Player thread: Vincent Kompany (2014/15)

[Graceyboy]

Joe Hart all day long for me

He is a leader. He tells it how it is, not just how you want it sugar coated. He is not scared of giving it to anyone that deserves a good ear bashing, and I bet he would organise the best Christmas party.

 

[Marvin]

All players have dips in form, but what separates teams that dominate a decade from run of the mill Champions, is a Captain or several leaders on the pitch who always fight and play with great intensity.

Think Terry and Lampard at Chelsea when they had loads of different managers.

We've had too many games this season where we dropped points through complacency. We went out of two Cups cheaply too.

I don't think this reflects well on Kompany, and I hope he responds and remembers what can happen when you are not 100% focused on every single game.

I maybe talking complete rubbish as I am just a fan in the stands, and it's difficult to tell sometimes why we lose. But several times I have gone away from games with the distinct impression that we got beat because the attitude was wrong

Hope to see Vinny lifting the Premier League trophy again in May. That would be another great achievement. Very possible

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

Vinny has been immense for us for quite a few seasons , his leadership qualities will never be in doubt , the guy has shown loyalty and commitment to our club , perhaps some posters on here , ripping him to pieces should return the same loyalty , no doubt he is not playing to his very high standards , but he needs supporting through a bad run of form.

Sums it up to a tee. Kompany was for 2-3 years exceptional as a Centre Half, but the captaincy just doesn't fit him. We've seen it before with the England cricket teams, where the player selected gradually capitulates and loses their game and the belief of those they supposedly lead.

Anyone who confusses great captain and great form in the past is foolish. In short I have never seen VK physically or verbally motivate any other team member when the chips are down. As difficult as it might be for some of you to accept he is just not captain material.

In fact, good player makes good captain is a complete myth! Andy Morrison was hardly Beckenbaur but was a true captain, whilst even Barca kept Puyol as captain as they knew without him their team was a bunch of skillful mutes!

Kompany is a nice clean cut press officer's dream, but captain material he is not!

Now don't come back in here VK lovers and slag me of for telling you the truth. Simply replay any goal we've conceded in the last 12 months and you will see VK simply has his head down and trudges away like most of them.

Because someone has a different opinion from yours , does not make them foolish , perhaps you should take on board the opinions of ex-pros's , pundits , which i can guarantee are far more knowledegable than you , who have rated vinny the best centre back in europe for the last 3 seasons and a great leader , or perhaps they are all fools . Your entitled to your own opinion but you are certainly in the minority , i wouldnt go as far to say your a fool , just a bad judge of character.

 

[B\connellblue]

Vinny needs to stop talking to the press, some of what he has said post Tuesday has been really cringeworthy. Do your talking on the pitch son and that goes for nasri and a few others as well.

'It was a bad first half but definitely we were very hopeful at the start of the second half.

Hopeful isn't the sort of language I'd expect.

'You want to play games with 11 men. It has been happening a lot for us. Really what we need to try to do is finish a game with 11 men and see how that goes.'

Unless I missed something we started with 11 men.

What we want is 11 players who are prepared to put in a shift and not give some of the worlds finest the freedom of the park. If someone isn't prepared to this then his captain should let him have it with both barrels because from where I'm looking the manager isn't prepared to do this.

 

[adrianr]

Vinny needs to stop talking to the press, some of what he has said post Tuesday has been really cringeworthy. Do your talking on the pitch son and that goes for nasri and a few others as well.

'It was a bad first half but definitely we were very hopeful at the start of the second half.

Hopeful isn't the sort of language I'd expect.

'You want to play games with 11 men. It has been happening a lot for us. Really what we need to try to do is finish a game with 11 men and see how that goes.'

Unless I missed something we started with 11 men.

What we want is 11 players who are prepared to put in a shift and not give some of the worlds finest the freedom of the park. If someone isn't prepared to this then his captain should let him have it with both barrels because from where I'm looking the manager isn't prepared to do this.

Said in the match thread, now the players have their excuse. I hope they don't honestly believe the reason they didn't win was because they couldn't finish with 11 again.

 

[razman]

he has been out of sorts... as for his comments ...he does his role as a captain seriously and maybe doesn't want to accept the mistakes publicly

pretty sure all will be up for the liverpool match..given their match on thursday !

