Aleks Kolarov: Redeemed?

[Ted Hughes]

I thought he was back to his worst for a period. I remember Fernandinho running back & rescuing him when he gave away a shit pass & was stranded up the pitch, then he ran forward fed Kolarov who promptly gave the ball away once again & stranded himself once more.

Suddenly he got it together & was like the 'new' Kolarov again & even defended well.

[kinkylola]

made some very nice tackles / blocks ... and scored with his right! I'm falling in love all over again.

[Mase]

Several on here are eating humble pie, a couple even said in a thread earlier in the season that they never wanted to see him play for us again... Proving everyone wrong and getting better by the week. Well played Aleks.

Where the hell have you been while I've been fighting his corner since day one?! You can't just come along and steam in and pretend you've always liked him. He's my man. Just keep your eyes to yourself!

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Several on here are eating humble pie, a couple even said in a thread earlier in the season that they never wanted to see him play for us again... Proving everyone wrong and getting better by the week. Well played Aleks.

Where the hell have you been while I've been fighting his corner since day one?! You can't just come along and steam in and pretend you've always liked him. He's my man. Just keep your eyes to yourself!

I've always thought he was better than people gave him credit for. As you can see by the Dzeko thread and at games, our fans need a boo boy to take their anger out on and this was often Kolarov.

I've always liked him because he is capable of moments of magic. That cross to Dzeko in the League cup semi final two seasons ago was honestly one of the best crosses I've ever seen. Clichy couldn't do that, Clichy couldn't have scored the goal Kolarov did yesterday and Kolarov's put in more good crosses this season than Clichy did in the previous two.

Clichy really benefited from Mancini's rigid structure but Kolarov is really benefiting from Pellegrini's attacking tactics. He's played a huge part for us this season, setting up many goals and already scoring 3 for us. He's not perfect no and he still remains suspect defensively but he is now imo firmly established as our first choice left back.

[Ted Hughes]

Several on here are eating humble pie, a couple even said in a thread earlier in the season that they never wanted to see him play for us again... Proving everyone wrong and getting better by the week. Well played Aleks.

Where the hell have you been while I've been fighting his corner since day one?! You can't just come along and steam in and pretend you've always liked him. He's my man. Just keep your eyes to yourself!

I've always thought he was better than people gave him credit for. As you can see by the Dzeko thread and at games, our fans need a boo boy to take their anger out on and this was often Kolarov.

I've always liked him because he is capable of moments of magic. That cross to Dzeko in the League cup semi final two seasons ago was honestly one of the best crosses I've ever seen. Clichy couldn't do that, Clichy couldn't have scored the goal Kolarov did yesterday and Kolarov's put in more good crosses this season than Clichy did in the previous two.

Clichy really benefited from Mancini's rigid structure but Kolarov is really benefiting from Pellegrini's attacking tactics. He's played a huge part for us this season, setting up many goals and already scoring 3 for us. He's not perfect no and he still remains suspect defensively but he is now imo firmly established as our first choice left back.

Only because Clichy has gone shit imo.

Kolarov is certainly playing much better than he was, but he is now similar to Clichy defensively because he has improved & Clichy has dropped alarmingly.

Both are fairly shit at it but tbf to Kolarov; in the 2nd half v Swansea, he did actually start to look like a proper defender.

[Benjay]

He played well yesterday but would like to see him playing like that every week to be convinced. His man marking is suspect. If you asked before yesterday where we need new players I would have said CB and LB and one game wont change my opinion. I would be looking at Luke Shaw with an eye on the future.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Several on here are eating humble pie, a couple even said in a thread earlier in the season that they never wanted to see him play for us again... Proving everyone wrong and getting better by the week. Well played Aleks.

Where the hell have you been while I've been fighting his corner since day one?! You can't just come along and steam in and pretend you've always liked him. He's my man. Just keep your eyes to yourself!

I've always thought he was better than people gave him credit for. As you can see by the Dzeko thread and at games, our fans need a boo boy to take their anger out on and this was often Kolarov.

I've always liked him because he is capable of moments of magic. That cross to Dzeko in the League cup semi final two seasons ago was honestly one of the best crosses I've ever seen. Clichy couldn't do that, Clichy couldn't have scored the goal Kolarov did yesterday and Kolarov's put in more good crosses this season than Clichy did in the previous two.

Clichy really benefited from Mancini's rigid structure but Kolarov is really benefiting from Pellegrini's attacking tactics. He's played a huge part for us this season, setting up many goals and already scoring 3 for us. He's not perfect no and he still remains suspect defensively but he is now imo firmly established as our first choice left back.

Only because Clichy has gone shit imo.

Kolarov is certainly playing much better than he was, but he is now similar to Clichy defensively because he has improved & Clichy has dropped alarmingly.

Both are fairly shit at it but tbf to Kolarov; in the 2nd half v Swansea, he did actually start to look like a proper defender.

I think Clichy is badly lacking in confidence but I also really don't think he suits our style of play. Pellegrini clearly likes his fullbacks to get forward and attack. Clichy simply isn't capable of this. He worked well in a settled defence under Mancini when anything he did going forward was regarded as a bonus. This year though he's being asked to get forward a lot more and almost play like a wingback.

Kolarov has thrived under this. We all knew he wasn't the best defensively but was great going forward.

It is good and exciting for the game imo that fullbacks are now more and more being seen as part of the attack first and defence second.

[Tokyo Blue]

I don't think Clichy has been properly fit all season.

Kolarov has done well.

