Aleksandar Kolarov - 2016/17 performances

[taconinja]

On the flipside after watching the analysis - can anyone imagine Kolarov playing as a fullback anymore? ;)

Depends on how we use our fullbacks, I suppose. They were certainly not deployed in the traditional manner yesterday.

 

[mcfc1996]

If this switch is half as successful as some of Pep's previous positional switches, e.g. Lahm and Mascherano, then we have a very decent solution. But I must say it would worry me having him playing when he will have teams running at him, say Dippers and Arsenal. It would be a Sunday stroll against the Scum.

 

[feedthegoat27]

Pep will have him alongside Dinho/Gundogan in midfield next. Try and get the best out of that passing range....

 

[OB1]

I think we need to get used to the idea that everything happening with the defence now isn't just happening due to Vinnies absence. He might end up being the main guy to partner Stones period!

Yesterday did provide food for thought but it is just one performance. One of the most encouraging things though was how well he did aerially.

Kolarov has a better passing range than Vinnie but in any other respect of a centre back's duties, Vinnie is superior and Vinnie's short passing is decent so I do not currently envisage Vinnie being ousted from the starting line-up if he is fit enough. What I do foresee is Vinnie not playing every three days so, even if he avoids injury, I see plenty of game time for whoever is third choice. The big question for me is whether or not Kolarov's emergence as a CB means we can / should release Manga and Denayer? If Tosin does not go out on an experience loan, we would have, as a minimum, Vinnie, Stones, Ota, Kolarov, Tosin, Dinho and Sagna as our CB options.

 

[schfc6]

One break from the back was Beckenbaueresq.....think for games like Stoke Ota the better option though.

I think any team with good set piece delivery or good free kick takers from around the box should be the last team Otamendi plays against. He gives away far too many silly free kicks. Hopefully this can be sorted by Pep.

Regards Kolarov was very good yesterday, dominant in the air. By all accounts his attitude has been first rate since Pep arrived. Makes him very easy to work with. His fitness is apparently what delighted Pep the most.

 

[Deleted member 58678]

I've always backed Kolarov, even over the fans in the stands he's had a go at a few times (I think he's well within his rights to tell you to "fuck off" if you're shouting "you're shit Kolarov" at him which he can clearly hear!).

He's been here through three managers, he's been given the armband a couple of times, he was trusted over Otamendi Mangala Denayer and Tosin who were all fit to play at centre half and he was excellent!

For all that he must have something, eh?

He looks fit, determined, refreshed. His quality on the ball made our passing at the back with Willy Stones Clichy Sagna and Fernandinho really high quality.

 

[give & go]

I think I'm right in that kolorov has played most minutes in pre season , pep certainly sees something in him many of us don't

 

[kaz7]

 

[Bombo]

Thought he was outstanding against Sunderland totally surprised me well done Kolarov made me eat my pre match words

 

[quiet_riot]

Fucking hell!