Exactly. For me that would have been our most important signing of the summer.
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Our glaring weakness at LB, will it be fixed?
- Thread starter NipHolmes
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MasterOfKnees
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I think this will have to wait another season, there's just not enough time to offload anyone now and Kolarov has been doing well anyways. It's not a crucial buy to win the league anyways, we've won it with Clichy and Kolarov before, signing a left-back has always been to get further in the Champions League as big teams in that competition always target our left side. We'll probably bring in a right-back next season too I imagine, our fullbacks are pretty up there in terms of age.
Forgive me if I'm wrong but I've not seen Kolarov ever been given a solid run of games for us, has always constantly rotated with Clichy or Clichy has been favoured the most.
The signs so far are promising, Mangala improving is a big thing on the left side of defence. Also Kola and Sterling are showing signs of working well together down the left.
The signs so far are promising, Mangala improving is a big thing on the left side of defence. Also Kola and Sterling are showing signs of working well together down the left.
The Man With The Stick
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Kolorov's got cover all of a sudden and the performances have shot up. Much better formation and shape this season, might even work better in europe.
Gareth Barry Conlon
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As I’ve said at various times before on this thread, shape and discipline are far more important than individuals when it comes to our left side weak spot.
For me it started with playing 442 and Silva being placed on the left of the 4 with 2 strikers, as we all know Silva doesn’t stay in any one position so we were frequently caught out with a big void down the left until you got to the LB / LCB who were easily put under pressure.
The answer is 451 and playing Sterling who will stay on the left and with an extra midfielder the gaps just won’t be as big and the cover comes more easily. Also we have had 2x right footed centre mids in Yaya and Fdinho who will always favour drifting to the right and defending on that side. Delph is left footed and would naturally drift the other way. The last time we had that right foot + left foot centre mid combo was with Barry and we had no big LB problem with Barry in the team because he was natural cover on the pitch.
We have the solution to the problem without needing to go in to the transfer market! Just need to set the team up the right way.
For me it started with playing 442 and Silva being placed on the left of the 4 with 2 strikers, as we all know Silva doesn’t stay in any one position so we were frequently caught out with a big void down the left until you got to the LB / LCB who were easily put under pressure.
The answer is 451 and playing Sterling who will stay on the left and with an extra midfielder the gaps just won’t be as big and the cover comes more easily. Also we have had 2x right footed centre mids in Yaya and Fdinho who will always favour drifting to the right and defending on that side. Delph is left footed and would naturally drift the other way. The last time we had that right foot + left foot centre mid combo was with Barry and we had no big LB problem with Barry in the team because he was natural cover on the pitch.
We have the solution to the problem without needing to go in to the transfer market! Just need to set the team up the right way.
Screw Kolarov then. Sign Sandro and let Kolarov sit on the bench until he musters the effort to shift his ass to a new club. I can't see how wages are a problem if we're signing Otamendi with appropriate CB cover already in place.The problem is likely that Kolarov can't be offloaded and Clichy is homegrown. Not that there isn't anyone available.
So we have to adjust our entire way of playing just to protect the left hand side? What if Sterling or Delph gets injured, or we want to alter our style of play to suit the match we're playing?As I’ve said at various times before on this thread, shape and discipline are far more important than individuals when it comes to our left side weak spot.
For me it started with playing 442 and Silva being placed on the left of the 4 with 2 strikers, as we all know Silva doesn’t stay in any one position so we were frequently caught out with a big void down the left until you got to the LB / LCB who were easily put under pressure.
The answer is 451 and playing Sterling who will stay on the left and with an extra midfielder the gaps just won’t be as big and the cover comes more easily. Also we have had 2x right footed centre mids in Yaya and Fdinho who will always favour drifting to the right and defending on that side. Delph is left footed and would naturally drift the other way. The last time we had that right foot + left foot centre mid combo was with Barry and we had no big LB problem with Barry in the team because he was natural cover on the pitch.
We have the solution to the problem without needing to go in to the transfer market! Just need to set the team up the right way.
