Player Topic: Vincent Kompany (2015/16)

[Glauber Berti]

Kompany is too hot headed at times due to the pressure of the captaincy he feels the need to do the work of a full defensive line this leads to him charging around like a headless chicken at times and diving into tackles that more often than not he can't win and causing the team undue pressure

 

[Keeper!]

It probably needs a thread of it's own but I can't understand the supporters that get wrapped up in a particular player. Regardless of who it is, all players outlive their usefullness to a team eventually. When that time comes there has to be an amicable and dispassionate parting of the ways. If Vinny or anyone else doesn't fit into the system that we want to play, or they just aren't good enough anymore, they should be shipped out forthwith without trying to cling on because of how good they may have been a few seasons ago, or for any other sentimental reasons. It wouldn't matter to me if that was Zabba, Sergio, Silva or anyone else that is currently deemed to be indispensible to us.

Stop talking sense.

 

[supercity88]

Kompany is too hot headed at times due to the pressure of the captaincy he feels the need to do the work of a full defensive line this leads to him charging around like a headless chicken at times and diving into tackles that more often than not he can't win and causing the team undue pressure

This is exactly my opinion.
Kompany loves the big games, he loves to be a leader and sometimes he tries too hard.
The best defensive players in big games go largely unnoticed because they deal with every threat that comes their way calmly and deal with the opposition with ease.

The game against Stuttgart is a prime example of exactly what you've posted.
The first goal was route 1. We didn't win the header and then it was all too easy. That sometimes happens and you have to win the ball in the air. I wouldn't blame our defence too much, though both Kompany and Sagna could have been quicker and stronger in reacting to the flick on.

The second goal was poor positioning by Kolarov. He got caught out and it was very easy for Stuttgart to then get a shot on goal. Too easy.

Because of that Kompany then came all the way across to the left hand side. If you re-watch their third goal we had three players on two Stuttgart players, they played an easy pass, got in behind and then it was Sagna v their attacker (around the penalty spot). So our right back was on the penalty spot and all other defenders were over on the left... Kompany shouldn't have been anywhere near that side of the pitch unless he'd drifted over as cover, and the other centre back then goes and fills his position. He'd been drawn out and left us exposed.

I think he's trying a little too hard to assert himself and regain form. I don't know where Clichy is but we really need him back in the side as he's usually better defensively than Kolarov. Getting the balance between defence and attack is vital for Pellegrini this season. A settled defence is also key. Mangala and Kompany are yet to flourish together. It would help if they were played with the same full backs for a run of games in order to settle.

Until Clichy and Zabaleta are fit and ready to play (I don't know if we'll pick South Americans for the first game) then we should be playing with a more defence minded midfield. We've enough quality in attacking areas for us to still break the opposition down. I'd be concentrating on getting form and confidence back in the defence first. If we start off the season with a few clean sheets then with the players we have we can challenge for the league.

 

[Glauber Berti]

This is exactly my opinion.
Kompany loves the big games, he loves to be a leader and sometimes he tries too hard.
The best defensive players in big games go largely unnoticed because they deal with every threat that comes their way calmly and deal with the opposition with ease.

The game against Stuttgart is a prime example of exactly what you've posted.
The first goal was route 1. We didn't win the header and then it was all too easy. That sometimes happens and you have to win the ball in the air. I wouldn't blame our defence too much, though both Kompany and Sagna could have been quicker and stronger in reacting to the flick on.

The second goal was poor positioning by Kolarov. He got caught out and it was very easy for Stuttgart to then get a shot on goal. Too easy.

Because of that Kompany then came all the way across to the left hand side. If you re-watch their third goal we had three players on two Stuttgart players, they played an easy pass, got in behind and then it was Sagna v their attacker (around the penalty spot). So our right back was on the penalty spot and all other defenders were over on the left... Kompany shouldn't have been anywhere near that side of the pitch unless he'd drifted over as cover, and the other centre back then goes and fills his position. He'd been drawn out and left us exposed.

I think he's trying a little too hard to assert himself and regain form. I don't know where Clichy is but we really need him back in the side as he's usually better defensively than Kolarov. Getting the balance between defence and attack is vital for Pellegrini this season. A settled defence is also key. Mangala and Kompany are yet to flourish together. It would help if they were played with the same full backs for a run of games in order to settle.

Until Clichy and Zabaleta are fit and ready to play (I don't know if we'll pick South Americans for the first game) then we should be playing with a more defence minded midfield. We've enough quality in attacking areas for us to still break the opposition down. I'd be concentrating on getting form and confidence back in the defence first. If we start off the season with a few clean sheets then with the players we have we can challenge for the league.

Exactly this ... But it doesn't help him that both of our full backs (sorry zabba) are now totally inept.

