Player thread: Pablo Zabaleta (2014/15)

[oakiecokie]

Re: Pablo Zabaleta Appreciation Thread

Zab is one of those amazing slow blooming players who becomes a truly world class player but whom you never really saw coming. He battled for his position early on, he was often second choice , he was for a time unreliable in terms of cards. But he settled in, worked hard, built on his game and he is now one of the top full backs , indeed defenders in world football and is a true city legend beloved by all in blue. It is why sometimes if a player has the right mentality you give them time and support!

Yesterday his runs up front and his attacking play was at times exquisite and he defended like a Trojan - magic and despite how good dave was - Pablo was my MOTM

Great post. I remember thinking and reading on here not long after the takeover that Zabba would be one of the players who needed replacing. Everyone loved his commitment and his passion, but no one thought he could step up or be good enough for a team challenging for a top 4 spot.
How wrong could they be! and I include myself in that statement, and how times change.
Not only does he not look out of place in a team challenging for the top 4, but he looks comfortable in a title winning team and would get into any team in the Prem, and most teams in Europe.
A true gent and a fantastic pro. We are very lucky to have him.

Does he ever lose out in a 50/50 tackle or sometimes a 30/70 one ??
Legend is a word too easily banded about but in this instance it is so warranted.

 

[jimharri]

Re: Pablo Zabaleta Appreciation Thread

Zab is one of those amazing slow blooming players who becomes a truly world class player but whom you never really saw coming. He battled for his position early on, he was often second choice , he was for a time unreliable in terms of cards. But he settled in, worked hard, built on his game and he is now one of the top full backs , indeed defenders in world football and is a true city legend beloved by all in blue. It is why sometimes if a player has the right mentality you give them time and support!

Yesterday his runs up front and his attacking play was at times exquisite and he defended like a Trojan - magic and despite how good dave was - Pablo was my MOTM

Great post. I remember thinking and reading on here not long after the takeover that Zabba would be one of the players who needed replacing. Everyone loved his commitment and his passion, but no one thought he could step up or be good enough for a team challenging for a top 4 spot.
How wrong could they be! and I include myself in that statement, and how times change.
Not only does he not look out of place in a team challenging for the top 4, but he looks comfortable in a title winning team and would get into any team in the Prem, and most teams in Europe.
A true gent and a fantastic pro. We are very lucky to have him.

I remember when he first came to us. Some of his challenges were somewhat "agicultural" and I wondered if he would last long with us. But now? He is surely the best RB in the PL now. And is there many better in the game in the world?

 

[CorporateBlue]

Met him in players lounge on Saturday ..

wasn't supposed to, but my 8 year old quietly said Merry Xmas as he walked past. Not only did Zabba stop, smile and shake his hand - he spent 5 minutes teaching him how to say Merry Xmas in Spanish - absolute legend.
he IS the f------g man!!

 

[Dax777]

Re: Pablo Zabaleta Appreciation Thread

I'm generally not the type to overhype our players. I try really hard to not let blue tints affect my judgment. I belong to the group who tot and still think Suarez was superior to Aguero last year. But for the life of me, I can't think of a better Right back in the world.

I have asked others for suggestions, and I'm doing so here too. Does anyone have a name they consider close or equals to Zab. I know this is not the best place to ask, but for the life of me I can't think of any. The closest I've seen might be Aspiculetta at Chelsea. But he is only as good defensively. Offensively Zab dwarfs him. So who in the world is as good as Zab right now?

strangely right back might be the only position in which we have the undisputed best player at; Considering all the stars we have, that's a shocking fact.

Also I was shocked that almost no one thought he was MOTM against Palace. I watched the game a second time just to be sure, he was by a good margin the best player on the field. Yaya 2nd, Mangala 3rd, Nasri 4th, Joe 5th, and the actual voteee Silva was 6th in my opinion. Slightly better than MDM because of his goals. Granted, no one played poorly, but Zaba was emphatically a shade above.

Anyway rant over!

 

[kun]

Re: Pablo Zabaleta Appreciation Thread

I'm generally not the type to overhype our players. I try really hard to not let blue tints affect my judgment. I belong to the group who tot and still think Suarez was superior to Aguero last year. But for the life of me, I can't think of a better Right back in the world.

I have asked others for suggestions, and I'm doing so here too. Does anyone have a name they consider close or equals to Zab. I know this is not the best place to ask, but for the life of me I can't think of any. The closest I've seen might be Aspiculetta at Chelsea. But he is only as good defensively. Offensively Zab dwarfs him. So who in the world is as good as Zab right now?

strangely right back might be the only position in which we have the undisputed best player at; Considering all the stars we have, that's a shocking fact.

Also I was shocked that almost no one thought he was MOTM against Palace. I watched the game a second time just to be sure, he was by a good margin the best player on the field. Yaya 2nd, Mangala 3rd, Nasri 4th, Joe 5th, and the actual voteee Silva was 6th in my opinion. Slightly better than MDM because of his goals. Granted, no one played poorly, but Zaba was emphatically a shade above.

Anyway rant over!

Only Lahm, but he seems to play in midfield nowadays anyway.

 

[tijuana tev]

Re: Met him in players lounge on Saturday ..

wasn't supposed to, but my 8 year old quietly said Merry Xmas as he walked past. Not only did Zabba stop, smile and shake his hand - he spent 5 minutes teaching him how to say Merry Xmas in Spanish - absolute legend.
he IS the f------g man!!

When Pablo finally goes to the GREAT ETIHAD in the sky, we should have him stuffed and put in the trophy cabinet, that's if there is any room. What do you think.

 

[jimharri]

Re: Met him in players lounge on Saturday ..

wasn't supposed to, but my 8 year old quietly said Merry Xmas as he walked past. Not only did Zabba stop, smile and shake his hand - he spent 5 minutes teaching him how to say Merry Xmas in Spanish - absolute legend.
he IS the f------g man!!

Great post. Your lad must be well chuffed.

 

[Ray78]

Re: Pablo Zabaleta Appreciation Thread

One of the best RB in Europe.

 

[adrianr]

Re: Pablo Zabaleta Appreciation Thread

I'm generally not the type to overhype our players. I try really hard to not let blue tints affect my judgment. I belong to the group who tot and still think Suarez was superior to Aguero last year. But for the life of me, I can't think of a better Right back in the world.

I have asked others for suggestions, and I'm doing so here too. Does anyone have a name they consider close or equals to Zab. I know this is not the best place to ask, but for the life of me I can't think of any. The closest I've seen might be Aspiculetta at Chelsea. But he is only as good defensively. Offensively Zab dwarfs him. So who in the world is as good as Zab right now?

strangely right back might be the only position in which we have the undisputed best player at; Considering all the stars we have, that's a shocking fact.

Also I was shocked that almost no one thought he was MOTM against Palace. I watched the game a second time just to be sure, he was by a good margin the best player on the field. Yaya 2nd, Mangala 3rd, Nasri 4th, Joe 5th, and the actual voteee Silva was 6th in my opinion. Slightly better than MDM because of his goals. Granted, no one played poorly, but Zaba was emphatically a shade above.

Anyway rant over!

If you still consider Lahm a right back he's the only one, whole game considered. He's good enough to play in midfield for Pep Guardiola, which says a huge amount about his ability. Zab still wins out though because a) I don't think his sheer attacking can be matched, and b) Lahm isn't Pablo Zabaleta.

 

[1.618034]

Re: Pablo Zabaleta Appreciation Thread

One of the best RB in Europe.

The prize for understatement of the year goes to...