Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:john68 wrote:Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:Ted Hughes wrote:It's extremely good going considering we've often been carrying one or two players in the back 4. We were extremely defensive to start with so that will have helped the stats but we've been a lot more positive recently & still not conceded many. We can certainly still improve a lot too.
the triangle of centerbacks and goalkeeper has been solid as a rock for most of the season. Fullbacks, in the words of Mancini himself, not so much.
Just think how good this defence could be next season if Boateng and Kolarov make the grade.
Absolutely. I mean the foundation of any good defence is solid centerback pairing who understand each other and quality goalkeeper. We have all that. All we need is for fullbacks to step up and claim their place in starting line up. Kolarov is good player but he needs to adjust his game to Premier League. Boateng, as I said on another thread, needs to grow as a player. Personally I wouldn't write off Zabaleta either though. He is still 25 and if he could control his tackling bit, I don't see why he couldn't make that rightback position his own. I know he isn't one of these exciting new signings but I really see the potential in him.
I think Zabba & Micah Richards have shown a lot of willingness to try & improve & they'll continue to do so & imo are both better defenders than the new boys. Kolarov & Boateng (when he gets his act together) have more natural skill but imo Zabba & Micah are improving their attacking game too. Interesting competition ahead but the way Bob got Kolarov straight off the pitch after he was skinned v Blackpool suggests he's on top of the situation. If we do sign this Luiz bloke, I wonder if he may initally be used more at left back than centre back.
