Zabaleta Could Be Our Box-toBox Player

[BusterPhillips]

The stoke result hurt yesterday, but one of the positives that came out of it for me the performance of Zabba. Iwas hugely impressed with his agression and energy, he also showed a good touch and looked to burst forward and have a pop on occasion.

Last year he played centre mid and I remember he scored some right crackers, maybe we should give him a go in the middle and see if he takes the oppotunity. Out of the three dmc we have at the club I think Zabba is the most offensive and I think he has the potential to be a very good player for us, he had a stormer at liverpool (although at fb).

What do you guys think? If you had the choice would you give him a run in the centre and hope he improves in the role or would you continue to use him as a utility player?

 

[Blue>Red]

rofl time.

No, honsetly i think he isnt a box to box player hes been terrific recently but thats asking alot from the little man, i think he lacks a playmaking instinct to survive as a box to box player.

Last season we did so well with:

------Kompany-------De Jong----------
-------------Ireland-------------------

Which hasnt been tried yet this season, and Irelands form is not the best, its been an interesting discussion for a while.

 

[blucat599]

Good thinking, but we'll probably buy in the summer in any case, meaning Zab would never be
1st choice for that position, Zab is a great squad player to have, could find his opportunities for 1st team action somewhat limited by our next transfer window!

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

Zab will never be anything more than an Ian Brightwell for 2010. That's not an insult at all by the way.

 

[Scott Howard]

I personally think Zabaleta is a terrible football player. I don't know what he gives us. he consistently loses possession, gives away free kicks all over the park, rarely wins anything in the air, gets caught out of position, lacks speed and fitness goes overlapping ang never gets a cross in.
I may be being harsh but I think he flatters to deceive, he huffs and puffs and that seems to win a lot of city fans over.

 

[LCBblue]

This is as bad as, "Petrov at left back"

Proper ROFL

 

[Blue>Red]

I personally think Zabaleta is a terrible football player. I don't know what he gives us. he consistently loses possession, gives away free kicks all over the park, rarely wins anything in the air, gets caught out of position, lacks speed and fitness goes overlapping ang never gets a cross in.
I may be being harsh but I think he flatters to deceive, he huffs and puffs and that seems to win a lot of city fans over.

going by the rest of this forum that makes him one of our better players

 

[scall11]

His marking last night, and the other week at home was woeful at times. Not happy with him at all at the moment.

 

[mcfcliam]

 

[bizzbo]

not quite as stupid as some appear to think. he's the closest we have. he certainly is the only one who picks the ball up and drives forward. he played very well in a similar role last year, and did okay on the right of a narrow four last night.