Kolio

[Dubciteh]

Kolo did well last night as did Ned, both of them rock solid, forgot how quick ned can be over a few yards. Would love to see him back in favor with Mancini...

[Yffi_88]

Good game no doubt but no way should take the place of our best center back this season so far.

So you wanna tell me Lescott is having a better season than Kompany??

Now that you ask, yes I think he is overall.

Agreed..don't understand Wrath Of Khans detractors at all

I think Lescott's been the better of the two. Both CBs did well last night though, albeit against a young side. Savic seemed like he was making a point about how comfortable he was on the ball. Never really did much with it, but at the same time very rarely gave it away. Mainly because everytime he got the ball he squared it to KT or back to the keeper. Me and a mate were actually laughing about how many times he did it.

My cousin (darn sarf) has been going on about Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain for a while now, thought he stood out last night. Would rather see a worker like him in the England team than some of the lads in their now.

[Original Dub]

Now that you ask, yes I think he is overall.

Yep. I'll go along with that. In fact, it wouldn't suprise me if vinnie admitted that.

[13021J]

I didn't think Kolo did that well, seemed to lose every single header, couldn't seem to get off the ground, was that just me?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Now that you ask, yes I think he is overall.

Yep. I'll go along with that. In fact, it wouldn't suprise me if vinnie admitted that.

Interesting thought. Maybe he would and equally he might also accept he hasnt been at his absolute best so far this season. I would add though that I wouldnt change Vinnie for anyone in the premier league.He might not always be at his best but he is still quality most of the time and a top captain.
Just on Lescott I would be the first to admit he is a poor passer of the ball.That's not even in doubt but his job is to defend and I think he is top notch at defending.When he was marking that diving scum bag on Sunday I thought he showed him who was boss frequently which aint easy with that type of player.It's always important for Lescott (and Vinnie) to have a couple of very simple passing otions even if they are square or very short to Nigel,Yaya or Barry.Their job is to make the play not the center backs.

[Wonderwall]

Just watching the game again on Sky and the back 4 were solid, very impressed with Ned considering the game time he hasn't had this season, they all looked very comfortable and stopped the arse getting in behind the defence. Kolo has me biting my nails normally but he looked very easy on the eye last night, obviously helped with NDJ and Hargreaves in front of them and never venturing over the half way line. It still makes me laugh that the player the rags are really missing is the hargreaves type of player and we have about 6 of them! :-)

[london blue 2]

Now that you ask, yes I think he is overall.

Yep. I'll go along with that. In fact, it wouldn't suprise me if vinnie admitted that.

Interesting thought. Maybe he would and equally he might also accept he hasnt been at his absolute best so far this season. I would add though that I wouldnt change Vinnie for anyone in the premier league.He might not always be at his best but he is still quality most of the time and a top captain.
Just on Lescott I would be the first to admit he is a poor passer of the ball.That's not even in doubt but his job is to defend and I think he is top notch at defending.When he was marking that diving scum bag on Sunday I thought he showed him who was boss frequently which aint easy with that type of player.It's always important for Lescott (and Vinnie) to have a couple of very simple passing otions even if they are square or very short to Nigel,Yaya or Barry.Their job is to make the play not the center backs.

Lescotts passing has drastically improved this season imo. I bet his passing stats are up there with the best defenders this season.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Now that you ask, yes I think he is overall.

Yep. I'll go along with that. In fact, it wouldn't suprise me if vinnie admitted that.

Interesting thought. Maybe he would and equally he might also accept he hasnt been at his absolute best so far this season. I would add though that I wouldnt change Vinnie for anyone in the premier league.He might not always be at his best but he is still quality most of the time and a top captain.
Just on Lescott I would be the first to admit he is a poor passer of the ball.That's not even in doubt but his job is to defend and I think he is top notch at defending.When he was marking that diving scum bag on Sunday I thought he showed him who was boss frequently which aint easy with that type of player.It's always important for Lescott (and Vinnie) to have a couple of very simple passing otions even if they are square or very short to Nigel,Yaya or Barry.Their job is to make the play not the center backs.

