Our glaring weakness at LB, will it be fixed?

[Richard]

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

Can we leave Kolorov in Melbourne?

 

[ScottSinclair]

I have a feeling we will never have a good enough left back. They are so hard to find

 

[Well Wisher]

Clichy isn't weak - Kolarov maybe. I think it's just that most managers know their midfield is weaker than yours so they bang it out to the flanks for a 1v1. If you had the world's greatest LB then Zabba would be strongly tested. A DeJong or Barry would recognise a pattern & help sort it.

 

[penalty spot]

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.

Spot on , we do need somebody else in these positions to give us some width instead of the usual square passing or backwards passing when it comes down to these two.

 

[Sergio Picasso Aguero]

Two words. Alex Sandro.

 

[Paulmcfc2703]

Clichy isn't weak - Kolarov maybe. I think it's just that most managers know their midfield is weaker than yours so they bang it out to the flanks for a 1v1. If you had the world's greatest LB then Zabba would be strongly tested. A DeJong or Barry would recognise a pattern & help sort it.

There's no maybe about it. Kolarov is just awful

 

[richards30]

lb is a major problem now and we REALLY need to get alex sandro in asap!!

 

[jpinblue]

This needs sorting this summer.

 

[GeorgeHeslop'sTackle.]

Isn't it more to to do with the system we play rather than the actual people that are occupying the fullback roles.

They can either be specialist defenders or auxilery wingers... Not both.

If you're using them, primarily as auxilary wingers, and playing the ridiculously high line that we do, isn't it inevitable that the opposition's front players will continually exploit the massive spaces behind them, whoever's in possession of the shirt?

Just asking.

 

[Paulmcfc2703]

Isn't it more to to do with the system we play rather than the actual people that are occupying the fullback roles.

They can either be specialist defenders or auxilery wingers... Not both.

If you're using them, primarily as auxilary wingers, and playing the ridiculously high line that we do, isn't it inevitable that the opposition's front players will continually exploit the massive spaces behind them, whoever's in possession of the shirt?

Just asking.

So why was Kolarov about 5 yards behind the defensive line playing Ronaldo onside?