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Our glaring weakness at LB, will it be fixed?
- Thread starter NipHolmes
- Start date
Two good games against mediocre attacking opponents and five year's worth of intermittent dodgy defending is plastered over in the eyes of almost everyone here.the slating off Kolarov takes me back to simpler times when Edgehill was treated similarly, with the same lack of cover from his partner in front of him, plus ce change.....
There's fickle and then there's this...
NQCitizen
Well-Known Member
List goals that came as a result of Kolarov error (as he's been dodgy for 5 years)?Two good games against mediocre attacking opponents and five year's worth of intermittent dodgy defending is plastered over in the eyes of almost everyone here.
There's fickle and then there's this...
The biggest problem with Kolarov, who is hugely important in our attacking play pre-Sterling was that he had no support and couldn't just magically appear in defence again.
supercity88
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 9 Aug 2009
- Messages
- 13,969
It's clear to see that our balance has been whats lacking as opposed to personnel. Not only do we now have competition in most areas of the squad, we've got the ability to play several different formations and tactics and still win games without sacrificing quality.
We're lucky Silva is such a good player, to stick him on the left side of midfield/attack has been hugely restricting his ability to impact a game. He therefore drifts infield and we lose a lot of width and balance and are exposed on the counter attack.
You could see with Silva centrally and Sterling on the wing we looked much more potent in attack and much more compact in defence. I've said on numerous threads that opposition teams will have to make a choice now. Do they double up on Silva and Aguero? What about Sterling and De Bruyne? They've got big decisions to make. Ramires was used to back Ivanovic up and cope with Sterling. That left acres of space for Silva and Navas, who only had Azpilicueta to mark him as Hazard was further up the pitch.
A huge difference from previous games against Chelsea where we've created chances but they've managed to grind out games.
We're lucky Silva is such a good player, to stick him on the left side of midfield/attack has been hugely restricting his ability to impact a game. He therefore drifts infield and we lose a lot of width and balance and are exposed on the counter attack.
You could see with Silva centrally and Sterling on the wing we looked much more potent in attack and much more compact in defence. I've said on numerous threads that opposition teams will have to make a choice now. Do they double up on Silva and Aguero? What about Sterling and De Bruyne? They've got big decisions to make. Ramires was used to back Ivanovic up and cope with Sterling. That left acres of space for Silva and Navas, who only had Azpilicueta to mark him as Hazard was further up the pitch.
A huge difference from previous games against Chelsea where we've created chances but they've managed to grind out games.
My memory isn't so great that I can list specific errors Kolarov mistakes, but the amount of times I hear the phrase "goes past Kolarov too easily" or "Kolarov has to get tighter" and so on just annoys me. It isn't about positioning, it's more about such things as acceleration and alertness.List goals that came as a result of Kolarov error (as he's been dodgy for 5 years)?
The biggest problem with Kolarov, who is hugely important in our attacking play pre-Sterling was that he had no support and couldn't just magically appear in defence again.
If it's purely bad positional play from our covering wingers then why does Clichy tend to be started ahead of him in the big games, shouldn't make a difference should it?
Did you watch him try to contain Bale a few weeks ago?
My memory isn't so great that I can list specific errors Kolarov mistakes, but the amount of times I hear the phrase "goes past Kolarov too easily" or "Kolarov has to get tighter" and so on just annoys me. It isn't about positioning, it's more about such things as acceleration and alertness.
If it's purely bad positional play from our covering wingers then why does Clichy tend to be started ahead of him in the big games, shouldn't make a difference should it?
Did you watch him try to contain Bale a few weeks ago?
Yes, some idiots were shout at Kolarov to get tighter to Messo in the Nou Camp. What a good idea. Get tight to the World best player.
Kolarov is and remains a very under rated defender. Considering in his time here we've never had a left winger or pacey left sided centre back he's done very well. In terms of personal mistakes I think he's way behind Kompany, Clichy and even Zabaleta in personal errors leading to goals.
He was also excellent for the last 2 months of last season. Given a run of games he always looks good.
Very very under rated.
uwe rosler 28
Well-Known Member
The glaring issue was fixed when when signed a proper left winger who offers support to his full back and the change of formation! We have 2 very good full backs that can't be really improved upon!
Doesn't matter whether Kolarov goes tight or not to the world's best players, he has never and will never be able to handle them. I believe he even had special protection from James Milner that night and still had his pants pulled down.Yes, some idiots were shout at Kolarov to get tighter to Messo in the Nou Camp. What a good idea. Get tight to the World best player.
Kolarov is and remains a very under rated defender. Considering in his time here we've never had a left winger or pacey left sided centre back he's done very well. In terms of personal mistakes I think he's way behind Kompany, Clichy and even Zabaleta in personal errors leading to goals.
He was also excellent for the last 2 months of last season. Given a run of games he always looks good.
Very very under rated.
Doesn't matter whether Kolarov goes tight or not to the world's best players, he has never and will never be able to handle them. I believe he even had special protection from James Milner that night and still had his pants pulled down.
There in lies you issue. James Milner is a hard working player, not much more. He doesn't nor has he ever tightened full backs. With Sterling playing unless we're playing Europe's top 3, full backs will stay back. Kolarov when he's looked poor is due to him being exposed by 2 players, Sterling stops that being a possibility. Kolarov a rarely been trouble by a winger, I never remember him being given the run a round like Zabaleta was by Victor fucking Moses at Stoke last season.
Left back is certainly not currently a 'glaring weakness'. Kolarov has looked very good for his last 8 games, not 2.
I'm almost sure the options suggested or you thought of a replacement would offer little more.
I did a list a few pages back, the list of left backs suggested to replace ours is frankly laughable. Ranges from Ashley Cole to Aaron Creswell to players people only know of from football manager.
Would you buy Sandro? Have we not learnt our Porto lesson? I can't think of a Brazilian full back suited to the Prem since Cafu and he never came.