Lescotts passing has drastically improved this season imo. I bet his passing stats are up there with the best defenders this season.

Good to hear but that would basically mean that he is getting those short passing options from his teammates and doesnt have to look for something fancy.

[brite blu sky]

I we are talking about passing out of defence then VK's has been attrocious this season.. often too ambitious and as I have been carefully looking for it very rarely managed a completed pass. I'm talking when under a bit of pressure rather than a 5yd pass. Often straight to oppo, if not then massively overhit for the receiver to control or often read by an oppo and cut out.

That said it also seems to me that this is a new thing.. don't remember him trying longer key passes last season, so maybe it is all part of a plan and he is trying to master it. As usual i will give it the benefit of the doubt.

Anyone else noticed this?

[s1ty m]

I thought Kolo was MOTM, personally. Never put a foot wrong.

[kennyboy]

I thought Kolo was MOTM, personally. Never put a foot wrong.

This, i often read that arsenal fans would gladly take him back aswell.
Dont get why people dont rate him in here.

[Ted Hughes]

I we are talking about passing out of defence then VK's has been attrocious this season.. often too ambitious and as I have been carefully looking for it very rarely managed a completed pass. I'm talking when under a bit of pressure rather than a 5yd pass. Often straight to oppo, if not then massively overhit for the receiver to control or often read by an oppo and cut out.

That said it also seems to me that this is a new thing.. don't remember him trying longer key passes last season, so maybe it is all part of a plan and he is trying to master it. As usual i will give it the benefit of the doubt.

Anyone else noticed this?

Yep plenty. For some reason, it never even gets a mention when Vinny does it but is a major thing when Lescott does it. Just as Lescott gets slaughtered for NOT trying clever passes when all he's doing is using his brain & making sure we don't lost the ball, as he's shit at passing! He also hits a few shite long balls.

I think the idea is that we occasionally play the ball over the top in order to stop the oppo squeezing the life out of us; make them worry about what's behind them. Vinny (& Kolo last night) try it but just hump it to the oppo keeper or off the pitch. Savic can play that pass I recon, but unfortunately can't defend very well at CB when the pressure is on.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Now that you ask, yes I think he is overall.

Yep. I'll go along with that. In fact, it wouldn't suprise me if vinnie admitted that.

Interesting thought. Maybe he would and equally he might also accept he hasnt been at his absolute best so far this season. I would add though that I wouldnt change Vinnie for anyone in the premier league.He might not always be at his best but he is still quality most of the time and a top captain.
Just on Lescott I would be the first to admit he is a poor passer of the ball.That's not even in doubt but his job is to defend and I think he is top notch at defending.When he was marking that diving scum bag on Sunday I thought he showed him who was boss frequently which aint easy with that type of player.It's always important for Lescott (and Vinnie) to have a couple of very simple passing otions even if they are square or very short to Nigel,Yaya or Barry.Their job is to make the play not the center backs.

Lescotts passing has drastically improved this season imo. I bet his passing stats are up there with the best defenders this season.

Good to hear but that would basically mean that he is getting those short passing options from his teammates and doesnt have to look for something fancy.

Correct...he passes either to the keeper or a short pass sideways but very rarely forward.......he still tends to pass to the winger who is surrounded by 3 players and immediately it comes back to him and then the keeper again...I wish he wouldn't do this.

[Beefymcfc]

When we talk about Kolo coming in for Joleon, what has to be taken into account is the move that Vinny would have to make. Vinny would have to move to the left side of defence which leads to him not being as effective. If he did come back in I'd actually want him to play along side Lescott as he is the only who has proved to me that he is effective there.

[bigblue]

I thought Kolo was MOTM, personally. Never put a foot wrong.

This, i often read that arsenal fans would gladly take him back aswell.
Dont get why people dont rate him in here.

People have to remember that his game in Munich and Birmingham were his first games for about 6 months. Looked like his old self today and his experience shown through on the field. Great player to have for when we need a cool head to hold a lead

[Colin the King]

When we talk about Kolo coming in for Joleon, what has to be taken into account is the move that Vinny would have to make. Vinny would have to move to the left side of defence which leads to him not being as effective. If he did come back in I'd actually want him to play along side Lescott as he is the only who has proved to me that he is effective there.

