Our glaring weakness at LB, will it be fixed?

Any consideration for Ricardo Rodriguez? He's the left back at Wolfsburg. Dependable at both attack and defense with a great work rate. Has a great mind to pick out a pass, pinpoint accuracy on a cross, and great in the air (something Clichy and Kolarov lack). He's also a deadball specialist. He could even play as a left midfielder if required. He's like a better version of Kolarov, and he's only 22! He's coming off an excellent season in the Bundlesliga, recognized as the league's top left back, and was one of the stars of Switzerland's run at the Brazil World Cup.

 
Angelino is amazing on the ball and attacking, pure class. He still worries me defensively though, mostly because he's in every attack and leaves a huge gap behind him.
 
I think we will wait another season. MP seems fairly content with Kolarov and clichy. I think we will judge it next summer, once we have seen Angelino's progression.
 
jakeplattinblue said:
I think we will wait another season. MP seems fairly content with Kolarov and clichy. I think we will judge it next summer, once we have seen Angelino's progression.
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Agree with this; I don't see left back as a glaring issue really. Clichy is a decent defender and we could have a lot worse back up than Kolarov. Yes, neither of them are Philip Lahm, but I can't think of any other Prem clubs with two left backs of their standard. So we may concede the odd goal down the left, just like we do from corners despite having beasts like Komps & Mangala, it happens, we won't keep a clean sheet every game. But with an attack of Kun, Silva, Sterling, KDB, Yaya, Nasri & Bony I don't think letting in the odd goal will matter too much. What we have is good enough.
 
I am not sure Clichy or Kolarov are "good enough" to be honest. They both have decent games from time to time but too often the standard is just not good enough. Clichy offers nothing going forward - we might as well play another centre half at left back. And Kolarov's defending varies between absolutely woeful and "acceptable".

For a top 4 team, they are just about OK, but for a team looking to win it every year and to get deep into the CL, neither of them are of the required standard.
 
Watching kolarov again this morning, friendly or not, it is obvious he is not capable of playing against the best teams in Europe. Clichy is also suspect especially going forward. I think the op may have a point
 
Jack Wills said:
Agree with this; I don't see left back as a glaring issue really. Clichy is a decent defender and we could have a lot worse back up than Kolarov. Yes, neither of them are Philip Lahm, but I can't think of any other Prem clubs with two left backs of their standard. So we may concede the odd goal down the left, just like we do from corners despite having beasts like Komps & Mangala, it happens, we won't keep a clean sheet every game. But with an attack of Kun, Silva, Sterling, KDB, Yaya, Nasri & Bony I don't think letting in the odd goal will matter too much. What we have is good enough.
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Week-in-week-out Clichy and Kolarov are decent enough at both sides of the game, when it gets to the Round of 16 in the CL they are our weakest link and we will lose if teams exploit them because we're not good enough defensively with either player there.

But you can carry players if other teams don't exploit the weakness. Look at Juve getting to the final with Evra at LB. Evra's still a decent player with the ball but he's been suspect defensively his whole career.
 
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