[Ted Hughes]

Several on here are eating humble pie, a couple even said in a thread earlier in the season that they never wanted to see him play for us again... Proving everyone wrong and getting better by the week. Well played Aleks.

Where the hell have you been while I've been fighting his corner since day one?! You can't just come along and steam in and pretend you've always liked him. He's my man. Just keep your eyes to yourself!

I've always thought he was better than people gave him credit for. As you can see by the Dzeko thread and at games, our fans need a boo boy to take their anger out on and this was often Kolarov.

I've always liked him because he is capable of moments of magic. That cross to Dzeko in the League cup semi final two seasons ago was honestly one of the best crosses I've ever seen. Clichy couldn't do that, Clichy couldn't have scored the goal Kolarov did yesterday and Kolarov's put in more good crosses this season than Clichy did in the previous two.

Clichy really benefited from Mancini's rigid structure but Kolarov is really benefiting from Pellegrini's attacking tactics. He's played a huge part for us this season, setting up many goals and already scoring 3 for us. He's not perfect no and he still remains suspect defensively but he is now imo firmly established as our first choice left back.

Only because Clichy has gone shit imo.

Kolarov is certainly playing much better than he was, but he is now similar to Clichy defensively because he has improved & Clichy has dropped alarmingly.

Both are fairly shit at it but tbf to Kolarov; in the 2nd half v Swansea, he did actually start to look like a proper defender.

I think Clichy is badly lacking in confidence but I also really don't think he suits our style of play. Pellegrini clearly likes his fullbacks to get forward and attack. Clichy simply isn't capable of this. He worked well in a settled defence under Mancini when anything he did going forward was regarded as a bonus. This year though he's being asked to get forward a lot more and almost play like a wingback.

Kolarov has thrived under this. We all knew he wasn't the best defensively but was great going forward.

It is good and exciting for the game imo that fullbacks are now more and more being seen as part of the attack first and defence second.

Well we have a plethora of these about to start appearing from the U18s/EDS in the years to come.

[DoomMerchant]

I don't think Clichy has been properly fit all season.

Kolarov has done well.

that's the best and only description needed of what's happening.

cheers

[halnone]

It makes me happy to see him doing well now. I'm not sure why, but he's always been one of favourite players since he came to the club. Hopefully he can keep improving on his form. He's honestly worth a place in the team just for his set pieces as well.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

He scored winner which is great. But he can NOT defend consistently.

Ted said it best, Clichy has had shocking drop of form while Kolarov has raised his close to his max potential and now they are about the same. I don't know if Clichy is the long term answer but Kolarov certainly isn't.

[Alioune DVToure]

He scored winner which is great. But he can NOT defend consistently.

Ted said it best, Clichy has had shocking drop of form while Kolarov has raised his close to his max potential and now they are about the same. I don't know if Clichy is the long term answer but Kolarov certainly isn't.

How do you know what his maximum potential is?

[zuricity]

He scored winner which is great. But he can NOT defend consistently.

Ted said it best, Clichy has had shocking drop of form while Kolarov has raised his close to his max potential and now they are about the same. I don't know if Clichy is the long term answer but Kolarov certainly isn't.

To quote Keynes, 'in the long term we are all dead'.

Football is about the 'now'. The short to medium term. I can imagine that within seven years the team will have gone through various make overs.

The long term investment by the owner means that constantly in the short to medium term we should be turning out our own top players and adding to the stock of talent as is needed from the market.

Kola and Gael are now 28. I can imagine them getting one more 3 year deal and probably that would be it.

[Original Dub]

How do you know what his maximum potential is?

Brilliant

[Alioune DVToure]

How do you know what his maximum potential is?

Brilliant

Reading between the lines, he's saying:

'If he continues to improve at the same rate, I'll be faced with a bit of a climbdown. Since I'm never wrong, that can't and won't happen.'

[Bridge'srightfoot]

As much as I do like Kolarov though I still think we better snap Luke Shaw up before someone else does. Young, English, very attacking so he fits our system well.

I really feel he'll be a star so hope we get him before Chelsea, Rags, Liverpool or Spurs do.
If we do though, then I think that will be Clichy out the door- he certainly wouldn't want to be 3rd choice.

[Original Dub]

Reading between the lines, he's saying:

'If he continues to improve at the same rate, I'll be faced with a bit of a climbdown. Since I'm never wrong, that can't and won't happen.'

I think you might be on to something. ..

[Original Dub]

As much as I do like Kolarov though I still think we better snap Luke Shaw up before someone else does. Young, English, very attacking so he fits our system well.

I really feel he'll be a star so hope we get him before Chelsea, Rags, Liverpool or Spurs do.
If we do though, then I think that will be Clichy out the door- he certainly wouldn't want to be 3rd choice.

What has english got to do with it?

[Ted Hughes]

As much as I do like Kolarov though I still think we better snap Luke Shaw up before someone else does. Young, English, very attacking so he fits our system well.

I really feel he'll be a star so hope we get him before Chelsea, Rags, Liverpool or Spurs do.
If we do though, then I think that will be Clichy out the door- he certainly wouldn't want to be 3rd choice.

What has english got to do with it?

Quota.

Imo, we should be looking at promoting our own players for this job in the future rather than signing kids from elsewhere. If we sign a fullback, make it a proper, fully mature one, ditch either Kolarov or Clichy & use our own academy players to take over from them in the seasons to come.

Angelino is a better footballer than Luke Shaw now imo at 16 imo, just whether he is a bit too small to make it as a defender. If that's the case, he can play wide mid instead, but we have others who deserve their chance when the time comes too.