Lescott interview

[Beefymcfc]

If he went, where would he go?

[Swales4ever]

If he went, where would he go?

Nowhere. hopefully, if You ask me.

[I Just Blue Myself]

Lescott has been largely excellent for us, and he was our best CB last season. Vinnie was great towards the end of 2011/2012 but for the first 3/4 of the season Lescott was the main man.

And he should still be starting for us in my opinion. He's superb in the air and when we've been bringing him on late in games recently you see straight away something that Nastasic will never be able to do - dominate in the air. Nastasic has done ok surrounded by Zab, Kompany and Clichy but his inability to win the ball against an opponent in the air and his weakness in one-on-one situations will always hold him back in my opinion. People go on about his age but Richards was better when he was 17, and Kolo has had more stand-out games this season and he's hardly played!

I hope Lescott stays as it'll be difficult to get someone else as good to replace him without spending a large sum.

I think it's a myth that Richards was better at that age. He may have been faster & stronger (still is), but his reading of the game & positional sense was nowhere near Nastasic's. Besides, Richards never played as a CB in a title winning side, nor in the Champions League, so the comparison is a bit absurd.

And while I agree that Lescott's aerial superiority to anyone else in our squad is unquestionable, I don't believe it's a foregone conclusion that Nastasic will never dominate in the air. I was quite impressed with him in that regard the last few games.

As for Lescott's future, I too hope he stays, but I'm not sure he'd be content being a sub on reduced wages. He's in his prime, as he says, & needs to play, which is perfectly understandable.
For me his demotion was always down to two things: Mancini's preference for a ball-playing defender & FFP looming. Even if Nastasic is not quite as solid (yet), he must earn half what Lescott does & is a decade younger on top. I'd like to think that's at least part of the reasoning.

[Beefymcfc]

If he went, where would he go?

Nowhere. hopefully, if You ask me.

I'd like him to stay also but for his own purposes he has to move on. There is no way Joleon will want to sit on the bench when he's still got a future as a first team player.

[Sideshow Bob]

Lescott has been largely excellent for us, and he was our best CB last season. Vinnie was great towards the end of 2011/2012 but for the first 3/4 of the season Lescott was the main man.

And he should still be starting for us in my opinion. He's superb in the air and when we've been bringing him on late in games recently you see straight away something that Nastasic will never be able to do - dominate in the air. Nastasic has done ok surrounded by Zab, Kompany and Clichy but his inability to win the ball against an opponent in the air and his weakness in one-on-one situations will always hold him back in my opinion. People go on about his age but Richards was better when he was 17, and Kolo has had more stand-out games this season and he's hardly played!

I hope Lescott stays as it'll be difficult to get someone else as good to replace him without spending a large sum.

I think it's a myth that Richards was better at that age. He may have been faster & stronger (still is), but his reading of the game & positional sense was nowhere near Nastasic's. Besides, Richards never played as a CB in a title winning side, nor in the Champions League, so the comparison is a bit absurd.

And while I agree that Lescott's aerial superiority to anyone else in our squad is unquestionable, I don't believe it's a foregone conclusion that Nastasic will never dominate in the air. I was quite impressed with him in that regard the last few games.

As for Lescott's future, I too hope he stays, but I'm not sure he'd be content being a sub on reduced wages. He's in his prime, as he says, & needs to play, which is perfectly understandable.
For me his demotion was always down to two things: Mancini's preference for a ball-playing defender & FFP looming. Even if Nastasic is not quite as solid (yet), he must earn half what Lescott does & is a decade younger on top. I'd like to think that's at least part of the reasoning.

I approve this message. Spot on mate.

[MilnersJaw]

Clueless

Noone is palming him off but he wont be a regular starter..which part didnt you grasp?

Apparently all of it...

Lescott is better than nasti currently. Maybe nasti will be better but there is no rush, he is only 19. And yeah being on the bench or not starting regularly is being palmed off, especially when he was immense the season prior.

And it doesn't surprise me Mancini doesn't communicate that much, not sure if its because of the language barrier or because his ego gets in the way. But I think Klingon should be given more opportunities, nasti wasn't great in that first Madrid game, likewise we played with an inferior squad when we had better players available and got punished for it, obv another discussion else where though.

Also following on from what some else said about nasti coming from the Italian league etc, getting tired of hearing of how great the pl is compared to other leagues, if that's the case why have Spanish and Italian teams had much more success than english clubs in the cl? Don't get me wrong the pl is better than these leagues but we overrate far much than we should.

[Risby]

Apparently all of it...

Lescott is better than nasti currently. Maybe nasti will be better but there is no rush, he is only 19. And yeah being on the bench or not starting regularly is being palmed off, especially when he was immense the season prior.

And it doesn't surprise me Mancini doesn't communicate that much, not sure if its because of the language barrier or because his ego gets in the way. But I think Klingon should be given more opportunities, nasti wasn't great in that first Madrid game, likewise we played with an inferior squad when we had better players available and got punished for it, obv another discussion else where though.

Also following on from what some else said about nasti coming from the Italian league etc, getting tired of hearing of how great the pl is compared to other leagues, if that's the case why have Spanish and Italian teams had much more success than english clubs in the cl? Don't get me wrong the pl is better than these leagues but we overrate far much than we should.

I think the point about the Italian league was it is no where near as physical, not comparing the quality.
Nasti is young and needs this season to understand what is required in the PL.
Still don't understand how people are so convinced about Lescott being the better centre back. There is much more to defending than just being able to win a header. I agree Lescott is better at this, but his pace and ability on the ball is non-comparable to Nasti's.
I think it comes down to preference and maybe what attributes people prefer in a defender.

[MilnersJaw]

I think the point about the Italian league was it is no where near as physical, not comparing the quality.
Nasti is young and needs this season to understand what is required in the PL.
Still don't understand how people are so convinced about Lescott being the better centre back. There is much more to defending than just being able to win a header. I agree Lescott is better at this, but his pace and ability on the ball is non-comparable to Nasti's.
I think it comes down to preference and maybe what attributes people prefer in a defender.

I don't think lescott is better because of winning a header, overall he is better. Maybe he is not as fast because of his age but his overall game makes up for that.

[Risby]

I don't think lescott is better because of winning a header, overall he is better. Maybe he is not as fast because of his age but his overall game makes up for that.

But when you watch the game, the team all look to pass the ball to Nasti when going back towards their own goal. They have greater confidence in him than they do in Kompany or Lescott.
What has let Nasti down this season is his partner. Kompany hasn't been as good this season. And that is not down to who he plays with, but himself. At times I have seen Nasti instructing Komps.