Is kolarov what you expected?

[Skashion]

No, but that's because I expect a lot from this guy. He has all the major attributes to make a great wing-back, one of the best in the world. Mourinho rates him as well, which bolsters my confidence in him. Let him get used to the Premier League and back to full fitness and he'll be where I think he ought to be. For now, he's still good enough to make it into our first team along with Zab.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Lets get Bridge back from West Ham FFS.

Best left back we've had at this club in a long time.

Agreed.

Also, he was bought as an attacking full back - hence playing a quite defence minded midfield to allow full backs to get forward.

His job is first and foremost to defend.

An attacking fullback who can't defend is a liability.

 

[SWP's back]

Agreed.

Also, he was bought as an attacking full back - hence playing a quite defence minded midfield to allow full backs to get forward.

His job is first and foremost to defend.

An attacking fullback who can't defend is a liability.

Not in this system.

 

[Skashion]

An attacking fullback who can't defend is a liability.

Made two cracking blocks against Wolves.

 

[Anonymous]

I hope it's just poor form but you've either got pace or you haven't.

That's the big worry for me...if it's part of the game plan to play with an attacking full back like Kola with no orthodox winger to support him, then in the premiership whenever he comes up against a winger with pace he'll struggle.

I see it like this - 90% of the teams we play will defend deep, giving Kola the incentive to go forward, but then he'll be much easier to expose on the break.

It'll be interesting to see now that Bridge has gone, whether we'll buy real 'competition' for him in the summer, or a 'back up'...

 

[Joycee Banercheck]

His job is first and foremost to defend.

An attacking fullback who can't defend is a liability.

Not in this system.

I'd say that a fullback who can't defend in any system is a bit of a liability! But I don't think AK has done too bad. Definitely room for improvement, but on the whole, getting there.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

His job is first and foremost to defend.

An attacking fullback who can't defend is a liability.

Not in this system.

What are you talking about?

The system is 4-2-3-1.

He's a full back.

If he doesn't defend properly we're in the shit.

 

[Anonymous]

His job is first and foremost to defend.

An attacking fullback who can't defend is a liability.

Not in this system.

Don't understand that comment. The system we play is a very narrow 4231 with the two 'wide players' cutting inside, thus leaving room for the full back to attack. We don't have enough pace either at the back or in midfield to deal with teams breaking at pace against us - it's why IMO we set up the way we do against teams like Arsenal and the rags - because Mancini knows his team can be exposed if it comes up against a good team with lightening pace in their armoury...

Check out the way Spurs bullied us at WHL....new players aside, what we couldn't handle was their pace and movement.

 

[SWP's back]

Not in this system.

I'd say that a fullback who can't defend in any system is a bit of a liability! But I don't think AK has done too bad. Definitely room for improvement, but on the whole, getting there.

I meant he is good enough to defend in this system. People forget he missed the first 1/3 of the season through injury.

 

[SWP's back]

Not in this system.

What are you talking about?

The system is 4-2-3-1.

He's a full back.

If he doesn't defend properly we're in the shit.

He defends well enough.