pep's view is when he comes in. If and when he does go, you could easily see him back in some capacity after he's stopped playing though, assuming he's happy to live in Manchester when he could live in any city in the world. I must admit, I wouldn't.
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He'll be a manager one day imo. Got that kind of personality.

If he'd take the move id send him to NYC if he wants to play every week. Keep him in the family.
 
I think based on the quotes he thinks he's going. the median age of our full back is way too high and the positions definitely need a refresher but I'll be annoyed if Zaba goes based on one injury dogged year and Kolarov lives to fight another day
 
BillyShears said:
The key is going to be who is available to buy and what role Zab wants in the side. Just my opinion but I don't see him being first choice next season. On that basis and his age profile I don't see the club committing to a new long term contract. From there it will depend on what offers he has.

Don't agree he's our best right back currently. Not at all. The cross five minutes into the Palace game which nearly led to a goal would simply not have come in with Sagna at RB. Zab was again stood too far off his man.
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bit harsh on Zabba, he was initially tight enough but went with the overlapping runner as he should do, allowing
Fernando to take Wickham. That gave him that bit of space to get his cross in.
 
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