Pablo Zabaleta - Am I missing something?

i for one pal have said the same thing all along, he's by no means the worst right-back we've ever had (i mean we've had Edghill, Crooks, Foster need i go on) but he does get turned inside out far too easily (watch footage of FC Twente/Liverpool with Riera/even Forest) he gets caught out of position too often aswell.

the goals we are leaking however are not down to Zaba solely. Dunne, Richards or Ben Haim need replacing too as these guys are mid-table defenders

we are gonna need a proven top four style right-back if we are gonna challenge for honours in the future aswell as two centre backs!
 
pedrag40 said:
Agree 100%. He's one of very few that have shown any fight this year and has got a british mentality, but i think he is slow and gets skinned by some very average wingers. Someone on GMR yesterday said he plays in midfield for Argentina. Anyone know where abouts? He's a good attacking winger and puts in some great balls, but as you say he does look off the pace.
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Holding role or right wing.
 
Shooter 83 said:
avoidconfusion said:
I would have Corluka over Zabaleta any day of the week, much better player.
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Corluka has been bobbins for spuds. Fans are saying hes a waste of money.
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They seem to like him...
<a class="postlink" href="http://glory-glory.co.uk/forums/thread/530103.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://glory-glory.co.uk/forums/thread/530103.aspx</a>

Regarding Zab and Charlie, i haven't changed my opinion... Zab is one of best players for us this season, he adopted well to Prem, good tackler, always giving 100%, rarely crosses, but when he does he manages to find a target, he is more attacking type of RB than defending and the problem is that he must find a balance between going forward and tracking back. Corluka is better footballer overall, with better passes, slower reaction then Zab but better positioning, he is cool under pressure and always finds a way out of tight situation.Also usable on DM,CB and RB. On the other hand i think Zab is much better against pacey wingers who can play good with both legs, like Ashley Young kind of player, or N'Zogbia ( also troubled Charlie in last match with Newcastle).

With that all said, i would really like to have both of them in the team.
 
He is not a signing we would have made if we knew about the money coming in, and he has cost us a few games.

Dropped a right bollock letting Corluka go.
 
mr t said:
People seem to rate him highly but I don't think he's that good.

I'm not saying that he dosen't give 100% and I know that he made a mistake yesterday that led to Forest's 2nd goal but I've been thinking this for a while.

He seems slow. I first noticed it against FC Twente - he got skinned easily a couple of times by one of their strikers but because we won the game nobody said anything.

Since then he's been skinned by other strikers - so it's not a one off.

I don't think that he is a better right back than Micah Richards but he is keeping Micah out of that position and Micah is obviously not as comfortable at centre back than he is at right back but he can't play in his favoured position because Zabaleta looks to be Hughes first choice.

As per title of post - am I missing something? Is he as good as people make out?
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fully agree.....he is average and steady but nothing more at the moment...shows a lot of commitment which appeases a lot of fans as that is what they want to see (as we all obviously do) but as with vass there is only so far that commitment and application can take you. (im not saying that zab is anywhere near as bad as vass btw)

he is slow and against anyone with pace he gets taken apart

he also makes some very very rash challenges (noteably the one against liverpool where he got sent off and effectively cost us the game)...there have been others where he has just missed the man as well and therefore got away with

his positives are his commitment etc etc but he still has a long way to go as far as im concerned
 
He's ok at going forward but gets roasted with a typical winger --why not try him in midfield can't be worse than Vassel at least he knows which way were supposed to be playing and can pass a ball --just a thought
mr t said:
People seem to rate him highly but I don't think he's that good.

I'm not saying that he dosen't give 100% and I know that he made a mistake yesterday that led to Forest's 2nd goal but I've been thinking this for a while.

He seems slow. I first noticed it against FC Twente - he got skinned easily a couple of times by one of their strikers but because we won the game nobody said anything.

Since then he's been skinned by other strikers - so it's not a one off.

I don't think that he is a better right back than Micah Richards but he is keeping Micah out of that position and Micah is obviously not as comfortable at centre back than he is at right back but he can't play in his favoured position because Zabaleta looks to be Hughes first choice.

As per title of post - am I missing something? Is he as good as people make out?
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average= not good enough not if you wanna go places, its not Zaba's fault coz he is commited but like a previous poster sed so is Vass. quality is needed in ALL of positions especially Centre backs and defensive midfielders.
 
mr t said:
People seem to rate him highly but I don't think he's that good.

I'm not saying that he dosen't give 100% and I know that he made a mistake yesterday that led to Forest's 2nd goal but I've been thinking this for a while.

He seems slow. I first noticed it against FC Twente - he got skinned easily a couple of times by one of their strikers but because we won the game nobody said anything.

Since then he's been skinned by other strikers - so it's not a one off.

I don't think that he is a better right back than Micah Richards but he is keeping Micah out of that position and Micah is obviously not as comfortable at centre back than he is at right back but he can't play in his favoured position because Zabaleta looks to be Hughes first choice.

As per title of post - am I missing something? Is he as good as people make out?
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Fuck me! he was not our worse player by a million miles yesterday. You need to look at; Ball, Richards, Dunne, Fernandes, Hamman, Caciedo, Vassell and Elano before him.
 
Zab's gowing on me tbh,i really like him! i think hes a little inecperienced and a little rough around the egdges but no major problems
 
mr t said:
I don't think that he is a better right back than Micah Richards but he is keeping Micah out of that position and Micah is obviously not as comfortable at centre back than he is at right back but he can't play in his favoured position because Zabaleta looks to be Hughes first choice.
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Certainly not his favoured position, even if his best, he has stated on many occasions that he prefers the centre back position. Zabaleta was (more), for RCD Espanyol, used to playing on the right side of midfield (though he did play as a full back), ergo, his crosses are his main asset; his not pace.
 
I seem to be taking the same stance I did with Zabaletta as I did with Corluka.
Probably the same people were raving about Corluka last year as are raving about Zabba now,...and likewise with DAbo the season before.
Strengths: strong in the tackle; good defensive instincts; good going forward; comfortable on the ball; wholehearted player
weaknesses: gets skinned too easily by wingers/left mids with modicum of pace; poor in the air; can get stranded upfield and neglects defensive duties.

I actually think the Micah Richards of two seasons back to be a better right back performer than Zabba is now.
Whether we ever get that Micah back, and our manager wants to employ him in that position is of course a different matter.
 
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