The same goes for Mangala I still strongly believe he's an amazing player and has the quality to cut it at the top level but he's being dragged out of position having to mop up for Kolarov or Clichy's piss poor positioning. It doesn't help that mangala used to play LB so will naturally cover. The ineptitude of both our full backs puts far too much pressure on what would and should be a phenomenal central pairing. But Kompany doesn't help himself as you said he likes to be seen as being the main man, the one who does all the tackles maybe it's best if he went about his job in a Barry-esque fashion. Quiet but effective.

 

[supercity88]

Exactly this ... But it doesn't help him that both of our full backs (sorry zabba) are now totally inept.

The same goes for Mangala I still strongly believe he's an amazing player and has the quality to cut it at the top level but he's being dragged out of position having to mop up for Kolarov or Clichy's piss poor positioning. It doesn't help that mangala used to play LB so will naturally cover. The ineptitude of both our full backs puts far too much pressure on what would and should be a phenomenal central pairing. But Kompany doesn't help himself as you said he likes to be seen as being the main man, the one who does all the tackles maybe it's best if he went about his job in a Barry-esque fashion. Quiet but effective.

I'm very surprised by our board's decision not to improve our options at full back. Fair enough to allow Sagna another season, he has been a decent option at full back in the past. But Clichy and Kolarov have been weak for a long time now and to not improve on at least one of them seems an odd decision. We seem to be pinning our hopes on Angelino having a good loan spell and coming in next season/half way through this season. But we don't know whether he'll improve as much as necessary. It's a big step up from the MLS.

Demichelis remains such a strong option in our defence because he does his job so effectively and is rarely caught out of position. There needs to be a realisation that when the opposition gets past a tackle, we don't all need to rush and press the ball. It's better to accept the situation and be conscious of the space and positioning of the other opposition players. We then make the ball carrier either have to shoot from longer range or play an inch perfect pass. I'd like to see more work done on this aspect of our game, particularly with Hart playing a stronger sweeper role. It's the way the game has now developed.

 

[mosssideblue]

I'm all for it. Mourinho played Pepe there several times at Real Madrid, and he was great there. Kompany has played there before, and I don't see why he should be open to playing there again.

Edit: I doubt it will happen though, and I would rather see him play at his best in defence.

Your all for it but you would rather see him in defence

 

[shemnel]

you cant defend/win a title in the premier league with a defensive unit acting like individuals (and some of them not in form) so Kompany looked a little out of place last season but no more than Mangala, Kolarov and Zabba (at times). A unit is always better than individuals; the coaching perhaps needs looking at?

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

Exactly this ... But it doesn't help him that both of our full backs (sorry zabba) are now totally inept.

The same goes for Mangala I still strongly believe he's an amazing player and has the quality to cut it at the top level but he's being dragged out of position having to mop up for Kolarov or Clichy's piss poor positioning. It doesn't help that mangala used to play LB so will naturally cover. The ineptitude of both our full backs puts far too much pressure on what would and should be a phenomenal central pairing. But Kompany doesn't help himself as you said he likes to be seen as being the main man, the one who does all the tackles maybe it's best if he went about his job in a Barry-esque fashion. Quiet but effective.

From what I've seen of him to date, he's not good enough. Even allowing for the fact that the entire back four effectively gets set up to fail by the manager, Mangala still makes far too many basic footballing errors for my taste. One example that was fairly typical last season was in the last away game at Swansea, where he was running back towards goal in the left full back area with Nathan Dyer in hot pursuit. The two sensible courses of action were to play it back to Hart or turn away from goal towards the touchline and put the ball out for a throw-in. Mangala though committed the cardinal sin of blocking Dyer's route on the outside and allowed him to nick the ball away on the inside instead and have a free run at Hart. Just one small example, but there were plenty of other occasions when he got caught in possession or short changed a team mate with a poor pass or (against West Brom I think......or maybe Leicester.......or perhaps both) lumbered into the back of an opponent and was fortunate not to concede a penalty. His marking at corners was also absolutely atrocious, although he was not alone in this regard.

Mangala was brought as a front foot defender with the pace to effect a high line, and in that regard he unquestionably has a skill set that Lescott did not. However, he still has something of the same rabbit in the headlight tendencies and is somewhat laboured in possession. Whilst the lad was unfairly judged last season in so much as he had to operate with almost no cover in a league whose tempo would have been alien to him, at the age of 24 I'm unconvinced he's going to suddenly blossom and thrive. Given proper cover and support I think he could do a reasonably effective job, but the way we play under Pellegrini he's unlikely to get much of either, and on that basis I'd argue that at £32m, Porto pulled our pants all the way down to our ankles.

 

[skandreas]

Your all for it but you would rather see him in defence

What I meant is that if he can't get back to his best in defence, let's give him a chance at doing that from midfield. If he can get back to his best as a centre back, I would prefer that. Sorry if I wasn't being clear enough.

 

[dave_blue12]

Whilst far from perfect our defence looks better when VK is not in it. This is undeniable !

He has become wildly erratic and I believe he unnerves the other defenders. If he can't calm down and play with intelligence he should not be in the team.