 

[cibaman]

I think his drop in form is at least partly due to the continual changes in his CB partner. Lescott, Nastasic, back to Lescott, Demichelis, Mangala, back to Demichelis. They're all different types of CB, different strengths and weaknesses. I wonder what's the longest run he's had playing alongside the same partner in the last couple of years?

It also possible that he's got a bit carried away by his own importance to the team, the constant diving into tackles perhaps indicate a player who doesnt have much faith in the bloke alongside him. Which wouldnt be surprising really since the management have made it clear with the continual changes that they dont have much faith either.

I was surprised that Mangala was dropped on Tuesday. I thought that we would keep the same partnership that had played in the previous couple of games. They weren't particularly difficult games but it did seem that Kompany and Mangala were communicating more than previously. Starting to get on the same wavelength. I think its time they were given an extended run.

 

[mancity1]

All players have dips in form, but what separates teams that dominate a decade from run of the mill Champions, is a Captain or several leaders on the pitch who always fight and play with great intensity.

Think Terry and Lampard at Chelsea when they had loads of different managers.

We've had too many games this season where we dropped points through complacency. We went out of two Cups cheaply too.

I don't think this reflects well on Kompany, and I hope he responds and remembers what can happen when you are not 100% focused on every single game.

I maybe talking complete rubbish as I am just a fan in the stands, and it's difficult to tell sometimes why we lose. But several times I have gone away from games with the distinct impression that we got beat because the attitude was wrong

Hope to see Vinny lifting the Premier League trophy again in May. That would be another great achievement. Very possible

Its a point well made Marvin and its right on the money in terms of leadership.

Some players can always motivate themselves and when it gets down to the nitty gritty what you have above the shoulders often determines whether you succeed or fail by the standards expected of you that you have shown in the past you can reach or should reach consistently.

Management has a role to play but so do leaders.

If you want a captain as opposed to a leader then anyone who is able to call heads or tails will do.

Some lead by deeds that inspire others lead by intensity and their ability to motivate.

Not all the best leaders inspire by skill and class and quality and some of the best leaders who lead successful sides have little in that regard.

Vinny is at the crossroads at City come seasons end no doubt about it.

We need a new leader to take over the reigns in the summer especially if we want to improve in Europe and Vinny can fight for his place in the side on performance and merit.

The time is right for a changing of the guardand gradual phasing out of the 2008 guard but with grace as both deserve it.

Zabba , Vinny the last of the outfielders that came under Leslie deserve to go out with dignity and style in their remaining time at the club whether that be one year or two even three in the case of Vinny but like many successful sides before him a change at the top will do him more good than harm.

I don't expect Vinny to hold a regular spot in the side next season if fit and if we are to progress it has to be that way.


His best days are well and truly behind him and he knows that and that is why is so frustrated with himself this season as he comes to the realisation whether it be constant muscle injuires or other outside factors playing on his mind.

He will still play some good games for us but not as captain next season I suspect.

If MP goes in the summer which is more likely than not I would suggest the new boss will want a new captain to lead this side to its next and most important phase namely success in Europe.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

maybe its a bit early to write vinny off at 28 !!! . Looking forward to him leading the side for the forseeable future , hes played over 200 games for the club , and i can count on one hand the games he has cost us , same goes for Joe Hart . The game has moved on , and some supporters have no patience , and want immediate success , if a player has half a dozen bad games , get rid , if the manager doesnt win a trophy for a season , get rid , if a striker doesnt score for a couple months , get rid , if a player has a few injuries , get rid. If the hierarchy did run the club like this , there would be no continuity , to build a great football club , but after witnessing 30 odd years of winning f*ck all , i am enjoying the ride and i trust in the management of our club to make the right decisions , weve come a long way since the takeover.

 

[J_Bow]

I read an article earlier analysing the tactical side of our game against Barca and some of it made perfect sense in regards to Kompany's recent aggressive closing down and rash tackles he shouldn't have made.

It basically says our midfield two were being dragged all over the place but especially out wide by Iniesta and Rakitic, leaving gaps in the middle for Messi to take up. This is where I believe it's not all down to Kompany, our midfield two at times in other games don't do a great job of protecting the back four, often leaving space in front of the defence.

It also talked about not enough pressure and marking from our fowards, Busquets was allowed too much space and time on the ball the other night which makes sense. Dzeko is hardly known to bust a gut to close down opponents or show any willingness.