Player Topic: Pablo Zabaleta (2015/16)

[ojeme]

Can someone ring MP and tell him to move Zabaleta down the left and give Kolarov a much needed rest?

 

[Sergi0 Na5r1]

Nice to see him back.

 

[domalino]

He was decent on his return from injury, but I have to say he wasn't up to the standard Sagna has been at this season, so MP has a really tough decision.

Sagna doesn't deserve to be dropped, but if Zaba can get a few more games and get back to his best form, he's clearly the better player.

What I don't want is for Zaba to just walk in to the team because he's Zaba, and for Sagna to not play for a few months, then look rusty and disinterested when he eventually gets a game (like he was last season).

Not the worst problem to have though...

 

[Bilboblue]

Thought it was a bad decision to drop Sagna for yesterday's match, Bacary has been playing very well all season. I knew Zabba was starting when watching the players coming off the coach and Sagna looked really pissed off.

First half Zabba had a shocker, wouldn't have been surprised to see him subbed at half time.

Did very well second half though and grew into the game, great to see him back.

 

[Phil1]

He was decent on his return from injury, but I have to say he wasn't up to the standard Sagna has been at this season, so MP has a really tough decision.

Sagna doesn't deserve to be dropped, but if Zaba can get a few more games and get back to his best form, he's clearly the better player.

What I don't want is for Zaba to just walk in to the team because he's Zaba, and for Sagna to not play for a few months, then look rusty and disinterested when he eventually gets a game (like he was last season).

Not the worst problem to have though...

Sagna had played every minute of every game so a rest was always on the cards.
Newcastle at home was the perfect situation to introduce him back into the fold. Let's be clear on this, Zabba is the first choice when fit. As well as Sagna has done he doesn't fit our style of play in the way Zabba does. His movement going forward and the runs he makes to help out his winger are the best in the league.
Sure he was rusty in the early parts of the match but he grew into his role as the game went on.
I think at this point we should all be made up that we've got two great options to fill that position. There's a lot of football to be played between now and May.

 

[IanBishopsHaircut]

Is it me or has he lost a few pounds?

Looks fitter

 

[cleavers]

Sagna had played every minute of every game so a rest was always on the cards.

Its amazing that people can't see this, and say he was "dropped".

He was given a well earned rest, and Zab needs minutes on the pitch, so this was the ideal game to do it, my only complaint is changing 2 defenders again, I don't like it when its not enforced, and we've already had enough enforced changes in defence.

Yes he was rusty to start, but their goal wasn't only down to him, others could have dealt with it and didn't.

 

[kaz7]

Is it me or has he lost a few pounds?

Looks fitter

I thought so too,looks much leaner
Great to have him back

 

[Sergio Picasso Aguero]

Good to see Zaba back.

We'll look a lot more solid the more Zabaleta, Otamendi & Kompany play together.

 

[Mr HJ]

Thought it was a bad decision to drop Sagna for yesterday's match, Bacary has been playing very well all season. I knew Zabba was starting when watching the players coming off the coach and Sagna looked really pissed off.

First half Zabba had a shocker, wouldn't have been surprised to see him subbed at half time.

Did very well second half though and grew into the game, great to see him back.

Seemed far more comfortable with the much maligned Navas in front of him. Great to have him back.