Zabaleta: Overtaken Richards as our first choice RB

[Stroszek]

I think Henry Winter said Tiote was on the bench by the end of the Chelsea game and looked fine. Then Pardew said post match he'll definitely play Sunday.

Plus he was up and congratulating his mates on the pitch after the final whistle.

 

[Astuteboy]

Best performance I've seen by any right back in any game this season was Richards at the swamp.

Can't remember Zab ever letting us down though (well, I've just remembered his lunge on Alonso a few seasons back, but in general he doesn't!) so I'm sure he'd do a good job on Sunday if asked.

 

[Stroszek]

Best performance I've seen by any right back in any game this season was Richards at the swamp.

Yes. He was a beast in that game.

 

[nijinsky's fetlocks]

Thanks. I knew he was on the bench but not what Pardew said. Hasn't he got stitches in his head? Not even Tricky Trev could have played with that injury!

Pardew was hyperboling quite a lot, when asked about Tiote i think it went a bit like this:

"He's got a 9 inch gash ."

So it isn't just the missus...

 

[BlueInCanada]

I thought Zab was immense on Monday and imo man of the match.

But id start a fit Micah on Sunday

 

[Helmet Cole]

I'm ready for the abuse if this is a bollocks idea, but is either of them 2-footed enough to do a job on the left so we could play both?

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I'm ready for the abuse if this is a bollocks idea, but is either of them 2-footed enough to do a job on the left so we could play both?

And drop Clichy?

It's a bollocks idea mate. Not a cat in hell's chance.

 

[Helmet Cole]

I'm ready for the abuse if this is a bollocks idea, but is either of them 2-footed enough to do a job on the left so we could play both?

And drop Clichy?

It's a bollocks idea mate. Not a cat in hell's chance.

Not drop Clichy, but keep the RB that can play on the left (if either can) as a fresh pair of legs on the bench to bring on (on either side) on 60 minutes to give us a bit extra.

 

[Stroszek]

Ignoring the obviously bollocks original idea, Zab has played on both sides...

 

[Franny Lee's Barrel Chest]

I think Zaba's been excellent past few games and I also agree that his language is a big help when playing alongside Silva, Aguero and Tevez (and other spanish speakers).

I also think that's it's a bit tactical too. If you have both Nasri and Silva, with Aguero and Tevez, you're not so reliant on the full back bombing on, so Zaba has been a bit of an insurance policy because there's no doubt he's a little more disciplined defensive wise than Micah. So if one of the attacking 4 isn't playing for whatever reason, I think Micah plays, but given the past few games, if it isn't broke, don't fix it.

If we beat Newcastle and QPR, and Zaba starts those two games, then Micah can still be rightly proud of the contribution he'll have made.