When Touré and Lescott played together though, the partnership never looked very promising. They were our centre halves during that woeful run of 7 draws in a row a couple of years ago.

I think the only reason we look a little more vulernable at the back this season is because of how we're playing. With a defensive setup and mindset last season, we tended to look solid defensively- Hart's 27 clean sheets are testament to that. We've decided to adopt a new approach this season- a more exciting one- and consequently it gives the opposition more of a chance to break on us when we're a bit exposed.

Weighing it all up, I think Kompany and Lescott have done fine this season. A few mistakes, yes, but overall they've been strong. The back five of Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott and Clichy is the strongest in the league IMO and we should stick with it wherever possible.

[Beefymcfc]

When we talk about Kolo coming in for Joleon, what has to be taken into account is the move that Vinny would have to make. Vinny would have to move to the left side of defence which leads to him not being as effective. If he did come back in I'd actually want him to play along side Lescott as he is the only who has proved to me that he is effective there.

When Touré and Lescott played together though, the partnership never looked very promising. They our centre halves during that woeful run of 7 draws in a row a couple of years ago.

I think the only reason we look a little more vulernable at the back this season is because of how we're playing. With a defensive setup and mindset last season, we tended to look solid defensively- Hart's 27 clean sheets are testament to that. We've decided to adopt a new approach this season- a more exciting one- and consequently it gives the opposition more of a chance to break on us when we're a bit exposed.

Weighing it all up, I think Kompany and Lescott have done fine this season. A few mistakes, yes, but overall they've been strong. The back five of Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott and Clichy is the strongest in the league IMO and we should stick with it wherever possible.

I'd say those 7 games were in a period when both players weren't at their best though. Lescott has come along way since then and in comparison, Vinny hasn't been at his best of late. I'm not saying that I want Kolo in, the 2 we have at the moment does me just fine, but if it was a choice, and on current form, then I'd prefer Lescott stays where he is rather than try and push Vinny into a position that he's looked far from comfortable in.

[Ted Hughes]

When we talk about Kolo coming in for Joleon, what has to be taken into account is the move that Vinny would have to make. Vinny would have to move to the left side of defence which leads to him not being as effective. If he did come back in I'd actually want him to play along side Lescott as he is the only who has proved to me that he is effective there.

When Touré and Lescott played together though, the partnership never looked very promising. They our centre halves during that woeful run of 7 draws in a row a couple of years ago.

I think the only reason we look a little more vulernable at the back this season is because of how we're playing. With a defensive setup and mindset last season, we tended to look solid defensively- Hart's 27 clean sheets are testament to that. We've decided to adopt a new approach this season- a more exciting one- and consequently it gives the opposition more of a chance to break on us when we're a bit exposed.

Weighing it all up, I think Kompany and Lescott have done fine this season. A few mistakes, yes, but overall they've been strong. The back five of Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott and Clichy is the strongest in the league IMO and we should stick with it wherever possible.

I'd say those 7 games were in a period when both players weren't at their best though. Lescott has come along way since then and in comparison, Vinny hasn't been at his best of late. I'm not saying that I want Kolo in, the 2 we have at the moment does me just fine, but if it was a choice, and on current form, then I'd prefer Lescott stays where he is rather than try and push Vinny into a position that he's looked far from comfortable in.

I agree with KTK, Lescott & Toure were vulnerable when we played a very open game under Hughes & now we've started to play a similar game under Bob, Vinny & Lescott have a lot of defending to do with not much cover & they manage to do it pretty well considering. Kolo did ok last night but he was up against absolutely nothing. At least he looked like a decent fill in though.

For the time being, we should leave the defence alone & look around the world for a true superstar CB who has aerial power, pace & can play. Until we find one; Lecott is currently playing as well or better than any CB in the country. If he goes to shit; drop him. If Vinny goes to shit; drop him. Otherwise leave them to it.