Player Topic: Eliaquim Mangala (2015/16)

[malkie]

This 100%

I refuse to accept that our players are technically inferior to Liverpools, it just isn't true. We lost the game because Yaya cannot play in a two man midfield against a team who presses. Added to that we had two players in central defence having their first start in a long while. The problem today was the starting 11 and the tactics, and that is all down to Pellegrini. .

 

[inbetween]

He is a great defender when he has time on the ball and isn't pushed, he also benefits from communication and god knows what a Frenchman and an Argentinian had in common in language. Unfortunately the way we setup to play high up the pitch meant he was going to be exposed, it was a poor choice by MP. At times we were equaling Liverpool's players in the final third yet we didn't have the ball and they were on the attack outnumbering us, it was total madness, Keegan-esque.

We needed Ottamendi's calmness on the ball and off yesterday instead of Demichelis and that was the critical error.

 

[Phil1]

Can't moan at any defenders for yesterday. The manager provided them with no midfield in front of them so we're just left to face an onslaught of attacks.

Whilst true that the midfield offered nothing in terms of protection it doesn't hide the fact that the back four were disorganised, awful on the ball and lacked composure for the whole 90 minutes. They were all awful, mate.

 

[mosssideblue]

Possibly the only sensible comment here.
Take a player who was a rock for us for 2-3 months, drop him, bring him back after an enforced absence just when he might not be in the right frame of mind.
Pair him with the weakest, slowest, ageing defender we have despite having ottamendi, and give him no cover at all in midfield, so that he is fully exposed at his weakest point, which is covering multiple runners coming at him.
What could go wrong.

Bingo.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

He had a bad game but can still turn into a constantly decent defender.

The problem I have is people using his age as an excuse. He's 24 ffs, not a teenager and the same age David Luiz was when he moved to Chelsea. I'm not saying he's old by any means but it's a pretty pathetic excuse to use time after time when a lot of the best players in the world are around that age.

I like him though. At the very least we should save him for games against Diego Costa so we can keep embarrassing the tanned Gordon Ramsay.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Whilst true that the midfield offered nothing in terms of protection it doesn't hide the fact that the back four were disorganised, awful on the ball and lacked composure for the whole 90 minutes. They were all awful, mate.

They were collectively awful as was Fernando and Toure.

In fact they were all awful because defending should start from the front as it did for Liverpool.

Mangala is a poor defender though. Every game he has errors in him and they are usually ones that cost us. He was partly at fault for the long range goals conceded against West Ham and Bournemouth.

 

[Steve68]

He had a bad game but can still turn into a constantly decent defender.

The problem I have is people using his age as an excuse. He's 24 ffs, not a teenager and the same age David Luiz was when he moved to Chelsea. I'm not saying he's old by any means but it's a pretty pathetic excuse to use time after time when a lot of the best players in the world are around that age.

I like him though. At the very least we should save him for games against Diego Costa so we can keep embarrassing the tanned Gordon Ramsay.

Quite. At 24 he is an experienced defender. He's just not a good premiership one.

 

[Kinkladze 1]

Possibly the only sensible comment here.
Take a player who was a rock for us for 2-3 months, drop him, bring him back after an enforced absence just when he might not be in the right frame of mind.
Pair him with the weakest, slowest, ageing defender we have despite having ottamendi, and give him no cover at all in midfield, so that he is fully exposed at his weakest point, which is covering multiple runners coming at him.
What could go wrong.

Oh for fucks sake, get the violins out. Mangala apologist.

 

[cyberblue]

Whilst true that the midfield offered nothing in terms of protection it doesn't hide the fact that the back four were disorganised, awful on the ball and lacked composure for the whole 90 minutes. They were all awful, mate.

Any back four that dont play regularly together are going to find it tough to Leave the best center back in the Premiership out of the team was just plain daft

 

[abu13]

It's straight forward really,

1st choice = Kompany & Otamendi.
If Kompany or Otamendi are injured then bring in Mangala.
If both Kompany and Otamendi are out then start with MDM & Mangala but pack the midfield.