Aleksandar Kolarov

Status
Not open for further replies.
Doesn't anybody want Kolarov? He's been with us a long time and people don't give him enough credit but... he is too slow now it's that simple(tracking back and with the ball) and in the friendlies when we started a good passage of play with zippy passing he was the only player reverting back to the old way of hold onto the ball, delay enough so their defenders can shift over into position(him and Nari used to kill games that way when defenses were getting the better of us) and then passing backwards because no options jumped out at him. His freekicks and long balls to release players from the back are good but surely that's not enough?
 
Burtonblue said:
He is a left back.
His primary duty is to defend.
He does not do this well enough.
I couldn't give a toss about his comedic talents or his attacking prowess.
He's a fecking defender and a not very good one at that.
Get rid now!
Rant over.
Click to expand...

I think you'll find Pep does give a toss about his FBs attacking prowess.

Going off topic slightly - under Pep the way we defend will be different, one tactic he uses is to narrow the FBs and push them higher up the pitch alongside the def. midfielder to form a defensive midfield 3 in front of the 2 CBs. This was the tactic he used with Lahm and Alaba at Bayern which actually gave the FBs more attacking freedom in what was essentially a 2-3-3-2 formation. There were signs of this formation in the pre-season games, including the characteristic long cross-field passes from the CBs to find the spare man - notably by Tosin to Angelino in the build-up to the goal against Dortmund but also a couple from Kolarov to Sterling against Arsenal. The article below is quite informative in detailing how Pep sets up his team. Apologies if it's been posted before.

Anyway, if you see the FBs - whoever they are on saturday - occupying more central areas don't start complaining that they're "out of position". ;-)

http://outsideoftheboot.com/2015/01/09/pep-guardiola-pyramid/
 
Kolarov will play CB this year and move on once his contract is up. Hopefully at the end of the season?

Let's hope he takes to backup CB betterthan he did to LB.

Yes, I'm not a fan.
 
blueonblue said:
I just love the way some dismiss him so easily as not "Being a top class defender" rather than remembering what he brings to the team, he gives us a threat down the left, decent balls into the box and a goal threat on his left peg anywhere within 30 yards, not to shabby in the air and passes with intelligence rather than sideways and backwards like most defenders.

Yes there are better defenders, but as a package he`s well worth keeping an I suspect Pep will utilize him as an enforcer/sweeper in some games.
Click to expand...
Good post.
 
every one started with a clean sheet under pep maybe we should go with the flow,the manager clearly thinks he will be useful
 
ped said:
every one started with a clean sheet under pep maybe we should go with the flow,the manager clearly thinks he will be useful
Click to expand...
This,we should give everyone a chance and forget the last 2 yrs of mp dross,everyone looked bad bar joe,sergio and kev
 
Kolarov is still here because we couldn't get Laporte. Plain and simple. Pep sees him as being better with his feet than Mangala and we don't have many left footed defenders. You can argue that he can't defend very well. It doesn't matter. Pep's giving him a go at CB probably as cover especially with Vinny being injured we'll need back up.
 
To be fair to him, looks like he has come back very fit and determined to be involved. He looked very suspect at the end of last season but who knows.

I have complete faith in Pep to make the correct decision, I said when he took over that he will grab all of the players and one by one see if they still have the heart and fire in their belly to compete. Kolarov seemingly has passed the test.
 
Larry Stranger said:
Kolarov is still here because we couldn't get Laporte. Plain and simple. Pep sees him as being better with his feet than Mangala and we don't have many left footed defenders. You can argue that he can't defend very well. It doesn't matter. Pep's giving him a go at CB probably as cover especially with Vinny being injured we'll need back up.
Click to expand...
To be fair if Pep wants him it's probably because he's physically in good condition and is smarter than Mangala. You can't coach the fear out of someone and Mangala looks scared passing the ball 4 yards.
 
decmancity said:
To be fair to him, looks like he has come back very fit and determined to be involved. He looked very suspect at the end of last season but who knows.

I have complete faith in Pep to make the correct decision, I said when he took over that he will grab all of the players and one by one see if they still have the heart and fire in their belly to compete. Kolarov seemingly has passed the test.
Click to expand...
Or there's just no club out there willing to pay his wages.
 
george22 said:
Hey!!!!!
We have a winner
You may claim your prize as you exit
Click to expand...

Kolarov still has one of the best left foot in the business but I really believe that the only viable position for him in this team is Left Midfield and that is a stretch. Don' t think he can play left back effectively anymore (too rigid, no flexibility,no athleticism , no acceleration, especially when tracking back)and certainly cannot play center back. Maybe his technical ability with that left foot and his natural personality and leadership qualities is the reason why the manager considered him for CB or maybe because of circumstance e.g injuries and other things relating to transfers, Only Pep knows but we will find out what happens when the season starts.
 
I think pep will persist with him at centerback, his passing through multiple lines of opposition players is exactly what we need. He lacks composure to play out from the back in tight areas but this is a problem nearly all of our defenders have, except possibly Clichy. I think early in the season Pep will tell the players to play more in their comfort zone and clear it when they feel its necessary but will be working like dogs in training to improve their ability to play his style of football. In the friendly vs arsenal you could see they were all told early on to stick to the plan no matter how risky it gets and to try play out from the back, however when Hart came on Pep let them return to their normal style.
 
His range of passing being left footed and his Height is probably why Pep trying him out at centre back.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top