Zabaleta: Overtaken Richards as our first choice RB

[jay_mcfc]

I think Mancini is doing something he should have done about 5/6 games earlier and that's finding a winning starting 11 and sticking with it. Once we were out of the cups this is the way we should have gone. Some of the regulars won't like it but Zabba has been excellent and there is no reason at all to change the team. Richards has had a brilliant season and again has come on in leaps and bounds but for now he has to sit on the bench with Johnson, Dzeko, Kolarov, Kolo, Balo etc etc

 

[NDJ]

Zaba's a far better choice when we have silva,tevez,Nasri and Sergio all playing at the same time, as he's a better defender.
Mid way through the season (end of december)managers sussed how to stop Micah ands that's when his dip in form started, now we have a different approach with the front four and yaya zipping the ball about which no ones figured out how to stop yet.

 

[Matt.D]

Zabba has been playing well and i really like and trust him defensively. Cant really drop him given his form as he's not let us down at all. However, all this nonsense of him having improved immensely going forward is exactly that.

He needs to learn that with aguero, tevez, silva and nasri in the box that they are not going to head the ball in from a cross and certainly not these floated crosses with no power or pace that he persists on doing every time. Watch Mancinis reaction when he does it. Just cannot believe it continues to happen. Hard and low with a bit of bend on the ball every time with the above attack.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Zabba has been playing well and i really like and trust him defensively. Cant really drop him given his form as he's not let us down at all. However, all this nonsense of him having improved immensely going forward is exactly that.

He needs to learn that with aguero, tevez, silva and nasri in the box that they are not going to head the ball in from a cross and certainly not these floated crosses with no power or pace that he persists on doing every time. Watch Mancinis reaction when he does it. Just cannot believe it continues to happen. Hard and low with a bit of bend on the ball every time with the above attack.

That's exactly right. Zabaleta tends to raise his game in the big, blood and thunder games. But going forward he offers little. His crossing isn't great and he isn't quick enough to get to the line. He got a lot of the ball on Monday and wisely just gave it straight to someone with more ability.

He's great at getting a foot in, the big blocks and the agression when you are hemmed in. But if a team break at you with pace he's going to get found out eventually. He's become quite clever, int he same way that Phil Neville does, at using positional intelligence to counter quick wingers.

He's a great member of the squad for that reason and a real lion. But there's no way he should be first choice right back. Over the course of a season Richards will both prevent and make more goals.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I love Zab to bits and always have but Richards playing the other night, we would have scored at least another two.

Nasri had Evra and Giggs on toast and although Zab got up there, he knew he had to be cute enough not to leave himself wide open.

If anything, I would go for either Milner or Zab ahead of Nigel in the middle, if Mancini goes for that extra pair of legs.

Tiote is a beast and has to be matched for intensity.

Newcastle are a mess down the defensive flanks, the key to victory.

 

[coleridge]

Surely the same starting 11 that has served us so well recently?

Also, PZ doesn't necessarily need to be a threat going forward if everyone else does their job. If he gets exposed for pace, which is his main defensive weakness, then I'm sure MR will be on to replace him before you know it.

 

[Eggsy]

Richards is by far the better player

in your opinion.

And mine, although Zab has come in and done a great job. Richards has the pace over zan, plus I always feel that because of zab's lack of pace he makes risky tackles and gets booked to much because of this.

In my opinion if Richards is 100% he starts over Zab everytime.

 

[Project Rain]

Talk about knee jerk reactions...

Richards is by far the better player as much as I love Zab.

 

[coleridge]

I love Zab to bits and always have but Richards playing the other night, we would have scored at least another two.

Nasri had Evra and Giggs on toast and although Zab got up there, he knew he had to be cute enough not to leave himself wide open.

If anything, I would go for either Milner or Zab ahead of Nigel in the middle, if Mancini goes for that extra pair of legs.

Tiote is a beast and has to be matched for intensity.

Newcastle are a mess down the defensive flanks, the key to victory.

I know what you're saying but why rock the boat unless we need more urgency on Sunday? There's plenty of time for Micah to get back in the team. There was a point on Monday when I thought that we were missing Mario's power up front but then I had a word with myself and certainly didn't want him coming on and disrupting the Karma. Similarly, Zab staring along with his mates up front is what is required. Needs must, there's a title to be won, and we can worry about the best 11 after that. For now, please can we stick with a winning formula!

 

[GStar]

I think its more a case that Zabba has found form at a time when Richards has had a few niggles.