Have you been watching this season's games as well as the last few games of last season. Kolarov has been playing well, is a much more useful attacking outlet than most LBs in the world, and his defensive game is not as terrible as people make out. And when sterling gets injured, we have Clichy , who according to some is a better defender (doubtful based of recent form). Plus, we can always put 3 in the middle (Diinho-Yaya-Delph/Fernando) and one of them will drift to cover the space on left hand side.
Otamendi is also a useful signing. Next season Demi will probably leave, leaving us with only Mangala and Kompany plus Denayer. We have picked one of the best defenders in the past season, a player who Mangala knows well, and we are keeping him out of the clutches of the rags whom he would improve.
Otamendi is also a useful signing. Next season Demi will probably leave, leaving us with only Mangala and Kompany plus Denayer. We have picked one of the best defenders in the past season, a player who Mangala knows well, and we are keeping him out of the clutches of the rags whom he would improve.
Before slating Kolarov do yourselves a favour and go and watch Gary Neville's MNF analysis of Kolarov, Sterling and Silva, first 2 games he's been great. If we limit rotation in defence then that will give our defence time to prove themselves, we don't need a left back as of now.
Utter bobbins
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Screw Kolarov then. Sign Sandro and let Kolarov sit on the bench until he musters the effort to shift his ass to a new club. I can't see how wages are a problem if we're signing Otamendi with appropriate CB cover already in place.
So we have to adjust our entire way of playing just to protect the left hand side? What if Sterling or Delph gets injured, or we want to alter our style of play to suit the match we're playing?
Blimey
JustAnotherCityFan
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Before slating Kolarov do yourselves a favour and go and watch Gary Neville's MNF analysis of Kolarov, Sterling and Silva, first 2 games he's been great. If we limit rotation in defence then that will give our defence time to prove themselves, we don't need a left back as of now.
Yep, fantastic analysis by Neville on monday. It's amazing how quickly Kola and Sterling have linked up and I doubt anyone we got in now would form a better partnership on that left side.
Utter bobbins
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Even though kolarov has been excellent so far for those difficult CL games our best LB is also our best RB- Zab. Sagna RB, Zab LB
It gets better
Gareth Barry Conlon
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Screw Kolarov then. Sign Sandro and let Kolarov sit on the bench until he musters the effort to shift his ass to a new club. I can't see how wages are a problem if we're signing Otamendi with appropriate CB cover already in place.
So we have to adjust our entire way of playing just to protect the left hand side? What if Sterling or Delph gets injured, or we want to alter our style of play to suit the match we're playing?
Even though kolarov has been excellent so far for those difficult CL games our best LB is also our best RB- Zab. Sagna RB, Zab LB
This is just idiotic. If you play Sandro or Zaba at lb with no one in front they will look exposed, it's basic stuff. Playing sterling isn't an alteration of our style, he just holds his position on the left where as silva or nasri drift about. It is not always about the player basic positioning is often more important!
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DerderderPabloZabaleta
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This is just idiotic. If you play Sandro or Zaba at lb with no one in front they will look exposed, it's basic stuff. Playing sterling isn't an alteration of our style, he just holds his position on the left where as silva or nasri drift about. It is not always about the player basic positioning is often more important!
Only theez
Hear, hear. I can't believe that doofus you're responding to is an actual Blue.This is just idiotic. If you play Sandro or Zaba at lb with no one in front they will look exposed, it's basic stuff. Playing sterling isn't an alteration of our style, he just holds his position on the left where as silva or nasri drift about. It is not always about the player basic positioning is often more important!
Wait... no, I can believe it.
NQCitizen
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Full back's wings really aren't as interchangeable as people make out.Even though kolarov has been excellent so far for those difficult CL games our best LB is also our best RB- Zab. Sagna RB, Zab LB
Kolarov is our best left back, just, and Zab is our best right back, just. Let's leave it there with two very capable back ups.
Wtf?Screw Kolarov then. Sign Sandro and let Kolarov sit on the bench until he musters the effort to shift his ass to a new club. I can't see how wages are a problem if we're signing Otamendi with appropriate CB cover already in place.
So we have to adjust our entire way of playing just to protect the left hand side? What if Sterling or Delph gets injured, or we want to alter our style of play to suit the match we're playing?