Kolarov

[Phil1]

Clichy is very good, but for me Kolarov is my number one choice as left back and I believe he is as good as any in the Premiership. Compare his assist and goal contribution to Clichy's. Clichy always cocks up when in a threatening position. Had that chance fallen to Clichy on saturday he would have made a mess of it. Kolarov has one of the best left feet in the league, look at the pass to Silva for the third goal, pure class. Clichy could never score the kind of goals from free kicks that Aleks does. As for this bullshit about defending, that is utter rubbish. Kolarov is an excellent defender and I don't recall a single goal that has been scored against us that you can pin down to him directly for a glaring mistake, unlike for example Clichy's poor play to lose the ball for the rags winner and his cock up with Kompany in last year's charity shield.

Cant believe anyone who watches City would actually say that, Clichy has probably been the best left back in europe in the past year, there a reason we signed him a year after buying Kolarov.

Why can't you believe any one who watches City can say that ? Are we all not entitled to our opinion ? Well, let's forget opinions and put down some facts shall we ? ;

Gael Clichy Appearances for City 65, goals 0 ( career 343 apps goals 2 )
Aleksander kolarov Appearances for City 87 goals 11 ( assists numerous, can only think of one clear assist from Clichy v Wolves to Aguero last season ) Kolarov career 166 apps 22 goals. That's 19 goals more than Clichy in less games !!

On those stats alone i would rest my case. As some people on here keep crapping on about the fact that both players are essentially defenders I have said before I don't think there is too much difference in their defensive capabilities. Clichy is a good player and nippier and quicker than Kolarov, but in my opinion, and I have watched City for over 40 years, Kolarov is a much better all round player. Clichy contributes next to nothing as an offensive player ( goals and assists ). Also, I can't believe anyone can say Clichy has probably been the best left back in Europe.

I'm a fan of kolorov and as a back up/cup player he's a great option.
To say he's a better left back than Clichy is well wide of the mark though - his pace and lack of awareness when defending have me panicking whenever we're on the back foot and he's playing - I sit in the gods in the east stand and have a perfect overview of that position and have seen him wanting a few times defensively.
Clichy has nearly all the tools to be up there with the best left backs in the league and his poor delivery when playing his final ball, whilst sometimes disappointing isn't the worse thing in the world.
I think we're lucky to have two different options dependent on opposition and if Kolorov is happy to be a squad player then carry on as we are.

 

[nice neil]

The most difficult position on the pitch is in net. One mistake result's in a goal. You can get away with it more or less anywhere else.

More and more full backs concentrate on attacking more than defending.

I don't think that proves difficulty at all. If I have to press a button once a day or the world explodes, is that then more difficult than pressing a sequence of 15 buttons in order every day if the punishment is less severe?

Stupid analogy, but my point still stands. Outfield players are on average paid more and command higher transfer fees, there's a reason for that.

That was just one example. GK's have to keep maximum concentration all game & there is a lot more to their game than people actually know about. Ask any player who has played at a pro club. They will tell you the same.

-- Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:16 am --

The most difficult position on the pitch is in net. One mistake result's in a goal. You can get away with it more or less anywhere else.

More and more full backs concentrate on attacking more than defending.

I don't think that proves difficulty at all. If I have to press a button once a day or the world explodes, is that then more difficult than pressing a sequence of 15 buttons in order every day if the punishment is less severe?

Stupid analogy, but my point still stands. Outfield players are on average paid more and command higher transfer fees, there's a reason for that.

That was just one example. GK's have to keep maximum concentration all game & there is a lot more to their game than people actually know about. Ask any player who has played at a pro club. They will tell you the same.

-- Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:16 am --

The most difficult position on the pitch is in net. One mistake result's in a goal. You can get away with it more or less anywhere else.

More and more full backs concentrate on attacking more than defending.

I don't think that proves difficulty at all. If I have to press a button once a day or the world explodes, is that then more difficult than pressing a sequence of 15 buttons in order every day if the punishment is less severe?

Stupid analogy, but my point still stands. Outfield players are on average paid more and command higher transfer fees, there's a reason for that.

That was just one example. GK's have to keep maximum concentration all game & there is a lot more to their game than people actually know about. Ask any player who has played at a pro club. They will tell you the same.

-- Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:17 am --

The most difficult position on the pitch is in net. One mistake result's in a goal. You can get away with it more or less anywhere else.

More and more full backs concentrate on attacking more than defending.

I don't think that proves difficulty at all. If I have to press a button once a day or the world explodes, is that then more difficult than pressing a sequence of 15 buttons in order every day if the punishment is less severe?

Stupid analogy, but my point still stands. Outfield players are on average paid more and command higher transfer fees, there's a reason for that.

That was just one example. GK's have to keep maximum concentration all game & there is a lot more to their game than people actually know about. Ask any player who has played at a pro club. They will tell you the same.

Goalkeeper is a specialized position which is a lot harder than it looks but, up front, you have to take punishment from behind, (ooh Er), make a lot of wasted runs, most of which are sprints where you don't get the ball. Also, you're expected to come up with something constructive every time you get the ball, whereas a defender can just put it into the stand or make a strong challenge, and job done.

-- Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:19 am --

Don't know what happened there , above ?

-- Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:20 am --

Don't know what happened there , above ?<br /><br />-- Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:20 am --<br /><br />

The most difficult position on the pitch is in net. One mistake result's in a goal. You can get away with it more or less anywhere else.

More and more full backs concentrate on attacking more than defending.

I don't think that proves difficulty at all. If I have to press a button once a day or the world explodes, is that then more difficult than pressing a sequence of 15 buttons in order every day if the punishment is less severe?

Stupid analogy, but my point still stands. Outfield players are on average paid more and command higher transfer fees, there's a reason for that.

That was just one example. GK's have to keep maximum concentration all game & there is a lot more to their game than people actually know about. Ask any player who has played at a pro club. They will tell you the same.

Goalkeeper is a specialized position which is a lot harder than it looks but, up front, you have to take punishment from behind, (ooh Er), make a lot of wasted runs, most of which are sprints where you don't get the ball. Also, you're expected to come up with something constructive every time you get the ball, whereas a defender can just put it into the stand or make a strong challenge, and job done.

 

[Any1aBlue]

It sounds derisory on paper but only because we paid far too much for him. Juventus bought Arturo Vidal for £8million and he is one of the best midfielders in Europe so they would see this as a fair price for Aleks. I'd be surprised if they didn't ask for him on loan with the "option to buy", the Italians' favourite new con (because most of the time they send the player back!).

Kola's an excellent option to have and therefore I wouldn't sell him. We don't need the money and we'd have to replace him.

YEP - with someone who can defend..................

 

[alky313]

Fullback is one of the most physically taxing. But I'd say a central defender is one of the most mentally tested players in the modern game.

 

[peter.evans]

Alky, I disagree with you that central defence is the hardest position to play in. For me defenders, whilst crucial to the team of course, have it very easy. They usually line up four v two so effectively only have half a player to mark. They can lump the ball upfield and do not have to do anything positive with the ball ( at least that's how football is played in this country ! ). Whereas the creative players have to have the skill to beat an opponent with brain and technique, score and create the goals, etc. Of course, it's a team game, but for me defenders have the easiest job of all.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

It sounds derisory on paper but only because we paid far too much for him. Juventus bought Arturo Vidal for £8million and he is one of the best midfielders in Europe so they would see this as a fair price for Aleks. I'd be surprised if they didn't ask for him on loan with the "option to buy", the Italians' favourite new con (because most of the time they send the player back!).

Yeah, can we have him on tick, and can we start paying perhaps later!

 

[Fat Chance]

Can't remember who it was against now (might have been Everton) but the dodging out of the line of the ball from 2 yards away by Kolarov that led directly to a goal conceeded was proper shit.

 

[Vienna_70]

Have people forgotten how Aleks owned Fani in the semi-final?

The diving Kung-fu artist didn't have a look-in that day.

Kolarov had a great game that day, as did the whole team, to be fair, and once we got through the first 20 minutes or so, we never looked like we were going to lose.

 

[nehe11]

Have people forgotten how Aleks owned Fani in the semi-final?

The diving Kung-fu artist didn't have a look-in that day.

Kolarov had a great game that day, as did the whole team, to be fair, and once we got through the first 20 minutes or so, we never looked like we were going to lose.

Diden´t Nani play on the left against Zabba? And I think it was Valencia on the right, Kolarovs left.

 

[Colins Bellend]

Clichy is very good, but for me Kolarov is my number one choice as left back and I believe he is as good as any in the Premiership. Compare his assist and goal contribution to Clichy's. Clichy always cocks up when in a threatening position. Had that chance fallen to Clichy on saturday he would have made a mess of it. Kolarov has one of the best left feet in the league, look at the pass to Silva for the third goal, pure class. Clichy could never score the kind of goals from free kicks that Aleks does. As for this bullshit about defending, that is utter rubbish. Kolarov is an excellent defender and I don't recall a single goal that has been scored against us that you can pin down to him directly for a glaring mistake, unlike for example Clichy's poor play to lose the ball for the rags winner and his cock up with Kompany in last year's charity shield.

Cant believe anyone who watches City would actually say that, Clichy has probably been the best left back in europe in the past year, there a reason we signed him a year after buying Kolarov.

Why can't you believe any one who watches City can say that ? Are we all not entitled to our opinion ? Well, let's forget opinions and put down some facts shall we ? ;

Gael Clichy Appearances for City 65, goals 0 ( career 343 apps goals 2 )
Aleksander kolarov Appearances for City 87 goals 11 ( assists numerous, can only think of one clear assist from Clichy v Wolves to Aguero last season ) Kolarov career 166 apps 22 goals. That's 19 goals more than Clichy in less games !!

On those stats alone i would rest my case. As some people on here keep crapping on about the fact that both players are essentially defenders I have said before I don't think there is too much difference in their defensive capabilities. Clichy is a good player and nippier and quicker than Kolarov, but in my opinion, and I have watched City for over 40 years, Kolarov is a much better all round player. Clichy contributes next to nothing as an offensive player ( goals and assists ). Also, I can't believe anyone can say Clichy has probably been the best left back in Europe.

I wouldn't rest your case that fast , check the stats for goals conceded